| Author | Message | ||
     Rasmonis |
Little Ras wants to race track (street)one day and I, being the good father that I am, want to support her desire to do so. It has been recommended that getting her on a dirt bike is the best way to start so where do I begin? This will not be a woods/trail bike. She's 5'5 about 120lbs. I think she'll sit fine on a 100 - 125. Her b-day is in 2 weeks. | ||
| Danny_h__jesternut |
XR 100 and a big field of wet grass, she'll learn bike control. | ||
| Imonabuss |
Absolutely right, Danny. XR100s rule. But Ras Sr., you might want to get two. Once you start "showing her how to ride", you'll see what I mean! | ||
| Percyco |
My 12 year old daughter is currently riding a Yamaha TTR 125 L. The "E" model TTR125 has electric start. Its about the same price as the Honda CRF 100 but it has a disk front brake and twice the suspension travel of the Honda, not to mention 25 more cc's . She loves it and so do I, and I "Ride Red" in the dirt ! good luck!  | ||
| Percyco |
Here's a pic of the Honda CRF 100, I believe Suzuki / Kawasaki has a 125 model to compete in this class too . Then theres the new Honda CRF150R full out 4 stroke motocrosser that was just released to compete in the 85cc 2 stroke class !   | ||
| Bullseye |
Hey Ras we talked about this over lunch a while ago. I agree about the DR-Z125L or the Kawi version. Also if you feel like electric start is a good thing the TT-R125LE is the key. I used to have a DR-Z 110, DR-Z125L, and an RM-Z250. The CR-F line is good but from experience the valve seats on Honda 4-Strokes are a bit soft and tend to require more maintanance. Wet grass is nice but nothing beats track time and there are tons close to home. Specially for you. Most tracks offer beginner, intermediate and expert sections and even seperate tracks. I was never a fan of two strokes only cause of the constant need to use the clutch and lack of low end power. The above bikes are pretty bood through all gears without having to slip the clutch too much to have power out of a corner or up hills. As far as learning bike control participating in practice days of all weather conditions is key. The MX tracks get slippery when wet but the loam and top layer get soft so falling isn't a big deal. Plus they keep most of the big rocks away from a competition surface and injuries go down without debris. I learned most of what I know at Tomohawk in WV. The owner is great and the track is a very open GP style track instead of the Supercross style elsewhere. I loved racing and would love to get back into it. Happy Shopping Bullseye I have had pretty good luck purchasing at Ellicott City Motorsports, one of the salesmen is a racer and he's done good by me. Otherwise be carefull buying used, but I sold my well maintained ex racers is no time, the lucky b@stards. | ||
| Thansesxb9rs |
Doesn't honda make a CRF125 that is pretty cool. | ||
| Percyco |
NO.....the next step up is the CRF150F (not to be confused with the new R model)  | ||
| Rasmonis |
So would the general consensus be that a KTM 105 or 125 be too much? They're good looking bikes and already come upgraded. A dealership near me has an '06 SX105 for $3,700, but they're trying to sell me the Suzuki's and Kawis. Actually a Suzuki 125 4 stroke. When I inquired about the SX 125 they said the 4 stroke 250 would be cheaper and better. It is way too big/tall even for me, I would never put her on it even if the engine is more forgiving. I've been checking out the CRF 100's those look sweet, are more general purpose and much cheaper than the KTMs. I know we'll be fighting for dirt time. Decisions decisions! | ||
| Bullseye |
Check parts availability for KTM, most local dealers only stock Jap parts even for the bikes they sell. KTM parts are often hard to come by in a pinch. The guy who taught me to ride had a KTM 520 and he had a tough time gettin things for the next week if something broke. Not that they are bad bikes just not much local support. | ||
| Firemanjim |
Ras,look into a used XR-100 as she will learn fast on such a forgiving bike, and out grow it,then think about a KTM 105 or a used YZ/CR/RM 125.The 2 stroke 125's are cheap,easy to service and suprisingly fast. My son leaves me in the dust and I am on a KTM 300(never had a problem getting parts--and they need them seldom) | ||
| Damnut |
XR 100 That is THE BIKE!!! That what I learned on and is IMHO the BEST learning bike for a kid ever built. I beat the tar out of mine for a couple of years before going to a CR80 then I jumped right into a CR250R. Still own a CR250R to this day. | ||
| Interceptor |
Just wanted to throw in my 2 cents. I ride RED when it comes to mx and atv's. You just cant go wrong with a Honda. They may cost a bit more , but their reliability is unmatched in my opinion. Damnut, Cr250, I should've kept mine. Great fun they are. I skipped right over the 125 and would never downgrade. | ||
| Chasespeed |
Love KTMs personally, my last 2 dirt toys were KTM, a 125 and 250 smokers... Loved them, tons of power, TONS of suspension travel... but WAY tall... ONly complaint I ever had about that bike... I like the Suzuki's but, the only one I have ridden semi-recently was a DRZ-400SM, and that was about the right size for me.... Yamaha makes great dirt toys as well... But, I think overall, the Honda is where its at... BTW, I know nothing about superx, MX, etc.. I do the fast trails, mud, hills, etc... My unwanted 2 cents Chase |
