Kx85 first bike?

Warrior350bmx
Hello everyone.

I am 13 Yrs old and 5’3 and I want to get my first dirtbike to do motocross and maybe some trails. I have no riding experience but I have ridden a semi auto quad with shifter. I have a budget of around $2000 and I have been looking into a used 2017 kx85 for 2200 with title. I’ve seen people saying that 2 strokes are bad beginner bikes but I can’t afford a Honda crf150. I have also seen a listing for a 2016 kx100 for 2500 but I am not sure which is more beginner friendly. Please help out thanks!
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Project 2501
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Project 2501 8/13/2022 4:34pm
8/13/2022 4:34pm
91 kx80 big wheel was my first bike, in 1992. Similar age and size to you. I loved it.
Hammer 663s
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Hammer 663s 8/13/2022 5:46pm
8/13/2022 5:46pm Edited Date/Time 8/13/2022 5:47pm
The 85 is probably a small wheel. The 100 will be a big wheel. We've had both. At your size get the 100, put a Steahly flywheel weight on it, and go have fun. They are a solid platform that make a great learning bike. Take care of it and it will last a long time.
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Sheriff245 8/13/2022 5:48pm
8/13/2022 5:48pm
That would be a good bike to start riding at your age and height. I started on a 96 KX80, which is the ancestor of the KX85. The KX100 engine is a bit smoother (more beginner friendly) but the 85 has a slightly lower s’est height. I would suggest you go see both in person and bring someone with experience around dirt bikes if you know any.

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crusher773
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crusher773 8/13/2022 6:00pm
8/13/2022 6:00pm
If you aren't planning on racing then don't buy that. Save up more and buy a CRF150F or a TTR125 if you aren't racing.
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Hammer 663s
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Hammer 663s 8/13/2022 6:10pm
8/13/2022 6:10pm
crusher773 wrote:
If you aren't planning on racing then don't buy that. Save up more and buy a CRF150F or a TTR125 if you aren't racing.
No. Both those are heavy pigs. The TTR has crap suspension. Bad advice. A KX100 has real suspension, is 40 lbs lighter, and doesn't have a big hit. It's a great beginners bike and can be set up as a real woods weapon too.
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Mick 22
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Mick 22 8/14/2022 5:05am
8/14/2022 5:05am
The KX beats the hell out of the Suzuki TS 50 Gaucho that was my first ride at age 12.
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crusher773
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crusher773 8/14/2022 11:19am
8/14/2022 11:19am
crusher773 wrote:
If you aren't planning on racing then don't buy that. Save up more and buy a CRF150F or a TTR125 if you aren't racing.
Hammer 663s wrote:
No. Both those are heavy pigs. The TTR has crap suspension. Bad advice. A KX100 has real suspension, is 40 lbs lighter, and doesn't have a...
No. Both those are heavy pigs. The TTR has crap suspension. Bad advice. A KX100 has real suspension, is 40 lbs lighter, and doesn't have a big hit. It's a great beginners bike and can be set up as a real woods weapon too.
So if the kid isn't planning on racing have him buy a race bike? Something that takes more maintenance and a greater chance of getting him hurt. Yeah great idea. I was just saying if he isn't going racing buy something he can just get on and ride with less hassle. If the kid is buying himself pretty likely his parents aren't involved. He could be 1 breakdown or crash away from never getting to ride again.
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walent215
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walent215 8/14/2022 11:44am
8/14/2022 11:44am
crusher773 wrote:
If you aren't planning on racing then don't buy that. Save up more and buy a CRF150F or a TTR125 if you aren't racing.
Hammer 663s wrote:
No. Both those are heavy pigs. The TTR has crap suspension. Bad advice. A KX100 has real suspension, is 40 lbs lighter, and doesn't have a...
No. Both those are heavy pigs. The TTR has crap suspension. Bad advice. A KX100 has real suspension, is 40 lbs lighter, and doesn't have a big hit. It's a great beginners bike and can be set up as a real woods weapon too.
crusher773 wrote:
So if the kid isn't planning on racing have him buy a race bike? Something that takes more maintenance and a greater chance of getting him...
So if the kid isn't planning on racing have him buy a race bike? Something that takes more maintenance and a greater chance of getting him hurt. Yeah great idea. I was just saying if he isn't going racing buy something he can just get on and ride with less hassle. If the kid is buying himself pretty likely his parents aren't involved. He could be 1 breakdown or crash away from never getting to ride again.
If he planned to off-road rather than moto then one of the trail bikes would be great
He is planning to moto is what it sounds like so the kx100 might be a better option
Rickyisms
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Rickyisms 8/14/2022 11:49am
8/14/2022 11:49am
Even for casual trail riding I’d rather send someone out on a KX100 than a trail bike. It’s pretty easy to hurt yourself once you start pushing a TTR too hard.
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Hammer 663s
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Hammer 663s 8/14/2022 12:29pm
8/14/2022 12:29pm
crusher773 wrote:
If you aren't planning on racing then don't buy that. Save up more and buy a CRF150F or a TTR125 if you aren't racing.
Hammer 663s wrote:
No. Both those are heavy pigs. The TTR has crap suspension. Bad advice. A KX100 has real suspension, is 40 lbs lighter, and doesn't have a...
No. Both those are heavy pigs. The TTR has crap suspension. Bad advice. A KX100 has real suspension, is 40 lbs lighter, and doesn't have a big hit. It's a great beginners bike and can be set up as a real woods weapon too.
crusher773 wrote:
So if the kid isn't planning on racing have him buy a race bike? Something that takes more maintenance and a greater chance of getting him...
So if the kid isn't planning on racing have him buy a race bike? Something that takes more maintenance and a greater chance of getting him hurt. Yeah great idea. I was just saying if he isn't going racing buy something he can just get on and ride with less hassle. If the kid is buying himself pretty likely his parents aren't involved. He could be 1 breakdown or crash away from never getting to ride again.
Dude, we've got 200+ hours on the KX85SW, 100BW, and a built 105 supermini over 2+ years of racing. There are a lot of KX100s here in the PNW used by smaller people, both moto and woods. A good buddy of mine kicked ass on a KX100 in Vet racing. They are simple to work on, light (compared to others), have good brakes and suspension, and can be tuned from mild to wild at the riders discretion. It's a great platform and we need more like it since they don't cost $7000 OTD.

I've also had the CRF150R in the garage and it's a pig. I'd never recommend one to a beginner, and not to too many others either. TTRs are play bikes, period.
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