I taught my two daughters to ride. It's been said previously but I also think the most important criteria is to be able to touch the ground flat footed with both feet. This is followed closely by a light enough bike that they can pick it up by themselves including on a hill or incline.
The grand kids are 3 and 5 so I'm beginning to look for bikes for them. I will probably re-buy the same bikes. If you buy a Honda XR (CRF now I believe) or a Yamaha PW it's like burying money in the back yard. You can sell them easily and quickly for almost as much as you paid for them. For this reason I bought new because used bikes where almost as much and I never knew how they were cared for. Here's my list:
PW50 This is an iconic bike. Very many famous professional riders started out on a PW50. Never sell it. Grandkids, nieces and nephews even grown ups love it.
LEM 50 - Closest you can get now is a KTM 50 SX. They are a little high strung. Not sure if there's a 4 stroke equivalent now.
PW80 - 3 speed auto clutch. A little heavy but low seat height. 2 stroke. There's probably an equivalent 4 stroke now.
KX 60 - Small, light and a real clutch. 2 stroke. A bit high strung. Probably a 4 stroke equivalent now.
KX100/XR80 One daughter learned on the XR the younger one the KX.
CR125 - two stroke
KTM SX150 - These are cool fun bikes. I have one now.
CRF/YZ/KXF/RMZ 250 - My youngest (28 now) rides a CRF250.
My experience has been a good (Shoei, Arai, Leatt, etc) helmet is important. It should fit well and be replaced if crashed upon. That said, rarely have I seen the helmet damaged. It does happen and that's why a good one is important insurance (hopefully only insurance, never needed). Usually it's wrists and collarbones for new riders until they learn how to crash. People I know either learn how to crash or they quit riding. I've been riding for 50 years. I know how to crash but I've also had to replace a helmet or two. Usually writing the check for the helmet is more painful than the crash (or what I remember of the crash).
The grand kids are 3 and 5 so I'm beginning to look for bikes for them. I will probably re-buy the same bikes. If you buy a Honda XR (CRF now I believe) or a Yamaha PW it's like burying money in the back yard. You can sell them easily and quickly for almost as much as you paid for them. For this reason I bought new because used bikes where almost as much and I never knew how they were cared for. Here's my list:
PW50 This is an iconic bike. Very many famous professional riders started out on a PW50. Never sell it. Grandkids, nieces and nephews even grown ups love it.
LEM 50 - Closest you can get now is a KTM 50 SX. They are a little high strung. Not sure if there's a 4 stroke equivalent now.
PW80 - 3 speed auto clutch. A little heavy but low seat height. 2 stroke. There's probably an equivalent 4 stroke now.
KX 60 - Small, light and a real clutch. 2 stroke. A bit high strung. Probably a 4 stroke equivalent now.
KX100/XR80 One daughter learned on the XR the younger one the KX.
CR125 - two stroke
KTM SX150 - These are cool fun bikes. I have one now.
CRF/YZ/KXF/RMZ 250 - My youngest (28 now) rides a CRF250.
My experience has been a good (Shoei, Arai, Leatt, etc) helmet is important. It should fit well and be replaced if crashed upon. That said, rarely have I seen the helmet damaged. It does happen and that's why a good one is important insurance (hopefully only insurance, never needed). Usually it's wrists and collarbones for new riders until they learn how to crash. People I know either learn how to crash or they quit riding. I've been riding for 50 years. I know how to crash but I've also had to replace a helmet or two. Usually writing the check for the helmet is more painful than the crash (or what I remember of the crash).
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