Best Dirt Bikes for 13-Year-Olds [& Which to Avoid]

For most 13-year-old beginners, I recommend a 4-stroke trail bike such as the Honda CRF125F, Yamaha TTR125LE, or Kawasaki KLX140R. Taller 13-year-olds may fit a KLX140R F, Yamaha TTR230, Kawasaki KLX230R, or Honda CRF250F better.

Age alone doesn't determine the right dirt bike, though. Height, inseam, riding experience, and the type of riding matter more. A shorter beginner may need a bike with a seat height around 30–32 inches, while a taller or more experienced 13-year-old may be comfortable on a larger bike.

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 the bikes in this guide, including the XR100, TTR125, KLX140, TTR230 and CRF250F, so I'll show you which ones I'd choose based on the rider rather than simply engine size.

13-year-old rider	Bikes I'd consider first
Short beginner	CRF125F, TTR125LE, KLX140R
Average-height beginner	TTR125LE, KLX140R/L/F
Taller beginner	KLX140R F, TTR230, KLX230R, CRF250F
Tight budget / used	XR100/CRF100, TTR125, CRF150F
Experienced & wants to race	85cc/LW motocross bike or CRF150R
I'd avoid for a first-time rider	125 2T MX, 250F MX, full-size high-performance bikes

Not sure which size actually fits? Get my free Dirt Bike Size Chart to narrow it down based on rider height and size.
Get The Free Dirt Bike Size Chart →

My rule: don't choose a dirt bike just because a 13-year-old can reach the ground. They also need to comfortably control the bike's weight, clutch, throttle, and power.

---

What type of dirt bike is best for a 13-14 year old?

Since most countries don't allow a 13 or 14 year old to legally ride a motorcycle on the road, you'll want an off-road dirt bike, but how do you know which one? There are several different types of dirt bikes to choose from, but I'll show you the two you need to consider.

Best type of bike for beginners

For beginners, you'll want to choose a trail dirt bike for a few reasons. Not only are they more affordable and cheaper a to buy, but they're much easier to ride.

You can learn the basic techniques, such as clutch and throttle control, as well as balance much quicker on a dirt bike that's slower, smaller, and easier to control as a newbie. I see to many new riders starting on too big and fast of a dirt bike, and then they end up crashing and getting hurt, forcing them to quit riding and sell the bike, which is NOT what I want you to do!

Best type of dirt bike for racing

Maybe you're an experienced rider that's already learned how to confidently ride a dirt bike and are ready to race motocross or off-road. Your best choice is a motocross bike because they have much better suspension and more power.

What size dirt bike is best for a 13 year old?

It really depends on how tall you or your kid is. If they’re under 4’10” then you’ll want a dirt bike with a seat height of under 31”. That way they can touch the ground with at least one foot, which will boost their confidence when learning to ride.

Are you taller than 4’10”? Then a seat height of 31-36” is most likely the range you want. The better your balance skills are, the less you have to worry about seat height because you don't need to put a foot down to catch yourself from falling.

A good engine size to start on

Looking at this height range, you’ll be looking at a dirt bike with 110cc, 125cc, 230cc, or somewhere in between.

Being 13 years old, I recommend getting a dirt bike with a clutch. They’re starting to grow into adults, so it’s time to learn how to use the clutch.

Best dirt bike brand for your kid to start on

You may read from other blogs that recommend the lesser known brands and types of dirt bike that you can get on Amazon, such as Razor or Coolster. They can work if you're on a budget looking for your first dirt bike, but I will not recommend these because they are poor quality compared to the name brand dirt bikes from Japan and Europe.

The cheap dirt bikes from Amazon may be affordable, but they will not last long before parts start wearing out and breaking, and finding replacement parts for them will be very difficult.

If you want a reliable dirt bike that will last for years, I recommend you stick to these top brand dirt bikes for kids:

• Honda
• Yamaha
• KTM
• Kawasaki
• Suzuki
• Husqvarna

Best beginner dirt bikes for 13 year old

To make it quick, the best dirt bike for you it comes down to your height, experience, and how much you are willing to spend.

The most dangerous dirt bikes for a 13 year-old beginner are motocross bikes. They have too much power and are harder to ride because the clutch and power is harder to control.

For your first dirt bike, you want something easy to ride, and that's generally a 4 stroke trail bike. They're cheaper to buy, maintain, and the easiest dirt bikes to ride, making them safer for you or your kids because you can focus on the basic techniques.

So, I’m just going to give you the 4 best dirt bikes for a 13 year old, whether they’re short, tall, and if you are on a budget or not.

