Best Dirt Bikes for 12-Year-Olds [By Height & Experience]

For most 12-year-old beginners, I'd start with a Honda CRF125F, Yamaha TTR125LE, or Kawasaki KLX140R. A shorter rider may fit the smaller CRF125F better, while a taller 12-year-old may be more comfortable on a KLX140R L/F, TTR230, KLX230R, or CRF250F.

Don't choose by engine size alone, though. A 125cc 4-stroke trail bike can be an excellent beginner bike, while a 125cc 2-stroke motocross bike is a full-size race bike that's far more powerful and difficult to control.

I've been riding dirt bikes for more than 25 years and started riding when I was 7. I've owned and ridden many of these bikes myself, including the TTR125, KLX140, TTR230, KLX230R and CRF250F, and I've used beginner trail bikes while teaching newer riders. Below I'll show you what I'd choose based on height, experience and riding type.

12-year-old rider	Bikes I'd consider first
Short beginner	CRF125F, smaller KLX140R
Average-height beginner	CRF125F/B, TTR125LE, KLX140R/L
Tall beginner	KLX140R F, TTR230, KLX230R, CRF250F
Tight budget / used	TTR125, DR-Z125/L, older CRF/XR100
Experienced trail rider	Larger bike based on height/skill
Experienced motocross racer	Appropriate 85/LW race bike
First-time rider I'd avoid	125 2T MX, 250F MX, full-size high-performance bikes

My rule: Choose the easiest bike the rider can comfortably control—not the biggest bike they can physically touch the ground on.

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What you need to know before buying a dirt bike

If you're brand new to dirt biking, then there's some essential knowledge that you should know before getting started because there are quite a few things that most people don't think about beforehand.

For example, to start dirt biking you need to know and prepare for:

• Which dirt bike is best for your specific needs
• How you're going to haul it
• Where you're going to store it
• What riding gear you need
• The essential tools you need to maintain your bike
• Learning how to properly ride it

What size dirt bike is good for a 12 year old?

This mainly depends on the height of your 12 year old son or daughter. Most 12-13 year-olds will fit well on a medium size dirt bike.

If they're shorter than the average kid or have short legs, then you want to pick a dirt bike that's smaller. If they're tall, go with a bigger size bike. 

For more specifics and to make it easy, below is a simple dirt bike size chart based on rider height. Use this as a reference tool and not an absolute factor. 

It's best to sit on and even test ride a dirt bike if possible to know if it's the right size for you. 

Here's a dirt bike size chart based on your height and the seat height of the bike. Use it as a starting point (reference)

Height	Seat Height
4'6"-4'10" (137-145cm	26-29 inch (66-73.5cm)
4'10"-5'0" (147-152cm)	27-30 inch (68.5-76cm)
5'0"-5'2" (152-157.5cm)	29-31 inch (73.5-79cm)
5'2"-5'4" (157.5-162.5cm)	30-33 inch (76-84cm)
5'4"-5'6" (162.5-168cm)	33-35 inch (84-89cm)
5'6"-5'8" (168-173cm)	34-36 inch (86-91.5cm)
5'8"-5'11" (173-180cm)	35-38 inch (89-96.5cm)
6'0"+ (183+cm)	37+ inch (94+cm)

Not sure which dirt bike actually fits YOU?

Choosing based on engine size alone can get expensive fast. Your height/inseam, experience, confidence, terrain, budget and riding goals all matter.

I'll personally help you narrow it down to the bikes that make the most sense for you.

→ Get My 1-on-1 Dirt Bike Buying Consultation

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Yes, but it depends on what type of 125cc dirt bike. Just because it's a 125cc engine doesn't mean it's the same size as every other 125 dirt bike. 

For example, there are 2 stroke and 4 stroke dirt bikes, and when comparing them in the 125cc class, they're completely different. The 2 stroke is a tall motocross race bike and the 4 stroke is a shorter trail bike. 

A full-size 125 two-stroke motocross bike is generally a poor choice for a first-time 12-year-old rider. It's tall, has much more aggressive power, and requires considerably more clutch and throttle control than a 125cc trail bike.

That's why the 4 stroke 125 is the best choice for most kids. 

Not only is the trail bike much smaller, making it easier to touch the ground, but the engine and suspension are much more forgiving. This makes it easier to ride and learn the basic techniques. 

What dirt bike should a 12 year old beginner get?

