re: Dirt bike for tall teenage boy who's never ridden, but is fearless?

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He will want to do whatever is fastest and scares me the most. Always has.

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Then he will want to hit up the MX tracks. As far as brands it doesn't matter just pick the one you get the best deal on he won't be able to tell the difference between how each one handles.

Go to this site. motosouth.com and ask this same question there. That is a south Louisiana/Mississippi dirt bike site. The people there could tell you a lot more info. and your son could link up with people at a track to ride. Just keep in mind once he starts this he will get injured.

There was a guy who died a couple years ago at a track in Loranger but thats very rare. There is nothing safe about a dirt bike. Its a thrilling experience with the down side being the crashes. You're going 30-45+mph flying through the air on a 230lb bike. The good news is most the tracks in the area are not very technical and are pretty safe. I'll try and find some video from a local track.

Thanks. My boy needs this.

Will definitely do that! Do you ride? Wondering whether you're thinking it's not worth it, or love it but are realistic?

Listen to Yammie 250F. He knows what he's talking about. I rode enduros before I was fat and a dad. Now I've got my 5 yo starting out on a PW50- that he's been riding since 4 and a half.

If I was you, I'd look for a clapped out 125 2 stroke. Maintenance is high on a modern 4 stroke....and not everyone is skilled enough to do it right. Note, I didn't say do it, many claim they know, but aren't very good at it. Your high school son will be able to take care of his mishaps and do his own top end jobs on a 2 stroke and it'll only cost about 50 bucks for the piston kit.

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dont think so

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I have crahsed many. Some from in the air, some on three wheels (I'm old enough to have been on an ATC 250R for those who are old too), some on 2 and some on 4.

If you want your son to be a really skilled rider, learn responsibility, and not just be some jackass with a fast toy....put him on a bike.

ATVs have a tendency to kick your arse in a crash. It's been my experience that the lighter bike tends to get away from you on its own.

That 150F is more of a recreational, ride the trails, learn the ropes kinda deal.

You really can't kill them, they are old school technology vs. the 250Fs and 450Fs that have been mentioned here.

If you want to be cool, buy the 150F and let both of them ride it....that's the perfect size bike for the 14 yo and a little small for the older boy.

Be advised, they will crash, you will be scared. Buy good helmets, boots, jerseys, etc. That means a SNELL rated helmet, not DOT. My 5 y.o. doesn't go near his bike w/o $500 bucks worth of gear on. He also, thank God, hasn't been hurt.

Dirtbiking is a great sport, that requires a little bit of brains and some responsibility from the kid and the parent. Don't be that person that lets their kid ride in shorts and wonders why they are in the emergency room with 2nd degree burns from the exhaust on Junior's leg. I have a friend who is 45 years old and still has a hamburger leg because of this when he was 13.

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going to be a HUGE surprise, because we are very protective. But if he can't go fast on something he's going to implode. And as a parent you choose your battles...

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Just saw this- probably better to get on the 150F- it'll be non-violent enough to keep him safe until he can prove himself. Then it becomes your 14 yo's bike and Captain can get on a 125 2 stroke or 250 four stroke.

You are probably really, really confused about the interchangeable terms on power.....

Basically- any air cooled 4 stroke (like the 150 you are considering)- those have the fins all around the motor- are good entry level units fast enough to be fun, but not too fast to do 150' jumps.

Any water cooled bike- has a radiator just like your car- are violent and are meant to be. They need to be fast to win races, do big jumps, and generally cause lots of mischeif, mayhem, and ultimately fun. The two strokes, by their design, are more power dense...that means a smaller 2 stroke motor will make the same power as a bigger water cooled 4 stroke.

In dirt bike world, that is accepted as a 125 2 stroke is equivalent to a 250 four stroke and a 250 2 stroke is equivalent to a 450 four stroke.

A 2 stroke requires you to mix the gas and oil like your weedeater. A four stroke requires you to change the oil periodically.

Dr Weevil has seen MANY injuries from being stupid. He will be well protected, and VERY tediously instructed (poor boy). I guess you know that if this kind of thing is in their blood, you have to find the safest outlet for it or they will do it anyway, not so safely.

Kelly Blue Book is your friend....

$1280 for excellent condition at dealer retail.

$805 good condition trade in.

I would take the average and work to that.

Also, seat height on a 150F is 33", so probably won't be too short to feel small for a 6 footer. If anything, maybe it will make him feel very much in command of the bike.

I'm 6 foot, and my bike seat height is 36", and it might be a little tall, but that's how it is, and they lower a lot once you sit on them.