Good starter bike for kids?

[Pro_Marinero]

Originally Posted by H_Mushmann

Yes, I was talking about the first ones to come out.

I ended up starting my oldest son on a Honda CRF50, but it had nothing to do with having him on a gas motor (I'm a 2-stroke guy anyway). The Honda is just more versatile than the OSET. The local trials series has a class for kids on 50s and he can race the pee wee events in motocross and off-road on it. When he gets older he can choose what he wants to ride/race, even if it's just trail riding. Then we'll get a more specialized bike and pass the Honda down to his siblings.

Highly disagree with you here. My kids are smoking their peers of the same age in sheer ability of controlling the bike. They stand up and use their balance to control it, as opposed to sitting down and gassing it. The OSETS do well on the track too.

[brewtus]

Originally Posted by Lobo50

Yamaha TY 80's are great for a starter bike. There were two that just sold in my area. One has had a lot of work done to it and looked real nice. I think he was asking about $500. Another just sold for $400 and was also in good condition. Can't go wrong for that price. Your kids could ride the bike for a few years and you could still get the same price out of it.

They are also virtually indestructible. Myself and four other New Mexico Trials Association members bought one that we use to put on an exhibition/buffoonery trial the evenings before our local events (yes, we stole the idea from Ryan Young and the Baumberts). The little TY takes an amazing amount of abuse (one of the team members is Lance Butler, second place NATC Sportsman last year) and keeps on going. Another team member, Greg Arrants, won the mini-bike class (riding the Pro line!) at the Sandia Classic vintage national this past weekend. Great starter bike for the kids, great pit bike, great for big-boy trials with your buddies.