Buying guide · by the team at All-Terrain Motorsports, Grand Junction & Rifle CO · updated 2026-08-20
Nothing we sell creates more lifelong riders than a first dirt bike done right — and nothing ends riding careers faster than a first bike that's too big, too powerful, or too race-focused. Here's the framework we use with every family on the floor.
The rule that matters: sitting on the bike, the child should touch the ground with the balls of both feet. Roughly, that means 50cc bikes for ages 4–7, 110cc around 7–11, and 125–150cc small-wheel bikes for 11–14 — but inseam beats age every time. The Yamaha TT-R and Honda CRF-F trail lines and Kawasaki's KLX 110 are the classic starting points: electric start, forgiving power, nearly indestructible.
A motocross bike (CRF-R, KX, SX) is a race instrument: tall seat, hard-hitting power, maintenance-hungry. A trail bike (CRF-F, TT-R, KLX) is softer everywhere and vastly better for learning. Unless your kid is entering races this season, buy the trail bike — the fast kids at the track all started on one.
For adults, the sweet spot is a 230–300cc air-cooled trail bike — light enough to pick up, powerful enough to not outgrow in a month. Taller or more athletic beginners can start on a 250F trail model. Skip the 450 as a first bike; everyone who buys one anyway tells us later we were right.
Electric deserves a serious look now: quiet enough to ride places gas bikes draw complaints, no clutch to stall, and adjustable power that grows with the rider. At the serious end, the Stark VARG is a legitimate motocross weapon; for kids, electric balance-style bikes make the transition to pedals-to-throttle seamless.
Buy the size that fits today, the trail version not the race version, and spend what's left on gear — helmet, boots, chest protector. Bring the rider to either store and we'll size them on real bikes in five minutes.
Kawasaki KLX — 128 in stock from $2,999
Honda CRF — 23 in stock from $2,298
KTM Motocross & Cross-Country — 21 in stock from $6,097
Stark VARG — 7 in stock from $9,999
Counts and prices update nightly from our live inventory. Website prices include freight & setup.
With adult supervision and proper gear, many kids start on 50cc bikes around age 4–5. The real gate is attitude and coordination, not age — balance-bike experience helps enormously.
The Grand Valley OHV area at 25 Road and the North Fruita Desert have mellow terrain that's perfect for new riders, minutes from town. We'll point you to the right staging area for your skill level.
Kids' trail bikes hold value so well that lightly-used ones cost nearly new money — and a new bike carries warranty and no mystery history. Check our used inventory either way; good first bikes move fast.