Honda CRF100F
Our second favorite playbike in the pack, the CRF100F is like The Little Engine That Could. Don't expect to get on it and have your socks knocked off (you shouldn't be expecting that from any bike in this segment, for that matter), but do expect the CRF to wow you in terms of ridability and outright persistence. Like the XR100s of yesteryear, this solid little bike is a perfect machine for young riders to cut their teeth on, though it's also arguably one of the best stock backyard race platforms that an adult with $2500 can buy.
The Facts
* This motor screams. Not so much in a battle axe-wielding Viking kind of way, but more like a knock-the-tee-ball-out-of-the-park-like shriek. Nevertheless, the CRF100 has more than enough guts to pull around its own weight, and can even run with bigger bikes with the right pilot behind the bar using rpm.
* The Honda 100's cockpit and stance are a little small for most riders, but the bike handles just as well-if not better-than all the others in this class. The entire setup produces the characteristics of a little bike without the wildly steering, super-erratic handling woes that often accompany small wheels.
Enough power or not, Davi...
Enough power or not, Davi Millsaps wheelied through an entire SX whoop section effortlessly. That left us speechless.
* The CRF's suspension is soft by most standards, but it gets the job done. Kids will find that the springs settle well and thus help the bike corner with consistency, while bigger riders will use every bit of the stroke, front and rear.
* Surprisingly enough, the brakes on this mini are actually pretty decent. Yes, they're drum setups front and rear, but in true Honda style both ends work reliably in bringing the red shrieker to a halt.
* Can you say, "bulletproof"? If you have a kid who breaks everything he touches, this is the bike to get him. Outstanding durability combined with good parts availability makes this ride an excellent hand-me-down or yearlong backyard loaner.
The Factory Verdict
"This is the best minibike, ever. It's great for the little guys who want to go out and be miniature Davies with No. 118 on their bikes! Then, they can go out and have some real fun. It doesn't have much power, but that doesn't stop me from having fun!" -Davi Millsaps
Honda CRF150F
In terms of size and delivery, you could say that the CRF150F is the porker of the bunch. In fact, it's so close to almost being a big bike that it doesn't actually feel like a mini to most riders. Although this is a common bike among younger off-roaders (and for good reason, given the grunt the powerplant is capable of delivering), there's no reason why a seasoned adult couldn't take the 150F out to the trails and have a genuinely good time.
The Facts
* Beginners will love the personality of this motor. In short, it's a torquey monster. Rolling on the throttle brings a smooth handful of hill-tackling power that's both strong and manageable, though when the revs climb and the meat flattens out, the bike makes it clear that you really need to upshift.
* In addition to the user-friendly power, the 150F brings a background of stability to the table that's incredibly well suited to learning riders. Likely attributed to its larger platform, this machine's solid feel comes as a relief to those who shy away from playbikes on the false notion that they aren't planted enough to really jam on.
The big boy of the playbike...
The big boy of the playbike class is the CRF150F. It'd work well for junior, Andrew Short or dad.
* This Honda's suspension is damped so heavily that it's almost harsh, but the bright side of this is that it can take harder hits much better than its smaller counterparts. The stiff initial stroke does give the bike a slightly dead feel, but it's definitely livelier than the original CRF150F that wasn't electric-start.
* The ground clearance on this CRF isn't too far off from other bikes in the class, but for some reason the footpegs seem much more prone to clobbering rocks. Make that every rock you see.
The Factory Verdict
"I'd like to have a CRF150 on my farm to chase the cows and cruise around on. I had a Z50 a long time ago, and it's cool that kids get to have bikes like these today!"
-Andrew Short