10 Exciting Mini Motorcycles for Kids and Young Riders

Most of today's great riders, no matter the competition they excel in, started riding at a very young age. Unlike the generations that came before, these riders were able to hone their skills by taking advantage of a type of motorcycle that's relatively new to the market: the mini motos.

Smaller in size than their siblings meant for adults, and correspondingly less powerful, mini motos have a sort of cult following of their own, with scores of people happy to buy one for their kids not only as a sort of toy to enjoy, but also as a tool to teach the skills of what may very well be a very fruitful career later on.

Not all bike makers are in the business of producing this kind of ride, but there are enough of them out there for the offer to be both solid and confusing. The list of companies in this business includes both established names of the industry and newcomers, making for a very solid mix of choices.

In today's piece, we'll try to give you a clearer look at what the best choices in this segment are, in our view. We selected our entries based on the notoriety of their makers, the package the bikes themselves have to offer, and, of course, the price, because that's a very important attribute for a machine of this size and capability.

Gasgas MC-E 5

Less than 40 years ago a new motorcycle company was born over in Spain. Simply named Gasgas, it set out to create rides for use off the road, and the way it did that cemented the company's position as one of the leaders of the segment.

Over the years, the company's offering expanded to include products for the younger riders as well. Just like the KTM and Husqvarna bikes you'll read about below, it too has an offering for kids of all sizes and ages, comprising three models named in a similar fashion: MC-E 2, MC-E 3, and MC-E 5.

All three are electric, naturally, with the one at the top of the food chain, the MC-E 5, packing a setup that comprises a lithium-ion battery and a seven-hp electric motor. The ride comes with the promise of two hours of riding before the battery is depleted and just one hour of charging to get it up to capacity.

Gasgas is selling this impressive machine for prices starting at $5,299. Everything else being pretty much equal in this segment, it makes the MC-E 5 one of the most solid offerings on the market, as it blends the allure of an established name with capabilities seen everywhere else and a lower price than what the others ask for.

Torrot Supermotard

For the average American the name Torrot may not mean all that much, and there is a good reason for that. The moniker depicts a motorcycle company that is only 13 years old, and on top of that it mostly does business in Europe, where it is based. It does have a presence in the States, though, and that's one of the reasons it made it onto our list.

The second reason would be the kid motorcycles Torrot makes. Describing itself as the maker of "technologically advanced vehicles which would ecologically fit within the world we live in today," the company fields an impressive lineup of mini motos in three categories: Motocross, Trial, and Supermotard. We chose the latter simply because it looks absolutely vicious for a bike playing in this category.

There are two bikes of this kind to be had, the SM1 and SM2. Separating them are different capabilities (the difference is, however, not that great) coming from virtually the same hardware setup.

Both bikes are powered by a swappable 6.6 Ah battery (making range virtually a non-issue) and a programmable electric motor. In the SM1, the motor can be configured to 840W, while the more potent SM2 offers 1,500W. The SM1 can reach speeds of up to 26 mph (42 kph), while the larger one tops at 27 mph (44 kph).

Torrot does not say how much it charges for the two Supermotard models, so you should get in touch with your local dealer. You should know these things are sold through Volcon ePowersports.

Oset MX-10

A company has to be very confident about its capabilities to call itself "the world's leading brand of electric motorcycles for children from the age of 3." And even if the statement in itself is pretty hard to verify, it still has the power to draw in a closer look at what that company is offering.

The flattering self-description applies to a crew called Oset. First born in the U.S., it later moved to the UK and was acquired in 2022 by local giant Triumph. That didn't change the business direction of the company, which keeps making trial, dirt and motocross bikes for the young.

There are five models to be had in the company's portfolio, four in the TXP range and the fifth the bike we're here to discuss now, the MX-10.

Targeted at kids aged from seven to ten, the ride is described as the "ultimate mini electric dirt bike." Meant to be a starter two-wheeler for those passionate about motorcycling, the MX-10 is here to put power, throttle response, and top speed within reach of even the less daring riders.

