My son is dying to get into motocross. He's had an electric dirt bike for years but is asking for a Suzuki/Yamaha/Kawasaki for Christmas. I want to get him on one to see if he is really up to it just yet. Does anyone know of a place I can take him to ride/rent some for the day/weekend around Huntsville/Athens? Thanks in advance.

Get a KTM. They are better bikes all the way around. I rode KTMs for years and they are really "ready to race" from the factory. lol. I may open up a can of worms with that statement. I haven't ridden in a few years so I don't know of any current places to ride locally right off hand. I used to ride at an awesome place over in GA called Durhamtown plantation. Its a little bit of haul but definitely worth a weekend trip. After moving back to Huntsville years ago I joined a group called NATRA for a couple of years before I started hunting a lot again. North Alabama Trail riders association - https://natra.clubexpress.com. It was an awesome group and they're still around and active. They leased a couple thousand acres in West Point, TN at the time. Had miles and miles of awesome single track trail. I'm not sure if they still have that land or something else but they put on lots of races and cool events. They can definitely help you out.

I don't think there is anywhere you can rent a dirt bike. To much chance of tearing one up. None of the tracks I am aware of rent anything.

How old is he and what size?

One more thing. If you do get him one, make sure to get all the gear... helmet of course but boots, knee pads, elbow pads, etc. It's not a matter of if you are going to take a spill, it's when. The fun factor goes way up, and the learning curve flattens, with the appropriate gear. More times that not you can jump up, get back on, and take off again when you do have the appropriate gear without worrying about busting your knee, shin, etc. on a foot peg or other hard metal.

[quote=bruceleejones2]Get a KTM. They are better bikes all the way around. I rode KTMs for years and they are really "ready to race" from the factory.

I have to agree. The wife's cousins son rides KTMs and is sponsored by Redbull. All I've seen him ride is KTMs. They have come along ways.

what is the cousins sons name, he race motocross or offroad?

how old is the kid and what kind of riding does he want to do

KTM. Go to local races, there will be multiple bikes for sale. I love two strokes, they can be worked on easier.

My son raced for a little while. I'd advise staying away from new. Buy used, ride w while, outgrow the bike and move up.

It's an expensive sport but fun as heck.

Keegan Lee out of Indiana racing Moto

My 8 year old rides a Suzuki RM 65. For a little 2 stroke it’s MEAN

My nephew rides a CRF100

Me and my brother have a KX250, Yamaha YZF250 and a TTR 230

The bike really depends on how old he is and how tall he is. My son rides a CRF150R. It is a fast bike. He started off on a CRF100. He has friends his age that are riding everything from a CRF110 to 125s. He is on the biggest bike of all of them.

I prefer a 4 stroke. Unless you can turn wrenches and he is going to be riding all the time, you don’t want a 2 stroke. A 2 stroke doesn’t like to sit.

I was heavily into dirt bikes in my teens. My first dirt bike was a Yamaha MX 125 in 1975. My Daddy rode a Yamaha MX 250. We rode some trails by the Ramada Inn off of US31 North of Prattville and someplace in Goshen every weekend in the winter for several years. We had a some great times.

By the time I was fifteen there wasn’t any thing I couldn’t do on that 125. I got bored with it and started riding my daddy’s 250 when he was at work. By the summer I had saved enough money to buy a used Can Am 250 from a neighbor and that was an awesome machine! That bike had a power band in it that it was so easy to do wheelies. Plus it had a compression release that I just loved to get on just to hear the sound of it. Other bikes I had was a Bulltaco, Husqvarna and a Yamaha YZX all in 250. Funny thing is I never have cared for street bikes. Don’t know why just have never been interested in them.

Ktm and health insurance lol. I dont know of anywhere to rent. You can go to the old kc honda location...changed names years ago....they will let ya test ride. South parkway, next to lbj automotive. Between hobbs rd and green cove rd. But they are high as heck. Buy used

Don't do it... He's gonna wreck and he will get injured. As far as bikes, we've had all brands, all good. It's paying to get them set up to the rider that helps be consistent. If ya do it, get a Leatt brace. My sons big wreck basically drove the leatt into his spine and jacked it up. Two 10in rods/16 screws for life. If not for the brace his neck would have been snapped in half. It took him out of contact sports and prevents him from joining the military. He was a heck of a football player too. Im not gonna lie, motocross is a badass sport and fun to watch. What sucks for me us I gotta live with my choice of supporting the sport and what it cost him...

If Ya do it ya get to take cool pics. Id rather have my thousands of dollars back though.

Guess I should add that after his year of recouping, the knuckle gead rode/raced for 3 more years. Nothing like the anxiety from watching 75-100ft jumps knowing what can happen

Sorry wasn't able to check the thread for a while.... he's 9 years old, pretty small. I'm not familiar with the sport at all.

hahaha, I sense so much truth, grief and regret in this post

At that age, if he is small, he is probably going to need something in the 110 or maybe even smaller size range to start. I would stay away from 2 strokes if you haven’t ever had one before. I would take him to a store and let him sit on several to get a size comparison. Buying used is good. But, a lot of times you can’t save that much money depending on the model. Also, unless you know what to look for, you can get screwed fast. I’ve seen bikes where they have been running it with no air filter, no oil in it and barely any oil in the engine. Worn out chains, brakes, and shocks will run you a lot of money to replace.

Whatever you do, buy him a 2 stroke.

KTM world in Cedartown Georgia. They have a fleet of rentals and a track that he can try them out on. It is on the Ala/Ga state line.

This place used to be located in Douglasville, Ga, but moved to Cedartown several years back. I dealt with these folks quite a bit over the years. Might be worth burning a Saturday to go and try before you buy.

I agree with Bruceleejones......KTM ain't cheap, but it is the best bike for the money.