Before you pick the right dirt bike for yourself, there are a lot of factors and parameters that you need to take into account like your height, budget, etc. There are now a lot of dirt bikes in the market, and sometimes it can be very confusing to choose one, so today, I’m going to show and explain to you what questions and factors you should consider before you choose the dirt bike that is perfect for you
8 Steps to Pick the Right Dirt Bike:
- What kind of riding will you be doing?
- Your Height
- How experienced are you?
- What is your budget?
- What size dirt bike should I get?
- How long are you going to ride on dirt bikes?
- What brand of dirt bike should I buy?
- Your weight
Questions to ask before choosing a dirt bike
Your Height
One of the most important factors you need to consider before choosing a dirt bike is your height. The best way is to sit on the bike is to make sure your feet are placed on the ground perfectly. It is important to make sure that the entire foot is placed on the ground, and you should not strain to put your feet on the ground.
It is also very important to make sure that the height of the seat is perfect for your height.
What kind of riding will you be doing?
Another factor that is very important is what type of riding will you do. Are you wanting to ride in the rain, or sand, or mountains? Are you competing in races, or are you just riding for fun?
You have to ask yourself all these questions, because each surface has a bike that works best for them. For example, bikes that are suitable for long-distance riding will not be suitable for short distances, so it is very important to clarify this issue.
What is your budget?
The amount of money you are going to invest is a very important factor in choosing your bike. In the end, it all depends on how much money you want to invest. There are currently two types of dirt motorcycles you need to know about.
4-Stroke or 2-Stroke?
There are two types of engines you must take into account. I am talking about a 2-stroke engine and a 4-stroke engine.
A two-stroke engine does not cost a lot of money, but its maintenance is very expensive compared to a 4-stroke engine that costs very expensive, but its maintenance is very cheap. If you want to read more about the subject, I highly recommend you go this post that explains you about 2- stroke and 4-stroke engines. Here is the link
How experienced are you?
When you ask yourself this question, you have to answer it frankly and with enough self-awareness. Are you a new rider riding on light surfaces, or a professional rider, and a rider who is already riding on hard surfaces? It is very important not to be reckless in such a decision.
Make sure you choose the right size and speed for you. If you are a beginner rider, I would recommend models such as the Honda CRF250X, or the Yamaha YZ125, but if you are more experienced, I suggest you already go and pick something much more professional like the 2016 KTM 350SX-F. If you are unsure of your level, I would recommend in such a case to go and get some criticism from friends or family members, or even photograph yourself riding, and then judge yourself.
How long are you going to ride on dirt bikes?
This is a very important question, because there are a lot of riders who buy dirt bikes at a very expensive price, but they are barely able to ride them, or you ride as a hobby. I suggest you buy a cheap bike, and not at very high prices. If you ride every day or a few times a week, you can definitely buy expensive bikes.
What brand of dirt bike should I buy?
In the end, there is not much difference between all the brands. The different dirt bikes have about the same capabilities. The only thing that distinguishes between them is the color. The two companies that I think are the best are Honda and Yamaha, but there are many other good brands
also if you want to read more about dirt bike brand, I very recommend you to read this post that I worth that show you the best 15 dirt bike brands click here to view
Your weight
It is very important to choose a suitable bike according to your weight.. You will need a smaller bike if you are small and don’t weigh much, and bigger and overweight people need a bigger bike.
New or used?
You have to know which dirt bike you want to buy when purchasing used dirt bike.
Used bikes will bring you a little less than new bikes, but they will cost you a lot less than new bikes, and the differences can be several thousand dollars.
New bikes, of course, will last you longer than used models, but they are much more expensive.
In my opinion, used dirt bikes are much better to buy than new ones, meaning that the differences between new and used dirt bikes are not very big.
How to choose a dirt bike for kids?
When it comes to kids and choosing a dirt bike, it gets much more complicated, because children are much more stubborn and tough when it comes to choosing a bike. They know exactly what model they want and what color they want, so it is very important to take the child with you and to choose together and not go and pick it alone without his opinion.
Age guide for choosing a dirt bike for kids
3 to 6 years olds
Choosing a bike at this age range is very important, and your child cannot drive more than a 10 speed, and no less than a 3 speed. Usually, these ages have fewer injuries or risks, like 6 year of olds or older that you accompany your children during the trip. The only factor that can cause the risk is the speed, and he should have a small bike in the beginning.
Also, I have written a guide that will show you how to choose the perfect bike for 6 year old. Click here to view
7 to 9 years olds
Usually, at these ages, children want to experience more. They are not afraid to take risks, and you must to know how to buy good dirt bike. It all depends on if your child is a good rider, and if they have advanced capabilities. You can certainly buy him a quality bike, even with that means it is a little expensive, even if the child is just starting.
You can buy something cheap until they progress, and only then work for dirt bikes quality, usually, only at the age of 7 and 8, they have to move from small dirt roads to large, so it is very important to always check the level of riding the child.
9 to 11 years olds
For this age range, kids can start on 70cc. You must watch during this age to always keep track of their size to ride a big dirt bike. When the child grows and are 12 and up, then you should start them on a real dirt bike.
12 and up
It is time to buy a genuine dirt bike that will hold him in the light for years. It is important to choose something professional and not cheap, because children of this age can reach 240cc in a range of 50. In such ages, the child is exposed to many more risks and injuries.
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How to choose a dirt bike
Hand Strength– It’s very important a to have good hand strength, because if the hand is slipping or uncomfortable, your child can lose grip very quickly from the dirt bike and can also cause swelling or pain in the hands.
Posture– Can the kid support himself in the upright position while he moves over rough grounds or bumps? It’s very important to work on the muscles on the back and posture
Price- As for the price, children starting at ages 3 to 8 must ride on a small bike, so the prices are very low for beginners. If your child is over the age of 8, then he can definitely start riding on a big ones. I recommend buying a quality dirt bike at a very expensive price at first, because it is very important to buy your child a bike that will hold him for years than a bike at a cheap price that will suffice for him, perhaps in the best case one year, especially if your child rides every day.
Design- Of course, it is very important to also emphasize the style but no less, the quality of the bike. I recommend colors that do not drop color easily like bright colors, including white and orange.
Height- The height of your child should be a very important factor in choosing a dirt bike, and it is very important to choose a motorcycle that the child will be able to put both his legs down to stabilize himself, and the child would not be able to lose control very easily
Wheel size- The size of the wheel is another very important factor with your child who has been practicing for several years and his level is high. I would recommend walking on small skates, which means that the bottom of the 125 small wheels it allows the child to have more agility and speed to make rounds easier. If your child is just starting, I would recommend large wheels for stable posture for the child, until he learns to control a dirt bike, and then switch to smaller wheels
Seat size- The size of the seat is very important. You want to check the appropriate size of the seat for your child according to the feet touching the ground. The ideal height recommended for children between the ages of 10 and 12 is 26 to 31.
In addition, I have written a complete guide on choosing the perfect dirt bike that fits your height click here to view
- 5’4ʺ (162cm) Tall – 33 to 36ʺ seat height
- 5’2ʺ (157cm) Tall – 31 to 35ʺ seat height
- Kids 10 to 12 years old – 26 to 31ʺ seat height
- Kids 8 to 9 years old – 24 to 28ʺ seat height
- Kids 3 to 7 years-old – 50cc bike
In conclusion, today I showed you what questions you need to ask yourself before you choose a bike, to always remember to buy your bike only according to your personal needs, and the questions I showed you. Thank you, read until next time.