docmikesbikes

I have two 2011 12.5's sitting in my shop in crates. No difference, just a $50 price increase. 2011 12.5 is black with red trim colors.... Controls are the same as far as I see... Doc Mike

All the above is true! They come tight, will stretch and don't need slack. By the way, the chain is the noisest part of the whole bike!

The little Z50/CRF is a great bike! We actually own a few of them, but the Oset is the better first bike to learn control and technique on if you are a little tike in my opinion. I also agree that the girl who got hurt should have had more responsible parental supervision. I would never seat a little kid with no experience on any bike and let them go, even in an open space without being right next to them to control the situation. Doc Mike

You made the right choice! Case in point (I will post a photo later) my neighbor put his 4-year old daughter on his son's (6yo) Honda 50. They put the bike in 1st, she took off and slammed head-on into the side on his parked tractor trailer WFO!. Needless to say it destroyed the front end on the little Honda and she went to the ER with a broken jaw and leg! Open face bicycle helmets don't always cut it!

Ride time varies with how much the power is turned up, our kids average about 1-2 hours before recharging is needed. They usually tire before battery runs out... Recharge in six hours. A new rider with lots of low speed stop and go can get much more time out of battery charges....

The Honda 50 is a great little bike BUT.... The little Oset 12.5 has many advantages for a beginner rider and the riding teacher (Dad). I bought a used 12.5 for our two boys a while back and was so impressed I recently became a dealer for Oset here in NY. Here is my list of why the 12.5 is a better starter bike than the old favorite the Honda 50 for a 2,3,4, or small five-year-old. 1. Very small size, 15 inch seat height 2. Light, kids can pick it up without Dad's help. 3. No gas, oil, air filter and very low maintenance. 4. Quiet, does not scare kids, all you hear is chain noise. 5. No hot engine or exhaust to get burned on. 6. No starting problems. Turn the key on and go! When kids stall the Honda 50 at 3 years old, dad usually has to run out to the stalled bike, take it out of gear and start the flowed bike! 7. Because it's light and much less intimidating kids are more likely to get back on it and ride after a fall off. 8. Take it anywhere to ride! Small size and no fluids allow you lay it in the truck of a car or back seat and take it with you. 9. Crazy high used resale value. You'll get your money back when he, she out grows it. 10. It makes your (dad, mom) experience much better. 11. Most kids who start on an Oset have a better skill set and are better technical riders when they move up to a gas powered bike. Right now is a good time to buy, the 2011 models just came into the the country. They sell out quickly, and are very hard to find used. We have some 12.5 models inbound as I write this. If you buy 12.5 your kids will love it and so will you! Specially a 3-year-old. Here is a little tip, if the seat height is too high for your child to touch flat-footed, you can use a few heavy duty nylon cable ties to compress the little Oset 12.5's suspension and reduce height by an inch or so. When you child grows just snip the cable ties. Hope this helps. Doc Mike