50cc dirt bikes are quite popular, especially among the newest dirt bike enthusiasts. And one of the reasons for this popularity is the presumed healthy balance of speed in these dirt bikes.

But how fast does a 50cc dirt bike go when pitted against others? Well, most of the well-known 50cc dirt bikes average between 25 and 40 mph. 

One of the reasons for this relatively high speed, at least for young riders, is the proliferation of lighter and faster models that have a really powerful kick.

Of course, the other logical explanation is that by now, engineers have perfected the art of building dirt bikes for kids and are doing a much better job than in older models.

How Safe Is a 50cc Dirt Bike at this Speed?

One of my biggest fears when I first bought a 50cc dirt bike for my 6-year-old son, a couple of years ago was that it would be dangerous of him to ride at the max 40mph.

And I felt that I would never allow him to accelerate beyond what I felt was a reasonable average at that time: 10 mph.

You likely know about those heart-wrenching crashes that you watch on TV when some adrenaline-charged bikers fall flat after attempting to pull some stunts.

Well, those pictures were never far from my mind every time we went out. But my worries were later to prove to be unfounded as my young champion naturally hardly hit those speeds in his kids 50cc dirt bike.

So in normal circumstances, the 50cc bike is perfectly safe- even without considering that these dirt bikes for kids come with some speed control mechanisms for the extremely concerned parent, as we will see next.

How Can I Control the Speed in My 50cc Bike?

Parents can actually limit a mini dirt bike 50cc top speed for the boy/girl by using some built-in safety mechanisms:

• The Throttle Limiter:

A parent can cap the speed their kid will be doing the wheelies at using the throttle limiter incorporated in most of these dirt bikes.

This helps until they are experienced and brave enough to ride it like their hero, the legendary Jeremy McGrath.

• Safety Kill Switch:

Kill switches are another godsend for worried parents. As the name suggests, they kill the 50cc dirt bike engine if the kid is separated from his machine for some reason.

This not only saves the motor but also protects him/her as well as fellow riders from injury.
Kills switches succeed by grounding out the bike’s ignition to the frame ground or by interrupting the natural ignition supply voltage to ensure there will be no sparks.

• The Presence of Indomitable Brakes:

Another reason why you may never need to worry about how your kid will fair with a 50cc bike is the brakes.

Most, including the DR-X Kid’s Dirt Bike have super-strong disk brakes (front and rear) allowing maximum control over the dirt bikes whenever needed.

How Else Can I Take Charge of My Kids safety with These Dirt Bikes?

Of course, you still need to factor in the usual recommendations and safety precautions before letting your young man/woman soar through the dirt roads with these types of bikes:

• Training And Full-Time Supervision:

The responsibility for adequately training a child to ride lies squarely on the parents. Again, the upcoming rider should be supervised come rain or sunshine so long as they are riding an off-road machine.

Also never allow your boy/girl to ride in places teeming with traffic (It’s illegal anyway in most states!).

• Wear Protective Gear:

He/she should always wear protective helmets, over-the-ankle boots, long sleeves, goggles, long pants, gloves, and every other safety gear before heading out with a 50cc dirt bike speed

How Fast Does A Dirt Bike Go?

To put the 25-40 mph dirt bike 50cc speed in more perspective, let’s see how fast a dirt bike goes in general:

Well, here is the thing: How fast is a dirt bike depends with the dirt bike’s power, bike fit (for your comfort), and other factors like the rider’s experience.

So, how fast is a 50cc engine in comparison with other engines? Check out the following table to understand…

