Pocket bikes, also called minimotos or mini pocket bikes, are essentially miniature sized GP Racing motorcycles. Pocket bikes are built with the same detail, proportion, and craftsmanship of any world-class GP bike on a smaller scale. Pocket bikes have many features common to regular motorcycles, such as disc brakes in the front and rear, racing tires, fairings, lightweight aluminum alloy cast perimeter frames and swing arms. Where they differ, though, is in their size. This difference does not impede fun. There are a wide variety of online pocket bikes-miniature versions of actual, full-size motorcycles-that offer fun and thrills to both the young racer and the experienced professional.
They are usually built with gas-powered engines. The smaller industrial-motored models used by Junior class racers are capable of speeds of over 35 mph, the average 4.2 hp and 6.2 hp racing models achieve about 40-45 mph, and open class machines reach speeds over 50 mph. Pocket bikes can be built with many of the features common to regular bikes, such as disc brakes in the front and rear, racing tires, fairings, lightweight aluminum alloy cast perimeter frames and swing arms.
Originally, pocket bikes were solely made by specialty manufacturers who sold them at expensive prices. As their appeal has grown, however, affordable pocket bike imports have become available to a much larger group of motor sport enthusiasts.
Where to Ride Pocket Bikes?
While many pocket bike owners race their pocket bikes at competitions and go-kart tracks, others simply enjoy riding their pocket bikes recreationally in open areas. There are many options for legally racing your pocket bike with friends and in organized competitions. A racing sanctioning body has been established to promote racing in North America called NAPRA, the North American Pocket Bike Racing Association. Go-kart tracks offer a road racecourse that is perfectly scaled to pocket bikes. You can give your local go-kart track a call or get in touch with NAPRA itself to see if any tracks or leagues are offering racing in your area. Major kart tracks across the country have adopted pocket bike racing, and there are sure to be more as the national interest in pocket grows with every passing day. Outside of pocket bike competitions, you can ride your pocket bike on private property in enclosed courses.
Here are some guidelines for recreational pocket bike riding: find a clear, open area that allows for high speeds, be sure there are no major obstacles or obstructions that could cause harm or injury, ride on a relatively smooth surface to maximize control, and steer clear of public roads and pedestrian-heavy areas.
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A Kid’s Dirt Bike or Mini Dirt Bike has all the working parts and features of a normal Dirt Bike. It only weighs less, is much smaller and has a lot less power (about 49cc on average). Most kids Dirt Bikes are built with a two-stroke engine, so they are also designed to hold only half a gallon of gas on average.
Since there are no age requirements to ride these bikes, and with hundreds of models to choose from, the popularity of these little but considerably powerful machines is still growing. Thousands of Kids Dirt Bikes are sold every year around the world, with the number increasing each year.
Kid’s Dirt Bikes don?t always come cheap just because they are smaller in size. For example, the Pitster Pro 125cc can cost you around 2,095 dollars. However, Kid’s Dirt bikes with less engine power, normally less than 90cc, are quite affordable with price ranging from 200 to 600 dollars only.
Even though there are no age requirements to ride Kid’s Dirt Bikes, make sure that the child is old enough to be able to handle the machine physically. Also remember to give proper training and guidance before your kid starts operating the Bike on his/her own.
Since some of these Kid’s Dirt Bikes can run up to 75 mph or so, preliminary precautions should always be taken before letting kids ride them, especially for younger kids. Helmets should be made compulsory and children should not be allowed to ride these vehicles on a speed of more than 40 mph.
There are Dirt Bike Competitions held in many parts of the United States for Kids aged between 4 to 15. You can get information from websites such as www.dirtbikekids.com. There are also other numerous organizations, which support Kid’s Dirt Bike riding such as American Amateur Racer, Inc, American Motorcyclist Association, National Motosport Association, and World Sports etc.
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