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I went to my local motorcycle shop today to pick up a innertube and had my kid with me. We looked at new bikes of course and I saw a Yamaha TT 110 that seemed to fit my 8 year old son pretty well. Is anyone familiar with these style bikes? It has no clutch an electric start along with a kick and seems well built. My kid is pretty big for 8, he is 4' 7" and 70lbs. His toes touch but he is growing like a weed. When I was a kid I didn't get a bike until I bought one when I was 17 so I don't know what is prudent for this age. I don't think a clutch would be too hard to teach him so if there is another style bike you guys think is better than please fire away with the suggestions. I checked the local CL and found some out there including some Honda 100's for under 1K. Thanks in advance.

When my son was 8 I got him a used kick-only Suzuki DT100 2-stroke, it had a regular clutch and 1-down 4-up tranny. My reasoning was start him out with a basic used bike that he could work on and gain some wrenching skills to be proud of, and learn the value of maintenance. Plus I knew he'd probably lay it down a few times and I didn't want him to be paranoid about dinging up a brand new bike.

He didn't have much difficulty at all learning to start it and shift gears using a clutch, just the very first time when he paniced and ran straight into a big blackberry bush... just a few scratches. But we were both glad he learned clutch/shifting early on so he had no trouble at all moving up to a RM125 at the age of 12.

Not telling you how to start your son out, just sharing.

Please feel free to give your opions that is why I am throwing this out there. My son, Adam, is pretty good at following instructions and rides his BMX bike really well so I think he is ready. I found some used CRF100's on CL and thought they might be worth considering. I am hoping to keep the bike at his Grandpas place in Northern Wisconsin so he has something to look forward too. Not many places to ride around our house.... Illinois blows, but I have work here so.......life decisions you know.

I don't have kids but I might choose an older Honda 4 stroke for a first timer. They are tough durable bikes. Maybe buy one that needs just a little work, then you can teach maintenance along with riding skills.

See my edit above, I added a few things about why I got him used instead of new, etc.
Glad to help, it's nice thinking about those days when he was that age. Now he's 37 and... well, that's another story.
Enjoy your son's youth as much as you can, it doesn't last forever.

Thank you guys for your words of wisdom, I appreciate you taking the time to give your opinions. I didn't even think about the maintenance aspect but that is a great idea. My wife and I waited 10 years to have kids so now I am in my mid 40's and my perspective is much different than it was in my 20's or 30's. I guess everything happens for a reason. I hope one day to ride the TAT (or part of it anyway) with my son and maybe my daughter God willing. The wife may not be too excited about the motorcycle idea with her being a nurse but I will try to convince her. She thinks ATV's would be better.....naaaahhh I disagree. I feel the skills aquired and developed by riding 2 wheels builds mental and physical confidence. Time will tell.
At least we have a nurse at home just in case it all goes to shite.

Go for it i have two of them. great bikes. one is my wifes and the other is mine!!!!

Got my son something similar for his 9th birthday. No clutch, 3 speed... Yamaha PW80

Go for it! He'll be 31 next week and still rides.