Razor MX500 Razor MX650
Razor MX500 and MX650 Electric Dirt Bikes Compared
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:
MX500 – 14 years+
MX650 16 years+
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:
MX500 – 175 lbs
MX650 – 220 lbs
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.
MX650 Videos
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
Where to Buy the Razor MX500 Dirt Rocket Bike
Check Price of the Razor MX500
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
Where to Buy the Razor MX650 Dirt Rocket Bike
Check Price of the Razor MX650.
Leave a Comment
If you have any comments, questions or experiences to share about my Comparison Review of the Razor MX500 and MX650 Electric Dirt Bikes, please leave them in the box below.
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.