65cc or larger??

[dingoe]

My son is 8 years old, 4’8” tall and 80 some lbs. He’s been off his Polini for over a year and road it just last Sunday. We’ll he’s outgrown it for sure, so the question is what bike to replace it with. I’m in SoCal so I was hoping for a green sticker bike meaning 2003 and back and I was looking at the KX or RM65, KTM’s are out of my range right now. I may only get 9-950.00 for his X3-Works. I’m wondering if he’ll be too big for the 65 or outgrow that in one year too. I guess it’s like buying shoes, not in price, but in rotation. If we stay with the 65 we’ll be looking at 2000-2003 and would these be competitive in the stock 65 class with the newer 65’s? Also, he’s never worked a clutch or gears, so that will take some time to get down. He’s a good rider, but all he’s had to deal with is the gas and brake to this point.


Thanks for any input.

 

[FruDaddy]

Yeah, I think he might be a tad big for the 65, but it's close, and if you do get a 65 you may need to re-spring it for his weight. You should have him test fit the 65 and the 85 at your nearest dealership and see which will fit him better.

 

[dingoe]

I think your right. I hope to change my fuel lines on the truck Fri. AM and maybe get him by the dealer. I found a deal on a 2000 KX65, but he's very cramped on the 50 and the 65's don't look at that much taller.

I put my oldest on an YZ80 when he was 9, but it was too much power and we went to a XR100. That worked for him, but my youngest like tracks better than open stuff.

Thanks

 

[gwcrim]

My boy was about that age and size when we got his KX85. I had to cut the seat foam and lower the suspension in order for him to ride it. He's now going on 10 @ 120 lbs and he's growing into it well. He's done a couple of hare scrambles on it but it's still a handful for him at times.

 

[dingoe]

I've been checking the specs (3" seat height diff) and I can get an 85 for about the same price range. It's just the power and he'll be new the the gears and such. Tonight we'll try him on both a 65 and 85 SMoto race bikes that his friend age 10 races. His buddy is smaller, but started racing flat track at age 5 and takes number 1 plates, just raced the big Queen Mary SuperMoto last weekend. So maybe with luck we'll find one this week and sell his Polini soon, I hope.

 

[FruDaddy]

That'll work with the power issues, but find out if the suspensions have been altered/lowered for SuperMoto use.