Looking to get into Motocross at age 22-23?

FuseMX21
Profile picture for user FuseMX21
Posts
48
Joined
1/21/2020
Location
NL
FuseMX21
Hello dirt monkeys,

i'm looking to get into motocross myself at age 22-23, i've Always been a motorsport fan (F1, karting, etc...) so i'm used to speed & adrenaline, however i know that motorcross will be something entirely different & will be very hard to learn, i have no skills on a dirtbike whatsoever, i only know the theoretical way of driving a dirtbike.
Now my question is, is it adviced to start motocross at my age? as if i didnt start at a very young age… i'm not looking to do any races / competitive motorcross although i have a goal to enter a supercross race in my area that has a hobby category.
I'm still looking to get myself a bike & gear (expensive i know) but i would like to know the opinion of this forum about my age & in what mindset i should put myself in. i know it will be a very long learning curve & i have to take it really slow, i'm a speed / adrenaline junky myself & like to run ahead of my skills...

So, your advice & expertise about all this is very well appreciated, any questions i will gladly answer.

Note that my girlfriends brother & his friend does motorcross as well, he will help me out too.

THANKS!!!
13
|
aeffertz
Profile picture for user aeffertz
Posts
9320
Joined
7/16/2015
Location
Eau Claire, WI US
aeffertz 1/21/2020 12:48am
1/21/2020 12:48am
If you have the money to do it, then absolutely!
7
FuseMX21
Profile picture for user FuseMX21
Posts
48
Joined
1/21/2020
Location
NL
FuseMX21 1/21/2020 12:51am
1/21/2020 12:51am
aeffertz wrote:
If you have the money to do it, then absolutely!
Heck, i'm still saving up to get myself a decent bike (second hand ofcourse..) there are alot of different bikes & build years of them out there, it's a maze for somoene like me, Kawasaki or Yamaha took my eye atm.
1
Deja New
Profile picture for user Deja New
Posts
2763
Joined
11/22/2016
Location
AU
Deja New 1/21/2020 12:58am
1/21/2020 12:58am
If you have friends that ride take one and go look at some well priced used bikes. As you might no like it and you can always upgrade. As for gear always get a new helmet as you don’t know what’s happened to a used one.
I’ve been in and out for 30 years now and still love it as much as ever.
Motocross is awesome and I’d say go for it just don’t buy a lemon and don’t buy a bike with stupid power for your first.
1
lukeylad
Profile picture for user lukeylad
Posts
56
Joined
2/7/2019
Location
GB
lukeylad 1/21/2020 12:59am
1/21/2020 12:59am
I only got into the sport at 23 also. I'm now 25.

I'm now completely hooked. I takes a while to acquire absolute everything you need likes tools but you'll have them for life.

Like said above if you have the money why not. Beats getting wasted in the pubs all weekend.

I plan on entering my first race this year which will be a learning curve.

6

The Shop

See All »
FuseMX21
Profile picture for user FuseMX21
Posts
48
Joined
1/21/2020
Location
NL
FuseMX21 1/21/2020 1:01am
1/21/2020 1:01am
Deja New wrote:
If you have friends that ride take one and go look at some well priced used bikes. As you might no like it and you can...
If you have friends that ride take one and go look at some well priced used bikes. As you might no like it and you can always upgrade. As for gear always get a new helmet as you don’t know what’s happened to a used one.
I’ve been in and out for 30 years now and still love it as much as ever.
Motocross is awesome and I’d say go for it just don’t buy a lemon and don’t buy a bike with stupid power for your first.
I'm looking to get myself a 250, as advised by my girlfriends brother.
2
FuseMX21
Profile picture for user FuseMX21
Posts
48
Joined
1/21/2020
Location
NL
FuseMX21 1/21/2020 1:03am
1/21/2020 1:03am
lukeylad wrote:
I only got into the sport at 23 also. I'm now 25. I'm now completely hooked. I takes a while to acquire absolute everything you need...
I only got into the sport at 23 also. I'm now 25.

I'm now completely hooked. I takes a while to acquire absolute everything you need likes tools but you'll have them for life.

Like said above if you have the money why not. Beats getting wasted in the pubs all weekend.

I plan on entering my first race this year which will be a learning curve.