The motorcycle's powertrain is a combination of a 20 Ah battery and a 1,400 electric motor. It can be used for up to three hours on a single charge, and it can reach speeds of up to 22 mph (35 kph).

The Oset MX-10 is up for grabs on the American market for prices that start at $3,199.

Volcon Youth Line

Volvon is one of those motorcycle-making startups that give the impression they are really going to make it into this very competitive market. Born in 2020, the crew is presently making not only motorcycles but also side-by-sides.

Their most famous products are the Brat, the Stag UTV, and the Grunt Evo, but Volcon also offers a couple of bikes meant for kids: the Moto One and Moto Two. The company calls them collectively Youth Line, and they are the result of a collab with a company we've already discussed here, Torrot.

Moto One is meant for kids aged four to six, while Moto Two is for those aged six to 11. That's basically all that sets them apart, as everything else is pretty much common. The battery, for instance, is of the swappable 6.6 Ah kind on both of them, the suspension is the same, and so are the brakes and tires.

The electric motor that powers them, however, has different capabilities. In the One it comes in at 840 W, and it almost doubles that to 1,500W on the Two. As a result, the top speeds of the bikes are slightly different: 26 mph vs 27 mph (42 kph and 43 kph), respectively.

Volcon is selling the two motorcycles for the same price $1,400. If you're interested in snatching one, you should hurry, as that seems to be only a temporary discounted price from $2,900.

Harley-Davidson 18 eDrive

Harley-Davidson may not be the largest bike maker in the world in terms of sales (that honor falls on Honda), but without a doubt, it is one people instantly recognize no matter where they are on this planet.

Riding a Harley is something probably all motorcycle lovers dream of doing at some point, but that dream generally manifests itself in adults. That's because, at least until recently, Harley had nothing to offer to kids to draw them into its world.

That changed as soon as the Americans introduced the LiveWire and saw the potential electric powertrains have. So in 2019 Harley decided to buy bike maker StaCyc and produce its own electric bikes for kids.

The products Harley is now making for this segment of the population are not technically mini motos, but what can be considered their precursors, balance bikes. A total of five of them are presently on the table, starting with the entry-level 12 eDrive and ending with the 18 eDrive.

The 18 eDrive is, despite its title of top-of-the-range electric Harley balance bike, quite affordable, and it has a lot to offer performance-wise as well. Looking like an overgrown bike or an undergrown motorcycle, the model packs a 36V motor and a 3 Ah battery that gives it a maximum runtime of 45 minutes and a top speed of 18 mph (29 kph).

Still made by StaCyc but branded Harley and aimed at kids aged over eight years old, the 18 eDrive is selling for $2,650, making it one of the cheapest ride branded in Milwaukee the world has ever seen (the 12 eDrive is even cheaper, selling for just $799).

Husqvarna EE 5

Swedish bike maker Husqvarna always described itself as the other half of the KTM group, and that's why the motorcycles it makes are often on par with what the Austrians have to offer. And that includes the products the Swedes are selling in the mini moto segment.

Just like KTM, Husqvarna offers both balance bikes for kids and more specialized two-wheelers. In its case, the bikes that interest us today are the ones sold as part of the e-motocross offering. And just a quick look at them all kind of reveals we're getting the same deal as with KTM.

The three minis offered by Husqvarna are called EE 2, EE 3, and EE 5 and, naturally, we will focus on the latter, a machine described as "the culmination of Husqvarna Motorcycles' rich motocross history and the latest e-technology."

The bike is electric as well, packing a system meant to rival the capabilities of a 50cc ICE-powered motorcycle. Just like with the KTM SX-E 5, which we'll discuss below, that system comprises a lithium-ion battery and an electric motor with the same capabilities: two hours of use time (general riding) and almost seven horsepower on tap.

The company sells this ride designed for both beginners and aspiring riders for $5,699, a little more than what KTM is asking for in exchange for pretty much the exact same bike.

KTM SX-E

The Austrians from KTM are among the most important makers of mini motos out there. And that's not only because of what they have to offer, but also because the riders it teaches from a very young age grow up to ride more potent KTM machines into some of the world's most important motorcycle competitions. And not only that, but these riders often win, too.

