So you’re looking to buy or have recently bought an 80cc dirt bike for your child and are curious about its top speed.
Most 80cc dirt bikes, including those from KTM and Yamaha, can achieve a top speed of 47 miles per hour, or 75km per hour stock, without any performance enhancements. Most typically top out at 40 miles per hour which is still an incredibly fast speed for a 7 to 10-year-old to travel on 2 wheels.
Some of the cheaper Chinese dirt bikes now flooding the market aren’t able to achieve these great speeds, nor do they have the acceleration or suspension to handle the demands of the modern-day rider.They typically struggle with torque too.
Adults can ride 80cc dirt bikes too which restricts the top end speed. There are more factors depending on manufacturer, riding style, terrain and more which we’ll cover here.
80cc Dirt Bike Top Speeds
You’ve got to admit it – 47 miles per hour is pretty damn quick. That’s faster than cars traveling through residential and industrial areas, but not quite as fast as highway traffic.
For most kids, they’ll rarely get up this quick apart from open salt pans and the like. Such open country is ripe for opening the throttle but with that comes the risk of personal injury. This is why getting them some high-quality dirt bike riding gear is important to protect them in the event of an accident.
Funnily enough, most accidents happen at lower speeds. There are some things that you’ll need to educate them on initially, such as throttle response. If the throttle opens up too quickly, then they could go into a wheelie or simply get a locked throttle opened wide. Some kids even at this age may not know how to stop their acceleration and it’s best to teach this long before they actually start riding.
Are you concerned about them going to quick? Well the good news is that you can actually restrict the top-end speeds of these dirt bikes. This is a setting on the onboard computer or a hard limit placed on the throttle, depending on the manufacturer.
Kids Riding Dirt Bikes
Kids that choose 80cc dirt bikes tend to be in the 7 to 11-year-old age bracket. We’ve actually written a guide to help you find the best kids dirt bikes which are very helpful.
Keep in mind that their weight will play a big part in just how quick their dirt bike actually travels over the dirt. For the lighter kids, they’re certainly going to crack these higher speeds paired with quicker accelerations, yet the heavier kids may struggle and you may want to consider some performance upgrades.
If you do want to maximize performance, consider:
Finding an area with a great tail wind (This will give you a few extra miles per hour)
Ensure the terrain is relatively flat
Teaching your kids how to crouch properly (This increases aerodynamics)
Changing the rear sprocket to get some extra miles
Yet in all honesty, going faster shouldn’t be a priority. Instead, the focus should be on helping them improve cornering and braking skills so they can maximize lap times, or simply keep up with the adults on organized group rides.
Fastest 80cc Dirt Bike
Without a doubt, the quickest 80cc class dirt bike is the KTM 85 SX. This ripper is popular on MX tracks around the country and it’s a 2-stroke dirt bike. It’s expensive but well worth it if performance is at the forefront of your mind. Indeed this bike has won a lot of competitions by kids under 12.
Would it make the best bike if it’s their first time around? Not quite. It’s a real weapon and needs to be controlled by an experienced rider. So if your child has been riding previously and you’re now looking for a top-of-the-range 80cc dirt bike with incredible top speed, then look no further!
Being 2-stroke, it’s super quick compared to its 4-stroke counterparts. Remember how we mentioned about it winning lots of competitions? This is true and a testament to the sheer focus that their R&D team at KTM have put into creating this ultimate track machine.
In Summary
While your son or daughter will reach up to 47 miles on their 80cc dirt bike, this is rare. Much of the time will be spent actually improving their cornering, jumping, braking and acceleration. Even things like clutch control come into play here.
It’s more typical that they’ll cruise around at 25 to 30 miles per hour and so you don’t need to worry about them doing any dangerous stunts here. Most kids at this age are showing responsibility and simply want to hone their skills in a controlled environment, and probably want some others to ride with too.
The goal is to help them become more confident riders as opposed to hitting nail-biting speeds while the parents watch on in terror. Sure – you can push the bikes a little sometimes when fully kitted up in gear, and it’s certainly fun, but let’s help them become confident riders first so they’ll carry such skills into the future.
Adventure Motorcycling sounds like a lot of fun…and it is. With this guide, we’ll be taking you through the journey on how to get started.
Adventure Motorcycling is taking a motorcycle on anything from a weekend-long adventure in your area, to a global expedition taking several years. Adventure riders bring their camping supplies along in saddle bags paired with extra fuel, a GPS, spare clothing and the love of the open road. For many in the adventure motorcycling world, the journey becomes more fun than the destination.
