Best Dirt Bike For Beginners 2024 [& 5 To AVOID]

Looking for the best dirt bike for beginners, but not sure where to start? Whether you’re brand new to riding off-road or just getting back into it, you’re in the right place!

In this article, I’ll show you the best starter dirt bikes, whether you’re short, tall, old, young, a girl, or on a budget. You’ll learn how to pick the right bike based on your size, why it’s so important to choose the right bike, and then how to get started riding “the right way” so that you have more fun and stay safe!

Top 5 WORST Dirt Bikes For Beginners that You Should Avoid

Most of the opinions on Google for best beginner dirt bikes are TERRIBLE – at least if you care about your safety and hard-earned money.

For example, these are some of the worst dirt bikes to choose from if you’re a beginner who wants to ride trails or off-road only:

• Honda CRF250R
• Gas Gas EC 300
• Yamaha WR450F
• Suzuki DRZ400S
• Yamaha YZ125

For some reason, a lot of the articles and answers you might read will recommend these dirt bikes or similar race bikes.
Now, is it possible to ride them for your first dirt bike? Yes.
Are they fun to ride? Yes, but…

Should you AVOID all racing dirt bikes if you’re a beginner?

An MX or enduro bike, such as the YZ250F or YZ250FX are excellent dirt bikes, but not for everyone. Sure, you can figure out how to ride them in an open field without crashing, but riding into the woods or any single-track trails is another story if you’re a beginner or just getting back into dirt bikes after 20+ years.

Motocross and enduro bikes have snappy power that makes it easy to “whiskey throttle” and wheelie out of control if you haven’t mastered the basic techniques of trail riding. They also have stiffer suspension that makes every bump feel harsh and you’ll get fatigued quicker if you’re riding at low speeds.

The best beginner dirt bike based on your specific needs

Now it’s time to choose your first dirt bike based on your needs, such as size and price range. I’ll list the best beginner dirt bikes for kids, teens, females, adults, heavier riders, short riders, and more!

Best beginner dirt bike for kids

Whether you’re looking for the best beginner dirt bike for a 3 year old toddler or a 12 year old kid, there’s a good-sized motorcycle for you.
These are the best beginner dirt bikes for kids:

• Stacyc Electric balance bike – for toddlers before a gas dirt bike
• Yamaha PW50 – smallest gas dirt bike for kids ages 3-6 years old
• Yamaha TTR50E – smallest 4-stroke with E-start for kids ages 4-7 years old
• Honda CRF110F – Best 110cc without clutch for beginners for kids ages 7-12 years old
• Kawasaki KLX110L – smallest dirt bike with a manual clutch for kids ages 7-12 years old
• Honda CRF125F – Easiest 125cc dirt bike to ride -for kids age 9-15 years old
• Kawasaki KLX140 – 3 size options based on your height – for kids age 9-15 years old
• Kawasaki KLX230R – Best 230 with EFI & E-start for teenaged kids that are at least 5’5″ tall
• Honda CRF250F – Best full-size beginner motorcycle for off-road – for teenaged kids that are at least 5’5″ tall

Best beginner dirt bike for teenagers

Teenagers can range in size a lot, and that’s why there’s no perfect starter bike for every teen. That’s why I’ve chosen two classifications to choose from. 

The best beginner dirt bike for a tall teen is the Honda CRF250F, and for a short teen is the Kawasaki KLX140.

Now you ask, what’s tall and what’s short? For a complete guide on dirt bike sizes there’s this article you can read. But for a short answer, a shorter teen would be 5’0″ and shorter. A tall teen would be over 5’6″ in height.

Best dirt bike for girls (wife/girlfriend/daughter/etc.)

I see more and more girls riding dirt bikes these days, and that’s fantastic! Having your daughter, wife, or girlfriend ride with you is not only encouraging, but it can really grow your relationship with some fun riding adventures!

With that said, you might have to teach them or yourself how to ride a dirt bike. If that’s the case, then the best dirt bikes for a girl to start out on are:

• Kawasaki KLX140/L/G
• Honda CRF125F/B

The KLX140 is one of my favorite trail bikes that’s beginner-friendly, which is why I bought one for my wife. The KLX 140L is the perfect mid-size bike to learn on because the seat height is low enough for an average person to touch the ground on, the power is extremely smooth and predictable, and the electric start is a no brainer.

KLX140 pros & cons

Having the “magic button” to start the engine saves a lot of frustration when trying to learn several other things on a dirt bike (just ask my wife!).

