I don't have the money to buy a new bike, however my previous offroad bike was a Montessa Trials, after a number of offroad bikes, I stabilized on trials riding for most of my riding as a teen and adult. I sold my Montessa (Monty) a couple years ago.
I think I am finally in a situation where I can work out getting the kids some cheaper bikes and get back into offroading again.
However the trials bikes you get now, as for shows and competition only, the tank size is no longer suitable for offroad in my opinion. I don't like Motocross bikes for the offroading I do, I like true offroad, bush riding over deadfalls, river beds, where low end torque and control is more important than ripping up the dirt behind you.
Anyone that knows bike models from any manufacturer that would be a light weight low end torque offroader would be a great help to list them off to me so I can keep an eye out in the used bike sections.
I can't wait to get the kids out on bikes this spring, I have been wanting to do this for a couple years now.

Thanks,

Easyrider

Also, does anyone know about the Chinese Lifan motor dirt bikes for kids. I can get them for $500 Cdn each for a 125cc, I was thinking as a starter bike it would be a good deal. But I have no idea whether they are through aways after a summer.

Thanks,

Easy

I'm now in the process of getting a dirtbike for my stepson. I found an 03 Honda CRF230 for $1000. Its a bulletproof bike that he can learn on and/when he gets ready for something larger I will certainly be able to get my money back out of it. It has low seat height,electric start and ample power.

hey dale good to see you around... and its good to see you and yours are well...

as far as a bike for you goes i think you will dig the honda four strokes.. they have come along way...if you dont need to go real fast get an air cooled XR.. plenty of power , torque and they are bullet proof..


ive seen alot of those chinese bikes around... alot of times they have honda clone powerplants , and they run good but the rest of the bike is very poorly built ...

i guess you can look at it like this.. you can buy a four stroke 100cc clone for $600 , or you could go buy a 10 year old XR100 for $800 and have ten times the bike...
i live in a country neighborhood and all (4) of my kids have dirt bikes , alot of the neighbor kids have bikes as well and the kids with the chinese clones are always stoppin by needing something repaired , and i mean always...
i have a good friend with a dealership and he got to the point where he wont even let a guy unload one there...

my current kid bike inventory
1986 honda XR80 (one of those bikes thats been in the fam for awhile)
1997 honda Z50
2001 yamaha ttr90
2005 honda CRF230
2006 honda 250 recon

2006 CRF250R (for the bigest kid)

all they require is gas..


good luck!

my 13 y/o rides one... a guy can get 4 hp out of that bike just by jetting it right! great bike.. we did a pro circut pipe and jetting and it felt like a different bike! the kid spends alot of time on the back wheel fo sho!