How to pick the right Dirt Bike for an 8 Year-Old Kid

In this article, we are going to talk about how to pick the right dirt bike for your 8-year-old, and offer some great options to choose from.

Dirt biking is a fun family sport that can be enjoyed by all ages. When first getting your kids into dirt biking its important that you understand a few things.

There are really 3 options you can choose from when looking to buy your 8-year-old kid a dirt bike. These options all are a bit different and are built for dirt biking in specific terrain. We can break these dirt biking riding niches into two categories motocross riding and trail riding.

Along with terrain you need to be aware of your eight your olds kid’s personality. Are the timid and like to take things slowly or are they like a bull in a china shop? Remember to be patient with them as they are learning. Forcing them onto the dirt bike will most likely result in them not liking dirt biking.

Make dirt biking fun and light.

Kids Dirt Biking Terrain

• Motocross Tracks
• Trail Riding

The reason we bring up these two different riding options is both require different bikes. That doesn’t mean that you cannot ride one bike on both terrain options. It just means that the dirt bike manufacturers are building kids dirt bikes for these specific terrain choices.

Trail riding for youngsters is slower and less intense. You are typically riding down a single track trail when trail riding. 8-year-old kids trail riding bikes need to be easy to control and have soft enough suspension to soak up the terrain. It’s also nice if the kids trail dirt bike has electric start. Also, most of the 8-year-old kid’s trail bikes have a semi-automatic transmission.

Motocross is higher speeds with corners, jumps, and bumps. This requires the 8 years olds kids motocross bikes to have large suspension travel and lots more power. These kids motocross bikes have a taller seat height and are two strokes and come with a manual transmission.

It requires your 8-year-old to have more skills when riding a motocross dirt bike vs a trail dirt bike.

8-year-old kids trail bikes have smaller suspension and are air-cooled four strokes with a more mellow easier to ride power. The 8-year-olds kid’s motocross bike has much larger suspension and are generally liquid cooled two strokes with lots of power.

Let’s assume you are wanting to get your 8-year-old kid into dirt biking and you are wondering what you should choose first.

If you are just getting started you need to choose a trail kids dirt bike or a motocross kids dirt bike.

Below we will go into detail what bikes you should get as a beginner for both riding niches.

HOW TO PICK THE RIGHT DIRT BIKE FOR AN 8-YEAR-OLD BEGINNER DIRT BIKER

If you plan on starting your 8-year-old kid out on the trails there are a few really good options from a few different dirt bike manufacturers. The 2020 models have electric start and semi-automatic transmission. Some of the older kids trail dirt bikes do not have electric start. 

We do now have some great electric dirt bike for 8-year-olds to chose from

It’s important that you get a dirt bike that fits your 8-year-old. If you get a dirt bike that is too small they will bottom out the suspension and also when the dirt bike is too small it’s harder to help them develop correct riding positions like standing up. Typically the frame size and seat height of trail dirt bike for an 8-year-old kid lands us in the 110cc range.

Keep in mind that your child can still ride the dirt bike even if they cannot touch the ground. However, this tends to make the child feel very uneasy about riding a dirt bike that is too tall.

So, what is a good size dirt bike for an 8 year old?

Depending on how tall is your child, a seat height between 18 and 26 inches is a good match that will allow your 8-year-old to sit on the bike, feel safe and touch the ground. This is why I highly recommend finding a local dealership for your 8-year-old to sit on the bikes to see if they can touch the ground or not.

Below we will provide you with a list of combustion engine (ICE) trail dirt bikes for you to start with. After, we will provide you with some really good electric dirt bike options.

List of Trail Dirt Bikes for your 8 year old:

8 YEAR OLD KIDS ICE POWERED TRAIL DIRT BIKES

2020 Kawasaki KLX110L Price: $2499

Each of the 8-year kid’s dirt bike mentioned above is perfect for beginners and advanced dirt bike riders. The newer models have an electric start which makes for easier starting as a beginner.

• Great for beginners
• Can be ridden by advanced riders
• Easy to ride
• Great for Trail riding
• NOT build for motocross

If you would like to buy a used kids dirt bike for your 8 year old instead of investing in a brand new dirt bike, please see the link below.

