Asian Pocket Bikes

If you’ve ever ridden on a motorcycle, you can understand how great the experience can be. A motorcycle is a vehicle, however, which requires a great deal of time, skill, and effort to take care of. If you or a young person wants a taste of what a motorcycle could provide without the high risk, electric pocket bikes may provide the best opportunity.

When a person buys a pocket bike, they are getting a smaller version of a typical motorcycle. They will still be able to find a number of classy styles of pocket bikes, not sacrificing any class in the tradeoff. These smaller bikes will typically get up to 15 miles an hour, which is much slower than a real bike but still enough to enjoy oneself.

Even though the pocket bikes look small, riders can traditionally ride them as long as they are under 6 feet tall. Some models of the bikes can handle riders who weigh up to 170 pounds, letting many adults have the same thrill as younger children might. Electric pocket bikes are made for many people, not just younger ones.

The pocket bike is completely electric as well. Installed with the unit are 12 volt batteries which will charge off of electricity out of the wall. A completely dead battery may take up to 12 hours to charge, but ones with a partial charge should complete after a mere 4 hours. You won’t need to use gasoline for this bike, saving time and cutting back on pollution.

Running on electric energy, these bikes are also super quiet. You can ride them around without causing much of a distraction in your neighborhood. This makes electric pocket bikes into a great choice when you or your children want all of the fun that can come with a motorcycle but you know the responsibility for a real bike wouldn’t be there.

If you are planning to shop for a new 50cc pocket bike, you need to know what exactly it is you are searching for, and the right questions to ask before you visit a store, or even before you shop online, if that’s your preferred method. Not paying especially close attention to specific features, or not asking the right questions can result in you buying a 50cc pocket bike that you don’t really want, or even worse, can’t use.

First, know exactly what you want your 50cc pocket bike will be used for. Will it be fun and recreation, or will you be racing? This decision has to be firmly set in your mind before you go out to make the purchase. If you will be using the pocket bike for recreational purposes, and you have no intention of racing, you can expect to pay about $400 or a little more. A very reasonable price. It’s a completely different story if you want to race. If you eventually plan to race, you may find that you need to pay up to a full $7000 to get what you want. The price difference shows you pretty quickly why you have to know what you’re investing in.
Generally you will find that any pocket bikes you are looking at were made in one of two places. There are the pocket bikes that are built in Italy, and there are pocket bikes that are manufactured in China. The bikes made in Italy are typically among the highest quality bikes. Higher quality also brings a higher price, but once again what you should be willing to spend on a 50cc pocket bike depends on what you are going to use it for. If the bike is going to be used solely for recreational purposes, then look at the ones made from China, because the difference is not that large if it is just for fun. If you’re looking to race, buy from Italy.

Keep in mind pocket bikes are not very comfortable, due to their small size – unless you are very small or a kid. So, comfort isn’t what you need to look for, however, you still need to be comfortable enough to ensure that you have full control of the bike at all times. Take the bike for a test run, and make sure that your body isn’t touching anything that it shouldn’t, like the exhaust pipe, and that you’re comfortable controlling the bike.

Talk to the pocket bike dealer to find out what spare parts are available for the bike, and how hard those parts may be to get. Find out what parts need to be replaced often. Remember, they sell 50cc pocket bikes for a living, and they are probably the best experts you are going to find. They will be able to tell you all you need to know about what the bikes need, and what they don’t need. Also, find out if there is a mechanic at the dealership, or in the town, that is capable of making repairs should they be needed, and inquire about warranties as well, the same types of information you would want for a new car. Make an informed decision based on your needs, and you will find a pocket bike an enjoyable investment.

CHILDREN as young as 12 who ride mini motorbikes are putting their lives at risk, police warn.

It is illegal to drive the bikes on public roads or parks without a driving licence, tax or insurance but police say irresponsible parents are allowing their children to ride them, often disturbing neighbours with their distinctive whine.

Inspector Jim Weems said: “Mini motos are dangerous – there have been deaths.

“What really concerns me is the fact that children as young as 12 or 13 or younger are driving them and it’s quite clear that they didn’t buy them because they cost several hundred pounds and they can’t get the fuel for them, so whilst they are driving around annoying people on them, it is their parents who are encouraging their behaviour.”

He added: “We are not killjoys. They are designed to be used in private places and on courses. In the right place I am sure they are great. Where they are not great is where they are being used around a road or park where they are unlawful and we will deal with them.”

