How To Choose The Best Dirt Bike For 14-Year-Old? Our Investigation

Dirt bikes offer kids an excellent way to have fun, sharpen agility, increase mental focus, grow stronger and participate in healthy competition. Riding dirt bikes also promotes the importance of safety as first-time riders learn how to use various accessories like knee pads, helmets, gloves, etc. The following comprehensive guide will help you choose the best dirt bike for a 14-year-old who wishes to start riding.

Key Features of a Teenager's Dirt Bike

Dirt bikes designed for kids are often enjoyable to use and come with various features like:

• The engine size is below 250cc, which reduces the probability of riding at high speeds
• They are available in both electricity and gas
• They are easy to ride and lightweight
• They have a relatively suitable height so that kids can touch the ground while seated on the dirt bike
• The manufacturers also install custom safety features to protect kids, like a throttle limiter

Should You Buy a New or Used Dirt Bike for A 14-Year-Old?

It is likely that your kid might not enjoy motocross or may want to stop after getting into an accident. Beginner riders often find dirt bikes intimidating, which may mean that they don't want to ride again. That means you must factor in that uncertainty when deciding how much you're willing to spend buying a dirt bike. 

In this case, buying a used bike may be better, particularly since kids tend to outgrow everything. A used dirt bike can be as enjoyable as a new bike, and it offers a huge price break. In addition, you need to be flexible because your kid will likely require another dirt bike as they gain more confidence and need a bigger motor size to ride faster. 

Benefits of Dirt Bikes for Kids

Introducing your kids to dirt bike riding offers multiple benefits, including the following:

• Increases focus: It is sometimes quite challenging for kids to focus, particularly if they don't see the need to do a specific task. However, dirt biking requires constant focus and attention to ride safely, which are essential skills that your child can use in other parts of their life. 
• Improves learning skills: Starting a new fun hobby like dirt bike riding will require learning a significant amount about the bike, maintenance tasks, and the sport in general. The best thing is that all these skills that you learn from dirt biking can be transferred over and applied to other areas of your life.
• Improves mental health: Dirt bike riding also improves mental capacity, which contributes to better concentration, deduction, memory, and improvements in other essential cognitive functions. Kids who ride dirt bikes tend to be more alert.
• Fun physical exercise: Riding dirt bikes is comparable to doing a full-body workout. Even though it is disguised as a fun activity, riding dirt bikes allows kids to exercise and stay in good physical shape. 
• Encourages socialization: Kids can interact with other riders at the track and make new friends. The riding community is generally quite welcoming, and riders are always keen on helping each other improve.

Critical Considerations for Choosing the Best Dirt Bike Appropriate for 14-Year-Olds

Dirt bikes meant for 14-year-olds have better stability, torque, power, endurance, and reliability. Kids at this age ought to have already become proficient at riding and handling the intensive nature of the sport. That said, there are a few considerations when selecting the best dirt bike appropriate for 14-year-olds, and they include:

1. Seat Height

One way to determine whether a dirt bike is an excellent fit for your kid is by checking the seat height. The child's feet must touch the ground while seated on the bike. Using the right seat size increases stability, and it also means that they can stop the dirt bike without falling over.

2. Bike Style

An excellent way to get your kids excited about dirt bikes is to involve them in the buying process. While the parent determines how powerful or fast the dirt bike is, you should leave the styling to the child. Let them pick out their favorite colors and apply stickers or decals to the dirt bike to customize it.

3. Throttle Limiters

Throttle limiters are commonly installed on kid's dirt bikes to ensure that the engine never exceeds a specific operational limit. This throttle limit is an important safety feature, and it is worth checking whether the bike you are looking at has this option. Alternatively, you can get a lower engine capacity bike as the engine will not be too powerful to travel at risky or unsafe speeds.

4. Weight

Your child's weight will also affect the type of dirt bike you can buy. If your child weighs approximately 150 pounds or lower, the perfect dirt bike is roughly 250cc.

5. Level of Experience

Experience is an important fact when choosing the best dirt bike. Beginners should get bikes with an automatic transmission as they are relatively easier to use before moving to more advanced bikes with time. Also, consider a smaller engine capacity for a beginner until they can get used to the torque and speed of the dirt bike.

6. Starter Technology

Electric start dirt bikes are user-friendly and can be started by simply pushing a button. The maintenance of electric start units is also relatively easy. In contrast, if your kid has more experience riding dirt bikes, you can get a slightly more powerful dirt bike that uses the kick start system.

7. Type of Engine

There are two main categories of dirt bike engines: two-stroke and four-stroke engines. Two-stroke engine dirt bikes are faster and lighter, they often have an intense motor kick. In contrast, four-stroke engine dirt bikes have a lower speed and are much easier to maneuver and control.

8. Engine size and power

Another important consideration when choosing a dirt bike is how powerful the bike is for your child. Less experienced beginners should start with lightweight and less powerful bikes until they gain enough experience. The ideal engine size for 14-year-olds is 250 cc.