The only thing the KLX 140 is missing is fuel-injection, which is where the Honda CRF125F comes in.

Best starter dirt bike for Adults

Are you an adult looking for your first dirt bike, or just looking to get back into riding? Starting out on a bike that’s easy to ride will greatly boost your confidence, which will boost your rate of skill and speed. 

There are so many different models and brands to choose from, so what’s the best first dirt bike for you to learn how to ride on?

To narrow it down, you need to answer a few questions:

• What kind of riding will I do?
• What’s my size?
• Does 2 stroke or 4 stroke matter?
• What’s your budget?

The best beginner dirt bikes for adults learning to ride are:

• Yamaha TTR125LE
• Kawasaki KLX140G (now the KLX 140R F)
• Honda CRF250F
• Kawasaki KLX300R

Best Beginner Dirt Bike For Trail Riding

Are you planning on just trail riding or riding around your farm/property? I do not recommend a 2-stroke motocross bike if you’re just starting or a novice rider. They have snappy power and stiff suspension that make it hard to build your confidence.

Trail bikes are perfect to learn on because they have smooth power and soft suspension that is easy to handle. 

The best 2 stroke trail bikes for beginners are:

• Beta 200RR
• Beta XTrainer

While these are the most beginner-friendly 2 stroke dirt bikes you can buy new, I still consider them to be “enduro” models, which are a high-performance version of your average trail bike.

This means they have more power, taller seat heights, and stiffer suspension, which is why I don’t recommend them if you’re a complete beginner. They’re good bikes to upgrade to after you’ve mastered the basic techniques of trail riding.

The best 4 stroke trail bikes for beginners are:

• Kawasaki KLX230R
• Honda CRF250F

Best Beginner Bikes For Taller or Heavy Riders

Are you a tall or bigger rider? No worries, there’s still ways to fit on a dirt bike and feel comfortable. More weight means less acceleration, so you’ll want a bike with a little more power. With that said, you still don’t want to go straight to a 450 or 500 as a first time rider. 

The best dirt bikes to consider if you’re a tall or big guy as a beginner are:

• Kawasaki KLX300R
• Yamaha WR250F

Which KLX300 generation?

The KLX300R is a 300cc 4 stroke liquid-cooled trail bike. It was discontinued in 2007, but Kawasaki brought it back for 2020. 

The biggest additions are electric start and fuel injection, which are great features for a new rider to make learning how to ride more enjoyable. 

How to know if the WR250F is right for you

Yamaha’s WR250F has changed quite a bit over the last couple of decades, but it’s still a good enduro/trail bike. I wouldn’t normally recommend it to a new rider, but if you’re a larger rider, the extra power and suspension will be nice to have. 

I also like the WR250F because it’s very reliable. Yamaha knows how to make a high quality dirt bike, and the WR has always been dependable. This is important because you don’t want your first bike to be a high maintenance, money pit. 

Are You Tall?

Dirt bikes are only built so tall. The biggest models are still designed for a rider that’s about 5’9″-6’1″. Don’t worry if you’re taller than that, though. 

There are plenty of mods you can do to make the ergonomics more spacious and comfortable for your larger frame. For a complete guide and list of things to make your bike feel bigger read this. 

Best beginner dirt bike for short riders

Maybe you’re a shorter guy or gal like me. I have a short inseam of about 28″, so seat height is critical if I want to touch the ground with one tiptoe. 

The best small dirt bikes for short adult riders to start on are:

• Honda CRF125F
• Yamaha TTR125
• Kawasaki KLX140
• Kawasaki KLX230R
• Honda CRF250F

Having a low seat height is critical if you want the confidence in knowing you can touch the ground with at least one foot. While balance is a key skill you will learn over time to prevent tipovers, having a shorter dirt bike to start out on can make the process more enjoyable.

If you don’t want to buy a new KLX140, KLX230R or CRF250F, there’s ways to shorten your current bike. This article shows you the top ways to lower the seat height of most dirt bikes.

Best cheap beginner dirt bike

Don’t have much to spend but still want a solid dirt bike to start on? There’s a few older models that are fun and easy to ride, as well as being more affordable and reliable. 

The best inexpensive used dirt bikes for a beginner are:

• Honda XR200R
• Kawasaki KDX200
• Honda XR250R

Let’s face it, not all of us are made of money. Buying a new dirt bike is out of the question, especially if it’s your first one. The Honda XR200 and XR250 aren’t made any more, but they have helped tens of thousands beginners learn how to ride using a clutch.

