14-15 y/o's on 80s

observer
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observer
Edited Date/Time 10/22/2013 7:50am
Is it just me or did anybody else watch those (big) kids wringing 80s out for all they're worth, thought they should've been on 125s? So obvious....
Why not!?
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MX4EVR
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MX4EVR 10/20/2013 8:13pm
10/20/2013 8:13pm Edited Date/Time 10/20/2013 8:15pm
My thoughts exactly
My kid is on a 85 and weights 71lbs 11 yrs old
Never will he be on a 85 at 15 yrs old
What a joke
burn1986
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burn1986 10/20/2013 8:35pm
10/20/2013 8:35pm
Yeah, it looked a little odd. It's a big jump up to a 250F though. There's nothing in between.
dboivin
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dboivin 10/20/2013 8:46pm
10/20/2013 8:46pm
i'm a firm believer in a kid riding an 80 as long as they can. I personally made the switch to big bikes at 14 and regret it til this day.
MX4EVR
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MX4EVR 10/20/2013 8:46pm
10/20/2013 8:46pm
I was at the track ( local mx track here in OK )
This summer
Caden Davis
Keep a eye in him
He's 13
Asked me straight up
Hey, can I ride your bike?
Never talked to the little man before that
I said if your dad says ok the I say ok
I have a 2011 yz250
Springs for my weight
Bike flies if you can ride like a Blackwell brother
He asks me if I will hold it up while he kicks it over
Little man ripped the shit out of it and blew all the soot out of my exhaust for me

Don't get me started

The Shop

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Forza
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Forza 10/20/2013 8:51pm
10/20/2013 8:51pm
In the old days it was 7-11yrs 80cc 12-16yrs 80cc
moscrop940
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moscrop940 10/20/2013 9:02pm
10/20/2013 9:02pm
Honestly guys it has been barely a decade since factories use to keep kids that were 5'10+ on big bikes to win the 14-16 and supermini classes. Johnathon shimp, Ryan Morais, Josh grant, Matt georke were all too big towards the end to be on the 80.

Kelly Tedder was another one and I can honestly say it probably was part of the downfall of his future. He stayed on the 80 so long for kawasaki and had to learn how to ride an 80 while being far to big. When he got to the big bike he still rode like he was on a mini. He rode the 125 sitting down just like his 80 and it just didnt work.

I know there are a few people on this board that will remember (DL) when 16 year olds on 80's wasnt crazy. Yougeorke can imagine how scary it was for a kid like me at 10 to line up next to Tedder and know we were in the same class. I was in elementry school racing a kid in 10th grade. Shit was different not too long ago


Ryan Moscrop
malachi177
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malachi177 10/20/2013 9:17pm
10/20/2013 9:17pm
Supermini is up to 112cc and 19" front wheel and 16" rear. Not the same animal as the 85's.....significantly different.
kzizok
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kzizok 10/20/2013 9:43pm
10/20/2013 9:43pm Edited Date/Time 10/20/2013 9:45pm
I actually think that there are more kids moving up quicker than they used to. My son is 14 and moved up last year and I kept a mental note of who also moved up to big bikes. A lot more did/have than I anticipated. That is such a volatile age growth wise, some have a growth spurt and some don't. Heck, you can youtube the Carlsbad race from years ago and a lot of the front runners were 15 and Emig was 16. Sure, some are too big but some are not and need a bike size for them. This is certainly not a new phenomenon.
observer
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observer 10/20/2013 10:03pm
10/20/2013 10:03pm
And that's why they'd be free to stay on minis. In my view, the 125 class is a CRITICAL bridge for teens moving up to the "big bikes". You think he's got the 125 handled?- well, move on up to the 250Fs wichya bad self. :-)
malachi177
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malachi177 10/20/2013 10:16pm
10/20/2013 10:16pm
My son is 14 and moved up to a 125 this year. He's 134lbs in gear. 85's have a 120lb limit, Supermini's ( KTM 105, KX100 etc) have about a 135lb limit. So my son moved up to a 125. His buddy raced his 85 while being 142lbs in gear and cracked his frame in the same spot twice. Even after being gusseted.
pdub187
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pdub187 10/20/2013 10:17pm
10/20/2013 10:17pm
I had a KX100 when I was 12 and got onto the 125 when I was 14 but it wasn't uncommon for smaller 15 and 16 year olds to be on 80s.
ga_pike
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ga_pike 10/21/2013 4:56am
10/21/2013 4:56am
I was on 80's when I was 14 and moved at 15 to 125's. Looking back, I wish I had held out for my last year on 80's.
Vanilla
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Vanilla 10/21/2013 5:02am
10/21/2013 5:02am
About 10-15 years ago you were allowed to put larger wheels (from a 125) in your 80 here in Europe.

