Razor MX500 vs MX650 – Electric Dirt Bike Comparison Review
This is my fully independent review of the Razor MX500 and MX650 electric dirt bikes. They are 2 very popular machines, both manufactured by perhaps the leading producer of electric ride toys for kids.
Although they look quite similar and are made by the same company, there are some very important differences that you need to consider when choosing which one to buy for your child.
Before looking at the differences between the bikes, let’s first look at some of the great features that are shared by both products.
5 Similarities Between the Razor MX500 and MX650
The 5 most obvious similarities are:
#1 Battery Charging Time – 8 hours
Both bikes comes fitted with an electric motor that is powered by 3 x 12v sealed lead acid batteries and they take about 8 hours to recharge. This is fairly standard for this type of electric ride toy and is better than some electric karts what take up to 12 hours to re-charge.
Although I can be a little frustrating for kids to have to wait during the charging period, I’m afraid that this is unavoidable with battery powered toys. At least with an 8 hour charging time, your child would be able to have a ride around in the morning and then charge it during the day so that they can have another go towards the end of the day.
Of course, you always treat them to a spare set of batteries if they’ve been exceptionally good and you think that they deserve a little more bike-riding action during their summer vacation.
#2 Usage Time Per Charge – 40 minutes
Both bikes have a usage time of about 40 minutes per charge.
At about 40 minutes per session, the MX500 Dirt Rocket’s battery charge will provide a nice amount of use between charges. In terms of distance travelled, this should be long enough to enable them to drive continuously for about 10 miles before the battery needs to be re-charged.
#3 Powerful Super-Quiet High Torque Motor
The product numbering system on the Razor Electric Dirt Bikes reflects their “Wattage-Power” ratings. The MX500 comes fitted with a 500W motor and the MX650 with a 650W motor. You can read about the performance differences between these motors below.
The throttle mechanism for both bikes is a standard grip-twist one as per a normal motorbike. Unlike some cheaper kids electric vehicles, the throttles are variable speed to provide a more realistic experience and give greater control over speed and performance.
Although the motors are different in terms of wattage, they are both powered by 3 x 12V batteries and will be much quieter than their gas-powered equivalents.
#4 Dual Suspension
One of the reason that I have not reviewed the Razor MX350 bike on this website is that the latest model does NOT come fitted with dual suspension. Even with a kids scaled-down version of a dirt bike, suspension is an absolute “must have” item. A dirt bike without suspension is completely pointless and would make riding over bumps and uneven ground pretty unpleasant.
I certainly won’t be recommending the MX350, because of its lack of suspension.
Fortunately, both the MX500 and MX650 bikes come fitted with dual suspension to provide a more comfortable and realistic experience when riding on uneven ground.
#5 Steel Frame
The MX500 and MX650 aren’t cheap plastic toys. Instead, they are built around a strong steel frame to ensure that they can survive the jumps and bumps that any dirt bike has to deal with and (with normal usage) they ought to last a number of years.
4 Big Differences Between the Razor MX500 and MX650
The 4 most important differences are:
#1 Price
At the time of writing this post, the Razor MX500 costs about 70 less than the MX650 (see below).
#2 Top Speed
The MX500 has a top speed of 15 mph.
The MX650 has a top speed of 17 mph.
So, not a huge difference in speed, but just about enough to notice.
As I have mentioned above, the difference in top speed is due to the more powerful motor supplied with the MX650.
#3 Recommended Minimum User Age
The recommended minimum user ages are as follows:
I am very surprised that the recommended age for the MX500 is as high as 14 years and the MX650 is as high as 16 years. I think that the Razor Legal Team may have been a little overcautious on this issue. The size of the MX500 makes me think that it would be too small for many 14 year old children and I don’t see any reason why a confident 10 year old couldn’t use one. In fact, I have added some videos below of children under the age of 10 using the Razor MX500 Dirt Rocket without any problems, but they might be exceptions to the rule.
You know your child and their capabilities better than anyone else. The top speed of 15 mph is probably no faster than they can reach on their push bikes and certainly wouldn’t stop me from letting my kids have a go under the age of 14. I would probably wait until my child was about 10 years old, but it would depend very much upon their general level of physical development and emotional maturity.
Again, so far as the MX650 is concerned, you will be best placed to determine the appropriate age for your child to use one of them. The MX650 is slightly faster and has a bigger frame than the MX500 and this is something to bear in mind when making this assessment.
