How Old to Start Riding Dirt Bikes?

So, your kid wants to start riding dirt bikes. As a parent, this could be a moment of happiness or confusion for both of you. We get it. Dirt bikes are a cool thing that your child may want to try as soon as possible.

Children have that undying love for riding, and if any of their parents ride, it can be a massive task to convince them that it’s too early for them to start riding dirt bikes.

The best thing you need to do as a parent is to keep a cool head and be open-minded.

Follow your instincts and don’t be afraid to let that little guy jump onto a motorized two-wheeler and experience the excitement whenever you feel like they are ready.

You can get such dirt bikes from Amazon by clicking here.

If you decide to start dirt biking, then there are some dirt biking accessories worth buying. For both safety and comfort while riding then you can buy the following:

• Dirt bike helmet .
• Dirt bike gloves for kids .
• Dirt bike boots for kids .
• Dirt bike goggles for kids .
• Knee and elbow braces .
• Dirt bike body armor for kids .

One of the biggest questions that most parents find it hard to answer is; “when is the right age for a kid to start riding dirt bikes?”

The truth is that there is no specific age since everything depends on how you perceive your kid.

If you feel like he/she is ready at one year, don’t be afraid to let him/her try biking. Being open-minded can go a long way in helping you address this significant concern.

Talk About It

If you are reading this, you are a lucky parent since it will help you handle the issue much better. One of the most critical things that you need to do before you allow your kid on a dirt bike is to sit down and have a candid conversation about everything.

You need to make the kid understand your concerns and how you intend to protect him/her from any dangers.

Depending on how old the child is, you may realize that having a meaningful conversation with them might be a hard thing to do but make sure that you try.

Your child will let you know why they want to bike and you will let them know what they need to do stay safe.

If you feel like the child isn’t ready to bike, you will make them understand why you don’t want them to jump onto that bike.

The primary goal of the conversation is to reach an agreement that will make both of you happy respectfully and openly. This is the road that leads to safe biking, and it shows that you care about your young one.

 

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How Old Do Kids Need to Be to Start Riding a Dirt Bike?

As mentioned earlier, there is no specific age set when kids can start to bike. It all depends on how you perceive your kid and their level of maturity. Anyone can start riding a dirt bike at whatever age they are.

A child as young as one year old can start riding the small child-friendly electric bikes. By the age of four years, a kid can comfortably ride a 50cc dirt bike that is fitted with stable training wheels.

At the age of five or six years, they can be biking around without the help of the training wheels and even taking short rides on more advanced dirt bikes.

It isn’t surprising to find an eight-year-old who is an experienced rider that you won’t dare keep up with him/her on a typical trail ride.

Types of Dirt Bikes for Beginners

We can all agree that dirt bikes are great for children of all ages. However, some bikes are better than others. It is critical to know the difference between the various bikes before you purchase it for your loved one.

Another thing, ensure you get kid-friendly dirt bikes to help them learn well.

You can read more on a post I wrote about the best dirt bike options for beginners by clicking here.

For instance, a bike that is good for a kid aged between three to six years may not be the right bike for a kid aged nine years.

Age is a critical factor when it comes to choosing the right bike for your kid. There are lots of different types of dirt bikes out there that you need to know.

The primary difference between the various dirt bikes for kids is the power. A dirt bike designed for a four-year-old is less powerful compared to the one designed for a ten-year-old child. Kid-friendly dirt bikes range between 50cc and 250cc.

But, as your kids advance, they may want to try out bikes that are up to 250cc.

Typically, the less powerful the bike is, the safer it is for a first-time rider. Avoid buying powerful bikes for your kid since it can be catastrophic.

As kids progress into the seven to ten years age bracket, they start to desire more power, speed, and adrenaline.

This means that you may be forced to go for bikes that range between 70 and 100cc. However, this decision will depend on your assessment of your child’s riding skills and capability.

Make sure that you always go for a bike that won’t endanger your young one’s life. The top 10 dirt bike brands are; Honda, Suzuki, Yamaha, KTM, Beta, Kawasaki, Hyosung, Moto Tec, Razor, and Maico.

Age Guide: What Is the Right Dirt Bike for Your Kid?

Since there is a broad range of bikes available for children of all ages, you need to ensure that you choose the right ride for your kid.

