Cheap used dirt bike... He is going to drop it and have fun doing it. I started even youger and dropping it was fun as you feel no pain at that age.

 

I agree. The 4 stroke Honda has valve issues. The only thing bad about two stroke is he has to be on the pipe all the time. Or it will foul the plug. So the kid is going to be riding at riding speed and he's going to have to blast ahead turn around and come back.don't ask me how I know. Been there. A used xl250 or CRF 250 should go cheap. Guy at work just bought xl for 400 dollars

 

I vote used dirt bikes too. Dirt cheap (pun intended) and you don't feel bad when you drop them. You and the kid can be riding for $2000 easily. Don't feel like you need the latest greatest.

I've had tons of Honda and Suzuki 4 strokes. Never had an issue.

 

Surely there must be a way to keep the Harley and find one or two tatty dirt bikes to get going on...

 

Although you may never had issues, the CRF 250 has a light weight, very high performance power plant that has a SHORT service life and needs attention at short intervals or they will be very problematic if used as designed. Now if the bike was used to trail ride and maintained properly and then I may consider one in a non-mx(desert trail etc) use. The 450 is better but when either mill lets go it's pretty impressive! The older 4 strokes were pretty solid as they were nowhere near the performance level that these newer 4 valve hot rod mx engines are. I agree with getting an older less modern(lower seat height as well) mount for a starter bike.

 

I'd say get used dirt bikes and keep the harley. I loved riding on the back of my dad's harley as a kid.

 

Naturally there are bikes out there that are as you described. I have a KTM RFS and I would not recommend it to the casual rider due to the service intervals. He should do a little homework over on ADV or Thumpertalk to find the right bike for he and his kid. I'm only saying that I wouldn't rule out 4 strokes in general. I'm thinking something like a DRZ for him and pretty much any Honda/Suzuki/Yamaha 4 stroke kids trail bike for the 8 year old.

 

Two bits of advice

Buy slightly used. I bought a Blaster with 4 hours use for 2/3 of new. I bought a brand new Honda ATV and took a beating.

You don't say where you are. Consider where are you going to ride it. Land is closing up all the time. Riding areas are hard to come by. Your own property is probably too small, and other private or public property will get you in trouble GUARANTEED. If you have no where to ride legally forget it. That's what drove me out of ATV's and into motorcycles

 

You are correct on that bike choice. For me I will never own another 4 valve 4 stroke Japanese mx bike again. 2 stroke only for me, Service Honda AF500 , it's my dream bike!

 

Sell the Harley, buy trail bikes and spend time with your boy. Before you know it he'll be grown and out on his own. The fondest memories I have of my (now grown) daughter are the times she and I spent the day together having fun.