Whatever age your child is when they use one of these bikes, I would always advise you to ensure that your child wears a safety helmet. It doesn’t necessarily have to be a racing-car style helmet – a bike or scooter helmet will be sufficient to protect the most vulnerable parts of their head.
#4 Maximum User Weight Limit
The maximum user weight limits are as follows:
These are very generous limits and mean than even some smaller adults will be able to have a go without breaking them!
Watch the Razor MX500 MX650 in Action!
There is only so much you can learn about an electric dirt bike from reading words on a page.
Here are some videos to help you get a better idea of each bike’s capabilities:
MX500 Videos
A Side-On View:
A Rider’s Perspective:
Here are some videos of kids under 14 using the Razor MX500 Dirt Rocket:
A 5 Year Old Learning to Ride …
An 8 Year Old Doing Some Tricks …
Okay, so I definitely wouldn’t let my 5 year old twins ride one of these as they are just not ready for it, but I hope that these videos give you a better idea of the size of the bike in relation to different sized kids and help you to make a better informed decision.
Razor MX500 – Full Specifications
The Razor MX500 Dirt Rocket’s full specifications are as follows:
- Suitable for riders up to 175 lbs
- Large 16″and 14″ pneumatic knobby tires
- Dual suspension and riser handlebars for a smooth and comfortable ride
- Ride up to 10 miles on a single charge
- Top Speed of 15mph
- Variable speed, super quiet chain driven motor
- High torque motor
- Hand operated dual disc brakes
- Retractable kickstand
- Folding metal foot pegs
- 36V (three 12V) sealed lead acid battery system
- Powerful 500w electric motor
- Battery charge time: 8 hours
- Up to 40 minutes of continuous use
- UL approved battery and charger
- Tools included
- Bike weighs 98 lbs
- Assembled Product Dimensions: 56″ x 24.5″ x 36″
- For ages 14
- 90 Days Manufacture Warranty
Razor MX650 – Full Specifications
The Razor MX650 Dirt Rocket’s full specifications are as follows:
- Suitable for riders up to 220 lbs
- Large 16″and 14″ pneumatic knobby tires
- Dual suspension and riser handlebars for a smooth and comfortable ride
- Ride up to 10 miles on a single charge
- Top Speed of 17 mph
- Variable speed, super quiet chain driven motor
- High torque motor
- Hand operated dual disc brakes
- Retractable kickstand
- Folding metal foot pegs
- 36V (3 x 12V) sealed lead acid battery system
- Powerful 650w electric motor
- Battery charge time: 8 hours
- Up to 40 minutes of continuous use
- UL approved battery and charger
- Tools included
- Bike weighs 98 lbs
- Assembled Product Dimensions: 56 x 24.5 x 36 inches
- For ages 16
- 90 Days Manufacture Warranty
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Комментарии и мнения владельцев
Thanku so much for your review. I’m trying to decide which version for my 7 years old who is tall for his age. He has ridden the mx 350 but way to small and can handle a peewee 50 but again too small. What are your thoughts thanks
If he is a tall and mature 7-year old I would definitely opt for the Razor SX500 McGrath bike instead.
Razor MX350 vs MX500 Comparison
In this article, we compare the Razor MX350 vs MX500 electric dirt bikes.
Both may be an excellent choice if you want to treat the adrenaline junkie in your family to a well specified dirt bike. But, although they share some of the same components, there are important differences between both models.
Our guide below will show you which is the most suitable for your child. First we’ve got a quick comparison table of the main features of the Razor MX350 vs MX500.
Then we look at the main differences between them and the advantages of each dirt bike, in turn. Finally, we’ll summarize the pros and cons of both rides, to help you make the right choice for your kids, and for you.
Razor MX350 vs MX500 – Quick Comparison
These bikes were our top choice for Budget (MX350) and Overall Value (MX500) when we reviewed the best electric dirt bikes for kids and youths in 2023. Let’s take a closer look at how they compare against each other.
In the table below we’ve summarized the main features of each bike in a side by side comparison, to make it easy to see the differences between them.
Note on Age: Razor’s recommended age for the MX350 is a highly conservative 13 but an age range of 5-10 (real world guide from many buyers) with parental supervision may be more suitable. Because this dirt bike is small – the MX350 seat height is only 20″ so older kids would fit better on its bigger brother, the MX500.
Note on Age: Likewise, Razor’s recommended age for the MX500 is 14 but this is also very conservative. An age range of 8-14 (real world guide from many buyers) with parental supervision may be more suitable. The Razor MX500 seat height of 24″ is still at least 10″ lower than on a regular, adult sized dirt bike.
