Dirt bike riding can be enjoyed as early as eight years old. It’s all about selecting the proper dirt bike model that matches their physical features to ensure their safety and comfort.
You can pick a good dirt bike for an 8-year-old by checking the correct seat height and proper engine size. The best dirt bikes for an 8-year-old include Razor MX350 Dirt Rocket Electric Motocross Bike, XtremePowerUS Mini Pocket Motorcycle, and XtremePowerUS Mini Pocket Motorcycle.
How To Know The Correct Seat Height
There are many different dirt bike models for kids. Each model may vary in terms of seat height and wheel size so there’s no fixed recommendation for all eight-year-olds. The best you can do is bring your child to the bike shop and have him try out a couple of models.
Check his feet. The feet should neither be flat on the ground nor tiptoes. Being flat-footed means that their knees will bend and the seat is too low for them, hence making balancing difficult. This means they can’t grip the gas tank and it will make them sit too far back which is tricky when going up a hill. Similarly, being on their toes means the seat height is too high. This will make it challenging for them to maintain an upright posture when they can’t stabilize themselves. For a more detailed guide, refer to the chart below:
5’ 2″ (157cm) – 31 to 35″ seat height
5’ 4″ (162cm) – 33 to 36″ seat height
5’ 6″ (167cm) – 34 to 37″ seat height
5’ 8″ (172cm) – 34 to 38″ seat height
5’ 10” (178cm) – 35 to 39″ seat height
6′ (182cm) or taller – 37.5″ or taller seat height
Get The Proper Engine Size
It’s important to start small when teaching your child how to ride a dirt bike. He may start with a 50cc engine which is very manageable for short kids. After he becomes familiar with the basics of riding a dirt bike like maintaining balance and how to conquer rough terrains, he can proceed to a more powerful engine. It’s recommended to try out 110cc engines for eight-year-olds. 110cc bikes have the correct seat height that will suit eight-year-olds. The power is also challenging at first but becomes gradually manageable after sufficient practice sessions.
Best Dirt Bikes For 8-Year-Olds
Razor MX350 Dirt Rocket Electric Motocross Bike
This is a top choice for many kids because of its menacing look and impressive interiors. You can sum this up as a scaled-down electric motocross dirt bike. This is battery powered and it’s powerful enough to handle a couple of off-road trails. It’s very beginner-friendly and it provides enough power and speed if your child wishes to work on his riding skills.
- Design
As aforementioned, this bike looks menacing. This has large and knobby wheels as well as double-stitched seats that make it look sleek and boyish. There’s also a high-end metallic alloy frame that’s both durable and stylish. This is perfect if you want a stylish bike that will make your kid stand out.
- Safety
The safety of this bike is guaranteed. There are so many reliable features that ensure that your child will minimize the risks of getting harmed. There’s a trusty rear brake that can be used to moderate the speed of the bike as well as to instantly stop it. There are also kickstand and tire guards that serve to protect the young rider from getting hit by gravel as he speeds along rough trails.
There are non-slip and rubberized handles that ensure comfort and full control. It prevents slippage even when wet so that the rider can have full control of the throttle, brakes, and direction at all times. The bike also comes with a high suspension that ensures comfort even when riding over bumpy trails.
- Performance And Speed
This is one of the best dirt bikes that run on electricity. It has a high motor capacity that makes it powerful while being safe. The 24V battery can give thirty minutes of pure and uninterrupted fun once charged. You can even go for a battery upgrade if you want this to run longer. This is a powerful dirt bike, with a 350 motor and high torque.
- Dimensions
The dirt bike measures 44 in x 24.5 in x 31 in once assembled. It has a 140-pound carrying capacity so it’s perfect for most eight-year-olds. However, some reviews say that this may be a bit small for those who are on the taller side.
- Other Features
This model is jam-packed with useful features like an adjustable riser for the handlebars, folding foot pedals, an excellent suspension system, tire guards for both the front and rear tires, and very stylish and large metallic rimmed wheels.
This is capable of providing a smooth riding experience while leaving a lot of room for modifications and upgrades so that you can customize it to your liking.
Syx Moto The Holeshot 50cc
This 50cc pit bike is best for beginners. It’s very affordable and it’s a great introductory bike in the world of dirt bike riding.
- Design
This model is very stylish, with huge tires, knobby wheels, and flashy decorations. You can get this in yellow, green, red, or black. The high-rise seats and increased suspension makes this bike look like a badass ride.
- Safety
This model is very safe for kids to use. The tires are large and made of alloy, making them very sturdy and powerful. They will help the rider retain his balance on all terrains. This also comes with disc brakes on both the front and rear tires so that your child can easily stop the bike when necessary. There’s an emergency kill switch that automatically turns the bike off once your child falls off.
- Performance And Speed
One special feature of this bike is the upgraded speed governor. This allows you to limit the speed of the bike. You can reduce the regular speed of 25mph to 15mph. This simple adjustment tool allows you to match the bike performance with your child’s skill level and driving expertise. It’s very dangerous to let a child drive at a faster rate than he can handle, so this allows you to make the necessary adjustments without having to buy a newer, slower, and more beginner-friendly unit.
This bike comes with a 2-stroke engine which is an upgrade from the previous installment of this brand. A 2-stroke engine is efficient at energy generation so this is quite a powerful engine. As a bonus, it’s quieter, too. It won’t create loud revving noises that can turn heads or intimidate your child.
It has a fully automatic transmission so it’s easy and convenient to drive. It has a fuel tank with a capacity of 0.45 gallons which gives your child an hour-long uninterrupted riding fun.
- Dimensions
The product package measures 50x22x33.5 inches, with a net weight of 48 lbs. Its weight capacity is 176 lbs so it’s perfect for heavier children.
- Other Features
This model is approved by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). It’s the perfect balance between affordability and performance.
XtremePowerUS Mini Pocket Motorcycle
- Design
This has a menacing look that makes it appear impressive and powerful. With bulky parts and oversized tires, it appears like a real off-road bike, but it’s better suited on the road. This is a gas-powered dirt bike so it’s not electric like most models. Don’t worry because this is very energy efficient. Its engine is more powerful than most electric bikes.
The main reason why this is called a “pocket” bike is because of its small build. This only has a 22.8-inch height and 18.5-inch saddle so it’s perfect for smaller riders.
This comes in colors black+red and black+white.
- Safety
This is a very safe bike due to the very sensitive front and rear brakes. Your child can easily stop the bike when necessary.
- Performance And Speed
As aforementioned, gas-powered bikes are more powerful than electric bikes. This model has a 4-stroke, 40cc engine. This may be less powerful than 2-stroke engines but this is more fuel-efficient, so you’ll save a lot of gas money in the long run. The engine is a pull-start type that has a chain drive to activate the wheels. Since this is a very mechanical type of dirt bike, it’s important for the users to the users need to have good technical knowledge to operate it properly. The entire engine area is also protected by a steel cage.
This model has a 0.32-gallon gas tank which will give you 26-miles of riding fun. It operates on unleaded petrol. Its maximum speed is 25 to 30 mph, depending on the weight of the rider.
- Dimensions
The product measures 35×17.5×20.5 inches (LxWxH) and weighs 53 lbs. This has a weight capacity of 165 lbs.
- Other Features
The engine emissions are approved by the EPA, so it’s environmentally friendly. It’s very easy to set up and you can instantly assemble this yourself.