Pocket Bike Tuning

There is a two stroke engine that will inform many of your decisions while you are involved in pocket bike tuning to get it up and running. This article will take a look at some of the issues, and how to resolve them, that are likely to come up in the process. You just can’t fiddle around with the thing and expect it to go. Everyone that I’ve ever spoke to on this matter heartily agrees that so many people don’t know how to tune their pocket bike that it’s not even funny. If you make certain wrong moves you’re only going to damage the fun of riding around without worries.

The rotation of the crankshaft in aforementioned two stroke engine occurs in order to give the pocket bike tuning a little shift which you will know when you hear it. These are powerful engines! Make no mistake about it. Yes, children can ride on them, but at the higher speeds a pocket bike simply shows what she’s made of: straight up lightweight big-time power. Because the length of movement by the piston is smaller than in other bikes, a lot of speed can be generated in a matter of a second or two. Think of it this way: it doesn’t have to work up to it, like a train starting to climb up a steep hill. It’s more like a bullet being shot out of a gun. I am telling you these allegories because they are useful to keep in mind when you go to tune your pocket bike.

The engine goes at higher speeds and temperatures than a 4-cycle engine. That is why there is some concern over exactly how much you have to fiddle with it in order to maintain your bike. It’s somewhat likely that while involved in pocket bike tuning you will realize that your cylinder will need to be replaced somewhere in the order of every couple years. That’s all right, but it just sucks to be you when that couple of years rolls around. Hopefully you will be more on top of things because of the knowledge you’ve gained here.

I always recommend to people that they read their user’s manual before doing work on their engine or other parts. Each pocket bike is different and will require different things. For instance, you may need a gas to oil ratio of 50 to 1, or you may need 25 to 1, depending on the type and quality we are dealing with here. And I can’t tell you that information. You’ve got to do your own homework on this one. Always be safe, smart, and speedy. These are my three S’s. of pocket bike tuning that have not let me down in the engine department for as long as I personally can recall. SO I now offer them to you, my friend. Go forth. Be safe. Ride that thing like the devil!

I hope I have passed on a little of my insight concerning how to tune your pocket bike so that you won’t make the same mistakes that I have. Luckily, I learned from my mistakes, and I went on to race and fly through finish lines. You can too, now.

mini motorcycles

This article explains some of the components that contribute to the make-up of the remarkable piece of engineering called the mini moto. Take a read through and discover how each component plays its part.

Air Filter

Your new mini moto is equipped with an air filter. Some bikes such as the B1 Origami rep liquid cooled and the Mini Dirt bike have a ‘cone’ style K and N style air filter. The 2005 mk2 mini moto and the B1 Origami Replica air cooled bikes have a standard mini moto air filter. Both air filters purify the intake of air that is sucked into the carburetor. This means that the air filter should be cleaned regularly as the mini moto’s performance can begin to suffer as the engine can become starved of air if the air filter is choked with debris. To reach the air filter, remove the bikes bottom fairing, remove the protective cover by unscrewing the holding screws. Clean the air filter in petrol but make sure that the filter is dry before reattaching to you mini moto.

Tires

The tires on your mini moto are filled with air (pneumatic). Please consult your mini moto handbook for the appropriate psi. It is important to check the tire pressure regularly, an under inflated tire will affect the performance of your mini moto, acceleration can become sluggish and cornering can become dangerous.

Chain

Before riding your mini moto you need to make sure that the front and back sprockets are aligned and that the chain is perfectly straight running between them. Once you have established this make sure that the chain is tensioned correctly (please see your mini moto handbook). To test the tension of the chain you can manually push the pocket bike, if you hear a ‘pinging’ or ‘popping’ sound the chain is too loose. If the chain is noisy and starts to bind the chain is too tight. Make sure that the chain is well oiled. The chain needs to be oiled before every ride.

Gearing

The gearing of you mini moto is dictated by the number of the teeth on the front sprocket and on the back sprocket. The sprockets can be changed as an easy way to manipulate top end speed and acceleration, quite like changing gear on a mountain bike. A front sprocket with more teeth will improve acceleration; however the top end speed will be reduced. A larger rear sprocket will produce a higher top speed but acceleration will suffer. The gearing on your bike can be adjusted in accordance for the track you are intending to ride i.e. a small track with a lot of bends will suit gearing for improved acceleration, however a track with long straights will require a mini moto that is geared for a higher top speed.