When i was 12 i raced a european championship in France and this guy on a Honda with bigger wheels, higher buddyseat, raised handlebars etc had a full blow beard and moustache. I think he was like 1.75m. He scared the shit out of me back then haha.

I don't think people stay on 80's as long as they used to but sometimes you see some kids that just need to get on a 125.
Ewan
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Ewan 10/21/2013 6:04am
10/21/2013 6:04am
Vanilla wrote:
About 10-15 years ago you were allowed to put larger wheels (from a 125) in your 80 here in Europe. When i was 12 i raced...
About 10-15 years ago you were allowed to put larger wheels (from a 125) in your 80 here in Europe.

When i was 12 i raced a european championship in France and this guy on a Honda with bigger wheels, higher buddyseat, raised handlebars etc had a full blow beard and moustache. I think he was like 1.75m. He scared the shit out of me back then haha.

I don't think people stay on 80's as long as they used to but sometimes you see some kids that just need to get on a 125.
Yeah, i remember the Norwegian, Kenneth Gunderson riding a full size 80 back in '92 at the Honest Youth event here in bonie Scotland.

I'm sure it was basically a 125 with an 80cc motor in it, i think TM also offered an adult sized chasis with an 80 in it too.
Jeff alessi
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Jeff alessi 10/21/2013 6:20am
10/21/2013 6:20am
I have to agree with a few people in this thread, these kids riding 85s and superminis at 15 are waisting precious time! Most of them are extending there 2 stroke careers and forgetting how much different a for stroke is, When I rode a for stroke first I thought it was the slowest turd on earth and shifting it was so confusing because it didn't have that hit a two stroke had but I was also 11 years old first time I rode a 4 stroke! And they were different back then! but I was still learning earlier then most! By the time me and mike were 12 we were racing them every weekend, at 15 kids started moving up finally and what happened to a lot of them is they simply grew up and got burnt out or got forgotten or they got on the big bikes and got hurt because they tried riding it like that supermini they spent 7 years on. Point is these kids learn so much between the ages of 7-15 because it's the best times of there lives and to me that's the time to teach them! Honda 4 stroke 150 helped a lot of riders growing up (Barcia) it blows my mind not to see every company jumping ship on the two stroke 85s and creating a 150. The sooner you can hop on a 4 stroke the better!
GeorgiePorgie 10/21/2013 6:30am
10/21/2013 6:30am
This thread is about to get nasty.
JOHN CHOATE
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JOHN CHOATE 10/21/2013 6:40am
10/21/2013 6:40am
Uh-oh

