Snow bike for 12 year old ?

[Little Eddy]

We would like to get a snow bike set up for 12 year old. He presently rides a YZ85 in summer. I would be afraid that his present bike would not have enough torque to be very user friendly as a snow bike.
I would not be afraid to put him on a 250 power wise but I don't think he would be tall enough in the legs to be able to enjoy riding it.
Need something that he can get around on and keep up with or else it won't be fun for anybody.
Anybody have any suggestions ?

 

[wwillf01]

I would say it's not an issue but you really need estart because I would think he might be side mounting a lot before getting on the bike... My wife's 5-6 and it is hard with the kickstart for her... 250 should be fine but I would go with the short track ... Power wise the track and snow suck so much power I find you could put him on a 500 with out issue


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[Little Eddy]

Good point on the electric start … i never even thought about getting it started

 

[wwillf01]

Good point on the electric start … i never even thought about getting it started

When my son is old enough he will go this route... I ended up doing a snowmobile just because I think it is a little more comfort oriented but he is 8.... The heated grips and just getting up the road to ride will be the hardest at that age.. Being able to pick it up on a slope and get on when you short will be very frustrating... My guy is 4-2 though so it could be a little different. Then the one kit made for smaller bikes the little ripper I was too worried about getting stuck.... and not being able to use an 85..... Kids grow too fast.

 

[iLoveSnowBiking]

Have you ever seen the trax evolution of snow bikes video? There's a 12 year old kid on there who rides a KTM 450 with a Timbersled kit.

 

[SEOINAGE]

I was always told if I could start it and pick it up I could ride it. I was really short, but I started riding a cr250 when I was 10, I had to move it over to a tree and lean it up on it's left side so I could kick it. I couldn't touch the ground even on one foot.

How tall is your kid? I would get him all the power you can find. But if he is 110 lbs or so a 250 two stroke would rip, but I wouldn't use a 250 four stroke, better off with a 450. I only weighed 70 lbs at 12 years old if that matters lol. When my brother was 7 we would stick him on the banshee and he would race people up sand mountain, hard to beat a 50 lb kid.
It can be frustrating dealing with a bike that is too large, what's worse is too large, and not having enough user friendly grunt etc. My kx80 was a screamer, but I was even too small for it, and not aggressive enough. It wasn't till I was 15 and I bought a nice yz250 that I could really keep up with everyone, on dirt that is. My guess is your kid is as big as I was when I was 15, and should sort things out fairly well on a bigger bike.

 

[madmax]

I'm in the same boat. My 11 yo boy just moved from his KTM 65 to a 85. He rides moderately well for his first year. Was thinking about trying to put a kit o his 85. I think I'll put a short track on my daughters husky fc 250 and see if he can ride it.

 

[J&L Snowhawk]

Custom

I've been wanting to stuff a 250 smoker in a 80 frame and do a st kit for small people. That would be sik

 

[madmax]

I've been wanting to stuff a 250 smoker in a 80 frame and do a st kit for small people. That would be sik

Now there is something to seriously think about...

 

[lundracing]

You guys should check out the snow ripper kits for 110 cc bikes. They look sweet


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[epicloop]

I've been wanting to stuff a 250 smoker in a 80 frame and do a st kit for small people. That would be sik

I believe Service Honda has just that, Junior R but its pricey.

 

[epicloop]

I believe Service Honda has just that, Junior R but its pricey.

They also have a Junior X, only 180LBs.
Or there is the Beta Xtrainer.

 

[SEOINAGE]

I've been wanting to stuff a 250 smoker in a 80 frame and do a st kit for small people. That would be sik

I swear I saw this, with the track. Check youtUbe. Female riDer

 

[Little Eddy]

The young fellow is about 100 lbs and really keen on bikes and sleds. I kind of think maybe the 450 might be the way to go as they are hardly any bigger and not much more for money than the 250 bikes.
I Did a little checking around today and found a YZ450 at the dealer that was lowered close to 3 inches by relocating rear substructure mounts on the frame. Cost about 300 bucks and some shipping. Looked good but still no electric start.
That bike was set up with a track kit on it and looked to me that with a little help, patience and some time, that a small person could learn to get around on pretty good.
Downside to all this is the cost is very quickly becoming hard to justify for the amount of time that he will actually get to use it

 

[Climbmax]

Lil Eddy Contact Sean Lunning in Saskatoon. He is the Timbersled Rep and has a full fleet of bikes you are likely welcome to try. His 12 and 14 year old sons both ride Snwobikes hard. They remind me of you and your sis from several years ago following your dad and uncle around Revy. Anyways, his kids ride 250F with electric start and the older one is on a 450. Im sure if your son has your DNA, hes good to go
306-221-1504 is his number.
Cheers

 

[J&L Snowhawk]

I searched the jr r and it uses a pos 4 stroke honda 250. It's just what I was thinking but I want 2 stroke It sells for 9k which if it were a smoker would be ok. Fit a 120sx kit and the kids and chicks would be rocking it. Four strokes make u lazy and boring.

 

[M5-]

My kid is bigger than me now so that problem has resolved itself but have you looked at a KTM 250 or 300 smoker with estart? It would be almost 30 lbs lighter than a thumper and with an ST and 100 lb kid at the helm it would go anywhere.

M5

 

[Adobe-Al]

11 year old can ride a 450 snowbike

My son on the CRF 450 and XC-W 450 is 11 years old at the time. He is about 125 lbs. And has been riding dirt since 4 years old. I would recommend a open area and a bike with Rekluse. Also tell him to think about spinning out then he starts. This helps set the track and keeps him balance. A lot of beginners try easy out the clutch and fall over. My younger son was 9 and was riding the xc-w by the end on the season. His problem was that he could not reach the shifter. This is when the rekluse and second gear came in handy. The height of a rider on a snowbike is no longer a factor. No one can touch in powder! Hope this helps