Mini motorcycle

In the last part of the Get To Know Your Mini Moto series, I will explain how further components of the mini moto contribute to this great little machines.

Throttle

mini motorcycle The throttle on your new mini moto is a ‘twist grip’ style throttle. When you twist the throttle the throttle cable is pulled back revving the engine. It is important to keep this cable free from obstacles and clean. If the throttle begins to feel ‘loose’ of ‘gives’, the tension of the cable can be adjusted via the adjusting screw.

Brakes

The brake system comprises of brake levers, brake cables, brake calipers and brake discs.

The brakes on your mini moto are operated by levers found on the handle bars. The right hand brake controls the front brake, and the left controls the back brake. Pulling on the handle pulls the brake cable which in turn pulls the lever located on the bake caliper. This action pushes the brake discs towards each other. This creates friction on the brake disc which slows down or stops the bike.

The brakes can be adjusted in the following ways.

The brake cable can be tensioned using the adjustment screw found on the brake lever. Unscrew the locking nut; twist the screw to reach the desired tension. Re screw the locking nut.

This is a two person job. Adjust the screw on the hand brake so that is at the end of its travel. Undo the clamp that holds the brake cable on the lever located on the brake caliper. One person needs to push the lever forward as far as it will, the second person needs to pull back on the brake cable and re fasten the clamp. The crake cable will now be highly tensioned.

Pull Start

To start the mini moto pull slowly to turn the fly wheel. This pumps some fuel around the engine, which lubricates the moving parts. Pull the pull start firmly in order to start the engine. Important, do not pull the cord to the end of its run as it can break. If the mini moto does not start check the choke and the throttle cable.

Choke

The choke controls the amount of air that is allowed into the air/fuel mix. The choke is adjusted via a lever located on the side and back of the engine. The choke is off when the lever is down, and on when the lever is up. When you start the mini moto the choke should be on, when the mini moto is warm and ready to ride the choke needs to be off.

Carburetor

It is recommended that any adjustments to the carburetor are made by a professional. The carburetor pumps and mixes the fuel and air. The small diaphragms, orifices and ports mix the air and fuel very precisely, this process demands clean fresh fuel.

Jet

The jet can be adjusted by the screw located in the access hole to the right of the choke lever. The jet is adjusted by the manufacture however the conditions of where you wish to ride may be different, which means that you will need to make adjustments. Turning the screw clockwise will make the bike run with a leaner mixture, and counter clockwise will richen the mixture. Only adjust the screw 1 tern at a time and then test the mini moto, this is trail and error. Please note that it is best to find the optimum setting for performance and then run a slightly richer mixture as a mix that is too lean can seize the engine.

The miniature stature of a pocket bike is the biggest limitation that keeps most models from being street legal. Most bikes are lacking a few key features that would qualify it to be registered to be used on public roadways, although the specifics vary from state to state.

Smaller models don’t really have much of a chance in becoming street legal simply because most bikes would be in a class with motorcycles. And according to the rules, the seat of a motorcycle must be at least 25 inches off the ground. A pocket bike obviously violates that simple test and raising the seat is not a viable mod for any bike.

Out of the box, there would be so many violated safety regulations that an officer could easily charge you for reckless driving. If all the violations were written up, the total fine could come out to over $2,000 in some states. Of course that is usually overkill, but the point is that pocket bikes are far from street legal without some modifications.

Some of the violations you can expect to be written up for have to do with the design of the pocket bike itself. Most states require certain features such as not having rear indicator lights for night driving. Most bikes also don’t come with rearview mirrors, horns, or signaling lights for turns.

All of these are essential requirements of vehicles to be street legal. Since they cannot be registered, the pocket bikes cannot have plates and unregistered vehicles cannot be operated on the public streets. Pocket bikes also cannot be insured, and with such small mufflers, there is a chance of violating noise pollution regulation in some areas.

Larger models of pocket bikes, also known as ’super’ bikes, are a class of bikes that may just barely make the cut. They are larger than typical mini bikes and have headlights, brake lights, signals, a speedometer and horn. According the many DMV’s, these bikes will qualify as motor vehicle that can be registered.

Firstly, these bikes would need rearview mirrors, which any bike shop would be happy to install for you. And second there are no brackets for the license plate, so just putting in some brackets for the license plate once your vehicle is registered and the bike is now street legal. It can be classified as either a motorcycle, or a homebuilt vehicle depending on the circumstances.

