New bike for my 12 year old daughter

I just got my CRF230 for Christmas, and I love it. I'm pretty short (5'0") so it's nice not to have to try and kick it over, since the bike is too tall for me anyway! But, I know there's going to be a time that my electric start will let me down, and I'll wish I had a back up kicker! As far as it being heavy, it is pretty darn heavy . . . and for someone who only weighs 108 pounds, that may be an issue. I'm pretty big for my height, so I don't have too much of a problem with the weight.

Either way you go, I think she'll be pretty happy with it!

Sarah

I would reccomend something she can pick up off the ground, as in after a wipeout.. A cr85 is out of the question??

Why not a KX 100? They can be set up with a big tank and flywheel weight to make them more trail friendly. I know quite a few shorter gals who are thrilled with their 100s. Or how about a bigwheel 80, and put a 105 kit in it.

What does your daughter currently ride?

The TTR125L might be another 4-stroke option for her. I believe I read that it's lighter than the CR150F for some strange reason. It is pretty light.

However since ya'll ride desert trails and since she's been riding for 6 years (longer than some of us here on this forum; LOL!), here's another vote for the KX100. It's more mellow and less pipey than your YZ125 for sure. It's easier to ride that those little nasty gnat-like 85 2-strokes. I weigh about the same as your daughter, have been riding for almost as long, and I absolutely LOVE the little KX100 for desert trails in particular. In the desert, all that wonderful suspension is like donuts for Homer Simpson. There's always the RM100 if you like yellow instead of green.

I know, I know... hubby wants her on a 4-stroke so she'll prolly get one of those. Hubbies can be so stubborn once they have something in their mind, can't they? ... or maybe that's just MY hubby that's like that; LOL!

Anyhow, is he saying that because your daughter is a timid rider or something like that? That would be a reason to stick with a 4-stroke. The general consensus is that hills are easier on a 4-stroke. Ya kinda have to hit hills just a little more aggressively on a 2-stroke, even one with some bottom end like the KX100. Although for some strange reason, I really think I'm BETTER on hills on my KX because it's so light and I can throw it around more easily; so that flies in the face of logic and I totally just contradicted myself. I should probably stop typing now....

CJ, step AWAY from the computer!!!!!!!!!!!!

Have another cup of coffee - I'll join ya! ;)

Laurie, how tall is your daughter? At 12 yo, I wouldn't expect her to "level out" either in height or riding ability for quite some time.

From my experience with my kids riding and their friends, the kid's temperment along with ability and riding preference plays the biggest part in deciding on a bike. All of our bikes (except my KLX300 which is for sale btw ;)) are 2 strokes and that is all that our kids have ridden.

My son now 10, started on a 74MR50 at 4.5 yo, went to a DS80 for a short time then a KX60 and last year to a CR80R. He does great on the trails and the maintenance hasn't been a problem even though the rides the heck out of his bikes - a topend was the most we've needed to do and that isn't a big deal (bearings & bushings were more work but they need to be gone over on any bike after awhile).

My daughter is 8 yo, started at 5 yo and she's just moving from the 74MR50 to the KX60. Karl's daughter is 10 yo and taller than my daughter but weighs about the same (60 lbs)- she started at about 5 yo also and is currently on a PW80 and we are thinking of moving her to an XR100 because she isn't quite as confident in riding as my two - they get to ride quite a bit more and they both have more of an agressive attitude - especially my little girl (can't figure out where they got that!).

The fourth child (my son's friend who says he's adopted us) is a tiny little guy - 10 yo and about 2 inches shorter than my 8 year old but weighs about 70 lbs (he's into karate too and stout). He showed up at my son's birthday ride on a brand new XR70 (his first bike). He hopped on my son's/daughter's KX60 and that was it. He rode the 60 and let another kid ride his XR. This was his first time with a clutch but he rode on the advanced kid ride and did fine except a couple areas where he had to learn to feather the clutch a bit even though he insisted that he was "doing everything right!"

He sold his XR telling his parents that it was too boring to ride and is now trying to find a 60 to his liking (he's too short for the 80).