So, now that you have a good idea of what to expect, it's time to look at what the best dirt bikes are. I'm only going to recommend name brand dirt bikes here because they're the safest and most reliable. 

You can pick a cheap dirt bike from Amazon or somewhere, and it will most likely work, but there are just too many disadvantages to buying one. They're only good if you just need the absolute cheapest dirt bike and you won't be riding it for very long. 

So, whether you're in the U.S., UK, Australia, Canada, or another country, these are the best dirt bikes (motorbikes) for a 12-year-old boy or girl beginner:

• Honda CRF125F/B
• Yamaha TTR125LE
• Kawasaki KLX140/L/G
• Suzuki DRZ125
• Honda CRF250F
• Yamaha TTR230
• Kawasaki KLX230R

Now I'm going to go into more detail on each bike so that you can get a better idea of which dirt bike to choose based on your specific needs.

Honda CRF125F

Honda has the CRF125F and CRF125FB. They're almost identical, but the big wheel model has bigger wheels and a slightly higher seat height, which gives it better stability if you're a taller 12 year old.

So, what size kid is this for?

The small wheel is good if you're between 4'6"-4'10" in height. The big wheel is better if you're between 4'10-5'4" in height. 

The 125cc engine is very tame but has enough power for any size kid. Learning how to use the clutch is very forgiving because the low RPM power is smooth and predictable. 

The CRF125 was first made in 2014 and changed from a carburetor to fuel injection in 2019. It's an electric start, so there's no kick-starting or dirty carb to worry about. 

Honda CRF250F

Moving to a substantially bigger, heavier, and more powerful machine from Honda, the CRF250F is a good beginner dirt bike if you’re 5’6” or taller. It still has the same power characteristics as the smaller CRF; just more of it.

If your 12 year old is bigger and stronger than the average kid and is ready to go to a full size dirt bike, this is a great transitional bike. It’s still shorter and easier to handle than an enduro bike. It’s also very reliable and has good resale value.

Yamaha TTR125LE

Yamaha used to have 4 different models of the TTR125, but now it’s just the TTR125LE. The “LE” simply stands for large wheel and electric start. It’s essentially the same size as Honda’s CRF125FB.

The TTR 125 is a solid choice because it’s been proven for 20+ years and hasn’t changed much. That’s good because parts are easy to find and they’re a little more affordable.

The suspension and ergonomics aren’t the best in its class, in my opinion, but for a new rider, it won’t make a difference.

Yamaha TTR230

Moving up to the 230cc trail bike, the TTR230 is comparable to Honda’s latest CRF250F. The difference is that the engine is slightly smaller and it doesn’t have fuel injection.

The good news? It’s cheaper to find a good TTR230 on the used market. It’s a great entry-level dirt bike for your kid or young adult if they’re at least 5’6” in height.

Kawasaki KLX140

The KLX 140 has three different size options, but unfortunately, Kawasaki keeps changing their model naming system!

The KLX140 (now KLX140R) is the small wheel, the KLX140L (KLX140R L) is the large wheel, and the KLX140G (KLX140R F) has the full-size wheels.

They’re essentially the same dirt bike but with different size wheels and tires, along with different seat heights. Choose the size that fits you best.

I like the KLX140 because it’s an overall solid and easy-to-ride motorcycle. It feels more like a motocross bike while riding it, but the suspension and handling are comfortable. 

It doesn’t have fuel injection, but the electric start works well.

Suzuki DRZ125/L

The only good dirt bike for a 12 year old from Suzuki is the DR125. It comes in either the small wheel model or the DRZ125L large wheel.

Not much to write home about, but it’s definitely a dirt bike to consider if you get a good deal on one. It still has kick-start and a carburetor, but it’s reliable.

If you (or your kid) can live with a kick-start bike (it’s pretty easy to start when properly jetted), then I would recommend it because it’s easy to ride and learn how to use the clutch on.

Bottom line

If you’re still unsure on which dirt bike buy to pick, here’s a quick summary:

Best cheap dirt bike for a short 12 year old: Yamaha TTR125

Best new dirt bike for a short 12 year old: Honda CRF125F

Best cheap dirt bike for a tall 12 year old: Yamaha TTR230

Best new dirt bike for a tall 12 year old: Honda CRF250F

Not sure which size fits your 12-year-old?

Get my free Dirt Bike Size Chart to quickly narrow down the right bike based on rider height and size.

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