New dad to MX

I would really look into getting him some lessons ASAP. It's much easier to build a base earlier without having to fight all of the bad habits. Talk to some of the people at the track or surf social media to find someone in your area. 

Other than that, get a 2nd mortgage and get ready to drive him all over the country hoping that he will become one of 20 people who make a good living at the sport. 

Depending on what size he is, I would get him a 65. Race 50’s are a bottomless pit of money and upkeep. 

Get a 65 ASAP. Haha previous comment is on the money with 50cc race bikes, really finicky and clutches all the time. And as much turn track as possible.

Get a 65!! Skip the fast 50’s. Expensive to buy, expensive to maintain and a huge headache. Got my son a 65 a year ago because I couldn’t pass up the deal. Took him out to ride if the first time on New Years in the desert just to learn it a bit, he was still 6 at the time. He just turned 7 in April and hadn’t ridden since New Years but wanted to go to the track yesterday. He put about 2.5-3 hours on his bike yesterday, started jumping for the first time ever and we had to pull him off after he rode 45 minutes straight. Best thing I did was get him on that YZ65. He loves it and wants to ride every day. Skip the fast 50’s and get him a 65.

i’m finding it really hard to get my son into moto, i do it and he comes to the track with me. He is 10 and i want to get a 110 for him but the thought of him getting hurt or worse because of something i got him into scared the you know what out of me. 

You can get lowering kits for a kx65 for reasonable money, you can limit the throttle opening with some cut pvc spacers. IMO the sooner he learns a clutch and gears, the better off he will be in later years. 

I completely understand this. As you can see from the pictures it's not like my son is out hucking everything, but I get scared watching him ride anything that isn't a flat track, especially now on the 65. So seeing him jump yesterday even the little bit had me freaked out. I try telling myself that I did it and was racing at his age, but man it's different when it's your kid. The smile on his face coming off the track and the 8 hours straight after of him talking about how awesome of a day it was makes you rethink the fear you have. I look at him and his excitement from yesterday and I see myself at 7 all over again, but he's picking it up faster with way less consistency. 

So far he’s jumped a dirtbike higher than I have. 
 

keep up the good work. 

I think getting a 7 year old moto lessons is kind of ridiculous. 

Why, what is it you don't like? 

Weirdly, kids are often a lot more receptive to a teacher or club/group leader than a parent. Plus if a dude has taught a hundred kids to get going safely and efficiently and knows what works, surely that's a benefit?

Each to their own dude, just wondering what the thought process is 👍

i think going that route just enables this weird training compound culture where these kids waste thousands of dollars to just be average. 

just let the kid ride. this dude is saying he used to race so he knows what he is talking about - he can easily teach the kid the basics. so just get him a bike and let him enjoy himself. do parents get their kids baseball lessons before they put them in the local t ball league? lmfao no. just let them have fun. if they are truly gifted, there will be a time for shit like that. 

Fair shout man, I can certainly agree with some if not most of that 👍

Different strokes for different folks I guess, I can totally see how it'd be a slippery slope.

 My son is 26 now.....video games from 6 pm till 7 a.m. ANYTHING you can do to keep them off video games is a plus. Good Luck Dad....

I'd just buy a CRF110.  Let him ride that a little bit.  It'll be a good transition from that 50.  Let him ride that a few months and see if it sticks before going all in on a race bike.  If he really wants to keep doing it then you have a 110 you'll need for a pitbike anyway.  If the budget allows at least.  110 will be a big jump from the 50 and lessen the jump to a 65.  I agree at 7 don't waste your time buying a race 50.

Sign your kid up for beginner not age group 

Ktm e5. We have about 9 months on a 2023 and it’s been really great. Charge battery, lube chain, adjust chain, wash now and then and that’s it. lol It also have 6 different modes depending on skill and lasts an hour or so easily.

Same here best thing ever. My kid loves it 

I don't want to freak you guys out but wait until they get on a full size bike, be prepared to do some rapid aging lol Top to bottom jump progression, PW50, KTM50, KX65, YZ85, CRF250.  Dirt bikes have been safer than skateboards, still scary to watch though ! 

This is good advice. You could also consider a KLX110L which is a clutch bike which would serve as a great learning bike in both figuring out moto and manual clutch.

  The race 50s are a huge pain in the ass. I would go the with the KTM over the Cobra if you do want to go the race 50 route. The Cobras are fast but are super high $$ maintenance over the KTMs for sure. I absolutely HATE the race 50's. Nothing but bottomless money pits. 

As for learning and training just make sure you get your kid as much ride time as possible in the yard, youth tracks and just open fields as well. I see way too many parents bring their kids to the track that want their kids to learn how to MX when they should be more focused on just the basic fundamentals of learning to ride a motorcycle. The MX experience will be that much more enjoyable for them if they know the basics of riding before they hit the track. 

As for it being fun for the whole family it is but it is also a sport that can consume you, eat your bank accounts and have you making trips to the ER. The novice experience is probably the most enjoyable because the faster they get, the more the sport will ask from you. Enjoy the experience though. I would not trade our moto family time for all of the stick & ball opportunities in the world.  

If he big enough just get him on a Austrian 65. Skip the 50 era if possible

I'd say it depends on the kid. We went PW 50 (thats all they had then) 65, 80, 125. My son really never rode too well until at 13 I bought him a 125. Then it was No Fear big jumps. It was scary then. He rode his bicycle all the time and was god on it. I believe that really helped. It was actually a friend from California that said get him a 125. I thought hell no and it took 2 or 3 months. Dad's are almost always worried about their kids getting hurt. Sometimes it takes listening to someone else that watches your son ride to get a dad to move. It did me. Now I've got a grandson out there and I have a different mindset. I just tell him how great he is doing. 

50 dad here to a 5 and 6 year old. Don't listen to these people hating on 50s. Get the kid a newer cobra 50. Keep the air filter cleaned and oil changed after every ride and youll be fine. If a 50 is a money pit to you then dirtbikes shouldn't be a hobby of yours. 

Man if you are just an oil change and air filter changer on a Cobra then you are one lucky guy. I know if we ran ours {2016} too long without packing ice on the stator on hot days it would fry them. If my son ran a wet, muddy or Sandy track those things would run hot and most of the times it was constant clutch work as well. I'm not saying you're not having that kind of luck with the Cobra's but I can promise you that you are the exception to the rule lol. 

The KTM Sr's are a little more reliable but yet again I couldn't wait to be rid of it. The best thing I love about the 50 class are the parents. They are very emotional at times and run their asses off around the track shadowing their little rider. It is awesome how they all are like the mother-hen and they all seemingly take stations and help the kids back up and going no matter who they are. 

I know how you feel, I have 3 boys racing MX and it does get scary, but my youngest fell in the park a month ago and snapped his arm so bad that the bones came out and he has had 3 surgeries in a month to try and fix it.

It can happen anywhere, it doesnt have to be racing dirt bikes.

It's not only about training the racer to be fast, it's also a safety deal. Not only with he get taught the basics about how tracks work, how to stay out of harms way etc, but he'll also get advice on proper positioning and things like that. 

Taking some lessons to become proficient doesn't have to have anything to due with racing