Is a yz85 dirtbike good for a 12 year old?

Question

he is 5'2 and weighs about 110

Answer 1

yeah

Answer 2

depends if they've ever rode a dirt bike before. if not, i'd get the on something a little smaller to start with, like a 50cc or something

Answer 3

ya but itll kick your *** around,  haha there quick little bikes i remember being about 150 lbs and riding one and it went fast!!

Answer 4

Perfect size for a 12 year old.

Answer 5

be aware, two strokes come with higher maintence.... which can get particularly expensive if you can't/don't do the work yourself.

size-wise if he takes it slow and learns (which you should do with any first bike) he should be fine.

Answer 6

I am exactly that size, and ride a similar model. To be exact, a 1998 CR 80 Expert.

YZ 85s have a two-stroke engine, and are engineered to be racing machines. They can be a lot of fun even if you're not into motocross, but they are NOT for beginning riders, or those who are less aggressive.

If your guy has some riding experience, he should be just fine. His size (as of right now) suits the bike quite well.  However, if you plan on taking the bike on slow trail rides, it will struggle quite a bit unless some modifications are made. These bikes don't have much power at low speeds unless it is revved pretty high, and it takes a decent amount of clutch use to keep the bike from dying.

The power is pretty sudden on 85s as well. It can be described as being "on/off" much like a lightswitch. One second the bike is not going anywhere, and the next moment, the front wheel is coming off the ground, and the rear wheel is spitting dirt a good fifteen feet.

This can be either fun and exciting, or terrifying and dangerous depending on your riding style. For a beginning rider, this usually ends up as being terrifying and dangerous. If he is a beginning rider, and just learning to operate a clutch, go with a Honda CRF 150 F - it would be a great starter bike as it is a four-stroke engine, and the power is steady and predictable (stay away from the CRF 150 R model, as they are meant for racing as well).

Another concern is that 12 year old boys don't stay that size for very long. He may outgrow the bike very quickly. In my case, I will be upgrading to a 125 as soon as possible, even though I am completely done growing.

Lastly, be prepared for maintenence. The engines of two-stroke motorcycles are fairly simple, with not too many parts. Maintainence will be much cheaper on a two-stroke than a four-stroke engine. However, proper and timely maintenence is EXTREMELY important on these bikes. If the oil and gas ratio is mixed improperly, you can fry the engine in as little as five minutes.

If ridden regularly, the engine will need a top end rebuild about once a year (or sooner). These are pretty simple if you have a decent set of tools, and an owners manual. If you aren't, then rebuilds can be a little more costly at a dealership.

If he has a little experience, and really likes to go fast, then this would definitely be the bike for him.

If he isn't as confident, then look around for a non-racing four-stroke (Honda CRF 150 F, or Yamaha TTR 125) and let him ride that until he gets used to dirtbikes.

Good luck, and happy riding!