Pit Row

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burn1986
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burn1986 10/21/2013 7:04am
10/21/2013 7:04am
Jeff alessi wrote:
I have to agree with a few people in this thread, these kids riding 85s and superminis at 15 are waisting precious time! Most of them...
I have to agree with a few people in this thread, these kids riding 85s and superminis at 15 are waisting precious time! Most of them are extending there 2 stroke careers and forgetting how much different a for stroke is, When I rode a for stroke first I thought it was the slowest turd on earth and shifting it was so confusing because it didn't have that hit a two stroke had but I was also 11 years old first time I rode a 4 stroke! And they were different back then! but I was still learning earlier then most! By the time me and mike were 12 we were racing them every weekend, at 15 kids started moving up finally and what happened to a lot of them is they simply grew up and got burnt out or got forgotten or they got on the big bikes and got hurt because they tried riding it like that supermini they spent 7 years on. Point is these kids learn so much between the ages of 7-15 because it's the best times of there lives and to me that's the time to teach them! Honda 4 stroke 150 helped a lot of riders growing up (Barcia) it blows my mind not to see every company jumping ship on the two stroke 85s and creating a 150. The sooner you can hop on a 4 stroke the better!
Jeff, how old were you and Mike when you went to the 450s, cause ya'll were pretty young when you did Millville for the first time on the 450?
Jakes Dad
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Jakes Dad 10/21/2013 8:06am
10/21/2013 8:06am
Daddy wants them titles for jr's pro resume.
Mr. Ted
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Mr. Ted 10/21/2013 8:10am
10/21/2013 8:10am
My son is 11 and 70 pounds. He will be staying on 85's then superminis for a while unless he gains some weight...
Falcon
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Falcon 10/21/2013 9:15am
10/21/2013 9:15am
It depends on the size of the kid. I jumped on a 125 at 14 and was instantly comfortable. The power to weight ratio is actually worse on a 125 than on a supermini, and the chassis of the big bike is much more forgiving. It's an easier bike to ride.
shiftmx_22 10/21/2013 9:23am
10/21/2013 9:23am
Did anybody hear the kid say that he was just clicking up to 3rd to hit that huge triple?! My mind was blown. Seems like back in my 80 days it would have been 3rd gear pinned just to double.

Those supermini's are probably pushing as much as any stock 125 if not more.
JM485
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JM485 10/21/2013 9:26am
10/21/2013 9:26am
I was 14 when I stated riding a 125 and was just a bit too big for the 85, but I had to stop by a rock or jump off the side of the bike to be able to touch the ground. I would say it was great for my riding that I spent a few years riding a 125. I will admit that I pretty much rode strictly trails at the time, but it taught me to use the larger bike to my advantage and keep my momentum up (especially when practicing hillclimbs), without having too much power that would scare me or allow me to get myself into too much trouble if I got out of control. It seems like a very logical step in the process to ride a 125 for a bit, jumping to a 250 2-stroke would have been too much for me at that size. I have never ridden a 250F so I can't really say how big of a difference it would have been to ride one of those coming off an 85, but I think the 125 was the perfect bike to help me develop my skills. Not to mention, I still have it and just started riding it again every now and then! Super light , corners like a dream, and so much fun you would think it's illegal!
Choppy
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Choppy 10/21/2013 9:30am
10/21/2013 9:30am
How did moving off the 80's early do for your guys MX career as pros and above?
JLong
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JLong 10/21/2013 9:30am
10/21/2013 9:30am
Every kid is different. Some just don't grow until 15-16.
gotwings
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gotwings 10/21/2013 9:35am
10/21/2013 9:35am
malachi177 wrote:
Supermini is up to 112cc and 19" front wheel and 16" rear. Not the same animal as the 85's.....significantly different.
^^this^^
Moens_Andy 10/21/2013 9:38am
10/21/2013 9:38am
JLong wrote:
Every kid is different. Some just don't grow until 15-16.
i can confirm that i whas 14 years old and not even able to touch the ground on a small wheel 80cc back in 98.

ther where kids that where alot bigger than me that moved up 1or 2 years before me
Lefty Right
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Lefty Right 10/21/2013 9:44am
10/21/2013 9:44am Edited Date/Time 10/21/2013 1:54pm
Forza wrote:
In the old days it was 7-11yrs 80cc 12-16yrs 80cc
What do you consider old days??

In AMA Dist 36 in the old days in the mid to late 70's you could only ride mini bikes up to your 14th birth day

Once you turned 14 you had to ride big bikes......
holeshot100
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holeshot100 10/21/2013 11:16am
10/21/2013 11:16am
malachi177 wrote:
Supermini is up to 112cc and 19" front wheel and 16" rear. Not the same animal as the 85's.....significantly different.
Exactly! A modded 112cc Supermini will beat a stock 125. Always my favorite class to watch at a national amateur MX race. I say keep a kid on a smaller bike until his size becomes a hindrance. They learn how to throw that bike around and learn crazy lean angles.

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