Think of remote tracks and getting off the beaten path but with all your gear for a great night away from all the problems of the world. This is true adventure riding, with a blend of a dirt bike and cruiser rolled into one.
While this represents just a small percentage of motorcycle riders globally, it’s these riders who are known for being opened minded and friendly. Certainly if you were to ask questions to any of these riders, they’ll be more than willing to help out.
Getting Started with Adventure Motorcycling
Adventure motorcycling is becoming ever popular, especially with the release of the famous motorcycling documentaries Long Way Round and Long Way Down by Charlie Boorman and Ewan McGregor. Since then, multiple YouTube channels have sprung up and the most popular ones seem to be the female riders.
With that comes brands like KTM, Yamaha, Klim and Krieger to serve adventure motorcyclists (commonly known as ADV riders) at the heart. Frontaer is continuing to rise higher and stronger to also serve this market in the coming years, with our customer base being built through excellent content.
To get started with Adventure Motorcycling, there are some things that you’ll need.
Buying the Right Adventure Motorcycle
It’s important that you choose the right bike for your needs. Walking into a dealership without prior research is a recipe for disaster. To choose the right bike, you should ask yourself what type of riding you’ll be doing.
If it’s single-lane dirt tracks, then you’ll want a dirt orientated motorcycle that has some creature comforts. If it’s bitumen roads, then you’ll definitely want a road-based motorcycle with dual-sport features. In other words, it can handle dirt roads but will struggle on tight single-tracks.
The bigger the motorcycle, the more motorcycle you’ll have to pick up when you crash. And yes – you will crash at some stage. It’s how you respond and your ability to get moving again that does determine the type of motorcycle you should buy.
For many – something as simple as the Honda CRF250L Rally is enough to handle most riding conditions, though it won’t be the most highway-friendly motorcycle.
Then you’ll have to think of a new motorcycle is within your budget, or whether you’ll have to settle for a used ADV motorcycle. A new bike is only new until the day that it crashes on some gnarly rocks, then those scratches may start to break your heart.
Investing in Gear
We use the term ‘investing’ because the right protective gear is certainly necessary if you are to survive in the offroad motorcycling world. As we’ve mentioned, crashing is an eventual and somewhat routine part of ADV motorcycling. A key difference between those who keep going and those who need to be airlifted to safety is the gear that they’re wearing.
There is a developing range of adventure motorcycling gear around the world. While you can get away with some offerings from the dirt bike world, adventure riding gear is actually different. Adventure motorcycling boots, for example, are built stronger and with less flexibility than the dirt bike and motocross equivalents.
When it comes to protective gear, you’ll easily be able to spend more than $2,000 on the following:
An excellent quality riding jacket from Klim or Dririder ($500)
Matching ADV trousers which have ventilation panels ($300)
A very high-quality helmet that is designed for offroad use ($500)
Adventure motorcycling boots by an ADV brand like Sidi & Alpinestars ($400)
4L Hydration Pack, although these are sometimes built into jackets ($150)
Two sets of riding gloves; One for winter and one for summer ($150 total)
Emergency SPOT Beacon to track your location similar to an EPIRB ($150)
So when you’re shopping for your adventure motorcycle, keep this in mind as your protective gear from other motorcycles can’t exactly transfer over. Most riders sell their old gear and then upgrade to some ADV-spec gear when they can see the intrinsic benefits.
Now, let’s not forget the extras you’ll be needing:
Two saddlebags to store clothing, cooking equipment, food and tents ($500)
A tank bag to store documents, extra clothing and camera equipment ($300)
A small tool roll with tools to store tools, two spare tubes and extra oils ($300)
One tent from a quality manufacturer such as the Redverze Expedition ($500)
In addition, you’ll need some cash set aside for insurance and registration, plus any modifications you may wish to make such as an adventure fairing.
Learning to Ride ADV Style
While you’ve probably got a motorcycle licence already, the skills learned in these classes generally pertain towards road rules and hazard awareness. These are crucial skills that any motorcycle rider regardless of their style needs to learn.
When it comes to adventure motorcycle riding, you’ll need to upskill your knowledge by both experience and knowledge acquisition. While you can learn plenty for free from the numerous YouTube channels now in existence, it’s best to enrol into an adventure motorcycling school in your local area.
One of the most popular adventure riding schools in North America is RawHyde Adventures. That said – many of their students ride the bigger BMWs and as a beginner, you’re often better with a smaller motorcycle.
Likewise, there are numerous ADV riding clubs that welcome beginners with open arms. It’s these clubs that often hold information days and riding experiences where beginners can improve their skills is an open and non-judgemental area.
