CHOOSING A KID’S BIKE

1. BRAND COLOUR LOYALTY

Are your family fierce defenders of a certain brand? Did dad race a KawasukiTM at the local mini-khana track against Moses? Or was your uncle’s first bike a Yamonda? Then continuing the family link with a certain brand can be a good thing. The passion for a certain brand may help you get the awe-struck relative to work on the thing, or take you to your next ride/race. That and the fact most bikes are well-built and reliable means that if you can’t choose any other way, this one is valid.

2. DEALERS

Do you have a good, friendly, local dealer? Then buy what they sell, particularly if you are in a regional centre. You will be relying on them a lot if you are racing even semi-seriously, so choosing a brand for which the dealer is trustworthy, fairly-priced, or even offers incentives to fly their flag for them is a good bet. A good relationship with a quality dealer makes all the difference.

3. BE REALISTIC

The latest motocross weaponry may look awesome parked in the shed, but if your experience runs to riding a postie bike, then perhaps a more farm-oriented bike would be a better choice. You need a bike you can improve on, not be afraid of even starting. See the next point…

4. BUY A BIKE THAT SUITS YOUR RIDING

Where are you riding? What level are you? Are you a speed freak or are you rounding up the cattle? Do you like mixing fuel and working on it as much as you ride it, or would you prefer to just ride it until it breaks? All these factors point towards which bike is the right one for you. Buying the best quality you can afford is important, but spending your (parent’s) money on something that suits what you actually do with it is more so!

5. TEST RIDE

As you narrow down which bike you are after, it’s a big advantage to get a ride on one first. Not all dealers will be able to help you here, having a test bike on the fleet is difficult, but a club is the way to go – a short squirt on a fellow member’s bike can tell you more than any brochure or ad. Even how the seat feels or how easy or hard it is to start can change how you feel about a bike pretty quickly.

6. EXTRAS

When you are ready to make that final purchase decision, check one very important thing first – do you have enough money left over for other things like, you know, a helmet? Don’t spend all your money on a bike you can’t ride because you can’t afford a new set of tyres or riding gear. Price it all out first (you may even need a trailer…) then work out if you can afford everything you need.

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