If it is classified as a regular motorcycle then motorcycles laws apply, such as the helmet requirement and special motorcycle driver’s license. If it is class as something else such as a moped, then a regular driver’s license is enough.

For a pocket bike to be street legal, it will take a little bit of work. Straight out of the box, pocket bikes lack a few things to be allowed on the streets, although specific rules vary from state to state. It is also not uncommon for pocket bikes to disqualify simply because they are miniature in size.

Smaller models don’t really have much of a chance in becoming street legal simply because most bikes would be in a class with motorcycles. And according to the rules, the seat of a motorcycle must be at least 25 inches off the ground. A pocket bike obviously violates that simple test and raising the seat is not a viable mod for any bike.

Just being caught on the public streets on a pocket bike is considered reckless driving in most cases due to the obvious violation of safety regulations. In fact, if an officer does decide to write you up for the violations, there could easily be many and the fine could be as high as $2,000.

One other big feature that most bikes don’t have is the rear indicator lights for night driving. This is in addition to the lack of rearview mirrors, horns, or signal lights for turns. These are the design restrictions that keep pocket bikes hobby vehicles to be driven on private grounds and off the streets.

According to every state’s driving law, any vehicle operated on the streets must have valid registration. With so many missing requirements, pocket bikes cannot be registered and therefore are not eligible to be operated on the streets. Some bikes are run the risk of violating noise pollution regulations in some neighborhoods.

There are some models of larger pocket bikes, or ’super’ pocket bikes as they are referred to in contrast to mini bikes, that come with headlights, brake lights, turn signals, a speedometer and horn to meet nearly all the requirements.

In many cases small modifications such as adding a rear view mirror and brackets for a license plate will allow you to register the bike for legal street use in most states. With the few modifications the pocket bikes can sometimes be categorized as unique or home built vehicles.

Once on the public streets, the rider will usually be required to follow safety regulations imposed on motorcycle riders. The vehicle will need to be insured and the rider will need a valid state driver’s license and helmet. If the bike is classified as a motorcycle then a motorcycle license is required. If it is categorized with mopeds, then a regular driver’s license will suffice.

A way for someone to get into the sport of riding pocket bikes without forking over hundreds or even thousands upfront is to test the waters with a used bike. Buying used will definitely save you a lot of money.

In order to keep from buying a lemon, or gettin ripped off, it is important to do ample research. In doing so you will learn a lot about pocket bikes and what to look for. Buying used has its benefits, but there are numerous risks as well.

The process of buying a used pocket bike is actually very similar to buying a used car. It is just on a smaller scale and a much more restrictive market. And while there are immense saving in buying a used bike, there are some things about buying new that you don’t get with a used pocket bike.

One of the key considerations is warranty. If you buy a new bike that suddenly breaks down or stops working you can bring it in to the retailer or manufacturer for a refund, exchange, or repairs that are covered by the manufacturer’s warranty.

Rarely will there be a transferable warranty on a used bike that is within the warranty period. In most cases it will be from private sellers and all sales are implicitly final.

The problem is that most buyers don’t adequately inspect the bike, or never learned how to inspect the bike. Savvy pocket bike owners know when they have a newbie on their hands and this leaves the buyer vulnerable to being sold something that is worth much less than what they are asked to pay. Nobody wants something that is in poor condition when they pay the price for a quality product.

The financial savings is still so huge, many people will take that risk. Besides, the risk really can be minimized with thorough research and inspection. Buying a used pocket bike can save as much as fifty to seventy-five percent compared to the cost of a brand new bike. A it makes sense because, like cars, depreciation begins right out of the box.

Another price advantage to really consider is that you can work the seller for a better deal. As long as the bike has little or no problems and you have your price limit, some small dealers or private owners might give you a really discounted deal so you end up with a great bike to play with while only paying a fraction of what a new pocket bike would have cost.

Last year, our favorite Steve brought all of us up to speed on the San Fernando Valley Illegal Soap Box Federation’s Mini Moto race featured in Rod and Kulture Magazine. The article detailed the entirely illegal but entirely awesome minibike race through the streets of the San Fernando Valley. Well they have been up to the same mischief this year with the SFVISBF Mini Moto Challenge 2009.

There are still a few races left in this years schedule if you are up to the challenge. C’mon, don’t be a sissy. Go for it. Say hi to Evil Ed for me.