Making Connections
While many adventure motorcyclists prefer to be on their own, having friends who share the same passion is an integral part of what makes you more successful. By having this shared interest, you’ll both be able to find new places to go riding. Perhaps that connection is your significant other.
Such connections can also be made through group rides. You can spend most of your time on your own and join the occasional group ride to share some common interests. Plus you’ll have someone there for backup to help you during tricky scenarios, such as changing the rear tire.
This isn’t just a local connection either. All across the world there are ADV riders who share a common bond – the thrill of the open road. When you’re crossing large deserts, don’t be surprised when you find an adventure riding coming the other way who can share information about border crossings and track conditions.
Planning Motorcycle Routes
There is an art and science involved with planning effective motorcycle routes. Planning is obviously an effective way of stopping yourself from getting lost, but also a way to ensure you really see all the good things there is to experience out there. You’ll also be able to plan around weather, seasonal track closures, public events and gradients.
Fortunately, many GPS systems these days become loaded with maps for offroad enthusiasts with regular updates. Riders can even upload their own waypoints and share maps with others. As you become more involved with adventure motorcycling, you’ll love the planning element as much as the journey itself.
Domestic planning is easy, at least compared to international route selection. Traversing countries can be a little tricky especially as you’ll be dealing with Carnets (a passport for your motorcycle), customs, borders and other nuances. Border crossings can take between 10 minutes and 7 hours, depending on the countries and their bureaucracy.
Staying Alive
While we may think of ‘staying alive’ is not being attacked in your tent, it’s actually quite rare. Sure – there is the occasional bear or questionable camper nearby, but that doesn’t compare much to the very real risk: Traffic.
You’ll need to stay alive out there on the road and this brings us back to the importance of effective motorcycle knowledge. You may wish to start watching channels on YouTube such as EveRide who shares plenty about the reality of adventure motorcycling with a solid focus on safety out there on the trails.
In addition to staying alive, you’ll want to ensure you’ve packed a good first-aid kit and tracking system. Choose the best routes and stay out of harms way when riding in foreign countries. Many ADV riders choose to do stealth camping to lessen their risk of an attack or theft at 3am. That said – such stories are rare and the world is much safer than the media organisations claim.
Common Questions
It’s time to address some frequently asked questions on here. These include:
How much is an adventure motorcycle?
Adventure motorcycles can vary greatly in pricing, but generally speaking, you can buy an adventure motorcycle used for around $2,700 while a new motorcycle that’s relatively capable will cost between $5,600 and $6,800.
Where can I go riding?
You can ride an adventure motorcycle on any track or trail that you can drive a car. Additionally, you can take your bike along dirt bike tracks although steep hills are to be avoided.
What is the most reliable adventure bike?
The most reliable adventure motorcycles are the Suzuki DRZ-400, the Kawasaki KLR 650, the KTM 690R, Honda’s CR250L Adventure and the Yamaha Super Tenere. These motorcycles and their respective brands are proven as expedition-ready for global travel.
Do people ride alone or in groups?
Most adventure riders choose to ride alone, though may rendezvous with others on their journey, either planned or improptu. The very nature of being on a motorcycle shows that these individuals prefer to be by themselves as opposed to being in groups.
Can I go adventure riding with my dirt bike?
Absolutely! There is no issue with using a 4-stroke dirt bike for adventure touring. Their lightweight means they are able to access trails that most other riders can’t. Some upgrades we can suggest include a bigger fuel tank and adventure fairing for highway riding, and perhaps a better rear sprocket.
Do I have to bring my camping gear?
No. Adventure riders don’t need to bring camping gear if they plan on staying at hotels each night. This can become an expensive process, and so many riders choose to do a combination of hotels and free or low-cost camping in national parks, depending on the weather and region in which they are traveling.
Is it dangerous to ride adventure motorcycles?
It can be dangerous depending on where you’re travelling and the motorcycle you have. As time progresses, riders become more aware of their surroundings and can spot trouble much more easily. In fact, there have been dozens of adventure riders who have travelled the world without a single incident, including many 3rd world countries.
Closing Thoughts
Adventure motorcycling is a pathway for freedom for many ladies and gentlemen. Yes – ladies are ever-increasing in their numbers here year on year. After all, many humans crave freedom and the sense of adventure.
This all begins by investing in the right bike and the right gear. Don’t worry if you don’t get it right the first time though, as it often takes 2 to 3 motorcycles before you finally find ‘the one’.