9. Tire Size

Dirt bikes with smaller tires are usually easier to control. However, they can also be more prone to damages, particularly when riding over plenty of bumps. In contrast, bigger tire sizes mean greater stability and the ability to soak up bumps easily. They are also helpful if the child is tall.

10. Budget

The price of the dirt bike will also influence your decision. Some bikes are quite costly, particularly electric bikes, while others are considerably more affordable. Remember to get a bike with as many features as possible regardless of the price to ensure your child gets a comfortable riding experience.

11. Consider the terrain

Even though dirt bikes work well on most terrains, there are situations where the terrain may be too challenging for the bikes. For instance, riding over loose material like sand can be quite hard. The solution here is to buy a bike built to handle mud or sand or buy aftermarket parts to equip your bike to deal with that terrain.

Other Things Worth Considering

• How are you going to transport the dirt bike? Bigger dirt bikes will need a trailer, while smaller ones can be transported inside the car.
• Carbureted or EFI engine? EFI engines are modern and use more electrical features. In contrast, carbureted engines have fewer electrical features but require regular adjustments to keep functioning at maximum efficiency.
• What maintenance does the dirt bike require? Four-stroke dirt bikes typically require less maintenance than two-stroke bikes. Will you need to hire a professional mechanic to maintain your motorcycle, or will you handle the repairs yourself?
• Where will the dirt bike be stored? It would help to store your dirt bike in a secure site like a garage or shed. If you wish to leave the bike outside, consider investing in a suitable bike cover to prevent harsh weather damage.
• Can you manage to pay for the ongoing expenses of owning a dirt bike? Between maintenance, insurance, and various other costs, can you meet the expenses for having a dirt bike?

Important Safety Features for Kids When Riding Dirt Bikes

It is vital to ensure your child has appropriate safety gear every time they ride their dirt bike. Here are some of the essential safety accessories:

• Helmet
• Goggles
• Riding boots
• Gloves
• Neck brace
• Elbow and knee guards
• Riding pants and jersey
• Back and chest protection

When Should You Get a Bigger Dirt Bike for Your Kid?

As kids grow older and become more skilled at riding dirt bikes, they may require moving to more powerful bikes. Here are a few instances of why it may be worth getting a powerful dirt bike:

• When your child wants to try out motocross racing
• If your child has grown rapidly and the old dirt bike has become too small for them
• If your child is ready to learn to ride bikes with a manual transmission and a clutch
• If your child needs a dirt bike with larger wheels, better brakes, and enhanced suspension

The Best Dirt Bikes for Teenagers

Here are some of the best dirt bikes available today for 14-year-olds:

Yamaha YZ125

The YZ125 is a lightweight dirt bike that weighs only 207 pounds and is great for beginners. It also comes with an average seat height of 38.4 inches, ideal for taller teenagers. The two-stroke engine on this bike is quite powerful. In addition, the YZ125 comes with an attractive design, and it is built using high quality and durable aluminum, which prevents the bike from getting scratches.

Suzuki DR-Z125 

The overall dimensions of this Suzuki dirt bike include a height of 43.7 inches, a width of 30.3 inches, and a seat height of 32 inches, all of which are perfect for 14-year-old riders. Despite having a powerful engine and a big transmission unit, this dirt bike is relatively lightweight at only 89kg.

Razor MX500 Dirt Rocket Electric Dirt Bike

The final dirt bike on this list is an electric bike from Razor that is great for teens aged 14 years and above. It features a 500W engine, and it can handle speeds as high as 15mph with the ability to carry a rider with an average weight of 170 pounds. While the battery takes quite a long to get a full charge, you can expect at least 40 minutes’ worth of continuous usage without any issues.

Safety Considerations for 14-Year-Olds When Driving Dirt Bikes

There are a few essential safety considerations for any teenager riding dirt bikes, and they include the following:

• Always ensure that they wear protective gear when riding the dirt bike, particularly the safety helmet
• Consider investing in a fitting body airbag as it will help to protect their neck and spine
• They also must wear goggles when riding to prevent dirt and mud from getting into their eyes
• Ensure that they wear the necessary body armor and reinforced safety boots

Do 14-Year-Old Kids Need Gas-Powered or Electric Dirt Bikes?

Electric bikes come with rechargeable batteries, and they can save you on maintenance and fuel. In addition, they run quietly, which is ideal for riding in the backyard without disrupting your neighbors. In contrast, gas bikes offer more speed and torque, particularly with larger engines. They also tend to be stable and easy to ride for most kids. While this will ultimately be a personal decision, it is best to train your kids to ride traditional gas bikes and then move to electric bikes.

Conclusion

Choosing the best dirt bike for your kids will ensure they can be excited and motivated to learn the sport. Remember to ease them into riding and avoid pushing them if they are not enjoying the experience. Make sure to select a dirt bike that suits your child's weight, body strength, height, and level of expertise. In addition, if you are buying a used dirt bike, ensure you get a high-quality unit as it will maintain its resale value once your kid outgrows it and requires a new bike.