Ahh, how was your experience from 23 to now? do you feel like you have learned enough or are you still behind on alot of techinques & such? i'll probably be hooked for life too, but my biggest fear is being behind in skill alot & actually frustrate other drivers on the tracks here because i'm so "slow"
lukeylad
Profile picture for user lukeylad
Posts
56
Joined
2/7/2019
Location
GB
lukeylad 1/21/2020 1:55am
1/21/2020 1:55am
lukeylad wrote:
I only got into the sport at 23 also. I'm now 25. I'm now completely hooked. I takes a while to acquire absolute everything you need...
I only got into the sport at 23 also. I'm now 25.

I'm now completely hooked. I takes a while to acquire absolute everything you need likes tools but you'll have them for life.

Like said above if you have the money why not. Beats getting wasted in the pubs all weekend.

I plan on entering my first race this year which will be a learning curve.

FuseMX21 wrote:
Ahh, how was your experience from 23 to now? do you feel like you have learned enough or are you still behind on alot of techinques...
Ahh, how was your experience from 23 to now? do you feel like you have learned enough or are you still behind on alot of techinques & such? i'll probably be hooked for life too, but my biggest fear is being behind in skill alot & actually frustrate other drivers on the tracks here because i'm so "slow"
The difference in speed is night and day. I compared go-pro footage a local track from 2018 to 2019 (around a year apart). I was 1m24s quicker. You gradually get faster so it's good to look back and see the difference over a longer time period.

Alot of the tracks in the UK are sand and are rough 70% of the year. I try practising on these types of tracks when others stay at home. I found by doing this that i would be hell of a lot quicker when it got to the good stuff

My worry was i would be behind alot also. My biggest issue was more fitness. I could barely do 2 laps without pulling over. That's when my technique went out the window.

I would say your technique becomes better when your fitness improves. Seat time is the key.

Just remember to go and have fun. Fuck everybody else.
1
Scott_Bate
Profile picture for user Scott_Bate
Posts
90
Joined
3/30/2019
Location
Harlam, NY US
Scott_Bate 1/21/2020 1:58am
1/21/2020 1:58am
23 years old should read 23 years young. I am 42 who started racing bikes at the age of 7 but you know what no matter the age we all start from somewhere. I used to work at a Motorcycle dealership and I remember an 80 year old from the country (No Lie) walking in with his YZ250 2 Stroke and walking out with a brand new RMZ450 in exchange. Age should have no boundaries.
4
FuseMX21
Profile picture for user FuseMX21
Posts
48
Joined
1/21/2020
Location
NL
FuseMX21 1/21/2020 2:18am
1/21/2020 2:18am
Scott_Bate wrote:
23 years old should read 23 years young. I am 42 who started racing bikes at the age of 7 but you know what no matter...
23 years old should read 23 years young. I am 42 who started racing bikes at the age of 7 but you know what no matter the age we all start from somewhere. I used to work at a Motorcycle dealership and I remember an 80 year old from the country (No Lie) walking in with his YZ250 2 Stroke and walking out with a brand new RMZ450 in exchange. Age should have no boundaries.
Thanks, this really helped me alot, i hope the people on the tracks around here have the same mindset & are willing to help me out.

I really hope i can race a supercross one day, probably never as a national or Inter, but as a hobby contender would satisfy me allready.
chump6784
Profile picture for user chump6784
Posts
1692
Joined
5/9/2011
Location
AU
chump6784 1/21/2020 2:28am
1/21/2020 2:28am
My wife started at around 24 when we got together. She is 35 now and still improving. The best thing I did was get her a coaching day with a local pro/coach. It improved her technique and boosted her confidence. I would highly recommend putting a couple hours on your bike to get used to it and then do some coaching so you have a good baseline technique
4
FuseMX21
Profile picture for user FuseMX21
Posts
48
Joined
1/21/2020
Location
NL
FuseMX21 1/21/2020 2:42am
1/21/2020 2:42am
chump6784 wrote:
My wife started at around 24 when we got together. She is 35 now and still improving. The best thing I did was get her a...
My wife started at around 24 when we got together. She is 35 now and still improving. The best thing I did was get her a coaching day with a local pro/coach. It improved her technique and boosted her confidence. I would highly recommend putting a couple hours on your bike to get used to it and then do some coaching so you have a good baseline technique
I have looked for coaching around the area, most of it is academy form or event form (including bike rent & such) i hope to find a coach one day tho.

