Best dirtbike for a 13 year old who is growing

[Woody_393]

Due to the 13-15 year old rapid growth hormone, I am thinking about getting a 125 instead of an 85 for my son -- he just turned 13.

I do not know how tall he is for sure, but I think he's around 5'3" to 5'5" and growing like a weed (coincidentally, he eats like one too). So I'm looking for suggestions and opinions about a few things.

1) Should I skip the 85 and go for a 125 (we are going to sit him on one and see how it fits him in the next few days-- which may rule them out all together) or should I try and get him an Expert 85?

2) If we go 125, we are looking at the 99-2002 based on the price we can afford. I am leaning toward the YZ125 or the RM125, but I don't know too much about any of them other than the 2000 YZ125 (thanks mxtras). So the question is, if you were getting one of those year bikes, which would you get and why?

3) It would appear that the 85's are all pretty good, and all of them are pretty static from year to year (meaning they don't change much). I like all of them, but again, which 85 from the years 2000-2004 would you get and why? I'm leaning toward the Kawi, just because they have a power valve -- I don't know if any of the others do or not?

4) The wild card in all of this is the KX100, which my son seems to be quite enamored with. The seat is 1.2" taller than a KX85 and will have a tad more power. I know they are great bikes and the taller seat height may help with the immanent growth as we try to tie him over until he can get a 125 if that's not in the cards yet.

Anyway, your help is invaluable, so thank you in advance. Oh and one final bit, the most I believe he will spend is 1200, since that's the max I will provide parental aid for. Above that he has to earn all the $$.

[cowboyona426]

I would lean towards a 125 myself, or you'll soon find yourself in the market again looking at 125's. I vote for Yamaha since they are what I'm most familiar with If I think about it, I'll try to dig up some of my Dirt Rider archives and see if I still have any mags from the 00-01 time frame that have a 125 shootout.

[Silver_Fox]

At first I was going to recommend the 125 as well, but since you are buying used anyway you could consider a KX100 or any of the 85 cc big wheel versions. It would ease him into the larger bikes with less intimidation and if you buy right you won't loose any dollars when you sell it 6 months or a year down the road. Just a thought.

[DRGSin393]

I bought an 85 for Loukas the beginning of one summer, by the following spring, 20-30 hrs ride time, he had grown out of it. 12-14 is generally the time in their lives when they get their biggest growth spurt. especially if a kid isnt going to be over 6'. Id buy a 125 and tone it down till he's ready. of course, its all mute until you guys size it up.

[MXtras]

I had a '98 and two '99 YZ125s. The tranny in the 98 was ok - not great, but I had a lot of trouble with the transmissions in the '99s. The shifting sucked - a problem I had from day one with both bikes. It seems that I was not alone, but others claimed to never have a problem.

I went to 250s in 2000 but I heard that they made some improvements in the shifting of the YZ125s in 2001 or 2002. So - based on my personal experience, I suggest staying clear of the pre 2001 YZ125s.

The problem was centered on the upshifts first thru fourth. It downshifted fine but upshifting required a clutch pull - something I never, ever, ever had to do to any other bike I have raced or owned - and thats been quite a few dating back to 1982. Even with a clutch pull, sometimes the thing refused to shift. I have myself on video coming up short on a double because the darned thing refused to shift up, and I was already committed to the jump. That's a scary feeling - knowing you are in trouble but nothing you can do about it.

I tore into the trannies in both 125s when they were less than three months old, trying to search for a fix. I think their spool design was at fault but I ended up replacing and modifying all kinds of internal things, seeking a result. I never got those things shifting well under power - despite repeated attempts. I was able to get them better, but never right in my opinion.

Scott

[pjg351]

Woody, if you decide to go with the 85, he will probably only get 1 year out of it before he is way to tall. You can put lower foot pegs and raise the bars to give him more room, but in the end nothing will help when he's 6 foot i would get the 125 but a later model one, the power differance will not be anymore pronounced than a 85, he will soon get used to the power band no matter what bike he's on. i would probably go for a Yamaha 125 also, their later models seem solid.

[JoyrideCRF450]

Hey woody i would have to agree with most of these guys with a 125cc since he is a growing like a weed kinda like my self when i was growing, he will being goin in spurts and by the sounds of it he will grow out of a 85 in no time. I would kinda lean away from a RM and more towards the YZ since in my mind the RM powerbands are really different and harder to ride. Once you buy a 125 you could always adjust the suspension and put a flywheel weight on it to make it more rideable at first. Just a few sugestions let us know how everything works out. ...ohh ps what about a honda he he he....

[DUDEONAYZ125]

wel i am 5'4'' and i am still a little small for my cr85 small wheel so i would definately go with the 85 and i am growing fast also. 13 is the perfect age for an 85! if he is experienced get him the cr85! without the powervalve this thing is a beast and will have plenty of power for him! i have on 07 thats all stock and it rips so i would go with the cr or the yz85 would be my second choice but dont go with a 125 yet my friend rides a kx100 now but he was still 5'9'' and did fine on it so dont worry about him outgrowing it. he is 13 and now rides a kx100 and is 6' even. i would go with the 85 but thats just my 2 cents.also the kx100 has more than a tad more power i would go with that if you are worried about growth.

[Woody_393]

Thanks for the opinions. They are really appreciated. I didn't get the time yesterday to go sit him on a 125 yet, so hopefully today.

I asked him how tall he is and he said 5'2"-5'3" so I am a little off. I supposed I should just measure him if I can catch him while he's running around.

Again, thanks, and I'll update you all on his size, and how the 125 fits him (or not).

[DUDEONAYZ125]

if h eis only 5foot 2 or 3 then i dont think he is ig enough for a 125 also how experienced is he?

[Woody_393]

Not very. He rode a lot when he was younger, but that's been a while (he rode a 50 for about 3 years) -- so I think you could call him brand new.

[DUDEONAYZ125]

then i would definitely go with the 85 because he will be very small on the 125 anyway which will make it a lot harder to learn. plus all that extra powert wont help.

[Woody_393]

Yeah, I'm starting to think the same thing.

So in the 85 area, I'm guessing the YZ or KX are probably the best options.

I think I may still try and get a KX100 just so it will last him longer, but we'll see.

[DUDEONAYZ125]

yeah i heard the kx is the best all around bike but what years are you looking to buy?

[KKXR400R]

13?

already?

Geez time flies!

you could always get one of these....








Or this.......








Get the boy an 85 and let him build confidence. My 2 pennies say he's a little to small for a 125



-Kevin-

[cowboyona426]

KKXR, is that first bike a 250F in a CR85 frame?

[Woody_393]

Those would be fantastic Kevin -- I don't believe either will fit in the budget. Though the 500 might be a little much for a 13 year old -- although if you ask him, he'll be fine

[mxmama393]

Well Im 5'3 and I grew out of my kx100 pretty quick and I stopped growing years ago.


I didnt read all the other posts but I say...
Go for the 125

[Woody_393]

Didn't you have to lower yours? I'm not spending time or money lowering it.

[DRGSin393]

a couple of dog bones vs buying a new bike in a year?? i dont understand. is the kx100 quite a bit bigger than the 85?