Scrambler motor bike as a Christmas present

[Grassman]

Well, point out to her that if he has a dirt bike now, it will (possibly) get bikes out of his system early on so he won't want a road bike later....

As other have said, helmet is vital, even for a tootle around a field. Gloves and boots are a must, albeit Trials boots are nicer for just scooting around than MX boots. Pick up a pair on eBay...

We have new good quality helmets from around £60

 

[Bill Turtle]

I have six children, most of them have ridden horses competitively. I have seen many more accidents at horse events than enduros.
I think the key with either is good safety equipment but, more importantly, good training and not trying to run before you can walk.
My son is in a club where the adults train the children and there are separate youth races.
I enjoy taking him to events. We only do local ones, and it gets me off the farm and socialising with some folk from other walks of life which does us both good.
He now has a bunch of friends who participate in this sport and meet outside of it,
all at different schools. It has made him a lot more sociable.

 

[Grassman]

I quite fancy a trials bike myself, but it wouldn't be a very merry xmas if I spend the kids xmas money on myself!

You just don't have this job thought out do you?
You buy them a trials bike. You use it till they are big enough to ride it themselves and they get the enjoyment of watching you riding it

 

[2wheels]

So at 14 I had a Kawasaki kx125 . It was ex Neil prince so had one the British championship year before. When all my mates were trying to sneak into pubs I was stripping bike down abs rebuilding ready for racing Sunday. Get him an ACU licence. Get to a local club. It’s amazing.!
Edit, sorry as 12 key a kx or rm big wheel. Please join your local club! You too will then enjoy hobby as much as he does. Buy the best helmet money can buy, buy the best boots, kidney belt, body armour... ensue he wears it even to nip across the drive!

as robt says the kit is more important than the bike.

 

[Johnnyboxer]

I quite fancy a trials bike myself, but it wouldn't be a very merry xmas if I spend the kids xmas money on myself!

I picked this Yamaha 250 up a few years ago for £1300, all sound and is fine

 

[Tubbylew]

I picked this Yamaha 250 up a few years ago for £1300, all sound and is fine

View attachment 922634

I've a real hankering for a montesa 315r for some reason, but they're a bit pricey for me I'll have to work a bit harder.

 

[Grassman]

I picked this Yamaha 250 up a few years ago for £1300, all sound and is fine

View attachment 922634

That will not of lost any money
I loved the sound of my tyz

 

[Grassman]

I've a real hankering for a montesa 315r for some reason, but they're a bit pricey for me I'll have to work a bit harder.

See quite a few around £1500

 

[Celt83]

How far are you from the local hospitial , get to know the quickest route because you will need it .

Your not my wife are you? Because that's exactly what she said!!

If I thought like that, I'd wrap them up in cotton wool and wouldn't let them out on the farm to do jobs.

I get there is an element of risk to the sport but he playes competitive rugby, and some of the hits he takes and gives I have to wince and look at the ground until he gets up!

 

[Johnnyboxer]

I've a real hankering for a montesa 315r for some reason, but they're a bit pricey for me I'll have to work a bit harder.

I had a 315R, brand new in 2004...................never got on with it and the TYZ is twice the bike the 315R is/was.........for me
After the 315R, I went onto the 4T Montesa's and have had 4-5 of them

Got another Honda though

 

[Johnnyboxer]

That will not of lost any money
I loved the sound of my tyz

I love the TYZ induction roar, when you're on a long climb

Prices are stabilising and on the up for all classic dirt bikes

 

[Optimus]

Your not my wife are you? Because that's exactly what she said!!

If I thought like that, I'd wrap them up in cotton wool and wouldn't let them out on the farm to do jobs.

I get there is an element of risk to the sport but he playes competitive rugby, and some of the hits he takes and gives I have to wince and look at the ground until he gets up!

Wouldn't worry too much I've hurt my self more times in the last 5 years riding my MTB than 20 years riding motox bikes.

Guess not so many trees/rocks to avoid on a track though.

 

[JLTate]

I haven't read the whole thread.

Get him a trial bike.

Generally can buy a better trial bike for less money than a crosser.
Safer.
Normally haven't been as 'abused'
Gets him to learn control / balance and gears properly
Easier to set up a little course
Can have days of fun with a few placed Oil drums / cable reels / rocks / scaffold boards etc

Buy right and you won't lose a penny.

125cc will be fine and should last a good while.

 

[Hooby Farmer]

85 big wheel, or 125 will do the job nicely to start. Don't buy the bike too small when I was a lad I was bought a smaller bike than would have suited me and I physically and ability wise out grew it very quickly probably less than a year. As young lad of 13/14 i had no money to replace it with a bigger bike and in my dads opinion sure there is nothing wrong with it, it will do you a long time. I was very grateful that i had been gifted the bike and opportunity to learn how to ride as there were many guys my age didn't have such a thing, but always wanted a bigger newer one. There will always be maintenance to do on them. 2 strokes require slightly less unless he's doing 10 hours at 12k rpm then he'll need a piston once a month. Get good riding gear, helmets, gloves, boots body, armour no matter what there will be spills so don't skimp. Don't be afraid of buying good branded 2nd hand stuff either apart from a helmet buy it new and as big a budget as possible. My riding gear probably has cost £1000-1500 but that's been gathered up over years, thats always a forgotten cost.

 

[solo]

Honda crf 100 will be a perfect size and will not be silly fast. My two children learnt to ride on one. I would use traffic cones set wide apart to start with to teach them the skill of using clutch, accelerator and brake. Once this was mastered I would tighten up the gaps between the cones and then later on would do the same on banks. The wife could then see it was going to be a useful skill with minimal risk. Once they were competent they were able to deal with the speed which was ok, but not too fast. They had great enjoyment out of it until their 20’s and left home.I sold it back in the spring to a forum member.

 

[Pistonbroke]

The

I haven't read the whole thread.

Get him a trial bike.

Generally can buy a better trial bike for less money than a crosser.
Safer.
Normally haven't been as 'abused'
Gets him to learn control / balance and gears properly
Easier to set up a little course
Can have days of fun with a few placed Oil drums / cable reels / rocks / scaffold boards etc

Buy right and you won't lose a penny.

125cc will be fine and should last a good while.

The ttr 125 I showed earlier would be similar mechanically to a trials bike but more comfortable. It's not a race bike so not thrashed and will go for years

 

[steveR]

We have new good quality helmets from around £60

Sounds reasonable. I dont buy 2nd hand helmets..... ever.

All other riding gear is open to ebay purchases

 

[steveR]

Honda crf 100 will be a perfect size and will not be silly fast. My two children learnt to ride on one. I would use traffic cones set wide apart to start with to teach them the skill of using clutch, accelerator and brake. Once this was mastered I would tighten up the gaps between the cones and then later on would do the same on banks. The wife could then see it was going to be a useful skill with minimal risk. Once they were competent they were able to deal with the speed which was ok, but not too fast. They had great enjoyment out of it until their 20’s and left home.I sold it back in the spring to a forum member.

Great little Honda engine. Just change the oil regularly...

 

[Grassman]

Sounds reasonable. I dont buy 2nd hand helmets..... ever.

All other riding gear is open to ebay purchases

Search box - Camio Moto

www.camiomoto.co.uk

Acerbis jet £53. Not worth even considering second hand

 

[Sid]

We have new good quality helmets from around £60

Cheap at twice the price!......almost