What size dirt bike should I buy for my child?

A rider should be able to touch the ground with the balls of both feet while sitting normally on the seat. If they are stretching on tiptoes, the bike is too tall for now — they will drop it, get a fright, and lose weeks of confidence.

Kids grow fast, so a little room to grow is fine. A bike they cannot hold up today is not.

Automatic, low seat height, gentle power and a throttle limiter you can screw in so the first few weeks are slow. No clutch and no gears means the rider concentrates on balance and braking only.

This is the right first bike for almost every child who has never ridden before.

Semi-automatic (gears, no clutch lever) or full manual. Bigger wheels, real suspension and enough power for a full afternoon in a field or on a track.

If a child has outgrown a 50cc within a season, this is the natural next step and usually lasts several years.

17"/14" big-wheel bikes with adult ergonomics, a manual gearbox and proper brakes. These are full-size machines, not toys.

Buy this size for a teenager who already rides well, or for a parent who wants to ride alongside them.

Electric is quiet, needs almost no maintenance and suits gardens and houses with close neighbours. Petrol runs longer between stops and suits bigger fields and tracks.

We stock both and are happy to talk it through on the phone before you buy.