Is The Razor MX350 Still a Good Value for Money Electric Dirt Bike for Kids?
As of 2024, the Razor MX350 has a sterling reputation in the electric bike market primarily because of how pioneering they are.
The brand reinvented the wheel on scooters, flipping the switch to make the electric phenomenon that’s so popular today.
From a company that has sold tens of millions of scooters, it seems they are doing good. But can the same be said for the MX350 electric dirt bike they introduced in 2021?
The fact that I have trusted them once doesn’t mean that I do so blindly again. Today, I dive into what makes this electric dirt bike a good option for kids.
Table of Contents
Technical Specs
MOTOR & TOP SPEED – Class 2 (throttle only). – 350 watts (nominal). – 22.5 km/h (12 mph). |
BATTERY & RANGE – 2 x 12V, 768watts/hr, 48v, 14.5Ah (Panasonic) – Lead acid. – Charging in 10 hrs. – It is approximately 11 km (7 miles). |
CONTROLLER & RIDING MODES – No controller offered, just a single speed. |
FRAME – Combination of steel and plastic shell. – L: 1.1 m (44″); H: 60 m (24″). – Small size for 13-year-old kids. |
DRIVE-TRAIN SYSTEM – Single Speed. – 36 T chain. |
BRAKING SYSTEM – Only rear: Tektro double piston system. – 100mm hydraulic system. |
OVERALL WEIGHT & CARRYING CAPACITY – OW: 22 kg (48 lbs). – CC: 60 kg (140 lb). |
TIRES AND SUSPENSION – 12″ pneumatic. – Allow rims. |
FEATURES – None so far. |
What has been updated thus far?
From what I gather from the brand and information from other users, there haven’t been any significant updates, either in the electronics or its frame.
The only thing that I would dare to say has been upgraded is the lead acid battery’s quality, which is the result of technology improvements. Unfortunately, it does not reflect in the battery running time of 30 minutes.
Riding the MX350 e Dirt Bike
Most people who have ridden or seen these bikes confirm that they look, feel, and sound like dirt bikes. Of course, they don’t come with all that noise, but the rider gets satisfaction from the hum when they throttle it forward.
– If you come from an MX125, you will know these electric dirt bikes are not performing well when going off-road. The good news is that the brand improved on that with the MX350, but it is not a perfect off-road machine either.
From one standpoint, what is the point of a dirt bike that doesn’t do dirt well?
– I can see how they might be gunning for kids to master their controls on tarred roads before going onto dirt tracks with some experience under their belt.
– Buttressing that point is the lack of a suspension on this model, which is present on the bigger siblings of the same bike.
– It would be poor of me not to talk about the choice of pneumatic tires. These spoked tires are rugged enough on the outside to handle pretty much anything. They provide the needed traction and grip, so there is nothing much to complain about.
In all, this is what I’m saying: The Razor MX350 dirt rocket pairs great handling with dirt-bike-like maneuverability and is an ideal pick for the starter biker to get their greenhorns painted to another hue.
Is It Worth Buying?
The ride is great, but that’s not all there is to the dirt bike movement. Before choosing an electric dirt bike for your kids, you need to know more than that. So, I delve into the factors you should consider for a final buying decision.
Build quality
– I think it provides good value for the money – and that is not a way to avoid saying that it uses cheap materials to justify this relatively affordable price tag.
– The steel frame is solid, robust, and high quality.
– The entire engine area, if I can call it that, is also enclosed with premium materials to prevent tampering or electrical injuries to the operator.
The handles, tires, and seats are not left out of the quality build promise.
Kids age range
– The advertised age range for the Razor model is 13 years. I believe this to be more from a safety and regulation standpoint than what works.
– Most users have found that the bike is better suited for 6- to 8-year-olds. Thus, you can choose one for them to get the best out of the bike (more on this later).
– Make sure to show them the ropes and guide them through riding the bike for the first few times.
– Lastly, know that it will not be suitable as your kid grows, and you may need to upgrade the size.
Ease of use
– Once your kids get the hang of the bike, you can rest assured they can get it charged and use it safely on their own.
– Unlike a gas-powered dirt bike, the electric drive train on the Razor dirt rocket is pretty straightforward. The kid only has to flip a switch, and they are good to go.
– The charging port is also easily accessible and foolproof. Kids can quickly get their unit charged once the power is gone.
Weight
– This e-Dirt bike weighs around 70 pounds (31.7 kg), which is a marvel for all it brings to the table.
The unit tips the scale just right so that it doesn’t look flimsy and enough to ensure kids can pick themselves up after a fall.
– Sometimes, falling while riding is inevitable and could be a part of the learning curve. Be sure that your kid won’t be crushed under all that weight. That balance is what Razor brings to the table with this dirt bike.
Handling
– Even though I mentioned this e-bike doesn’t like to go off-road, it handles well on most uneven terrains.