See the videos in the next section below for a real world view of the appropriate ages for these bikes.
Main Differences
The biggest difference between both dirt bikes is the size and age of rider that each was designed for.
The Razor MX500 is the big brother of the MX350 – it has a 20% larger frame, bigger wheels and weighs 36 lbs more. The MX500 supports a heavier rider (175 lbs vs 140 lbs) and is more suitable for older children – Razor recommend age 14 for the MX500 compared to 13 for the MX350.
Thanks to a more powerful motor (500W vs 350W) and extra battery (36V vs 24V), the top speed of the Razor MX500 is higher than the MX350 (15 mph vs 14 mph) and it gives a longer ride per full charge (40 minutes vs 30 minutes). The MX500 also has variable speed and dual suspension whereas the MX350 is single speed with no suspension.
Check out the video below for a real world view of the size of the larger Razor MX500 Dirt Rocket with a 9 year old boy riding:
For comparison, the video below shows the smaller Razor MX350 Dirt Rocket with 7 and 4 year old boys riding:
Advantages of Razor MX350 Dirt Rocket
Advantages of Razor MX500 Dirt Rocket
Pros of Both Bikes
Here is a summary of what we love about both models:
- Specifically designed for children or early teens
- User friendly controls
- Adjustable angle handlebars can adapt to fast growing kids
- Quick enough to give an adrenaline rush
- Slow enough (compared to gas dirt bikes) to minimize risk of a high speed crash
- Knobby rubber pneumatic tires (unlike plastic tires of cheap bikes and ride on toys) can tackle many ground conditions including off-road
- Steel frame with authentic motocross frame geometry
- No pollution (compared to a gas dirt bike)
- Quieter than a gas dirt bike
- Requires much less servicing than a gas dirt bike
- Razor is a long established US manufacturer – spare or replacement parts are readily available from their website
Cons of Both Bikes
Here is a summary of what we don’t like so much about both models. But most of these issues are common to all electric dirt bikes in this price range:
- Relatively short battery life. But 30 or 40 minutes is still enough to cover 7 or 10 miles respectively
- Battery full recharge time is up to 12 hours so charging needs to be planned
- No reverse gear – can be awkward to maneuver backwards
- No headlights or rear lights – can only be driven in daylight
- Not intended for use on public streets
- Helmet and protective clothing (see our Electric Dirt Bike Buying Guide for recommended safety gear) may be uncomfortable in hot weather
- Must be stored in a dry area, due to the electrical components
- Batteries must not be stored in temperatures below freezing
- Batteries must be recharged at least once a month
Conclusion
A smaller frame and lower seat make the MX350 the better choice for very young kids, especially those who are new to dirt bikes. The single speed (simple stop/go) is easier for them to handle and the lack of any suspension won’t make much difference if they don’t go off-roading.
However, the larger frame, variable speed and dual suspension of the MX500 makes this Razor dirt bike a much better choice for older kids and early teens, especially on rough terrain.
Owner’s Manuals
The owner’s manual for the Razor MX350 Dirt Rocket is available in PDF format from Razor here.
The owner’s manual for the Razor MX500 Dirt Rocket is available in PDF format from Razor here.
NOTE: A parent’s decision to allow their child to ride either the Razor MX350 or the Razor MX500 should depend on the child’s individual maturity, skill and ability to follow rules.
Razor MX500 Electric Dirt Bike Review
The MX500 electric dirt bike is an amazing off-road warrior that will tackle all sorts of unfriendly terrains with relative ease. It is the perfect present for your outgoing son who has shown a keen interest in dirt ride biking as a pastime.
There is no denying that kids love motorbikes. However, this love can suddenly turn into hate if you end up buying an inferior machine that doesn’t live to the child’s expectations.
When it comes to acquiring electric dirt bike 12 years and above, you shouldn’t allow yourself to be swayed by the outward appearance. Rather, it is important to scrutinize the core features and specifications of the bike before deciding to buy.
In this review, we take a close look at the Razor MX500 Electric Dirt Bike to determine just what you can expect from its performance. Is it worth spending on or should you look elsewhere?
Maximum Speed : 15mphMOTOR: 500W variable-speed motor FRAME: Sturdy Steel construction with authentic geometryBRAKE TYPES: Front and rear disc brakesBATTERY: 36V (three 12V) sealed lead acid rechargeable batteriesWHEELS: 16-inch front, 14-inch back wheels TIRES: Pneumatic, Knobby tires
Frame
The Razor MX500 boasts a strong steel frame with an authentic dirt bike geometry that is inspired by Supercross styling. It lives up to its motocross appearance when it comes to performance and can easily support a rider weight of up to 175lbs.
