Well, I've been trying to find a place that has youth and mini racing as a core business and I have finally found a place. There really isn't much out there for parents like myself trying to start from scratch. I want to get my son on some go-kart tracks this coming year with a KX65 but its been a pain to find stuff at a reasonable price. Found a guy down in Louisiana that sells Motard wheels for many models of bike, Race tires, and Youth leathers! He rides and so does his young son. http://www.kandjracingsolutions.com/ I read his story and it was the same as mine... I want my son to race but its a huge hassle to get into it with any sort of "Low" budget.
There are several folks on here with experience in youth road racing. Feel free to pm or post up questions.
I'm going to wait until mine turns 16 and throw him out there in A!!! I have been considering doing the same thing, my son wants a "bike like mine"; he had a TTR90and wants a sport looking bike (NSR50 etc.).. I won't be buying him that as they are too $$ but may look to find a mini-moto set up TTR, CRF, etc.
I am getting mine either a XR/CRF100 or a KX65. I like the looks of the KX better but its the fact that he will be going from a non clutch bike to learning a clutch and I'm not sure if I want to throw the 2 stoke power band into the mix. He is going to be 12 in Feb.
I have been working with my son for the past year and a half. I bought him one of the cheaper Chinese bikes but its not good quality i found out. So now i am looking for a reasonable priced TTR. He is 7 and i need to get him on a quality bike before this one makes him loose the desire to ride. They have terrible brakes and the wheels bend easy so the bike has a whobble especially at higher speeds.
I started my kids out on a XR70. Its been a great little bike and Both my son and Daughter have enjoyed it. Its a semi-automatic and that made teaching them to ride much easier.
Mine son is on a 70cc semiauto chinese made dirtbike its just the metal bends so easy which make the ride whobble from him.
My kid started on pocket bikes then ttr 50 mini motard to a 110 Chinese midi with a clutch then kx65 minimotard (using stock sized rims with scooter tires) then to a 125GP (too pricey for us) then to the ninja 250 now on an sv650 he starter at 4y/o and is now 14.
How did the chinese 110 hold up on an actual dirt track that had hills and sand traps? I took my son to one but because that back wheel whobbled it was difficult for him. I have been looking for a 110 or smaller for a decent price and i may get one by February for him. My last time at Barbers i took him to the 4th tier over to the left and there was a small track with cones and he enjoyed that alot. He may just like the road better than dirt
Ok thanks. The only reason I had him on dirt is because everyone says you will be better if you start out on dirt. In the 1.5 years he has been riding he is still not a fan of the dirt and actually struggles more on the dirt than on pavement and it ruins his confidence. I will get him a better dirt bike and see if that helps him some.
Not everybody eep: Draik would ride on whiterock and grass around the house, but never got into jumps. We would just take the ttr to the school parking lot and let him ride for hours on end. Then we got the midi because he wanted a "clutch bike". Even though it was bugger, it still worked really well for riding at the school too.
Outside of the few times I took him to the dirt track thats exactly what I do with my son and he thrives on the pavement. When we do go to the dirt track he never tries the jumps just up and over the hills. I was thinking all along that maybe he will be ok without the dirt riding. He is 7 so I still have some time to work with him also.
Not that my kid is anywhere close the awesome, but he does ok, so take my advice with a grain of salt. Regardless, if your intent is anything like mine, it is to go out and spend quality time with him, as long as he is riding what he likes and is having a good time, you're both winning!
Amen to that! I got him a bike because he was getting on mine and if left in neutral would crank it then hit the kill switch. This prompted me to leaving it in gear on the Pit Bull stands. He once cranked my brother's 4 wheeler but my brother had the brake on and he burst the master cylinder fluid view glass by pushing the throttle with the brake locked at age 4 lol. After that it was time for his own. Now at age 7 he enjoys coming to the track meeting everyone and seeing their motorcycles. He loves motorcycles and basketball so I support and spend time with him as much as possible.
We have a KX 65 all set up for RR, PM if you want it. Spares, tires etc. We live in INDY and go to the go kart tracks if you want some help.
https://sites.google.com/site/midwestminiracing/ Here is the mini racing league in Ohio if you didn't know about it. IMO the xr100 is the way to go because it's not going to scare him, its cheap to maintain and tires last for a year. And you can race the spec class and only worry about learning and having fun.
Just an fyi i run a group for supermoto and minis at carolina motorsports park. And if anyone in the south east is interested in getting started in minis or supermoto. Or getting thier kids started in them I would be glad to help in anyway I can. My email is cmpsupermoto@gmail.com