– Make sure the rider has enough training on solid ground before they go for uneven lands, though.
– Proper familiarization with the dirt bike builds confidence in maneuvering around different obstacles.
The handles are also well constructed for a comfortable grip.
– While some users prefer that this throttle electric bike system covers the entire right-hand bar, we like it the way it is. This way, your kids can rest their hands on the bar and cruise the machine without giving too much power every time.
The safety aspect
– The seat on this electric dirt bike is low enough so children can reach the floor with their feet, not their tiptoes.
– This is an improvement over models like the Yamaha TTR50, which are also great for kids but have a higher ground clearance.
– With such a height allowance, kids could have more confidence in the ride since their feet can always reach the ground anytime. Furthermore, this singular feature makes the bike easier to mount.
– As mentioned earlier, all the electric stuff is safely tucked away. Being an electric unit, the bike doesn’t get too hot.
– The hand-operated brakes kick in quite nicely. They are neither too fast that they disorient the rider nor too slow to engage.
Teaching your kids how to apply the brakes and stop the unit before anything else is recommended.
– Likewise, get them the proper protective gear before they go out riding.
Razor MX350 top speed
– How fast is the Razor MX350? The unit’s specs advertise a 12mph top speed (22.5 km/h). Like many other things, that top speed is variable.
It has a throttle configuration with a single speed. The throttle is not modulated, so you either have it all on (full speed) or off (nothing).
– A younger rider is more likely to weigh less, so they could reach higher top speeds.
Kids have reached top speeds of 17mph (27 km/h), and they weren’t even trying too hard.
– The top speed might be lower than advertised for a heavier rider as they drag the machine’s drive-train more.
– Your kid might not have to max out the speeds anyway, so it should do well for most ages and weight ranges.
– The fact that the machine picks up speed fast from the start (unlike the MX125, for example) also promises that the rider might not notice the lack of top speed if they are on the bigger side.
The lead acid battery
– For all the good this electric dirt bike does, the Razor MX350 battery is one flaw that is hard to forgive.
– I know it is best not to expect too much from a lead-acid battery, but running for 30 minutes only to require a 4–6-hour charge does not quite cut it for me.
The battery efficiency is questionable, so the company had to revisit it on the more recent models.
– The 30-minute runtime is not etched in stone. As far as I know, the battery range has not improved.
– Combining the age-weight thing, again, younger/ less-heavy riders have gotten from 40-45 minutes runtime on the machine.
– The kind of terrain also makes a lot of difference: rough terrains drain batteries faster.
What happens to the suspension?
– The lack of front suspension is another reason it won’t perform as well off-road. This means every single irregularity in the road sends feedback through the rider’s body.
– Most kids don’t seem to mind, but it is a fact that jumping and harsh terrains will have some effect on them.
– I suspect that the overall weight was more than enough for a little kid, so adding a suspension system, for now, was not too ideal.
Longevity of components
– This is a dicey one. Electrical equipment can choose to give up on their users for the flimsiest of reasons. That, however, does not mean the entire line of production is poor.
– I read users own their bikes for 4-5 years before the battery fails to hold a charge long enough; however, there is also a minority of users who didn’t even get anywhere near that time frame on their units.
– These things depend on how well this dirt e-bike is used, maintained, and stored.
The good news is the low maintenance cost of it.
– These machines last long on average, but you must care for them.
Noisy?
This might need no saying, but electric equipment rarely makes any noise. The same is true for most of these powered dirt bikes.
That is also why you should not allow your kids to ride these on open streets, especially without supervision.
This e-bike is relatively silent and will go unadvertised on the roads.
It could be difficult for vehicles to see your little ones on the road or ‘sense’ that a car is coming, which can lead to an accident.
If your kid needs to ride out in the street, ensure it is less busy and that they have someone to escort them.
About the Local Laws for this e-Bike
As you may infer, this electric bike will be used on private land at your or a local approved park.
If you were located in Australia or the European Union, it would not be legal to ride it on the streets – throttle mode and 350w power output, but it is okay on private land.
In contrast, in the United States, it will be classified as C2, which is within the regulation.
As I always say, go and check the laws applicable to the area you intend to use.
Razor MX350 Dirt Bike for Kids Wrap-Up
The MX350 is not just a good enough electric dirt bike for kids, but it is also one that is still worth buying today.
For how long? I don’t know that yet.
New models are giving more benefits (like added suspension from the MX500), but those advantages will be up to you.
Whether your kid is just starting or upgrading from a smaller model, they will find the Razor Dirt Rocket’s comfort, ease of use, and applications just right.
Fitted with a forward-thinking safety design and longevity to match, the only deal-breaker remains the runtime to charging time ratio.
Overall, I believe the Razor MX350 is an option for any beginner in the dirty bike world.
Images courtesy of Razor.