Are you are planning on buying the first dirt bike for your kid but worried about the safety of your child? It is natural for you to be concerned about the well being of your children. And fretting over a dirt bike which can go up to decently high speeds is not totally misplaced. However, you must understand that most of these 50cc dirt bikes available in the market are designed for kids and they have considered these concerns. There are bike gears available for kids, and they give them ample protection.
If you want to find out how fast does a 50cc dirt bike goes? Then you have come to the right place. The majority of these bikes have a speed limit of anywhere between 25 mph to 40 mph. This might seem fast, especially for a 5-7 year rider, in reality, it isn’t that much as these speeds are the maximum that dirt bikes can achieve. Most of the kids won’t even accomplish 80% of the speed mentioned above.
If you are still worried, you can go with the dirt bikes with 25 mph speed and take some other measurements to make sure they will remain within 15-18 mph range. A simple method to achieve this is by limiting them to 2nd gear or setting a limit on the throttle. This will make sure that the speed won’t be the concern anymore. There might be some other issues like jumping the bike and steep hills, but speed isn’t one of them.
Some 50cc Dirt Bikes And Their Speeds
- The Honda CRF50 is only able to reach 25 mph
- The Yamaha TTR50 tops out at 32 mph
- The SSR 50cc has a speed limit of 25 mph
- The KTM 50cc is capable of reaching 37 mph
- The Suzuki DRZ50 at max touches 33 mph
- Yamaha PW50 has a maximum speed of 28 mph
Is Dirt Biking Safe For Kids?
All the activities have some kind of risk attached to them, and dirt bikes are not an exception to that. Even simple games like climbing monkey bars have some risks, but does that make you stop the kids going into parks? Furthermore, the risk of riding a dirt bike is not significantly higher than riding a bicycle. So, if your question is, whether there is a possibility of your child getting their arms scraped or not? Then, the answer is yes. And if you are worried about any serious injury, then there is a possibility of such an occurrence. But those injuries can be avoided through the safety gear and limiting the speed.
If you are still not convinced, then let your child grow a bit older before introducing them to any dirt bike. You can delay it until they are 8 or 9 years old.
How To Ensure The Speed Limit?
Before we dive into the discussion about the speed of the dirt bikes and if they are safe for kids, first, you should make sure that the children have the safety gear. Without the equipment, it doesn’t matter how slow or fast can the dirt bike reach, and the child won’t be secure. All you need is essential safety gear like helmet, chest protector, gloves, boots, knee pads, and elbow pads. The pads and gloves are available at an affordable price, but the helmet and chest protector are going to cost a bit. A good quality helmet can end up costing you $100 approximately.
Once you have garbed your child in safety gear, you can concentrate on the bike speed. As I have mentioned above that, you can find bikes with speed as low as 25 mph and upwards to 40 mph. If you are worried about any recklessness from your kid, go with the 25 mph option. Kids can’t hit the maximum speed, but just in case you can limit them to 2nd gear or use throttle limiter. In the first scenario, you would have to make sure that your kids understand that they should never go beyond the 2nd gear. As for limiting the speed, most of the 50cc or mini dirt bikes have a speed restrictor located on the throttle grip, follow the below steps to restrict the speed.
- Remove the two bolts from throttle grip, if your bike has three than unscrew all three of them.
- Pull out the top of the throttle grip.
- Notice 3 holes, one with the bolt, on the side.
- Unscrew the small bolt.
- There will be a nut on the other side, right below the small bolt, move it to the third hole.
- Screw the bolt in the third hole.
- Now put it the top part back on the throttle grip and screw all the bolts back.
- Notice that the throttle now only goes up to halfway.
What Are the Best 50cc Dirt Bike for Kids?
Now let’s move on to finding the best 50cc dirt bike out there. Here we will discuss around six dirt bikes and find out which one is more suitable for your needs. Before I declare any one of the listed dirt bikes, the “best” motorcycle keeps one thing in mind, all of them are capable. While some are better in one area, they might be lacking in another department.
I have compiled and ranked these bikes based on price and speed range. So, it is certainly possible that a model is lower in the list due to its price. And the most crucial factor for choosing a dirt bike is the seat height, and this should be according to your kid’s height. This will ensure that the children’s feet reach the ground, and it is easy for them to control the dirt bike. You can learn more about this in our article here. And the comfortability and handling are better criteria for choosing a dirt bike. So, it doesn’t matter which dirt bike you end up buying at the end of the day the performance is quite similar.
Honda CRF50
The Honda CRF50 is one of the best dirt bikes for kids. As it is from a top-rated manufacturer, the quality of the bike is very high. The CRF50 has a speed limit of 25 mph. So, if you are concerned about speed and safety, this dirt bike is the best option. Few other dirt bikes have similar performance to it. One such is the Yamaha TTR50, which is $100 cheaper too. But the latter is capable of reaching a higher speed.