there's a well known one in the area too, but they say he's full of arrogance because he's a former champion & such...
woodsgoon
Profile picture for user woodsgoon
Posts
117
Joined
11/24/2018
Location
IN US
woodsgoon 1/21/2020 5:13am
1/21/2020 5:13am
I got into this sport at that 22. Bought a used bike, Rode MX for about 2 years, blew up my bike, rebuilt it, sold it and quit. Missed it terribly the entire time and was back on a new bike in about a year. Im 31 now and have quit multiple times for various reasons (injury, career, buy a house...yada yada) Right now im currently on a hiatus after breaking 2 collarbones in 9 months, should be buying another one in a month or two. For me it was the best thing i had ever done. I went from spending my weekends either in the bar or being miserable the next day from the bar to making it a point to not drink, hitting the gym 5-6 days a week and doing everything i can to be in good shape for riding the bike. I moved into woods racing when i bought my second bike and quickly moved into a front row A rider. At 28 i was lining up at national enduros and running with kids 10 years younger than me for the 250A title. Ended up 4th. Made a lot of damn good memories in the process. Its never too late, you never know how good youll be till you try. If i could give some words of advice i wish someone had told me.
Dont worry about getting fast, if you have it, it will come....until then just have fun
If you quit....i cant stress this enough......sell your bike...do NOT sell your gear......youll be back and wishing you still had it.


3
bierbower105
Profile picture for user bierbower105
Posts
266
Joined
11/5/2018
Location
Uhrichsville, OH US
bierbower105 1/21/2020 5:17am
1/21/2020 5:17am
I took about a 12 year hiatus - got back in at 19 while I was in college. 23 now.

Start with a 125 - learn how to wrench - 125's are a great place to learn about being your own mechanic - but have someone like your brother in law around to make sure you're wrenching safely for awhile.

Spend some money on boots and a helmet - I broke a foot wearing mid grade boots on a silly low speed crash because of crappy boots.

Other than that really you just have to start doing it - don't let your ego or the people you ride with get ahead of you. Start out a small local tracks then work up from there better tracks as your skills improves.

Have fun and welcome!
1
Mossy
Profile picture for user Mossy
Posts
438
Joined
7/6/2018
Location
Newport News, VA US
Mossy 1/21/2020 5:27am
1/21/2020 5:27am Edited Date/Time 1/21/2020 5:32am
Do it!!!

I’m 23 and have just started riding actual motocross tracks like 4 months ago.

I got my first dirtbike when I was 19 which was a 97 yz125. Rode the shit out of it at my friends backyard track and random trails that I knew of.

This sport is all about having fun man. Get out there to the track and have fun. I was intimidated before going to a real track until I got out there and realized everyone there doesn’t give a fuck how good or bad you are (unless you run a single digit number hahaha Laughing

But forreal once you just get out there to the track you’ll feel right at home. Take it slow, with each trip to the track I make it a goal to do another jump that once intimidated me.

A lot of guys on here will give you great advice/tips as well. But the truth is you are plenty young to enjoy the sport, and if you were 20 years older you would still be plenty young, it would just take longer to recover if you got hurt Grinning

Now is the time to “get into it” though if you don’t have kids/family/etc.

Start with a 125 2 stroke
2
mark_swart
Profile picture for user mark_swart
Posts
2410
Joined
11/2/2011
Location
Chapin, SC US
mark_swart 1/21/2020 5:37am
1/21/2020 5:37am
This is kind of like walking into a bar and asking people if they think you should have a drink!

By all means, yes! As long as you are doing it for fun and don't think you are going to be qualifying for Anaheim SX next year, you will have many years of riding ahead of you.

My little brother is 29 and is planning to enter his first race this year as well.
7
FuseMX21
Profile picture for user FuseMX21
Posts
48
Joined
1/21/2020
Location
NL
FuseMX21 1/21/2020 5:53am
1/21/2020 5:53am
mark_swart wrote:
This is kind of like walking into a bar and asking people if they think you should have a drink! By all means, yes! As long...
This is kind of like walking into a bar and asking people if they think you should have a drink!

By all means, yes! As long as you are doing it for fun and don't think you are going to be qualifying for Anaheim SX next year, you will have many years of riding ahead of you.

My little brother is 29 and is planning to enter his first race this year as well.
Ha, i don't think i'll ever make it to Anaheim, it's not my ambition either, i wanna do it pure for fun & maybe do a race once or twice to check out my skill versus others, no ambition to go pro at all.
FuseMX21
Profile picture for user FuseMX21
Posts
48
Joined
1/21/2020
Location
NL
FuseMX21 1/21/2020 5:55am
1/21/2020 5:55am
Mossy wrote:
Do it!!! I’m 23 and have just started riding actual motocross tracks like 4 months ago. I got my first dirtbike when I was 19 which...
Do it!!!

