Jack (Pete Billingsley) buys a magic dirt bike that becomes his new best friend. He uses the bike to save a hot dog stand from a greedy banker. He stands up to bullies and criminals who try to take his bike. Then he lets another kid take his bike.Now let's look at this from an adult perspective. Jack's mother needs him buy groceries when they can barely afford to eat. He blows off the money on a dirt bike that some guy says is magic. His mother makes him sell the bike, but it keeps coming back to him, which he decides to keep, even though it doesn't belong to him anymore. When a local banker can no longer fund a hot dog stand because he needs to make a profit, Jack will do what ever he can to save it. This kid has no regard for the rules and no respect for authority. He breaks into meetings where he is not welcome and illegally saves the hot dog stand. He is now the hero because the banker is clearly the villain for trying to make money. Jack suffers no consequences for his actions.It was a good movie. How can anyone not love Pete Billingsley. Jack is a good kid. He cares about other people and is not afraid to stand up for what is right. I admire him for being an activist. What I don't like is how one-sided this movie is. Was the banker the clear villain? Sure, he probably had a lot of money and was going to tear down a place that meant a lot to many people, so he could make more money. But people in business do that all the time. Does that mean they're all evil? Jack wanted to stand up for those who didn't have much of a voice, but took know consideration to the other side. Could he have still fought for what was right without breaking all of the rules? I think that would have sent a stronger message.

Don't listen to the above. This is one of the best pre-teen, teen-age movies of the mid-80's. While watching this movie today as an adult you see the flaws, but as a kid this movie has it all. The kid who serves as the hero, the evil bank villain, the baseball team, the hot mom, everything. If you want to escape life for 2hrs, this is one of your best bets to do so. Great time for kids and adults alike. Peter Billingsley and his motorcycle are one of the best duos of our time.Watch this movie and...SAVE MIKE'S DOGHOUSE!!!

That is what a viewer of this movie could have to Stuart Pankin. This story of boy meets strange and possessed dirt bike has the makings of an AFI top one hundred film. This movie has taught me that dirt bikes with minds of their own are a natural thing. If some of these dirt bikes decide to terrorize greedy bankers along the way, throw them in jail! Don't forget, if your kid watches to much television, just cut the cord. This movie is KWALITY (not to be confused with quality)with a capital K.

Casablanca,Citizen Kane,The GodFather and The DirtBike Kid.Its the classic tale of boy meets bike.Boy loses bike.Boy gets bike back but loses Mike's hotdog hangout.The extremely complex plot of this movie will keep you on the edge of your seat,but be prepared for a tear-jerking goodbye between the Kid and the Dirtbike.Watch and have a good ,long cry.