One thing to keep in mind is that this bike comes with both the electric and kick start. The kick start is for situations where, for whatever reason, the electric start doesn’t work. But most beginners, especially children, have difficulty using this feature. So, it will be on parents to help the kids out in the case of battery failure.
I highly recommend this bike due to its reliability and safety. The bike is priced reasonably. And its features like kick start are beneficial in transitioning to a more adult bike. It has a seat height of 21.8 inches, and by consulting this chart, make sure it is suitable for your kid.
Yamaha TTR50
The Yamaha TTR50 is another dirt bike from a reputable Japanese manufacturer. The bike is well built and reliable. You can expect this bike to last for several years. The price is reasonable, and its performance is quite similar to the Honda CRF50 but at a lower price point. The bike can reach 32 mph, depending on you it is either a good point or can be off-putting. Unlike Honda, this doesn’t come with a kick start. This bike can cost up to $1700. But you can find a better deal on a slightly used bike.
The seat height of the Yamaha TTR-50 is around 21.5″. If your kid is about nine years of age, then this bike is on a shorter side. But for kids between the age of 5-7, this is a perfect dirt bike after the Honda CRF50.
KTM 50 SX (aka KTM 50 SX Mini)
KTM has made there spot among the top brands in a short time. They are preferred over other brands by many bikers. They also offer a 50cc dirt bike. Unfortunately, the bike comes at a very steep price. Although that can be attributed to its build quality. There is simply no other brand available in this category that even comes close to the performance of KTM 50SX. This dirt bike is marketed towards the children who are serious about dirt biking. And that’s why they haven’t cut any corner with this bike, which doesn’t allow them to offer it an affordable price. The bike has a maximum speed of around 37 mph.
Before making a purchase, keep in mind that this is a 2-stroke bike and will require you to mix the fuel. If you find it a hassle, this bike is not for you. The other options on this list offer better value.
If you have the cash to spare and you are serious about getting your child into the dirt biking, this is the single option I would recommend. You can expect this bike to survive for a decade without any significant issues easily. Some of the features included are the liquid-cooled radiator, adjustable handlebars, and front & back disc breaks. The bike will cost you around $4200 to $4500. But with all those features, this price isn’t that crazy.
Suzuki DRZ-50
The Suzuki DRZ50 is another great bike in the 50cc category. It is very comparable to CRF50 and TTR50 in terms of performance. These bikes have electric start. Suzuki’s bikes are comparable to Honda and Yamaha’s. They are every bit as good. Just like Honda CRF50, Suzuki’s bikes also come with both the electric start and the kick start. In terms of reliability, Suzuki is a renowned brand, and they have one of the best quality control units. You can expect this bike to last for many years. The bike has a top speed of 33 mph. With the seat height around 22 inches, this is an excellent option for 7-9 years old kids.
Yamaha PW50
Another bike from Yamaha on this list. When it comes to design and performance, you can say that it is very similar to the TTR50. The main difference lies in the engine type. While the TTR50 has a 4-strokes engine, the PW50 features an excellent old 2-strokes engine. This is an oil-injected engine, so you don’t have to worry about mixing the oils. The Yamaha PW50 tops at 28 mph.
It is $100 cheaper than the TTR50, but the later is better overall than PW50. It has a seat height of 19 inches. That’s why it is suitable for only younger kids aged 3-5. Someone with an above average height will feel uncomfortable riding this bike.
SSR 50cc
The SSR 50cc is the most affordable bike on this list. You can get one for $700. The bikes have a top speed of 28 mph. However, they have cut some corners to achieve this low price point. The quality is terrible, and the bike won’t last longer than a year. I wouldn’t recommend this bike unless you are planning to use a dirt bike for a very short time. Another negative of this bike is the high maintenance required. You can say this bike is for a particular niche. The company isn’t reputable, and even for the price, the bike is mediocre. It has a seat height of 23 inches, perfect for a 9-year-old kid. And after using it for one year, you can move onto better bikes suitable for 10-13 years old.
Final Remarks
The 50cc dirt bikes are marketed to kids under the age of 10. Although even the older riders can ride some bikes. If your child is starting dirt biking, they are the best option. Most of the brands have good quality bikes that will last over a decade. These bikes, on average, have a speed range of 25 mph to 40 mph. If you believe that this speed is fast for your kids, you can use throttle limiter or compel your children to never go beyond the 2nd gear.
Ensure that the Kids never ride a dirt bike without their protective gear. Furthermore, encourage them only to ride off-road. These preventive measures will help in keeping them safe.