Start spending some time around the ADV community either through online forums or Facebook groups, or even stay connected with many of the rising YouTubers. As you do, you’ll become even more in love with this sport and the true sense of freedom that it brings to the soul.
So you’re probably looking to make a purchase through Motorcycle Accessories Supermarket (MCAS) but want to read reviews first.
After all, it’s your hard-earned money at play here. You want to know if the customer service and their reputation stacks high.
Because sometimes you’ll come across stores with the cheapest pricing, yet they let their customers down on the back end.
Through our unbiased review of MCAS, we’ll let you know if they’re worth spending your dollars with. We have no commercial relationship with this Australian online parts store and aren’t paid for our reviews.
Let’s begin.
MCAS Review
Motorcycle Accessories Supermarket exists across several Australian cities and states. Those in Sydney and Brisbane are well served and it’s one of the most common places where we can buy our gear online.
They stock a wide range of accessories, tools, spare parts and gear for a great day out there on the trails. All the big brands are there including some small brands too, except for Frontaer. As we build our brand, we expect to be on the shelves real soon.
Compared to most other motorcycle stores, the reviews for Motorcycle Accessories Supermarket are surprisingly quite high. Why? Because they have the customer experience down pat.
One of the biggest issues with these online retailers is that you aren’t dealing with someone face-to-face. You can’t even be sure if they’re actually genuine motorcycle riders. Compare this to MCAS and it’s apparent that they actually ride. Simply look in the staff carpark and you’ll see that most staff actually ride their bike to work – rain, hail or shine!
Negative Experiences
Guess what? Not everyone has a positive experience and that’s true of MCAS. While the vast majority do have a great experience, some people just don’t. That said – these are minor as a percentage than compared to what their online reviews represent.
When someone gets good service, it’s unlikely that they’ll share that experience online. When someone gets bad service, then all hell generally breaks loose. Given the anonymous nature of the internet, anyone can log in and share some bad experience to ‘warn’ all their friends and family.
It’s natural given the nature of motorcycle riders and typically we see this with the MX crew. That said – some bad experiences do happen and this is the case with all distributors.
Motorcycle Accessories Supermarket does have a higher proportion of positive reviews and this is due to their mostly offlline status. They haven’t quite progressed to mostly doing their business online and thus, people are more likely to leave a positive reviews when dealing with real staff members.
In short, do take bad experiences with a grain of salt and realize that it’s impossible to keep everyone happy in the real world, despite our best intentions as humans.
Phone Ahead
It’s always best to phone ahead to check availability of stock before driving in (or better…riding in!) to a store near you. Sometimes the system isn’t so accurate.
Given the distribution and numerous stores in each state, they can actually advise you if another store has stock. This is helpful so you don’t get the run around…and they sometimes move stock between stores.
So our pro-tip is to call ahead especially if it’s a crucial part that you need for this weekend’s cruise that you’ve been planning for a while.
In Closing
Like all motorcycle stores, you can’t keep every single customer happy. It’s a tough-enough challenge running the daily operations of a motorcycle-related business. We should know! Frontaer is a constant work in progress.
Of all the stores we’ve found across Australia, MCAS has given has the best experience so far across 2 stores that we visited. This is our personal experience and yes, others may differ, but we’re willing to bet that you’d have a great experience too.
Yet as we say, phone ahead first and their helpful staff can point you in the right direction.
MX Megastore is well known among dirt bike riders in North America, and here’s our opinion in this unbiased review.
After all, we have no commercial relationship with this brand and are simply sharing our experiences and opinion.
We’ll give you the low down on their ratings. Let’s begin.
MX Megastore Review
Have you been looking to buy online but are worried about negative reviews? It can certainly stop you from wanting to head to the checkout section.
Fortunately, with MX Megastore, the buyers are very impressed with the service. Currently they rank at 4.7 stars at their Wisconsin store and that number has been built over several years. While they rank lower on Facebook, it’s only marginally lower. So it’s clear that this company is doing something right.
Unlike most big-name motorcycle stores who try to serve so many people, MX Megastore chooses to do things different. If you’re a dirt bike or motocross rider, then you’ll be well served here. Even ADV riders might find what they’re looking for…but not all the time. Clearly this is a haven for MX riders nationally.
The well-known featured brands such as Thor, Fox, Klim, Alpinestars and Bell are found here. In fact, there’s so many other brands too that you’ll inheritly find what you’re searching for in most cases. Many parts and MX tools are also in stock as well as discount deals held often. Have you seen their $1 goggles and T-shirt offers? They are sensational!