Josh Elliott is a 15 year old from ‘Norn Irn’ with dispensation to race in the German supersport championship with the McWilliams Superbike Academy … Scroll down for the full story

Josh Elliott, a 15 year old from Northern Ireland, has been given special dispensation to race in the German supersport championship with the McWilliams Superbike Academy on a Honda CBR600RR prepped by German AB Tuning. Elliott is being coached by Jeremy McWilliams (who is also racing in the championship) on a CCTV Direct sponsored team put together by Gerry Bryce, the man behind Racedays.

The basic facts are that Elliott, is learning his craft with Direct CCTV-Racedays (Jeremy McWilliams Superbike Academy team) and at the Oschersleben round of the IDM he qualified 19th in a grid of 43. befor going on to finish 11th and 15th. Which is impressive considering it was his first time at the circuit.

It’s worth clicking on to young Elliott’s website because, although he’s still very young, he’s been mini-moto racing for a while now and appears to have what you might call ‘natural talent’ backed up by plenty of opportunity to exploit it. We’d be amazed if we didn’t hear more about Elliott in the next couple of seasons.

Depuis mardi 2 juin 2009, il est devenu obligatoire de déclarer l’acquisition d’une mini-moto ou d’un mini-quad auprès du ministère de l’Intérieur.

Cette obligation concerne les engins non autorisés à circuler sur la voie publique et dont la vitesse peut excéder 25 km/h. On retrouvera notamment les Peewees, Dirt Bikes, Pocket ou Pit Bikes et quads légers.

Les propriétaires de ces véhicules devront donc désormais les déclarer auprès du ministère de l’Intérieur lors de l’achat et modifier leur déclaration pour tout changement d’état-civil, d’adresse et toute cession, vente, destruction ou vol.

Un numéro d’identification sera délivré pour chaque machine. Celui-ci devra être gravé sur une partie inamovible de l’engin ainsi que sur une plaque d’identification fixée sur le véhicule. Cette dernière pourra être retirée temporairement dans le cadre d’une pratique sportive sur un terrain adapté.

Attention cependant, ce numéro n’est pas un numéro d’immatriculation et n’autorise pas à circuler sur la voie publique. Le cas échéant vous seriez passible d’une contravention de 5ème classe, d’un montant maximal de 1.500 euros. Le fait de ne pas effectuer la déclaration est puni quant à lui d’une amende de 4ème classe d’un montant maximal de 750 euros.

Un service administratif en ligne donne la possibilité de déclarer son acquisition. Avant de commencer, il est conseillé de se munir des versions numérisées ou à défaut de la photocopie d’un justificatif d’identité et d’un justificatif de domicile.

Once you bring home a new pocket bike, there are breaking in procedures that need to be done. It is easy to get excited and want to ride around at top speed but if you do not properly break in the bike you risk cutting the engine life by almost half. That means you will be pouring money to maintain the bike much earlier than you should. There are many techniques to properly break in your new bike but two of the most popular strategies stand out.

The first method of breaking in a new pocket bike is known as heat cycling. It begins by turning on the engine to idle or just above idle for about five or ten minutes. The engine will only be slightly warmed and still cooler than normal operating conditions. Let the engine cool down after the five or ten minutes of idling. Once the engine has cooled down, bring it back up by letting it idle for an additional ten minutes and then turn it off to cool down once more. Do this for a total of four cycles.

Once that is done and the engine has cooled for the final cycle, it is time to take the bike for a cruise. It is important not to rev the engine or speed up on this run because you don’t want to put too much stress on the engine. Just take it for a ride at a very easy pace for an entire tank of gas. Once the tank of gas is used up, you can refill and the bike will be ready for riding at normal speeds.

The second method of breaking in the pocket bike is considered to be more fun because it involves some riding action. First thing is letting the engine idle for about five minutes to warm up a little. Then, slowly bring up the throttle very gently. Bring it up to where the clutch would engage to keep the bike from lurching if there was too much throttle applied during riding.

When taking the bike for the ride, do one lap around the tracks at a very slow speed. This helps to break in the tires first. Then on the following lap the focus is on trying to hit as wide a range of RPMs as possible by accelerating and decelerating.

It is important that after the first lap you check that the engine is warmed up enough before beginning. During the fifteen minutes of riding remember not to push the engine too hard or too slow. To keep the clutch from burning you have to keep it from engaging completely. You will know if the clutch is fully engaged by the bucking feel or the noise of the engine.