This off-road beast has dimensions of 56 by 24.5 by 36 inches when fully assembled, and comes with a long, spacious seat to keep your kid comfortable. Riser handlebars also add to the ideal posture of the rider when speeding through different surfaces.
It weighs in at about 98lbs, which is quite heavy for a toy dirt bike. This, however, helps to keep it steady on uneven ground.
Although Razor recommends the bike for children aged 14 above, it can be used by younger riders depending on their height and weight.
Nevertheless, I wouldn’t advise that you allow any child below 9 years to use it. This is simply because the bike has a lot of power that the kid won’t be able to handle appropriately. And having the 98lbs machine falling on him can leave a nasty injury.
Your little rider will also enjoy the cool combination of black, yellow, and red color shades that the bike comes in. It is a menacing machine that raises the stakes when it comes to off-road biking adventure.
Brakes
This bike is fitted with both front and rear disc brakes for enhanced control of the ride. The hand-operated brakes will allow your prodigy to bring the bike to a stop on a dime on sharp bends, offering the level of rider confidence that is required.
They also do a good job of enhancing your kid’s motor skills as he develops into an avid dirt bike rider.
Motor
The Razor MX500 utilizes a powerful 500W motor that will push the bike to a maximum speed of 15mph.
The high-torque motor offers a super-charged riding experience on the bumpy and dirt terrain; scaling mountains and inclines will be a walk in the park for your promising Champion.
Your child can also use the variable speed throttle on the handlebar, which dictates the pace of the ride. The speed will increase from slow to moderate and finally fast as you switch between the “1, 2, 3” speed variables.
Battery
This bike is equipped with a three 12V sealed lead-acid batteries, resulting in a powerful battery system of 36V.
When fully charged, the battery should allow up to 40 minutes of high-octane outdoor fun; just what your son needs to spend that excess energy.
What may not impress you about the battery is that you might find yourself spending more time charging it that your boy will be riding.
This is because once it runs out of power, it will require up to 12 hours of continuous charging to fully recharge.
This will definitely feel like forever for your enthusiastic child who’s just catching the dirt bike-riding bug.
Even for a child who wants to catch his breath, waiting all that time before getting back on his bike can rob your son of his day in the outdoors.
Needless to say, you might notice a slight hike on your utility bill; charging anything for 12 hours straight, after all, is no small feat! I suggest setting limits for using the bike to help control this.
For instance, your boy should only ride it on the weekends.
Something to keep in mind when you have freshly purchased the electric transporter is that the battery doesn’t come pre-charged.
So, you want to charge it for 12 consecutive hours before your son can goes on his maiden ride outside.
Wheels
With a 16-inch wheel at the front and 14-inch wheel at the back, this bike allows for maximum power transfer when taking on all kinds of unforgiving terrains.
Large pneumatic knobby tires on the wheels are ideal for speeding through gravel roads, as well as grass fields.
Your kid will have a field day in the outdoors without the wheels showing any signs of wear even after rigorous use.
What Do We Like?
One of the features that impressed me on this dirt bike is the nice frame geometry that allows for a comfortable ride. The large pneumatic tires and suspension ensure that your little rider will have a breeze riding on the bumpy trails.
The strong battery system allows for ample playtime that any newbie enthusiasts will appreciate. The battery will last almost 250 rechargeable cycles before starting to show signs of decline.
The powerful motor is also a great addition to the bike.
The variable speed ensures that your child can take things easy as he learns his way around the bike handling and turn it up a notch as his rider confidence improves.
The MX500 is a versatile off-road monster that offers high-grade performance on all sorts of terrains.
Whether your boy is riding on grass, gravel, dirt, or rocky areas, expect the same amount of fun. I wouldn’t, however, advise riding it in muddy areas as this can mess up the lowly positioned motor.
This bike features a nice retractable stand that comes in handy when you want to park the vehicle. Whether it is in the garage or out in the trail, this simple component proves to be quite a convenience.
There’s also a 90-day warranty period for you to replace any faulty components on the bike. The rear wheel is a notable culprit as far as most of the customer reviews I’ve come across suggest.
Razor MX500 vs MX650 Comparison
In this article, we compare the Razor MX500 vs MX650 electric dirt bikes.