The XR 200 and 250 are rock solid air-cooled 4 strokes that are built for casual riding and trail use. Change the oil, add a couple gallons of gas, and you’ve got a full days worth of riding ahead! They can be had for under $2000, but you want to have a careful eye when looking at a used one.

Cheap 2 stroke for your first dirt bike?

The Kawasaki KDX200 is a 2 stroke trail bike, but it doesn’t ride like a snappy, harsh-suspended motocross bike. The power is plenty and exciting, but it’s fairly tame for a 2 stroke, making it a good option for a cheap starter bike.

Best beginner motocross bike

Maybe you’ve already learned the basic techniques to riding off-road and are ready to ride or race on a motocross track. It’s still important to choose the right first MX bike because riding on a track with jumps and obstacles is a whole new way of riding.

Not only do you have to control your bike over the obstacles, but you’re riding with other people on the same track. The dirt can also change almost every lap from all of the traffic.

These are the best beginner motocross bikes to stay safe:

• Kawasaki KX100 – Best midsize 2 stroke that’s easy to ride
• Honda CRF150R – best midsize 4 stroke MX bike
• Yamaha YZ125 – Easiest 125 two-stroke MX bike to ride
• Yamaha YZ250F – Easiest 125 four-stroke MX bike to ride

What is the best dirt bike for beginners?

There are many different models to choose from. You may already have a couple of different bikes in mind that would suit your riding style and the terrain you will primarily ride, but there’s certain features that will make riding easier and more enjoyable.

The top dirt bikes for beginners include:

• Kawasaki KLX140 (For Short Teenagers)
• Honda CRF250F (For Tall teenagers)
• Honda CRF125FB (For Girls & Women)
• Kawasaki KLX230R (4 Stroke For Trail Riding)
• Beta 200RR (2 Stroke For Trail Riding)
• Kawasaki KLX140G (For Shorter Adult)
• Yamaha WR250F (For Bigger Guy)

Is a 125cc dirt bike good for beginners?

There are two different kinds of 125’s. A 125cc trail bike, such as a TTR125, is a great dirt bike for beginners riders that are shorter. The TTR125L has a low seat height, so if you are under 5’4″ then you will fit without being cramped.

What about a 125 2-stroke?

A 125cc motocross bike, such as a YZ125, is not a good beginner bike, however.

With an average inseam of 30 inches, this is going to be a problem. Even though the suspension sags a few inches when you sit on a dirt bike, there’s still a few inches more before your feet can touch the ground.

This leaves you with shifting your weight to one side of the seat and tip-toeing to hold the bike up. Just one more thing you shouldn’t have to worry about while trying to learn how to do six other things.

Is a 250 dirt bike good for a beginner?

A 250 dirt bike can be a great beginner bike, but it greatly depends on which model 250cc you’re looking at.

Generally, 250cc is the max displacement size I will recommend for a bike to start out on. However, a 250cc motocross bike, two or four stroke, is too much power for a beginner to handle.

Is a 450 good for beginners?

For 99.9% of us, a 450cc dirt bike is a bad choice for your first dirt bike for a number of reasons. Not only do you NOT need that much power to have fun, but it will actually take you longer to become a better rider.

You see, when you have more power than you can handle off-road, you have to focus on controlling the clutch and throttle. When you ride a “slower” dirt bike, you will be able to control it and focus on the fundamental techniques that will increase your skill & confidence much quicker!

If you don’t want to “Outgrow Your 1st Dirt Bike” in 6 months…

Too many riders either get pressured into buying a fast MX or enduro bike from their friends or recommendations online, or they simply think that they’ll “grow into” the power. The reasoning is usually “why start on a slow dirt bike when I’m just going to sell it and upgrade soon anyway?”

Why it’s so hard to ride the wrong bike as a beginner

Well, the problem is that, as a beginner, you don’t have very good control over the clutch, throttle, and balance. Riding a dirt bike isn’t that hard, but riding with confidence on a trail or track takes a lot of practice with the proper techniques.

So, what’s the real reason for starting on a smaller and “slower” dirt bike?
It’s so much easier to learn basic riding techniques when you don’t have to worry about controlling the power and size of your bike.

How to pick your first dirt bike step-by-step

Now that you know what not to look for when buying a beginner dirt bike, we need to narrow down what you should be looking for.