I’m 23 and have just started riding actual motocross tracks like 4 months ago.

I got my first dirtbike when I was 19 which was a 97 yz125. Rode the shit out of it at my friends backyard track and random trails that I knew of.

This sport is all about having fun man. Get out there to the track and have fun. I was intimidated before going to a real track until I got out there and realized everyone there doesn’t give a fuck how good or bad you are (unless you run a single digit number hahaha Laughing

But forreal once you just get out there to the track you’ll feel right at home. Take it slow, with each trip to the track I make it a goal to do another jump that once intimidated me.

A lot of guys on here will give you great advice/tips as well. But the truth is you are plenty young to enjoy the sport, and if you were 20 years older you would still be plenty young, it would just take longer to recover if you got hurt Grinning

Now is the time to “get into it” though if you don’t have kids/family/etc.

Start with a 125 2 stroke
Many say a 125cc 2 stroke can be pretty edgy, my brother in law tells me that with a 250cc you can "chill" & take it slow, while a 125cc 2 stroke likes to take it all at once & go hard out on the track.

Not sure if this is enterily true ofcourse, since i'm a noob, but he also recommended me a 250cc because it will grow with me. instead of the "glass ceiling" of a 125cc
1

Pit Row

See All »
olympiamann
Profile picture for user olympiamann
Posts
281
Joined
1/25/2014
Location
Sheridan, WY US
olympiamann 1/21/2020 6:29am
1/21/2020 6:29am
Get some metric tools,a bolt pack ,air pump and an RmZ 250 and go wear it out .Maintain Chain,Airfilter,engine oil ,13 psi air pressure..Don't rip through the pits,Go the right direction on the track and never stop on blind jumps and no one will care if your a beginner. Moto is the greatest sport in the world man..Have Fun.😎🇺🇸
2
FuseMX21
Profile picture for user FuseMX21
Posts
48
Joined
1/21/2020
Location
NL
FuseMX21 1/21/2020 6:44am
1/21/2020 6:44am
olympiamann wrote:
Get some metric tools,a bolt pack ,air pump and an RmZ 250 and go wear it out .Maintain Chain,Airfilter,engine oil ,13 psi air pressure..Don't rip through...
Get some metric tools,a bolt pack ,air pump and an RmZ 250 and go wear it out .Maintain Chain,Airfilter,engine oil ,13 psi air pressure..Don't rip through the pits,Go the right direction on the track and never stop on blind jumps and no one will care if your a beginner. Moto is the greatest sport in the world man..Have Fun.😎🇺🇸
Your never stop on blind jumps is one of the biggest tips i've gotten in a long time, this will save me from somoene landing on my head, i'm gonna look up the less jumpy tracks in the area first before heading to alot of jumps & such, but please tell me what you mean with a bolt pack?
2
olympiamann
Profile picture for user olympiamann
Posts
281
Joined
1/25/2014
Location
Sheridan, WY US
olympiamann 1/21/2020 7:15am
1/21/2020 7:15am
Spare bolts and nuts. The fasteners on the bike will loosen up and fall off if ya dont take time to maintain..Ya dont want to be the guy wandering around asking for tools and spare bolts.
1
FuseMX21
Profile picture for user FuseMX21
Posts
48
Joined
1/21/2020
Location
NL
FuseMX21 1/21/2020 7:27am
1/21/2020 7:27am
olympiamann wrote:
Spare bolts and nuts. The fasteners on the bike will loosen up and fall off if ya dont take time to maintain..Ya dont want to be...
Spare bolts and nuts. The fasteners on the bike will loosen up and fall off if ya dont take time to maintain..Ya dont want to be the guy wandering around asking for tools and spare bolts.
Ahhh ,my brother in law & father in law, both have alot of tools for bikes, i'll ask a shop in the area for the bolts that are needed the most.
Pakoyz250f
Profile picture for user Pakoyz250f
Posts
704
Joined
8/27/2015
Location
MX
Fantasy
1568th
Pakoyz250f 1/21/2020 8:04am
1/21/2020 8:04am
I started at 21 after almost 10 years of racing go karts (I was pretty good at it) then I tasted a lap around a motocross track and got me hooked for life.

I love motocross because it's not easy by any means and every time you get on the bike is different even on the same day, and that makes it so freaking exciting, in go karts the track is the same always unless it rains so that's what made me fell in love with motocross.