While there are other ways to break in a new pocket bike, these are the two most popular strategies. And being something that you only have to do once, it definitely pays off in longer engine life. Do not forget to follow safety instructions and wear proper protective gear when riding at all times.

These are some quick adjustments and tips for the B1 liquid cooled minimoto that I have found helpful.

Extra heat protection:

To protect the bike I’ve put some aluminium tape on the inside of the fairing at the closest point to the exhaust and on the underside of the fuel tank. I?ve done this because the engine gets so hot I wanted to protect the fairing from melting, and it doesn’t hurt to protect the fuel tank for the same reasons!

My cooling system tips:

When you run out of cooling liquid for your B1 rep, use is distilled water which is available at your local garage, add some food colouring to it so that you can easily tell the level and away you go.

Only fill the reservoir to a quarter full, this is easily enough coolant and it leaves room for the pressure.

Once you have filled the coolant reservoir, there is often air locks in the system. To get rid of these start the bike and allow it to warm up, then bounce the bike (gently) on its back tyre with the bike vertical. Do this a few times, this should get rid of the air locks in the system and prevent overheating. The coolants level may need to be topped up now.

Where not to ride:

Hi just bought my new B1 air cooled from you guys. Thanks it’s a great bike. A quick word of advice for your other customers. DO NOT RIDE YOUR MINI MOTO ON THE ROAD. My friend (who also rides a mini moto, but on tracks where they are supposed to be ridden!) is a police man (boooo!) and the law is very strict:

The driver or rider of a motorised board or cycle on a road could face heavy fines, endorsement of licence, disqualification and in the case of dangerous driving, up to 2 years imprisonment.

Remember that the term road includes not only a carriageway but also pavements and verges and also any highway which encompasses footpaths, bridleways and by-ways.

It can also include privately owned roads to which the public have access and has in some cases included car parks?

Car park warriors beware!!!???

Here’s a good tip. Before riding your mini moto you will need to make sure that your wheels and chain are aligned. Here’s how. Loosen the bolts on the back wheel so that you can move it. Place a piece of perfectly straight wood (I used a meter stick) up against the front wheel. When the front wheel is straight the meter stick should be flush against both the front of the tyre and the back. Then it’s a simple case of lining up the back wheel. The chain should now also be straight.

Changing the gearing on your mini moto is simple. A bigger front sprocket combined with a smaller rear sprocket creates a smaller ratio, this means that the mini moto will have better accelelaration but less top spead. A smaller front sprocket with a bigger back sprocket will give your mini moto a better top speed but slower acceleration.

Here are the possible variations of gearing: The lower the ratio the faster acceleration. The higher ratio, the better the top speed.

8/54 6.75>1
8/56 7>1
8/58 7.25>1
8/60 7.5>1
7/54 7.714285714>1
8/62 7.75>1
7/56 8>1
8/64 8>1
7/56 8>1
8/66 8.25>1
7/58 8.285714286>1
8/68 8.5>1
7/60 8.571428571>1
8/70 8.75>1
7/62 8.857142857>1
8/72 9>1
6/54 9>1
7/64 9.142857143>1
8/74 9.25>1
6/56 9.333333333>1
7/66 9.428571429>1
8/76 9.5>1
6/58 9.666666667>1
7/68 9.714285714>1
8/78 9.75>1
6/60 10>1
7/70 10>1
7/72 10.28571429>1
6/62 10.33333333>1
7/74 10.57142857>1
6/64 10.66666667>1
7/76 10.85714286>1
6/66 11>1
7/78 11.14385714>1
6/68 11.33333333>1
6/70 11.66666667>1
6/72 12>1
6/74 12.33333333>1
6/76 12.66666667>1
6/78 13>1

I tried 7/56 with my B1 Rep at GP Karting, I think that this is just about right for that track as it has lotts of tight corners. Might go to Stretton soon so I can try my 7/68 setup. This should be good for the straights however it may take a while to get up to speed!!

With the advent of technology, inventions increase with each passing day, and motorized inventions are no exception to that. One of the most outstanding inventions in the world of motorcycles is the super pocket bikes. These super fast, miniature motorcycles have become the latest fad today of every speed enthusiast.