Now, there is some snowmobile and water sports gear in stock but this isn’t their main focus. MX is at the core of their range to help fellow riders either start or continue their journey in the sport.
What They Do Well
As we’ve outlined, MX Megastore has really dialed in to what they do well. They haven’t tried to market towards all types of motorcycle riders and they lost most of them along the way. After all, it’s hard to be all things to all people out there.
If you want to build a business, you should segment down instead of being broad. They clearly know this lesson well. You’ll find them sponsoring MX events including children’s events. This is great as they can keep the costs down for both the sponsors and the competitors, some of which are funded by their own parents.
Their reputation is built on the fact that they know motocross very well. If you need a hand with something – either in store or online – then their reps are very helpful and can point you in the right direction. Essentially, you won’t have to read many blogs first before going in store.
As a result, you’ll find many customer testimonials posted on their social media profiles. This is a testament to the amount of work that they’ve done here in this space.
Negative Reviews
To be fair – not everyone is happy. This is true of any motorcycling company as the end-user demands excellence. Now – there is always a skew in the portion of positive to negative experiences.
When people get a good experience, they are less likely to share it. With a bad experience, they’ll tell the entire world about it. Thus, you’ll find people being negative and somehow believe that this is a large proportion, which it isn’t.
Essentially, you should take negative reviews with a grain of salt and recognize that most people do have a good experience. It could have been just 1 staff member that was having a bad day that has since left this store.
In Summary
We believe in supporting the little stores instead of the large corporate businesses. MX Megastore has been built by racers and for racers. They have some of the best deals around in business and you’ll easily find what you’re searching for.
With new apparel arriving daily, and with more brands being added each month, we do look forward to seeing Frontaer on the shelves real soon.
Cycle Gear is a popular online motorcycling store that we felt would be good to provide an unbiased review towards.
After all, we have no commercial relationship with this distributor and are simply sharing our own opinion.
Let’s begin.
Cycle Gear Review
Generally speaking, most riders are buying their gear online these days. It’s so much easier to find exactly what you’re looking for and you don’t have sales people in the store hassling you with upsells.
Cycle Gear is one of the numerous marketplaces out there who sell motorcycling gear. In fact, they have almost 1 million people on their online store each and every month. Talk about creating a movement!
Unlike many of the online stores, they didn’t start out this way. They were actually founded in 1974 in California and given the rise of the internet, have transitioned towards online sales.
Their humble beginnings evidently show up on their website. It’s clean and simple and appeals towards road-motorcyclists more than the MX crowd that we’re typical of serving.
And while they have their online presence, there is still physical stores around. In fact, there is close to 100 stores across North America if you don’t want to wait around for your gear to arrive with USPS.
What They Doing Well
Good old-fashioned values of customer service and honest pricing is one that they’re doing well. While that’s evident in the stores, you’ll also find that online too with excellent shipping rates which are often bulk discounted.
If you need help shopping parts for your particular motorcycle, then they certainly can help! Their team all ride motorcycles so they know more of the specifics involved.
What we really love is their adventure riding gear. As fellow adventure riders, we often find slim pickings in most stores but Cycle Gear has clearly put their best foot forward here. With popular brands in stock, you’ll almost always find what you’re looking for…and we look forward to seeing Frontaer on the shelves real soon.
One thing that we’d love to see them improve upon is their YouTube content. Unlike the bigger players such as RevZilla, Cycle Gear has very few subscribers and their content just isn’t as engaging. We do raise these points to be fair, given that we’re doing an unbiased Cycle Gear review here.
They are huge on sponsorships of local events including MX events for kids. This is excellent as it keeps the costs down for both the spectators and the participants, as well as the parents too.
Negative Reviews
Have you read the negative reviews of Cycle Gear? They often sound like “I got screwed around” and while some of those cases are true, they aren’t a true representation of how they actually operate.
You see – when companies like Cycle Gear give excellent service, it’s very rare that a customer will leave a 5-star review. On the flip side, when someone doesn’t have a good experience, they will run to tell the internet about this.
Therefore, the review ratings are skewed and aren’t a true representation of the company themselves. Remember that it’s a small percentage of people who have a bad experience while the rest are receiving the experience that they expected.
In Summary
In a world of eCommerce booming and online purchasing being very popular, it’s companies like Cycle Gear who are doing well with their physical stores and presence nationally. People recognize the brand and understand exactly what they do.
Instead of waiting days or even weeks to get your gear delivered, you can simply head into a store and indeed that’s what thousands of people do each week. While Cycle Gear hasn’t fully embraced the online selling channels, we’re glad to see a store still thriving in the offline space.