CLICK HERE FOR HOW TO BUY USED DIRT BIKES

8 YEAR OLD KIDS ELECTRIC POWERED TRAIL DIRT BIKES

Modern electric technology has finally gotten good enough to actually have 8-year-old kids electric dirt bikes. There are standard electric kids dirt bikes and trials kids electric dirt bikes. These electric dirt bikes are a great option for riding trails around the house. They are also great for your 8 year old to get started with if they are a beginner dirt bike rider.

Youth electric kid dirt bikes have the ability to go slower than a gas-powered dirt bike. Some electric kids’ dirt bikes even have different power riding modes. There is no heat, sound or shifting with an electric kids dirt bike.

Below are the 2 different types of electric dirt bikes for 8-year-olds – Standard Motocross and Trials Dirt Bike. 

Electric Trials dirt bike for 8-year-old kids

Getting an electric kids trials dirt bike for your eight your old is a good idea. Especially if they are new to dirt biking and do not plan on riding motocross tracks.

• Great for beginners
• Great for Advanced riders
• Easy to ride
• Can be trail ridden
• NOT for motocross

Trials bikes are made to go slow and work over terrain and obstacles. These trials skills help you’re 8 year old learn balance and technique. They are forced to stand up which is the proper way to ride a dirt bike. Oset makes a great electric trials bike for 8-year-olds. (See below)

OSET 20.0 Trials Bike Price: $3099

Electric Motocross dirt bike for 8-year-old kids

For 2020 we have one of the major Dirt Bike Manufactures (KTM) building electric motocross bikes for 8-year-old kids. In fact, I also feel because of the electric motor and power settings on the KTM SX E-5 it actually would be a good kids trial dirt bike.

Even though KTM intended this electric dirt bike to spend most of its time on a motocross track, that doesn’t mean that you wouldn’t be able to trail ride it.

• Great for Beginner Motocross riders
• Great for Beginner dirt bike riders
• Perfect for trail riding
• Perfect for Motocross riding

This electric dirt bike comes with 3 power modes. The 1st power mode is the best for beginners and KTM claims that it will last 2 hours. While that’s probably not going to beat a gasoline-powered machine in a milage test, I feel like that’s really good for an electric kids dirt bike. The KTM SX E-5 comes with high-quality parts and suspension which can be tuned for motocross and trail riding.

This SX E-5 is probably the best motocross bike for beginners and also for those parents that want their 8-year-old to be able to ride both motocross and trails.

Its also quiet which means no noise pollution with riding around the house.

2020 KTM SX 5-E Price: $5049

ICE Motocross dirt bike for 8-year-old kids

Internal Combustion Engine Kid motocross bikes still rule the world of motocross racing. If you would like your 8-year-old to get into motocross racing you will want to look into getting them an ICE dirt bike.

These 8-year-old kid dirt bikes are NOT for beginners.

• Full fledge Racebike
• Motocross
• For advance riders
• High-quality parts and suspension
• Can be ridden on trails with an experienced rider

The manufactures that offer these 8 year kids motocross dirt bikes they are expecting them to race them on a motocross track. They have high revving high power two-stroke motors. 

They also have the highest suspension and seat height. The recommended motor size in the 8-year-old dirt bike racing class is 65cc.

These 65cc are really fast and are fitted with a manual 5-speed transmission clutch.

Here is where they can be be used for both motocross and trail riding. If your eight-year-old is experienced enough and can use the manual clutch, these 65cc dirt bikes actually make for a good trail bike.

Are they easy to ride on trails?

No but they can be if the rider is good enough.

Husqvarna TC 65 Price: $5,099

No matter what dirt bike you choose for your 8-year-old kid. Make sure that you provide them with the proper dirt bike training and dirt bike protective gear. Dirt biking no matter if its trial riding or motocross riding is meant to be fun and SAFE.

CLICK HERE FOR KIDS PROTECTIVE GEAR GUIDE

Our saying is to buy your eight-year-old the best protective gear you can afford. Helmet, riding boots, long pants, and gloves are a must-have.

Consult your local dirt bike dealership to ask where you can get your child some proper dirt bike training or schooling. Even though I have ridden dirt bikes for years as you parents know, kids sometimes are better at “listening” when its not the parent.

Ride hard and safe out there. 

Best dirt bikes for 2020