Super pocket bikes are a smaller version for the super bikes used in racing. This mini-bike isn’t the only mini invention in the motor world. It shares spotlight with the dirt pocket bike – a mini version of the dirt bikes specially created for children, and the fast pocketbike – built for adventure seekers who love the thrill of riding on a pocket bike.

Super pocket bikes are just like the usual racing bikes except for the fact that they are much smaller yet still larger than the mini pocket bikes. Super mini pocket motorcycles are also equipped with automatic transmissions, disc brakes, powerful engines and super fast speed capacity.

Safety in riding the super pocket bikes has become a critical issue for most parents of younger pocket bike riders. It may appear that kids fit perfectly on the super pocket bikes more than the adults do. However, this does not specifically mean that kids are encouraged to ride the super pocket bikes. Though small in size, super pocket bikes are actually designed for the big people and not for the small kids. It is specially made for experienced pocket bike riders who wish to ride a faster pocket bike. But apparently, if kids are really eager to ride and use the super pocket bike, then they would need the permission and supervision of a responsible adult in order to do as they wish.

Here are some safety tips one should put in minds before riding on the super pocket bikes:
# Should never be ridden on regular and national highways or streets.
# Before riding, you must understand first your local rules and regulations.
# Sshould only be used on tracks or locations made specifically for racing pocket bikes.
# These pocket rockets can go as fast as 75mph, so it is advised that the rider should wear special protective equipment before riding the bike.
# Do not ride any motorcycle (mini or not) in ride conditions that might impair your visibility or reaction time.

If used in the right way, >super pocket bikes can surely be a great way to enjoy speed to its fullest. Please be sure to practice proper safety tips so that you or your children (not recommended) will remain safe. Again, always wear a helmet and do no ride your >pocket bike on public roads. Ride smart, ride safe.

A pocket bike is a two wheeled motorized device that has a seat or saddle for the use of the rider and that is not designated or manufactured for highway use.

Pocket bikes are also small motorcycles powered by 40-49cc gasoline engines or electric motors, thus they are many other names and varieties of pocket bikes, including mini bikes, pocket mini bikes, pocket rockets, mini motos, pocket racers, dirt pocket bikes, pit bikes, dirt mini bikes, and more, but they all are smaller versions, typically less than 2 feet tall, of some normal-sized motorcycle.

Mini bikes can be categorized into a few specialized types:

* Pocket Rockets: Pocket rockets (also called mini motos) refer to pocket bikes that are styled to resemble the Grand Prix (GP) sport and street bikes.
* Pit Bikes: Pit bikes (or dirt mini bikes) are miniature replicas of the motocross dirt racing bikes.
* Mini choppers: Mini chopper bikes are miniature choppers.
* Mini quad bikes: mini quad bikes are four wheeler mini bikes that are made to be like off road ATVs (all terrain vehicles).

All of these pocket bikes share at least one feature-they are small, besides, here are other common features: Lower cost of ownership, quiet, friendlier to the environment, reliable, and safer fun. And all these pocket bikes can be bought at Motocrox.com.

However, the rider and their parents should understand the pocket bike is not a toy and therefore requires that they ride responsibly including full head protection as well as protective clothes.

One more thing needs to mention is that most states prohibit their use on public roadways, but don’t worry, there are still plenty of great places to ride a pocket bike; try your backyard, driveway, or a favorite nearby racetrack.

The Mini Moto is a small scale replica of the World Super Bikes used by the likes of Valentino Rossi and ex champion Carl Fogarty. The Mini Moto comes equipped with either a two stroke air or water cooled engine which are, depending on the model, capable of speeds of up to 60Mph.

In this article I will underline the finer points of the components that make these speeds possible.

The two Stroke Engine

The two stroke engine produces more hp per pound than the four stroke engine. The two stroke engine consists of three moving parts, the piston, the rod and the crank. The piston acts as valve that opens and closes the intake and exhaust ports that are located on the walls of the cylinder. Unlike the four stroke engine that fires only every other time of the pistons movement, the two stoke engine fires every time the piston reaches the top of its travel. This means that the time spent generating power is doubled in the two stroke engine than that of the four stroke engine, as there is no engine coasting during passive cycles. This is the main reason that the two stroke engine can rev more highly and produce more power (for its size) that the four stroke.

Fuel

The two stroke engine needs to be run on a mixture of petrol and two stroke oil. This is so that the engine is kept lubricated whilst in use.

