I can guarantee you, once your kid has had a taste of riding a bike, with the wind blowing in their hair, the sunshine on their face, and the roar of the engine under them, they will never want to go back to their little square screens.

Kids have always loved motors and engines; they are fascinated by the smell and the sound. Even before the invent of the motorbike, kids were zooming around in Go Carts, it’s a built in desire for speed and competition. If you can just give them that initial shove in the right direction, you will never look back. 

So where do you start? Firstly, you have to choose between different levels of power. A bikes power is measured by the fuel capacity of the engine in cubic centimetres. You can get a 50cc and a 110cc pit bike, as well as the larger 125cc and 250cc. The bigger the cc, the more power. Generally speaking, for a child, a 50cc should be plenty, and I wouldn’t be going over a 110cc for a beginner.

New makes and models of bike are coming out every day, so it’s hard to give any recommendations on what brands to look for, but the more well known and respected brands include Thumpstar, Pitster Pro, Sikk and Giovanni. The general consensus is to steer clear of bikes manufactured in China, but there are some that come from there that can be of decent quality and a cheaper price. You should be able to pick up a decent 50cc for less than $750.

Once you have decided on the bike, you are definitely going to want protective gear for your child. He/She is going to fall off this bike many times (don’t worry, it’s all part of the fun, and these bikes are so close to the ground that your kid won’t fall far). You will be needing a helmet, knee and shin pads, gloves and elbow guards.

Finally, another added benefit of getting your kid on a pit bike is that they will be given the status of cool by all their schoolmates. To encourage this, you are going to want to get some stickers (also known as decals) that your kid can put on their bike. Involve them in the purchase of these so that they can customise the look of their bike to suit their personality.

If money is an issue, then another thing you may want to consider is buying your bike second hand. If you are going to go down this road, there are a couple of precautions that need to be taken. Firstly, make sure that you get the bike checked out by a qualified mechanic, and if it comes back all clear, then don’t forget to ask for a motorcycle bill of sale from the seller.

Frames – A common problem that can occur with these bikes is the engine breaking away from its mounting points, especially if you are jumping your bike. You need to avoid single beam frames if possible, twin beam frames are much more strong and reliable.

Engines – The best cheap engines are Jailing, GPX and Lifan, but if you can afford a little more, definitely look at a Honda engine. 

There is a common misconception that upside down forks are better than traditional forks, but this is not necessarily the case. As upside down forks have increased in popularity, they have been mass produced in factories that do not regard quality as being top priority. If you are after a good upside down fork, make sure it produced by a quality company such as Zhenlong, One Shot or Fast Ace .

SDG wheels are the best type to get. They are equipped with heavy duty spokes which make them particularly strong. You also need to ensure that the wheels have alloy hubs. If you will be primarily racing your bike, then 10 inch wheels are best, but for off road use, enthusiasts tend to prefer a 12 inch wheel. 

The most important advice I can give you about buying a pit bike is to research, research, research. Go to forums and enthusiast blogs and ask lots of questions, there are plenty of people out there that will be more than happy to point you in the right direction.