CRF125F — shorter/newer rider

I really like the CRF125F/B for short and newer riders for several reasons:

• Low seat height (two size options: small & big wheel models)
• Smooth power makes it easy to learn how to ride and use the clutch
• EFI - Less maintenance and no tuning of carburetor jets
• Electric start - less frustrating if you're struggling with stalling

I've used our Honda CRF125F to teach and coach many new riders, including Amber (pictured below), because it's super easy to ride.

KLX140R/L/F — multiple sizes make this particularly useful

I've had multiple KLX140's, and besides two minor complaints, this is my favorite "midsize" dirt bike for beginners and casual trail riders.
Here's what I like about it:

• 3 size options (small, large, plus a full-size wheel option - 21/18")
• 5-speed transmission with a low 1st gear
• Electric start

The biggest problem is the carburetor - it's typically tuned too lean from the factory. A simple air/fuel screw adjustment may be all it needs, but it does require a small amount of mechanical ability.

TTR230 — tall 13-year-old

For a simple, reliable full-size dir bike that has more power than the 125-150cc midsize bikes, the TTR230 is hard to beat. I've had a couple of them within the past year and they're great bikes for beginners and casual trail riders for a few reasons:

• Plenty of power for a taller/heavier 13 year old
• Tall enough even if you/your 13 year old is 6'0"
• Super easy to ride - smooth and predictable power
• Electric start - less frustrating than kick start if you stall

CRF250F/KLX230R — taller/larger beginner

I would choose the CRF250F or KLX230R if you want fuel injection and your budget is a little higher. I've owned both of these bikes (me riding them below), and they're hard to beat for a number of reasons:

• EFI - Easy starting, no tuning or dealing with messy jets/carburetor
• Smoother power - plenty for teens to have fun!
• Plush suspension - more comfortable than MX/race bikes
• Low-maintenance - oil and air filter changes are the majority of maintenance
• Electric start - no kicking!

XR100/CRF100/TTR125 — best cheap used option

For the cheapest dirt bike, the Honda XR100, CRF100, or TTR125 is a good size if you're 12-14 years old. The engine is super forgiving with its smooth power, and the clutch is about as easy as it gets to learn on.

I’ve had a few XR100’s, and it was actually my first dirt bike with a clutch, so I have good memories from it. It’s basically bombproof and reliable if you change the oil and keep the air filter clean regularly.

The seat height is low if you have short legs, but the bike is big enough for an average-size adult to ride around on.

---

Best motocross racing dirt bikes for 13 year-olds

Already past the beginner stage and ready for a race bike for your 13-14 year old? It basically comes down to 4 dirt bike size options unless they’re really tall and ready for a full size bike.

What are these MX race bike options?

• 85cc 2 stroke
• Or Honda’s CRF150R
• Small wheel model
• Large wheel model (supermini)

80/85cc 2 stroke mx bike

It used to be the 80cc 2 stroke mini class for 12-15 year olds, but they went to 85cc around 2003. These motocross bikes are fast and should not be your very first dirt bike.

They’re harder to ride because they don’t have much bottom-end power, but then they turn on like a lightswitch once you hit the powerband in the higher RPM.

These are the best 85cc race bikes for teens and preteens (age 12-15):

• Yamaha YZ85
• KTM 85 SX
• Husqvarna TC 85
• GasGas MC 85
• TM Racing 85 MX 2T
• Kawasaki KX85
• Suzuki RM85
• Honda CR85 (not made since 2007)

Honda CRF150R

Honda came out with the CRF150R, which is not to be confused with the CRF150F, in 2007 with big plans to change the mini class of motocross. The CRF150R is a liquid-cooled race bike that is built for racing.

The CRF150RB (Expert) ended up being put in the supermini class against modified 112cc 2 strokes and had a hard time keeping up because of their extra weight.

I do not recommend it to beginners, especially if you’re just trail riding.

With that said, if you’re already an experienced rider, there are some mods you can do to make it more trail-friendly, but they can get a little expensive.

Large Wheel/Expert/Supermini model

If an experienced 13-year-old is too tall for a standard 85 but isn't ready for a full-size motocross bike, a large-wheel 85/supermini can bridge the gap. These generally use 19/16-inch wheels instead of the 17/14-inch wheels found on standard 85s.

Current options include bikes such as the Yamaha YZ85LW, KTM 85 SX 19/16, Husqvarna TC 85 19/16, GasGas MC 85 19/16, and Kawasaki KX112.

Used bikes such as the KX100 and older supermini models can also be worth considering.

Can a 13 year old legally ride a dirt bike?

Generally, yes, but the rules depend on where you live and where the bike is being ridden. Public trails and OHV areas may have age, registration, safety-certificate, supervision, or protective-equipment requirements. Check your state or local OHV regulations before riding on public land.

I started when I was 7, so 13 is definitely not too early of an age to begin riding (or too late!).

Not sure which size fits you or your teenager?

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

Get The Free Dirt Bike Size Chart →