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Message: [QUOTE="GaryKTM200, post: 249714, member: 20843"] I may be able to help a little.My son is 12 and rides an 80. Before I get into the issue of which brand I feel is right there are other issues to address. You did not mention the size of your son. Could be important when deciding what bike to go with. Without knowing your sons size I will tell you about my son when he went onto an 80. I started him on an XR70 at 8 yrs. old. Then he went to a KX 60 about 6 months later. Big jump. You know how it goes. After a while he couldn't wait to get an 80. But he just wasn't tall enough. When he could stradle the bike and get one tip toe to the ground without hanging by his knee joint wth the other leg I told him we would get him an 80. He needed the extra ponies because he loves candy and bread. You know what that does to the waist line. I shaved a little foam out of the seat and he was good to go. My son is twelve now and is really enjoying his bike. As for the brand of bike here are a few things to consider. I think all brands are very good but each have their own characteristics. The KX 80 and the RM 80 both have power valves. Which helps on the bottom end power. If you buy used the RM's have conventional forks. I think in 2002 they went to upside down forks. I think the RM hits harder than the KX. My son says that the RM hits way harder than the KX. Both of these bikes makes good trail bikes too because of the power valves. The Honda and Yamaha are both top end bikes. Neither have power valves that I know of. If they didn't get power valves for 2002 they don't have them. All of the bikes have good speed and handling. For straight moto cross the YZ wins most of the 80cc shoot outs. The last thing to think about I think is the fact that 3 of the 4 brands mentioned above does not make an 80 any more. The KX,RM and YZ's are all 85cc now. The Honda is still an 80. I think you will find that most of the competition will be riding 85cc bikes. When it is time for me to sell my son's 80 I will probably have to sell for less because not as many people will be wanting an 80 because the comp. will be riding 85cc bikes. Just something to think about. What I know for a fact is that the smiles on these kids faces are worth every penny. Good luck. [/QUOTE]

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