If you want to quickly build your confidence, these are the factors you should look at when picking your first dirt bike:

• Is it easy to start?
• Is it easy to ride?
• Does it fit your height and weight?
• Is the bike reliable?
• What is your budget?

Easy to start to reduce stress

Remember back when you had to manually crank start your car? Didn’t think so. While most dirt bikes may not be that difficult to kickstart, having the “magic button” of electric start is becoming the norm, and for good reason.

Electric start systems are becoming more and more reliable and is a great motivator for continuing to learn how to ride dirt bike. I see so many new riders getting frustrated just because they have to keep kicking their bike over to get it running again after they stalled it for the 27th time, sucking the fun right out of the actual riding.

Electric start isn’t a must, but if you’re older and have sore or weak legs, not having to kick-start is a fantastic option. Another place where e-start shines is when you stall on the side of a hill and it’s difficult to pull the kick-start out and kick it while trying to balance. Just press the button and keep riding!

Easy to ride to build confidence

A dirt bike that is easy and manageable to ride will not only boost your riding confidence, it will also be much more fun right from the beginning. Let’s look at the factors that make a dirt bike easy to ride for a beginner rider.

Smooth Power

The best way to gain confidence is to start on a dirt bike with smooth, tractable power. This narrows it down to most trail bikes or entry level enduro bikes.

Smooth power is produced by an engine that is tuned for low-end to mid-range RPM riding. Having good torque at an RPM just above idle also helps you learn how to use the clutch because it will be less prone to stalling.

Low Enough Seat Height

We already went into depth of why having a tall seat height is counterproductive to learning how to ride. Having a low seat height will boost your confidence as beginner rider because you can easily touch the ground with at least one foot and balance while riding slow or coming to a stop.
You’re also closer to the ground in case you do fall, so you’re less likely to get hurt.

Lightweight

Just because you’re big and strong does not mean you can handle a big, heavy dirt bike, regardless of how smooth the power-band is. Even grown men have trouble balancing a full-size motorcycle because they don’t have the muscle memory.

A lighter dirt bike is not only easier to handle and pick up, but it will teach you proper balance better because it requires less input from your body. For example, you don’t have to use as much energy to lean a lighter bike over to initiate and ride a corner.

Seat Height and Weight Correlation

What is considered “light enough” for a beginner dirt bike? Well, that is actually not a specific weight number.
If you’ve heard the term “Center of Gravity”, it applies directly to a dirt bike and how it handles, as well as how easy it is to balance.

Having a high CoG (center of gravity) makes the bike feel very top heavy, thus making it more difficult to balance. This is why it’s best to start out on a bike that is as low as you can comfortably ride on.

On the flip side, you can get away with a slightly heavier dirt bike if it has a low CoG. Low seat height generally means lower center of gravity, so keep that it mind when choosing the perfect starter bike.

Reliability lets you ride more and work less

The last thing you want is a dirt bike that you have to work on more than you ride. You’re looking for something that requires low maintenance and is very durable.

Old-Tech Is Still Good Tech

While I am a big fan of technology advancement and how it makes life easier and more convenient, some technology is still proven to work well after many decades.

If you want the most reliable and durable engine to start out with, it’s hard to ignore the simplicity of an air-cooled four-stroke. Not only do they produce smooth power that makes it easy to ride, but the maintenance intervals are much longer than most liquid-cooled dirt bikes.

As long as you do your regular maintenance, such as changing oil and filter, an air-cooled engine should last for hundreds, if not thousands of hours.

How much can you financially afford?

Last, but certainly not least, is the buy-in price point of your first dirt bike. You saved up all that hard earned cash, so you don’t want to waste it on a bike that costs more than a different bike that would work just as well for you.

With that said, you don’t want to cheap out a couple hundred bucks when you could have bought a dirt bike that is a much more capable machine that fits your needs.

How to buy a beginner’s dirt bike with confidence

Maybe you’re ready to buy a dirt bike now but not sure how to deal with buying a used bike. Whether it’s finding a good deal or you don’t want to end up with a bike that needs a lot of work, I totally get it, and I want to help you.

I’ve bought and sold a lot of bikes, and I see a lot of the same mistakes people make when looking at end buying a used dirt bike. I want to share those mistakes with you and how to prevent it so that you buy a good beginner bike that will be reliable. Click here to grab your FREE guide to buying with confidence.

Need personalized help choosing the right bike with confidence?

Don’t want to waste days or weeks researching which bike is right for you or your kid? Get personalized consulting from me (Kelley) to pick the right bike or riding gear with confidence – click here to learn more.