So, the moral to my rambling story is if your daughter has been riding for 6 years and is bored on the XR she probably won't feel too challenged on many of the other smaller 4 strokes. The smaller 2 strokes are more challenging, usually have better brakes & suspension and the added maintenance really isn't a big deal, plus they are easier to work on than 4 strokes. As far as the gas issue - we use an enduro jug mounted on the bars of the KX60 to help extend it's mileage. My son's CR80R with stock tank will make it about 30 miles, then we siphon out of our desert tanks - or if we know we are going much over 30 miles, we attach the enduro jug to his bike or we simply add a little plastic tank (I think it's made by IMS) that attaches to the front of his handle bars and ties into his gas tank - it drains first and doesn't seem to affect his handling much at all. The other option is to pack a small bottle of premix - just enough for the correct ratio based upon the gas tank on the little bike then steal some gas from one of the 4 strokes.

Best bet is to hold a big kids ride and let her tryout everyone's bikes!

I don't know much about the KX100, but what I can say is riding the XR200 for even the short amount of time I did(it was maybe 3 rides), and the KDX which is a torquier motor, I learned some really bad habits that I am still struggling to train out of myself. The most obvious of all is constantly trying to lug my KTM up a hill in a gear too tall. I swear hubby needs to get '2nd Gear' tatooed on his forehead, since that is what he is constantly yelling to me before I head up a hill. :)

If I could ever learn to ride again, I would skip the 4 stroke all together. 4stokes are awesome to learn on, but I really feel like if you ever want to upgrade to the 2 strokes, the transition is difficult.

I've heard people (Firecracker ;)) say that before but for me, the transition was not a big deal at all. I went from the KLX300 (still for sale ;) ) to the CR500 and it really didn't seem that much different to me.

I'm with ya Leann! The transition for me was very difficult since the KTM is so much more work to ride. I got lazy. I think if you don't spend too much time on a four-stroke, and practice good habits--never letting bad ones form--it isn't so bad.

Bbbom, your KLX was a lot closer in suspension/layout to your CR than my XR was to my KTM.

You are right FC22, my KLX was much closer to the CR than your XR was to your EXC. Becky's last wreck was on a bike with disc brakes that she tried to use like her XR200 drum breaks - she crashed pretty hard from what she told me.

Laurie, I can certainly sympathize with the dilemma of kids outgrowing their bikes! At 5'4" she would be fine on something like my son's CR80R (Expert big wheel model) or one of the 85's or even the KX100.

Has your hubby gone through a rebuild on any of the 4 strokes? I never have but I have gone through a number of them with Karl on our bikes, snowmobiles & jetskis and the 2 strokes are pretty easy.

You're trying to choose between the CR150F and CR230F. She's been riding for 6 years. I think I myself would go with the CR150F. It's a little lighter, easier to throw around, and easier to pick up. If she's not going to do any track riding, just trails, I think the CR150F might be a little more fun for her. The weight of the CR230F might get to be too much after awhile.
That's what I would do anyway. Based on her weight and what it's being used for, I would go with the smaller of the two. Who wants an electric start, anyway? Someone is probably going to have a comment on that one!! But, I personally don't want an electric start on my bike. Not unless it's a huge thumper that is going to break my leg every time I kick it over!
I think you would be better off, and she would be happier with the CR150F, and it's a Honda..can't go wrong there;)

... My daughter is about 5'4 or so. She is a great little rider ....

Click to expand...

HOLY COW, YOUR 12-YEAR OLD DAUGHTER IS SIX INCHES TALLER THAN ME! That is just not fair. (Bbbom- I think I need a stiff drink instead of that coffee.) Anyhow, that means she's plenty tall enough for the KX100. It's a little tall for me, but I deal because it's so light and so much fun. Just something to think about: CRF150=216lbs dry weight. KX100=150lbs dry weight. That is an ABSOLUTE HUGE difference when you only weight 108 lbs like your daughter.

If she gets too tall on you, I'm sure there are several of us who wouldn't mind a couple extra inches!! I'm 20 years old, and only 5'3"!!! I've been told it's quite comical to watch me slide from one side of my bike to the other, just to hold it up!!

I just noticed, Laurie..that you live in Temecula, I went to Temecula Valley H.S. in 98-99. We moved back to Michigan almost 5 years ago. I miss being out there!! It was great, loved the weather..Anyway, just wanted to say that..
-Tracie

Guess I have to jump in.. Why not at least try Pampara 280. Its light, 2 stroke and with a huge flywheel its trail and play friendly..34 in seat height with big wheels...and believe me on long rides big wheels are nice..Easy to kick .... Not a moto bike but a good all round bike.She will no doubt out grow it ..but with her being 108 and 5-4 ....it could be and option.
Fit and finish are not as good as Honda or KX..and kinda funny lookin...However it has merrits in size ,weight and decent power..
Those of us who have them have learnd now how to make them better..not best but better.