Getting a youth started

[blacklightning]

I'm looking for suggestions on how to get my daughter into lrrs. She's 15 now and will be 16 during next season. She has been with me at the last three rounds and expressed interest in racing.

She's a small girl 5' 100# with no riding experience. I plan to immedietly get her a 125 dirt bike to get her some seat time before spring.

When she's ready, I'll put her through penguin.

I'm open to any suggestions, not limited to, what ride to start on; 125 sportbike? How small do motards run, 125?

Thanks

[Degsy]

Wirelessly posted (BlackBerry8330/4.5.0.77 Profile/MIDP-2.0 Configuration/CLDC-1.1 VendorID/105)

Get her to a few trackdays before she does penguin. In my opinion this is a must. Penguin is not enough on its own to prepare anyone for racing.

[seth399]

I think that is the best idea to start, get her a dirtbike that fits her and get her comfy using controls on the bike in dirt setting..work from there (<---oops don't feed her beer)

[blacklightning]

dirtbike.........check
trackdays......check
keep her away from Seth.........check

Ok good advise. What machine to start on?

[Pittenger5]

Has she ridden any sort of motorcycle before? Or will this dirtbike be her first?

[seth399]

Has she ridden any sort of motorcycle before? Or will this dirtbike be her first?

"She's a small girl 5' 100# with no riding experience"

GO BACK TO 3RD GRADE RICHIE JERKFACE

[Pittenger5]

Sorry, I heard 15 years old and my mind wandered.
But umm yah, some riding experience I would think would be important before racing. Even though some people (Ryan) managed without much. Maybe get her into some mini racing over the winter?

[eboos]

Stu, I have a TTR125L that I have set up for supermoto. This bike is not for sale, but I think that it would be a great bike for her to try and get some seat time on before moving up. I taught my wife to ride on this bike, and she is only 4'11". Like Degsy said, get her some track days before doing the Penguin school.

If you would like, I can let you borrow this bike for a while.

[Kurlon]

dirtbike.........check
trackdays......check
keep her away from Seth.........check

Ok good advise. What machine to start on?

An RS125 seems to be the defacto youth entry point in most orgs?

[blacklightning]

That would be great Erik. Thank you.

[csmutty]

I would say a TTR125 or DRZ125 small wheel version. And for a trackday/racebike:

[OreoGaborio]

Hey Stu, nice pitting w/ you guys again.

I'm with the guys above. Get her a dirtbike & hit the trails, then bring her up to a track day once she learns the basics of how to handle a bike & put her on a light, small displacement 2 stroke or something. I'd be happy to show her the ropes & keep her away from Richie.

[blacklightning]

Yeah, RS125 seems pretty rare around here.

[seth399]

That would be great Erik. Thank you.

where do you guys live? I got a 125 mini that i plan to teach my girlfriend on, its small but nice because she is tiny as well and it has a clutch so she's still learning everything about a big bike without the big tip overs

[eboos]

I live in Northbridge, MA

[OreoGaborio]

We could probably source out a 125gp bike for her to try out pretty easily.

[blacklightning]

Pete, It was great pitting with you too. I'll take you up on that offer when the time comes. A loaner would be great. Oh and I'm a little scared of Richie too.

Seth, we're in Goffstown NH.

[seth399]

Oh and I'm a little scared of Richie too.

He's made me throw up several times, just a disgusting human being

[Awesome]

We could probably source out a 125gp bike for her to try out pretty easily.

Putting a 15 year old girl with no riding experience on an RS125 is REDICULOUS. These kids that are 'starting' on RS125s at 14 and 15 years old have been riding and racing bikes since they were 5. An RS125 is a factory built grand prix roadracing machine, and rediculously fast.

[a13x]

Get her to a few trackdays before she does penguin. In my opinion this is a must. Penguin is not enough on its own to prepare anyone for racing.

Disagree 100% with your opinion. Sorry buddy.

Without getting into some off-topic debate on this topic lets just leave it at the facts that Penguin has prepared quite a large number of 'new' people for racing, is the oldest motorcycle track riding school in the Nation, and can work one-on-one with your daughter all day long if that's what makes you/her feel more comfortable. In fact it's THE BEST option for someone who's intent and goal is racing.

Past that I think you are on the right track. Small-bore dirtbike (TT-R 125'ish) will get her familiar with the controls and operating a motorcycle. From there I'd start looking at some smaller race motorcycles. A 125cc roadracing bike is a good choice, another good choice would be looking for one of the newer Moriwaki MD250's that some of the young kids have been racing lately. Basically a 125 chassis with a 250 4-stroke motor in them. Very cool bikes and the dad's that have been running them say they hold up great and their kids love them. A motard could also work as my g/f (who's 5'4" and 115lbs) runs around on mine (which is lowered slightly) with no problems and also Jackie Hapla, Jeff Wood's g/f, is about the same size and cooks on Jeff's CRF450.

Those would be three great avenues to explore off the bat. EX500's, SV650's, and bikes of those ilk might be a bit much for a 5' 100lb human to toss around off the bat. If you can work the budget for one of those initial 3, I think you are on a solid path.

Feel free to call me with any questions or concerns you may have blacklightening. I've PM'ed you my number.

[OreoGaborio]

word.

Now start lookin for TTR125's or similar Hell, even a 50 would work for a bit & it'd make a great pit bike once she grows out of it

[Pittenger5]

My vote is still to get her a good amount of riding experience before sticking ehr on a racetrack, but thats just me.

[OreoGaborio]

Putting a 15 year old girl with no riding experience on an RS125 is REDICULOUS. These kids that are 'starting' on RS125s at 14 and 15 years old have been riding and racing bikes since they were 5. An RS125 is a factory built grand prix roadracing machine, and rediculously fast.

Chill, I wasn't volunteering someone else's bike for her to ride TOMORROW... I'm saying you could probably find someone who would let her try one out if she can prove herself on a dirtbike first.

[obsolete]

Carla's EX250 is great. She's 5'3" and low 100's and she can handle it just fine. Just another option.

[a13x]

Putting a 15 year old girl with no riding experience on an RS125 is REDICULOUS. These kids that are 'starting' on RS125s at 14 and 15 years old have been riding and racing bikes since they were 5. An RS125 is a factory built grand prix roadracing machine, and rediculously fast.

1) fact she's a girl doesn't matter
2) not all kids riding 125's have been on them since they were 5. a good number of the Red Bull Rookie Cup kids had NEVER been on pavement before they entered the RBRC. They did have some dirt experience, but no pavement.
3) if she learns to ride and respects the machine she'll have little problems
4) i've seen some adult men putting around on rs125's that look like they've never ridden any motorcycle ever and survived

5) I AGREE that they are purpose built race machines and must be treated with respect but they remain a option for parents who want to get their kids into racing.