Finally it made me realize that if I wanted to at least be decent on the bike I would have to make sacrifices and stuff and also that made me live a healthier life and kept me away of a life that I was living that wasn´t very good in long term.

Anyways! just be aware that you will be hooked forever haha
SteezGeez
Profile picture for user SteezGeez
Posts
200
Joined
12/11/2016
Location
Fullerton, CA US
Fantasy
553rd
SteezGeez 1/21/2020 8:15am
1/21/2020 8:15am
I didn't get into it until 22 because I could never afford a bike and parents wouldn't foot the bill. Addicted to the sport now. 27 now and I love it.
2
TW85
Profile picture for user TW85
Posts
123
Joined
4/1/2015
Location
CA
TW85 1/21/2020 8:26am
1/21/2020 8:26am
Go for it man. I didn’t start until I was 29 although I had been riding motorcycles for years before. My girlfriend got into it as well and we both races MX and hare scrambles.
1
Denn700
Profile picture for user Denn700
Posts
1257
Joined
11/7/2006
Location
Shreveport, LA US
Denn700 1/21/2020 8:54am
1/21/2020 8:54am
A 125 or 250 four stroke will be fine for an adult for a first bike. I wouldn’t get a 250 two stroke or a 450.
4
Tarz483
Profile picture for user Tarz483
Posts
6352
Joined
2/25/2009
Location
Mankato, MN US
Fantasy
665th
Tarz483 1/21/2020 11:47am
1/21/2020 11:47am
Mossy wrote:
Do it!!! I’m 23 and have just started riding actual motocross tracks like 4 months ago. I got my first dirtbike when I was 19 which...
Do it!!!

I’m 23 and have just started riding actual motocross tracks like 4 months ago.

I got my first dirtbike when I was 19 which was a 97 yz125. Rode the shit out of it at my friends backyard track and random trails that I knew of.

This sport is all about having fun man. Get out there to the track and have fun. I was intimidated before going to a real track until I got out there and realized everyone there doesn’t give a fuck how good or bad you are (unless you run a single digit number hahaha Laughing

But forreal once you just get out there to the track you’ll feel right at home. Take it slow, with each trip to the track I make it a goal to do another jump that once intimidated me.

A lot of guys on here will give you great advice/tips as well. But the truth is you are plenty young to enjoy the sport, and if you were 20 years older you would still be plenty young, it would just take longer to recover if you got hurt Grinning

Now is the time to “get into it” though if you don’t have kids/family/etc.

Start with a 125 2 stroke
FuseMX21 wrote:
Many say a 125cc 2 stroke can be pretty edgy, my brother in law tells me that with a 250cc you can "chill" & take it...
Many say a 125cc 2 stroke can be pretty edgy, my brother in law tells me that with a 250cc you can "chill" & take it slow, while a 125cc 2 stroke likes to take it all at once & go hard out on the track.

Not sure if this is enterily true ofcourse, since i'm a noob, but he also recommended me a 250cc because it will grow with me. instead of the "glass ceiling" of a 125cc
That is some what true, the 125 is a little harder to ride in some ways it's harder to go fast on, but because it is harder to go fast on you build skills faster. And then if you ever move up you take those skills and apply them to the easier to ride bike and. Wala
1
IWreckALot
Profile picture for user IWreckALot
Posts
8677
Joined
3/12/2011
Location
Fort Worth, TX US
IWreckALot 1/21/2020 12:03pm
1/21/2020 12:03pm
SteezGeez wrote:
I didn't get into it until 22 because I could never afford a bike and parents wouldn't foot the bill. Addicted to the sport now. 27...
I didn't get into it until 22 because I could never afford a bike and parents wouldn't foot the bill. Addicted to the sport now. 27 now and I love it.
My mom: "If you can afford a motorcycle you can afford rent"
Me: [moved out and bought 3 motorcycles within a year]

Cool to see a lot of dudes entering the sport. I got in at 19 when I moved out and never looked back. First race ever was a cross country race at Freestone. That day was a ton of fun. I learned how to sprint for 3 minutes and proceed to barely crawl around the track for the remaining 57 min. Haha. Fun times.

Tracks tend to have times where everyone at the track is on the track, then it will just suddenly clear out at times. When learning, I always went to the truck and hung out until there weren't many guys on the track. Some tracks have organized practice and that's nice so you don't have to worry about some A class dude closing too fast on you.
2

Post a reply to: Looking to get into Motocross at age 22-23?