In fact, the type of bike that you select can be the only difference between a successful first time riding attempt and them never wanting to come near a dirt bike again.

There are lots of things that you need to consider while shopping for a dirt bike for your kid. No matter your emotions and convictions, make sure that you don’t push your kid into something that he/she doesn’t enjoy.

You also need to remember the fact that safety is critical. Choose the right bike for the right age if you want to avoid problems.

We have highlighted some important factors that you need to consider while shopping for the right dirt bike for your kid.

• Hand Strength: Make sure that your kid can handle the bars of your preferred bike with a tight grip.

You should also confirm whether they can hold back the throttle effectively and establish a steady course.

• Posture: Can the kid support himself/herself in the upright position while (s)he moves over rough grounds or bumps?

This is a critical factor to consider since your kid needs sufficient core body strength to keep going.

• Power: Keep in mind that some torque may be too high for younger kids. Being aware of this fact will help you to choose the right bike hence reducing the chances of falling.
• Bike Size: Make sure that you select the right bike size that suits your kid’s weight, body strength, and height. All these factors are critical in ensuring safe riding.
• Price: There are different bikes with varying prices. The good news is that beginners are usually better with the cheaper dirt bikes.

However, this doesn’t mean that you should go for the low-quality bikes out there. Strike a fine balance between price and quality and you are good to go.

• Avoidance ability: You also need to make sure that the bike you choose gives your kid the ability to avoid oncoming obstacles. Remember the fact that hand-eye coordination is essential for off-road biking.
• Suspension: There is a big difference between two-stroke and four-stroke bikes. For beginners, you should consider acquiring a two-stroke bike with battery powered strength.

Toddlers

Although some experts are against the idea of introducing toddlers to biking, some parents feel like there is nothing with it as long as you take precautions to ensure the safety of your toddler.

A 6V bike with stable training wheels is a better way of introducing your toddler to biking.

This will ensure that your child gets used to biking as early as possible so that they start to become experts by the time they hit three or four years.

If you are worried about the safety of your toddler, you should consider getting a lanyard and attach it to the rear end of the bike so that you are in control of the bike’s speed as your little one enjoys the ride.

Just make sure that you keep the speed of the bike below 5mph.

3 to 6 Year Olds

Kids that fall within this age bracket shouldn’t be doing anything more than 10mph. The good news is that there are lots of different dirt bikes for kids within this age bracket.

Keeping the speed to below 10mph reduces their chances of sustaining injuries during the ride.

Speed is the main issue that can cause injuries at this stage of biking. Take your time to guide your kid through the biking process since their ability to process information at this stage is low.

It will take time before your kid becomes an independent pro biker.

The smallest dirt bike meant for three-year-old kids won’t do anything more than 3mph, and it is quite safe compared to bikes designed for older kids.

Dirt bikes designed for children in this age bracket are usually light and easy to control which is crucial for beginners.

You need to keep in mind that children in this age bracket don’t have sufficient strength and spatial awareness to bike on their own.

Always be there to provide guidance and make their biking experience comfortable. You should also consider getting safety bars to attach to the dirt bike so that the bike remains in an upright position all the time.

Some of the recommended bikes for kids in this age bracket include; Aosom 6V kid’s ride on an electric motocross bike, Fun wheels 6V battery powered dirt bike for toddlers,Kuberg 2017 start electric motorcycle, and the Moto Tec twist-grip electric bike.

7 to 9 Year Olds

Kids in this age bracket are quite mature and will always admire the more powerful bikes.

By this time, your child will have developed all the basic biking skills, and they can now handle a larger dirt bike.

The urge for high speed and adrenaline is starting to kick in, and the child wants to be like the biking superstars he sees on television.

The size of the bike isn’t quite as essential as the power and size of the engine.

If you aren’t sure of the right bike to buy for your kid, go for anything that is above 50cc.

However, you will want to make sure that the bike you acquire is safe and not too powerful for your child.

At this stage, you don’t have to worry whenever your kid steps out with their bike since they are also more concerned about their safety.

There are lots of dirt bikes that suit kids within this age bracket.

The most common ones include; Razor mx400 dirt rocket 24V electric bike, the Kuberg 2016 cross electric MX dirt bike, and the Razor MX350 dirt bike.

