Rennie Scaysbrook | November 3, 2024

I still remember the unbridled joy of seeing my first motorcycle, a Honda QR50, under the Christmas tree. This tiny two-stroke, along with Yamaha’s legendary PW50, launched the lives of many children around the world, but that was back in the 1980s, and things have moved on since then.

Honda has had the CRF50 in its lineup for ages, and it’s all about getting it right the first time and not having to update it later.

Photos: Rennie Scaysbrook

The CRF50 is powered by an air-cooled, nearly bulletproof 50cc single-cylinder four-stroke. An automatic clutch provides access to the three-speed gearbox, so learning to change gears becomes much less intimidating for beginners.

My boy, Harvey, has been pestering me for a bike since the days he could talk, but I admit that after a career in motorcycling and all the pain that came with it, I tried to introduce every sport that I might think about it before putting him on his first dirt bike. As expected, these good intentions failed miserably.

Harvey’s seventh birthday was approaching; Sure enough, there was a CRF waiting for him downstairs. The look on his face was something I will never forget; I knew exactly what he was thinking. This is how his motocross life began.

The CRF is designed for children ages 4 to 8, but I admit that Harvey was a little big for him, measuring 47 inches. The seat height is 21.6 inches, so it looked a little cramped at first. I think a child’s height of around 45 inches would be ideal for this little ride.

It’s not the lightest bike for kids at 111 pounds, but it teaches all the basics well. It has a relatively lazy steering geometry with 25° rake, 1.3 inches of trail, and a 36-inch wheelbase, providing excellent low-speed stability while allowing them to gradually explore the three-speed ranges provided by the gearbox.

Honda installed a throttle limiter screw so the kids don’t go crazy and go faster than you as a parent really want, but I think the speed in first gear is slow enough that you probably don’t need it.

Harvey spent his first day in first and second gear, winding the engine on the rev limiter and constantly asking for more. These little motors are so sturdy that they could stay on the limiter all day without getting hurt. Speaking of which, it consumes so little fuel that it’s almost negligible. Harvey’s first day was six hours of straight driving, and he drank about a fifth of the available 0.7 gallons.

Over time we’ve had a little problem with poor quality fuel in California clogging the carburetor, a problem that can be easily fixed by draining it, but it’s something to be aware of.

As for the suspension, you get a 22mm inverted fork, giving you 3.8 inches of wheel travel and a shock giving you 2.8 inches at the rear. This is perfectly fine for inexperienced riders of this age, although kids who grew up on KTMs and Cobra 50s may want more. These are trail bikes, after all, not purpose-built dirt bikes, although they will teach kids how to ride, so if they want to hop on something faster, they’ll have the basic tools they need to drive safely.

The Honda CRF50 is the perfect starter bike and considering you can get one for under $2,000, it won’t break the bank either. But be careful, once the dirt bike bug bites, as it has with my son Harvey, the sky (and your bank balance) is the limit.

Have a good ride, kid!CN

2024 Honda CRF50 Specs

Click here read the Review of the 2024 Honda CRF50 in the Cycling news Magazine in digital edition.

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