Are you planning to buy a dirt bike and not sure which size will be perfect for you? Are you confused by so many options? Are you indecisive between 2-strokes bike, 4-strokes dirt bike, and the electric dirt bikes? For whom 50cc dirt bikes are for? If the answer to any of the above questions is Yes, then this guide is perfect for you. We know that it can be tricky to choose the right dirt bike size for your kid or yourself with various options available. Here, we have tried to make it easier to select a suitable dirt bike. This guide includes two tables, one with comprehensive information about different dirt bikes, including the seat height and engine type. On the other hand, the second chart outlines the right dirt bike according to your height.
Best Dirt Bike Size For You
If you are planning on purchasing a dirt bike for either yourself or your kid, you must consider the engine size and height of the rider and check if the seat height is perfect for them.
In case you are purchasing the dirt bike for your child, then let them sit on it and ask them if they are comfortable on it. If their feet are unable to touch the ground, then you should try another one and keep looking until you find a dirt bike where both feet of the child reaches the ground. To future proof, the bike, make sure that their feet are only touching instead of being flat on the ground. The reason for this is that unlike adults, kids are growing and within a year, they will find it uncomfortable to ride a smaller dirt bike. They would be able to ride the dirt bike for 2-3 years comfortably if their feet are only touching instead of being flat on the ground.
If you are purchasing for yourself, then make sure you feel comfortable on the bike and feet are in a tiptoe position on the ground. As for the engine size, a 50 cc engine is good enough for a kid, and on the other hand, an adult has various options to choose form.
You can also refer to the charts below for height and engine size for better understanding. Let’s take a look at both of the factors in detail.
Dirt Bike Engine Size
The engine size is the first thing you will have to decide on before moving onto the other factors. Age, experience, and weight play an important role in determining which engine is suitable for you. If you are looking to buy a dirt bike for your kid, then the 50cc engine is enough.
3-6 years old
If your kid is aged 3-6, then a 50 cc engine bike with a twist and go throttle is the right choice. These kinds of bikes make it easier for kids to learn. This way, they won’t have to worry about clutch, gears and other stuff. Once the kids get comfortable, you can move onto a semi-automatic dirt bike.
7-8 years old
Once your kid becomes comfortable with a twist and go throttle dirt bike a semi-automatic bike like Honda CRF50F is a good step forward. This bike, with its 3-speed step-through gearbox, will help them learn about gears.
9-11 years old
At this age, a kid will be perfectly able to use a standard gearbox. It is also time to upgrade from a 50 cc bike to a 65 cc dirt bike. These bikes are very similar to the dirt bikes for adults. For a detailed review read our article on best dirt bikes for a 9-years-old.
12-14 years old
If your kid is around 12-14, then an electric bike like Razor or MX350 Razor MX500 is the best choice. The mentioned bikes have a weight limit of s 140 pounds and 175 pounds respectively. They are capable of 30 minutes use and with a top speed up to 14-15 mph. There are few other options for them too. You can even go for a 150cc four-stroke dirt bike. Check out our guide on the best dirt bike for teens to make an more informed decision.
15-17 years old
Here the height and weight of the rider will be the most significant deciding factor, and furthermore, at this stage, the dirt bikes will be very similar to that of the bikes designed for adults. For any beginner interested in dirt biking a 125 cc 2-strokes bike or a 150 cc 4-strokes is recommended. Check out our guide on this topic for a detailed review of the best dirt bikes for this age group.
Adults
If you don’t have any prior experience in dirt bikes, it is advisable to start with an electric dirt bike like Razor MX 650. This dirt bike is by no means a pro dirt bike. It has a top speed of 17 mph, but it is the most beginner-friendly dirt bike out there. You can also go for a 125-250 cc 4-strokes engine bike.
But if you have prior experience in riding than all the options are open for you. You can either go for a 125 cc 2-stroke dirt bike or a 250 cc 4-strokes bike and even a 450 cc bike is an option, though I would advise against it unless you have 2-3 year riding experience.
Take a look at the chart below, it lists 50+ dirt bikes from various brands and this list will be continuously updated to make sure that anyone visiting this site is able to find the right-sized dirt bike.
What Seat Height Is Perfect For You?
Due to the varying height of the people, a single bike isn’t going to perfect for all. The seat heights also varys so this gets a bit tricky to find the perfect sized dirt bike. There are few ways of making the seat adjust to your height, but we will discuss them later.
Perfect seat height will ensure that you are able to balance the bike easily and not lose the balance while stopping or starting it. Finding the seat height isn’t a difficult task as the manufacturers include it in the specifications. If you are buying a dirt bike from a dealership, then you can test it personally if the seat height is suitable for you. But if you plan on buying a used bike, then this dirt bike sizing chart will save you from wasting your time to meet the seller only to find out that the size is not right for you.
In the chart below the suitable seat height is listed and in the corresponding column height of a person we think will be comfortable sitting is also recorded. Once you have found the seat height and engine capacity suitable for you, search that seat height in the table above for the dirt bike most ideal for you.
Some people have longer legs as compared to others. In that case, measure your height from the floor to the highest point of your crotch. Now match this new height with the seat height and the nearest approximate will be the best match.
How to Change The Height Of A Dirt Bike?
If you are interested in a specific brand dirt bike or if someone is giving you a terrific deal on a used bike, but the seat size is an issue, or you are unable to find the perfect sized dirt bike seat for yourself, there are few methods to solve this issue to an extent. This is also very useful if you bought one for your kid and now he has outgrown the size. These methods are not perfect, but they are indeed very helpful in adjusting the height and give the rider more precision and control over the bike.
Now either the seats would be lower or higher, and there are some steps to fix both of the issues. Let’s have a look at them.
How To Lower The Seat
Cut The Foam
Cutting the foam of the seat will decrease the seat height. But don’t cut the foam too much as it will become uncomfortable to sit on. If you want to cut just 0.5″ to 1.5″, then this method is perfect, but anything over that will make it uncomfortable to ride.
Replace The Foam With A Softer Foam
Another method is to replace the foam. This method is more suitable if you are not comfortable with cutting the foam. Furthermore, some foams are softer than the original one. As the softer foams compress more, this will keep the riding experience comfortable.
How to Raise the Height of Dirt Bike?
Here we are going to discuss the opposite of what we did above. If you want to raise the seat height, then the methods below are perfect for you.
Replace The Foam With Taller Seat Foam
While addressing the issue of lowering the height using a softer foam was a solution. Here we are going to do something similar, but instead of replacing the foam with a soft material we will use a hard foam taller than the one present in the bike. This method is beneficial in increasing seat height by 1″-2″.
Sag Setting
By setting the sag setting of the rear suspension to the higher available setting will help in raising the bike. It has a minor effect on the steering but nothing serious.
Final Comments
This dirt bike size guide is designed to help you find the best-suited bike for your child or yourself. If you are unable to find the perfect seat height then check our solutions for adjusting it to fit your need. It is not the case that if you won’t buy a perfect fit you will be unable to ride a dirt bike but it is to make sure that while riding you feel comfort. In the case of children, it becomes even more important that the dirt bike should provide safety, comfort, and durability.
Before you purchase a dirt bike you can take a look at the list of most famous dirt bike brands.