10 to 11-Year-Olds

By this time, the kids are mature to handle the powerful bikes that are above 70cc comfortably.

Therefore, if your kid has been biking since he/she was a toddler don’t be afraid to get them that powerful dirt bike that can make them feel the strong wind rushing past their ears.

These bikes are ideal for children who yearn for more, and they want to experience everything as soon as they can.

By this time, your kid yearns for top speed, improved stability, and increased engine power.

Basically, they need bigger and high priced dirt bikes and the latest safety gear. In fact, professional bikers begin to realize their unique talents at this stage.

Don’t be afraid to give your ten or eleven-year old kid a little push forward while biking.

There are some best dirt bikes for 11 year olds, so don’t hesitate to have a look.

Some kids at this age will also love dirt bikes that tend to make a lot of noise. This might also be the time that he/she realizes that there is more to biking than just the thrilling experience.

All you have to do as a parent is to sit back, relax, and watch your loved one discover new ways of biking.

Teenagers

This is when dirt bikes start to get more stable, robust, and open gates to serious competitions.

The dirt bikes for teenagers are usually from 50cc and above. In some rare cases, you might see children as young as twelve years riding dirt bikes that are up to 250cc.

However, 50 to 125cc is the ideal bike size for teenagers since they won’t cause the child to be in some sort of danger while biking.

Nonetheless, you should also keep in mind that by this time, your child may have had some experience of handling smaller bikes and may feel more comfortable handling the bigger and more powerful dirt bikes.

Some of the common dirt bikes for teenagers include the MMB80 gas youth mini dirt bike, Razor miniature electric dirt bike, and the Razor MX500 electric bike.

The Kids Riding Gear

Although it is hard to accept, the truth is that your kid is going to fall off the dirt bike at some point during the learning process.

The best thing that you can do as a parent is to ensure that they are putting on the right riding gear to minimize the overall impact.

You can learn more on the right safety gear for your kid when riding a dirt bike by clicking here and head over to a post I wrote.

Apart from the bike, you also need to equip your young one with the right protective gear, especially if they have any desire of getting into motocross racing.

You will need to ensure that your child is always safe even if they are just planning to ride around the house.

It is also essential to ensure that your kid’s protective gear fits well. Here is what you will need to protect your loved one during biking.

• Helmet: Keep in mind that you aren’t looking for any old bicycle helmet.
  Your kid should always put on a full-face motorcycle helmet all the time.
  This type of helmet will protect their chin and the sides of their head as well. You need to ensure that the helmet fits well.Click here to buy dirt bike helmet for kids .

• Gloves: Worker or mountain bike gloves will do fine during the early days of biking.
  Make sure that the gloves are in good condition since the first thing that will hit the ground when they fall are their hands.Click here to buy dirt bike gloves for kids .

• Boots: One of the first things that you need to buy for your kid is a pair of riding boots.
  If they are too short, a pair of boots may be the only thing that they need to reach the ground while on the bike.
  Boots also protect their feet when they bang against the bike or if they happen to fall.Click here to buy dirt bike boots for kids .

• Goggles: Riding goggles are an essential protective gear since they keep the dirt out of their eyes helping the kid to focus on controlling the dirt bike.Click Here to buy dirt bike goggles for kids .

• Knee and elbow guard: You should also protect your kid’s knees and elbows by getting them a nice set of hard plastic knee and elbow guards.Click here to buy knee and elbow braces .

• Body armor: The body armor is a critical protective gear for anyone who loves riding.
  Make sure that you look for a fitting body armor that will protect their chest and back well.
  The other things you need to purchase include a neck brace, kidney belt, jersey, and pants.Click here to buy dirt bike body armor for kids .

Conclusion

There is no specific age limit to when one can start biking. Any individual can start riding dirt bikes at whatever age they like.

However, before you introduce your kid to biking, you need to be sure that they are at least old enough to withstand the excitement.

There is a lot that goes into teaching your kid biking. You need to identify the right size bike and engine power that will keep your young one comfortable.

Once you introduce your child to biking, it becomes fun teaching them how to ride and watch them grow biking.

Nothing offers your kid an opportunity to get out there and explore the world than biking. Therefore, you need to make sure that everything is right.