Both can be a great choice if you want to treat the thrill seeker in your family to a well specified electric dirt bike for off-road fun. But, although they share most of the same components, there are several important differences between both models.
Our guide below will show you which is the most suitable for your children, or for you! First we’ve got a quick comparison table of the key features of the Razor MX500 vs MX650.
Then we look at the main differences between them and the advantages of each dirt bike, in turn. Finally, we’ll summarize the pros and cons of both rides, to help you make the right choice.
Razor MX500 vs MX650 – Quick Comparison Table
Both these bikes were our top picks for Overall Best Value (MX500) and Ultimate Choice (MX650) when we reviewed the best electric dirt bikes for kids and teens in 2023. Let’s take a closer look at how they compare against each other.
In the table below we’ve summarized the main features of each bike in a side by side comparison and highlighted the differences in bold.
Note on Age: Razor’s recommended age for the MX500 is 14 but this is highly conservative. An age range of 8-14 (real world guide from many buyers) with parental supervision may be more suitable because the Razor MX500 seat height of 24″ is at least 10″ lower than a typical adult dirt bike.
Similarly, Razor’s recommended age for the MX650 is 16 which is also very conservative. An age range of 10-16 (real world guide from many buyers) with parental supervision may be more suitable. Because it isn’t a full adult size – the Razor MX650 seat height is 24″, compared to 34″ or more on a regular adult dirt bike.
See the videos in the next section below for a real world view of the appropriate ages for these bikes.
Main Differences
The Razor MX500 and MX650 are mechanically the same dirt bike with the same size frame, except that the MX650 has a more powerful motor (650W vs 500W). This gives the MX650 a higher top speed (17 mph vs 15 mph) and a higher maximum weight capacity (220 lbs vs 175 lbs).
Razor recommend a minimum age of 16 for the MX650 compared to 14 for the MX500.
Check out the video below for a real world view of the Razor MX650 powerhouse in action:
For comparison, the video below shows the less powerful Razor MX500 with a 9 year old boy riding (remember that both these bikes are exactly the same size)
Advantages of Razor MX500 Dirt Rocket
Advantages of Razor MX650 Dirt Rocket
Pros of Both Bikes
The summary below highlights what we love about both models:
- Specifically designed for kids or teens with user friendly controls
- Adjustable angle handlebars can adapt to fast growing kids (longer legs)
- Quick enough for a thrilling ride but slow enough (compared to gas dirt bikes) to minimize risk of a high speed crash
- Large knobby rubber pneumatic tires can tackle many ground conditions, including off-road
- Dual suspension and dual brakes provide better comfort and safety when off-roading
- Steel frame with authentic motocross frame geometry
- Quieter and cheaper to buy than a gas dirt bike
- No pollution (compared to a gas dirt bike) and requires much less servicing
- Razor is a long established US manufacturer – spare or replacement parts are readily available from their website
Cons of Both Bikes
The summary below includes factors that we don’t like so much about both models. But note that most of these issues are common to all electric dirt bikes in this price range:
- Relatively short battery life. But 40 minutes is still enough to cover 10 miles (MX500) or 11 miles (MX650)
- Battery full recharge time is up to 12 hours so charging needs to be planned (or you can buy a spare battery pack to switch over instantly)
- No reverse gear – both bikes weigh 98 lbs so can be awkward to maneuver backwards
- The seat height of 24″ may be too low for tall teens or adults
- No headlights or rear lights – can only be driven in daylight
- Helmet and protective clothing may be uncomfortable in hot weather (see our review of the best electric dirt bikes for kids for recommended safety gear)
- Not as high top speed as many gas dirt bikes
- Batteries must not be stored in temperatures below freezing and must be recharged at least once a month to keep them fully operational
Conclusion
The Razor MX500 and MX650 are almost identical dirt bikes – they’re the same size with all the same features except the MX650 has a more powerful motor.
So which model is best? Well, the Razor MX650 top speed is 17 mph and it can cope with riders weighing up to 220 lbs which makes it more suitable for older or heavier teens – and maybe some adults too!
Whereas the MX500 is probably the better and safer choice for pre-teens, unless they are mature and experienced enough to be let loose on the hardcore MX650.
Owner’s Manual
As the Razor MX500 and MX650 dirt bike are mechanically identical, apart from the motor, they share the same manual.
The owner’s manual for both these Razor dirt bikes is available in PDF format here.
NOTE: A parent’s decision to allow their child to ride either the Razor MX500 or the Razor dirt bike MX650 should depend on the child’s individual maturity, skill and ability to follow rules.