KTM has an entire lineup of bikes meant for young riders, collectively called the SX-E series. The range comprises three models, namely the 2, 3, and 5, each targeting a different type of rider.

We chose the flagship (can it be called that?) SX-E 5 for our list because it is the closest you're going to get to a full-blown KTM without actually reaching it.

The bike is officially described as a mini-crosser intended for competitive riders in mini-cross. It also promises to offer a real-world, ready-to-race package that does not rely on a 50cc internal combustion engine to work.

That's right, the SX-E 5 is electric, and it relies on a lithium-ion battery with a capacity of 21 Ah and an air-cooled permanent magnet motor that develops close to 14 Nm of torque to do its thing. This configuration gives the bike a total of about 25 minutes of "full-throttle" racing, or up to two hours in a more relaxed way.

Just like the real bikes KTM makes, the SX-E 5 (just like all other bikes in the range) wears the telltale KTM orange colors. In this guise, the bike is selling on the American market for a little over $5,599.

Kawasaki KLX 110R

The trio of Japanese bike makers in the business of making mini motos, and the top-three entries on our list, starts with Kawasaki and something called the KLX 110R. We're talking about an off-road bike by trade, meant to allow kids to take the "mini-moto mischief off the road."

The bike is a very versatile one, as it can be used either as a beginner's bike or as a pit motorcycle. It is offered in two variants, a standard one and a large version, both of which are powered by the same, rather large for this segment 112cc engine.

The four-stroke, air-cooled powerplant is controlled by means of a four-speed automatic transmission (manual clutch on the L), spinning wheels installed at the end of a hydraulic telescopic fork (front), and a swingarm with a hydraulic shock (rear).

Kawasaki is selling the two versions of the bike for $2,899 and $3,099 (L version). That makes them the most expensive ICE-powered mini-motos the Japanese companies have to offer, but one does have to take into account they are made by one of the most respected companies in this business.

Yamaha PW50

The big Japanese bike makers have always wanted to instill in kids the desire to ride the motorcycles they make, and that's why they have always been ready to offer mini motos. For Yamaha, the greatest offering in this segment is the PW50, a two-wheeler that looks so good even adults might feel compelled to ride it.

In a true Japanese style, the PW50 is not powered by an electric drivetrain, but by an internal combustion one that relies on a 49cc two-stroke engine built not to intimidate beginners, and a fully automatic transmission that removes the need for shifting. The engine can push the bike to a top speed of 25 mph (40 kph).

Because of the ICE powertrain and probably also on account of the fact these things roll off the assembly lines in large numbers, the price of the PW50 is low enough to make pretty much anyone confident it is worth the buy.

Yamaha is selling the mini moto for $1,849 and that is, let's face it, dirt cheap. But not cheaper than the model we've chosen to top our list, available below.

Honda CRF50F

Motorcycle maker Honda needs little introduction in the adult world, as the bikes it makes have been at the top of their segments for years now. But did you know the Japanese are also making a motorcycle for kids?

They call it CRF50F, and it was introduced in its most recent incarnatuion in 2021 as the perfect package for kids: "ideal size, unbeatable reliability, and incredible toughness" – that's what the ride offers as per its maker.

Unlike many of the mini motos featured here, the Honda CRF50F does not come with an electric powertrain, but with an internal combustion one. That has its limitations, given how young riders will have to consciously make the decision to push it to the maximum of its abilities, but it has advantages too, including the fact it introduces kids to the type of bikes they'll probably ride when they grow up.

At the core of the Honda machine sits a four-stroke engine that's the appropriate 50cc in displacement and has been designed to meet the off-road emissions standards set by both the California Air Resources Board (CARB) and EPA. A three-speed automatic transmission with clutch handles the engine's power.

Honda is offering the CRF50F in a single trim level and two color choices, white and red. Because this is an ICE bike we're talking about, and not an EV, the price is significantly lower, sitting at just $1,799. That, combined with the big name that's responsible for making it, and the fact that the motorcycle relies on a good old-fashioned combustion engine, is what prompted us to place this bike at number one on our list.