Engine size	Speed ranges	Example of a Bike with this Speed
50 cc dirt bikes	On average 25 to 40 mph max.	Flying Horse 49cc/ 50cc 2 Stroke Mini Dirt Bike/Motorcycle
70 cc	Max speed can be anywhere between 34 mph to 42 mph depending on road conditions, rider weight, and more	Coolster QG-210 Dirt Bike
80 cc	Max out at around 50 mph but averages 35-40 until the rider gets used to the dirt bike.	Honda CR 50
110 cc	Expect anything from 30 mph all the way up to 55 mph again it comes down to the technique and any bike modifications.	Tao Dirt Bike (BD-10)
125 cc	Single cylinder engines reach top speeds of around 45 mph. Can go to 60 depending on skill	Apollo 125cc DB-007 Bike
140 cc	Larger 140-cc are capable of 70-mph top speeds while in high gear	Atomic Avenger Dirt Bike 140cc, Black reign bigfoot 140cc
250 cc	Around 35mph to approximately 70 mph.  Some go as far as 100 mph with ease for experienced speedsters.	Apollo Dirt Bike AGB-36 250cc
300 cc	Can reach a max speed of about 120 mph for a small 300cc dirt bikes	TM Racing EN 300
450 cc	KTM 450 bikes can hit a scary top speed of approximately 123 mph (and sometimes higher)	Honda CRF450X

Who Makes the Best 50cc Dirt Bikes?

Almost all the major dirt bike manufacturers have a presence in the 50cc dirt bike size category.

1.   Yamaha:

Started in the late 1800s, this Japanese giant has some of the best models in the 50 cc range.  Their bikes are generally very resilient and packed full of safety controls for beginner riders.

Like the rest, a Yamaha 50cc Dirt Bike Top Speed can go up to 40 mph but some models, like the Yamaha TTR50 is capped at 32 mph…

And since it has all the necessary control, this bike is sufficient to keep your dirt-crazy boy/girl at an acceptable speed at all times and good enough for stretching the boundaries when the time comes.

2.   Honda:

Honda dirt bikes are also considered gems and they have excellent types for the beginner class. Led by the Honda CRF50 (This Honda 50cc Dirt Bike Top Speed goes to about 25 mph), Honda dirt bikes are known for their superior design, powerful performance, innovation, and legendary durability.

I bought one bike from the Japanese multinational’s local dealer some years back and it’s still in tip-top shape.

In addition to the excellent riding dynamics, Honda’s simple maintenance and readily available service parts maximize your kid’s time on the roads.

3.   KTM:

KTM’s dirt bikes and motorcycles are very noticeable because of the huge fan base the Austrian company has among the global riding population…

And so it is likely that you will see your kid’s friend riding KTM’s 50 cc rated dirt bikes such as the KTM 50 SX (topping out at around 37 mph in perfect conditions).

A classic KTM for the young riders aged between 4 to 10 years and with a height of approximately 1.30m, KTM bikes like the aforementioned 50 SX are produced with KTM’s renowned top-quality components. And for many riders, they are the ideal stepping stones into the dirt world hence their massive sales.

4.   Kawasaki:

With a range of safety-first features, Kawasaki’s 50 cc dirt bikes including the highly rated Kawasaki KDX50 bike are another attraction for parents here.

The combination of little user-friendly features includes a built-in throttle limiter, easy automatic transmissions, and low seat heights.

They thus provide an ideal learn-to-ride environment not to mention years of fun because of their tendency to grow with the kids.

5.   Suzuki:

Yet another monster, Suzuki has also stamped its mark on the children dirt bike arena with a series of impressive bikes.

My favorite is the Suzuki DRZ50 (maxes out at 33 mph with standard experience).

Their bikes are well-tested and easily outlast generations of youngsters riding through the ranks of dirt biking.

Like in all their four-stroke kid’s bikes, Suzuki prefers a hassle-free approach by adopting a simple yet efficient design in the 50 cc 4-stroke dirt bikes such as the DRZ50.

Automatic clutches are the other common feature in Suzuki 50 cc models and is again very beneficial to learning riders because of the ease of application.

6.   Other Emerging Brands:

Other reputable brands coming up in this space includes Flying Horse, DR-X, and Coolster.

Recap

Again, how fast does a 50cc dirt bike go?

Well, as I have mentioned, most of the well-known 50cc dirt bikes reach between 25 and 40 mph depending on the conditions and the rider.

And we have seen that these bikes are great for that little rider in the house and why you shouldn’t have an iota of fear when he/she is riding out.

Needless to say, there are a few 50cc dirt bike for adults. But in general, they are the best dirt bike for 13 year old boy and girl riders, or kids around that age bracket.