It's the question I get more than any other: gas or electric? Here is the short answer, then the long one.
Short answer: if the rider is a kid roughly 5 to 13 years old, get the 50cc gas bike at $300. If the rider is a teen or a grown adult, get electric: the Sykeruns X5 at $975 or the X7 at $1,350. It is less a gas versus electric argument than a question of who is sitting on the seat.
What we actually sell, and what it costs
- 50cc gas mini, $300. Free shipping to all 50 states, arrives in 2 to 5 business days. Two stroke, pull start, adjustable speed limiter.
- 60cc double exhaust, $380. Free shipping, 2 to 5 business days. 35 mph, fits riders about 9 and up, up to 220 lbs. The step up when a kid outgrows the 50cc.
- Sykeruns X5 electric, $975. Free shipping, 2 to 5 business days. 3000W, 48V 20Ah, 50 mph top speed, up to 53 miles of claimed range.
- Sykeruns X7 electric, $1,350. Free shipping, 2 to 5 business days. 5500W, 60V 27Ah, 56 mph top speed, up to 60 miles of claimed range.
All three ship free anywhere in the country. Nothing here is pickup only, and there is no assembly upcharge, because every bike leaves us sealed in the factory crate exactly as it reaches us, about 90% assembled from the factory. You do the final assembly and setup at home: bars, front wheel, fluids, a once over on the bolts. It takes 20 to 30 minutes with basic tools, and every step is walked through at manual.pluggedby50cc.com.
Gas vs electric for a young kid
For a first time rider under about 10, gas wins on price and nothing else has to be true for that to matter. $300 versus $975 is not a close call when you are buying a bike your kid may outgrow in two summers. Put the difference into a helmet, goggles, gloves and boots.
But price is not the only reason. The 50cc has a screw adjustable speed limiter on the carburetor. You can set it so the bike physically cannot go faster than a walking jog, let your kid ride at that speed for a month, and then open it up a quarter turn at a time as they earn it. That is the single most useful safety feature on a kid's bike, and it is why most parents who start with gas stay with gas. There is a full walkthrough of how the speed limiter works and how to adjust it.
The tradeoff is that gas asks something of you. You mix fuel at 25 to 1. You clean an air filter. You occasionally read a spark plug. If none of that sounds appealing, that is a real reason to look at electric, but the X5 is sized for riders around 4 ft and up, so for a 6 year old it is not an option regardless.
Gas vs electric for a teen or an adult
Here it flips completely. A 50cc gas mini will not carry a 180 lb adult anywhere interesting. The X5 and X7 will.
Sykeruns X5, $975. 3000W brushless motor, 146 N.m of torque, 48V 20Ah lithium battery. Three gears at roughly 15 / 27 / 50 mph, so you can hand it to a new rider locked in first and let them work up. Up to 53 miles of claimed range, 5 to 6 hours to recharge, 265 lb rider limit, fits riders about 4 ft to 5 ft 11 in. 126 lbs. Full breakdown in our Sykeruns X5 review, including the real world range, which is closer to 20 to 25 miles.
Sykeruns X7, $1,350. 5500W, 220 N.m, 60V 27Ah. Three gears at roughly 25 / 39 / 56 mph. Up to 60 miles of claimed range, 6 to 7 hours to recharge, 330 lb rider limit, fits riders about 4 ft 8 in to 6 ft 3 in. 143 lbs. This is the biggest thing we carry and it is genuinely fast. It is an adult bike, not a teenager's first bike. Same honest treatment in our Sykeruns X7 review.
Both are off road only. Neither is street legal and neither comes with a street title, so plan on riding them on private land, OHV areas, or tracks.
A word on range and top speed claims
Every electric dirt bike in this price class is sold on a range number measured in the best possible conditions: first gear, flat ground, light rider, no wind. The X5 claims 53 miles and the X7 claims 60. Independent testing puts real riding at roughly 20 to 25 miles for the X5 and 22 to 31 for the X7.
That is not a knock on these particular bikes, it is how the whole category advertises. Just budget around the lower number, and treat any listing that quotes only the factory figure with the same caution.
The honest case for electric
Electric gets unfairly framed as the lesser option. It isn't. Where it beats gas:
- Noise. If you live somewhere with neighbors close enough to complain, this is the whole ballgame. An electric bike on a residential lot is the difference between riding and not riding.
- No fuel to mix. No 25 to 1, no stale gas ruining a carb over the winter, no pull cord.
- Fewer things to maintain. Chain, brakes, tires. That's mostly it.
- Instant, predictable power. Some new riders do better without a two stroke's powerband surprising them.
The honest case for gas
- Price. $300 versus $975 is not subtle.
- Refuel in 30 seconds. Bring a jug and ride all day. The X5 takes 5 to 6 hours to charge. Great range on paper, but when it is done, it is done until tomorrow.
- The speed limiter. Best control feature you can hand a parent.
- No battery to age out. Lithium packs lose capacity over the years. A carburetor does not.
- It teaches mechanical skill. Some parents want their kid learning to mix fuel and read a plug. That is a legitimate reason to pick gas.
How to decide in 30 seconds
- Kid under 10, first bike, on a budget: 50cc gas, $300.
- Kid who has outgrown the 50cc: 60cc double exhaust, $380. That is the next step, not an adult electric.
- Kid under 10, but you have close neighbors: hold off until they're tall enough for the X5, or find somewhere to ride the gas bike.
- Teen, or an adult under 265 lbs: Sykeruns X5, $975.
- Adult who wants the fast one: Sykeruns X7, $1,350.
- You want zero maintenance and quiet, money aside: electric, every time.
Questions people ask before ordering
Can you ship an electric bike with a lithium battery?
Yes. Both the X5 and the X7 ship free to all 50 states and arrive in 2 to 5 business days, same as the gas bikes.
Does the bike come put together?
Ships mostly assembled. You put on the front wheel and handlebar at home. Tools and a video are included. Every bike ships sealed in its factory crate exactly as it reaches us, about 90% assembled from the factory, and the buyer completes final assembly and setup: front wheel, handlebars, a few bolts and the fluids, then a wrench over every fastener before the first ride. That is 20 to 30 minutes of work, sometimes as little as 10, with the tools in the box, and the full walkthrough lives at manual.pluggedby50cc.com.
How fast does the 50cc gas bike go?
It has an adjustable limiter. Set low it is a walking pace; wide open it is about 32 mph. You control that with a screwdriver.
Which one holds its value better?
Gas minis hold value well because there is no battery to degrade and parts are cheap and everywhere. Electric holds value fine for the first few years, then the pack's condition starts driving the price.
Is either one street legal?
No. All of our bikes are off road use only. No titles, no plates, no road riding.
Ordering
If you land on gas, the 2026 buying guide to the best 50cc dirt bike for kids goes deeper on features and specs, and what size dirt bike fits a 6, 8 or 10 year old settles the fit question. Everything is on the site with real photos and full specs: pluggedby50cc.com. Free shipping on all three bikes, 2 to 5 business days, no fees added at checkout.
If you are not sure which one fits your rider, text us with their age, height and weight and we'll tell you straight, including telling you to buy the cheaper bike when that's the right answer.
Plugged by 50CC is an independent retailer. We do not manufacture, assemble, modify or service the bikes we sell. Every bike ships sealed in its factory crate exactly as it reaches us, about 90% assembled from the factory, and final assembly and setup are completed by the buyer. Off road use only. Riders under 18 should always be supervised by an adult.
Everyone should wear a helmet and gear.