Ok I'm thinking about dirt.. My daughter is 4 1/2 and she loves to watch supercross on TV. I was thinking about getting her the little Yamaha TT50 with electric start and start her on training wheels were the footpegs go. I'm thinking about starting something myself.. Looking at the YZF450 (Yamaha 4 stroker). I haven't been on dirt in years and I'm also 6'3" and 225lbs and I'm a bit worried the 2 smokes are a bit "small" for me. The local shop has last years YZF450 Yamaha in 50th aniversery colors for 5k.. So would that be "too" much for a 42 year old fat guy? Also how are this little Yamaha's?
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Current Ride:
2006 Ducati 999S Mono in black.
Hi Doc,
The TTR-50E is a great little bike for your girl. The only issue I can think of is the fact that it is a 3 speed semi-auto. When I started my kids, it was on a PW-50 which is the previous generation to the TTR-50. The nice thing about the PW is that it has a single gear and is a little lighter for people still getting used to the idea of riding on two wheels. My little girl found it difficult to get her little foot under the shifter and give it the 'yank' required to get into 2nd/ 3rd gear. The drawback to the PW is that it isn't electric start, and there's no way a wee'in is going to kick it over. I'd still say that you start her on a used PW (they're cheap) for the season, and grab the TTR next year or later in the season when she's got the balance thing worked out. Hope that helps
agreed on the pw50, best choice. As for a dirt bike, are you gonna follow your daughter around the track, or are you thinking of a serious assault at the over 40 class. I think you would have more fun on a mid moto like a ttr, or a Honda 230. Then if you want to upgrade, you can do it at the same time your daughter...
I am the same size as you, and I am also contemplating getting back into dirt bikes after many years away. KTM still makes 300cc 2-strokes, if you want to buy new. From what I understand they have great low-end power, and are still lighter than a 4.
While I am sure the 4-strokes are probably faster, to me a dirt bike means 2-stroke. Like a duckling imprinting soon after it is born, roost should be accompanied by riiiinnnnggg-diiiiinnnnggg, not BWWAHHHH. A 4 just doesn't seem the same to me. A product of my generation I guess, Ricky Johnson and Jeff Stanton are the guys when I think of when people say MX.
I am a cheapskate, so I'm looking for an older KTM 300/360/380 or a CR500 with the intention of mellowing it down a bit for trail-riding or eventually converting to supermoto. But knowing me I'll probably stumble on a super-cheap Husky 610 that needs a new top end and stupidly buy that, and wish I had waited to find the right CR500.
Great info everyone.. Today we went to Motoprimo south here in the cities. My daughter actually gravitated to the KTM Adventure 50. It's a cross between the PW50 and the TT50
As I thought more about my post I got to thinking what people said earlier in this thread.. getting a kid to use a clutch/brake/etc might be hard. The KTM's looked very nice I actually liked them better than the Honda/Yamaha. Funny thing is she went to the most EXPENSIVE bike on the floor for her size..
Right now my only concern is finding gear and a place to ride. I only have a 4 door car.. Looking at getting a Hybrid SUV which I can toss a trailor on to haul this stuff around (she can ride in my back yard too)
I'll have to look for that 300.. I've seen it around.. KTM also has a 250 4 stroke as well..
well imho given your size and vast street bike knowledge you should go with a 450 4-stroke I have an rmz 450 first dirt bike after 12 years of street riding as long as you have riding figured out more than enough power is a good thing!! I was riding yester day and my buddies klx300r had a hard time climbing a deep sand hill my 450 blasted right up with power to spare!!
well imho given your size and vast street bike knowledge you should go with a 450 4-stroke I have an rmz 450 first dirt bike after 12 years of street riding as long as you have riding figured out more than enough power is a good thing!! I was riding yester day and my buddies klx300r had a hard time climbing a deep sand hill my 450 blasted right up with power to spare!!
Hmm.. that 450 is looking good..
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Current Ride:
2006 Ducati 999S Mono in black.
DrT,
I highly suggest you check in with Gambler. I believe he just bought a TTR for his little one and could probably give you a few tips. I know he had a few mods in the back of his mind and they might help you along the way as your child grows into and out of the bike and acquires more skills/confidence. I was just at the local shop admiring the "orange" bikes and those little rigs are sooooooooooo nice looking. Me thinks she liked the color more than anything. And as kids always do, she ignored the hefty pricetag affixed to the bike.
As for you? I think the 450F is WAY too much bike but it's your body so thrash/abuse it anyway you want.
Keep us up to date. Always fun to watch a kid's enthusiasm for bikes grow.
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Originally Posted by mrgrn
why don'y you do yourself a favor and put me on ignore
All the MX 450s' will get you busted up in no time using it for woods riding in stock form. Spend the cake to correct the harsh MX suspension and you got yourself a woods weapon.
My RMZ450 is a pretty serious woods machine right now but I spent alot of money making it that way all the way down to changing the seat.
Can't comment on kids bike since I have no kids.
I've rode a KTM 300 didn't like it too much of a 2 stroke for me. It had power but I did not like the way it come on the power.
The WR250 un-corked is a nice bike I could own. They come plugged up so you would have to do the mods to get the power its capable of making come out.
I love woods riding I do at least 20 miles a weekend on my 450 and it is some of the best exercise you can get on two wheels.
It depends on what kind of riding you plan to do. If you plan on riding MX tracks then I would stay away from the 450's, they are hard to handle with so much power. My nephew races a KTM 250SX-F and I have a YZ426F, his 250F is so much easier to ride and carves around the corners, I can easily ride it way faster than my 426. Plus the KTM has a hell of an engine, decent midrange with a nice top end hit. My 426 has too much power for me on the MX track, it may end up as a supermoto.
If you are trail riding and just riding it as a play bike then you could use almost anything. But it would be nice to have something street legal, like a KTM or a Husky so you can ride to the trails or off road area if you want.
OK- this is just me. Get your daughter the lightest, easiest to ride bike out there. The worst thing that can happen is that she masters it this summer. If she gets something too scary/fast, too heavy or too complicated she will lose interest quickly.
For yourself- I would get a 100/125/150. How are you going to ride with your daughter on a 50 hp race bike? If she's going to do this she should be doing it with you, right?
fwiw i've got a trials bike,bought a 50 cc mini trials for my 6 year old and found him intimidated by it.picked up a older pw50 and it was exactly what was needed for easy learning.you also might want to rethink the big dirtbike if your going trail riding with your kid
I always love reading about other peoples experiences on different dirt bikes. I was raised on honda 2-stroke power, but not everyone is perfect. My friend just bought a crf250r, he's about 6'0" and 260lbs and he says the thing just flies. His 2yr old son is on a crf50f, he has it modded with training wheels, throttle jockey, and an electronic cutoff switch. When the kids are too small to shift, just pick a gear and set the throttle jockey to limit their rpms. Have fun out there.
250F's are great all arounders. 450's are more than you need unless you're fast at MX, Supermotoing or ice riding.
BTW, i have a 98 KX250 that has an Eric Gorr 310 bigbore. it's a mix between a 250 smoker and a 450 as far as power goes. lots better low end. it's also for sale. $1600, and local to you.
New to dirt what to get
Also how are this little Yamaha's?
$1600, and local to you.
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