Son turning 16 soon

[jessup]

I started in the dirt... I have to agree with the enduro suggestions... Easy to maintain more than one use, get to learn the best of both worlds... plus the market for them is always there... I sold my dr350 for way more than it was worth I actually felt bad and threw in all my gear!

 

[Tree]

A 650 V-Strom might not be a bad alternative either. Would give a nice combo of streetability, and trail riding. Big enough there would be no highway issues and small enough to get the street feel.

Later,

Steve

 

[riironman]

wow...ur state lets the kids have bikes at 16? we have to wait until 18. lucky kids

 

[lot boy]

I like the enduro mindset.... When I was 14 and started riding on the streets and highways in Oklahoma I was on a Yamaha enduro 125 and there were times where I was going to fast or just made a bad decision... That bike saved my bacon several times because I could just ride right off into the ditch, get control and then come back on.... Street bikes are not as forgiving..... Besides there might be a little snickering with friends about a 250 streetbike but a 125 or 250 enduro is cool...

CAp

the suzuki super motard is a good choice-- at 16 i personaly did well to live thru driving a car--huge difference from 16 to 18 in the "maturity dept"--you do alot of growing in those years.

 

[Ludicrous Speed]

wow...ur state lets the kids have bikes at 16? we have to wait until 18. lucky kids

I think IL will only let you have a 250 unless you take the MSF course and you are allowed up to a 600.....

 

[mrninja9]

i started when i was 18 on a 87 zx7r a year later moved up to a 98 9r and had alot of dirt bikes then i bought my busa

 

[mjn]

I think the dual sport idea is a great one.. A DRZ400 is a lot of bike! Since he is experienced in off-road riding already, he wouldn't be learning to ride a different style of bike while learning the ropes on the street at the same time.. And it'd be fun!

If a street bike is a must, I personally would not do a Ninja 250. Just too underpowered. Also carries a bit of a "girls bike" stigma. Unless he is really small, and not agressive, he'll grow out of it way too quickly.

For street, the Ninja 500, the new Ninja 650, or the SV650. Any of those 3 would be an excellent choice.

 

[AZIROC]

at that young of an age, id say go with a ninja 250, or maybe a suzuki GS500F.

 

[bigern_05Busa]

Dirtbike is definitely the way to go.

 

[tbonebusa]

DRZ400

 

[rubbersidedown]

for everyone who may have missed it,the kid as been on dirtbikes for years.

I'd say get him something without knobby tires.

If he's to ride on the street,get a street bike.

How well do dirtbikes,on/off roads,enduro's stop on the street.Answer:they stop like krap. Knobby tires and drum brakes. Bad choice if you ask me. Pick something safer,something with good road traction and at least 2 disc brakes if not 3.

Rubb.

 

[PACIFICBUSA]

I'd suggest something in the 250-350 street and trail area.  An XL or TT.  You can usualy pick them up used for a fair price, and if they go down, no worries.  He can also learn more in the dirt where less harm would come to the bike.  IMHO the dirt is allways the best place to start out.  Much softer than pavement.

Good luck,

Steve

I'm with Tree here. +1

 

[tbonebusa]

for everyone who may have missed it,the kid as been on dirtbikes for years.

I'd say get him something without knobby tires.

If he's to ride on the street,get a street bike.

How well do dirtbikes,on/off roads,enduro's stop on the street.Answer:they stop like krap. Knobby tires and drum brakes. Bad choice if you ask me. Pick something safer,something with good road traction and at least 2 disc brakes if not 3.

Rubb.

Nope....drz's have disc at both ends, and swapping over to a set of street biases tires makes it the perfect way to learn street riding...i think that street riding is about 80% situational awareness, the other 20% concerns the machine itself.

YMMV

Tim

 

[rubbersidedown]

for everyone who may have missed it,the kid as been on dirtbikes for years.

I'd say get him something without knobby tires.

If he's to ride on the street,get a street bike.

How well do dirtbikes,on/off roads,enduro's stop on the street.Answer:they stop like krap. Knobby tires and drum brakes. Bad choice if you ask me. Pick something safer,something with good road traction and at least 2 disc brakes if not 3.

Rubb.

Nope....drz's have disc at both ends, and swapping over to a set of street biases tires makes it the perfect way to learn street riding...i think that street riding is about 80% situational awareness, the other 20% concerns the machine itself.

YMMV

Tim

4 sure T bone, there are dual sports etc with disc brakes,and yes you can start switching rubber etc. But how about body position,loading up the pegs for corners,learning that yer not always seen because you have a lower profile on streetbikes,getting use to higher rev limits(or lower),the feel of extra weight,proper clutch management especially in the wet,the extra power,parking a heavy bike,speed bumps(being on a lower bike)...

If he's gonna ride street,why not train him on a street bike