99% of all starting problems are caused by fuel problems. These can stem from bad or old fuel and improperly mixed fuel (please see mixing chart). Do not use fuels that contain alcohol, as the can cause you bike to run ‘lean’. Be advised some racing fuels contain alcohol and are best avoided.. We recommend that you use normal petrol for a garage and a quality two stroke oil.

A mixture that is too lean I.e not enough two stroke oil can damage your mini moto’s engine as the moving parts are not properly lubricated. This can cause the engine to seize. However a mixture that is too rich can choke the engine and effect the performance and cause starting problems. You can tell if your mini moto is running too richly by the plumes of white smoke coming out of the exhaust and the lack of performance. A rich mixture (25:1) is needed to lubricate the engine during the ‘run in’ period, you may experience a lack of performance during this period. The pocket bike may run more slowly and acceleration can be sluggish, however when you change to a mixture of 50:1 you will really notice a difference. The leaner mix ignites in the combustion chamber faster and with a more explosive force than the richer mix. This means higher revs which means more power and acceleration.

We recommend that a fuel mixture of 25:1 is used to ‘run in’ you mini moto, and a mixture of 50:1 is used thereafter.

‘Running in’

Your mini moto should be ‘run in’ for the first 3-4 tanks of fuel. During this period we recommend that you use a fuel mixture of 25:1. This means a mixture that is made up of 25 parts petrol to 1 part of two stroke oil. During the ‘running in’ period be careful to not rev the engine to its maximum as this can damage the engine. The ‘running in’ period will allow the moving parts to become well oiled and the clutch and brakes to ‘bed’ themselves in. After you have run the minimoto on this fuel mixture for 3-4 tanks, check the chain and tighten accordingly, check the tyre pressure, tighten the bolts on the brakes, forks and wheels. You may also need to readjust the throttle settings to allow for the higher revs that changing to a leaner fuel mix produces. The bike should now be ready for a fuel mixture of 50:1.

Clutch

The mini moto uses a centrifugal clutch to power the drive the sprocket, which in turn drives the back wheel of your mini moto.

When you start your mini moto the clutch spins as the engine ticks over . The clutch is engaged when you pull back on the throttle. The increase in speed of revolution of the clutch makes the clutch expand and grip the inside of the clutch bell which turns the sprocket that drives the back wheel of your pocket bike.

The clutch can be set up in different ways depending on the type of performance that you want from your minimoto. Adjustable clutches are not standard on mini moto’s but an after market Polani or Blata style adjustable clutch can be used in your new mini moto. These allow the rider to adjust the mini moto’s set up in according to their preference. Setting the clutch to engage too late when the engine has built up too much power may cause the clutch to slip and never fully engage. This can result in excessive wearing. However setting the clutch to engage too early, before the power has built up in the engine can cause your pocket bike to ‘bog down’, resulting in slow acceleration. The perfect set up is to get the clutch to engage just as the engine has built enough power to rocket the mini moto away, but without making the clutch slip, this is achievable through trial and error.

Spark Plug

Making sure that your spark plug is fresh is important in a two stroke mini moto engine. You can tell a lot from the colour of the spark plug. The top part of your spark plug is covered in ceramic insulator which, when brand new is white. This part of the spark plug can change colour according to how your engine is running. The plug should appear as a nice tan colour when the engine is running perfectly, this indicates complete combustion. A greyish or white colour indicates that the engine is running too lean which can result in engine damage. In this case you should clean and check your fuel system for any obstruction, check your fuel mixture, check for loose intake manifold bolts and carburettor mounting leeks, faulty gaskets and leaking crank seals. Anywhere that your engine could potentially leek and suck in fresh air can be the source of a lean condition.

A blackened or oily spark plug indicates improper combustion and is the result of running too rich. This can be caused by too much oil in the mixture or the spark plug could be faulty and misfiring. Check the fuel mixture and replace the spark plug.

Air Filter

Your new mini moto is equipped with an air filter. Some bikes such as the B1 Origami rep liquid cooled and the Mini Dirt bike have a ‘cone’ style K and N style air filter. The 2005 mk2 mini moto and the B1 Origami Replica air cooled bikes have a standard mini moto air filter. Both air filters purify the intake of air that is sucked into the carburettor. This means that the air filter should be cleaned regularly as the mini moto’s performance can begin to suffer as the engine can become starved of air if the air filter is choked with debris. To reach the air filter, remove the bikes bottom fairing, remove the protective cover by unscrewing the holding screws. Clean the air filter in petrol but make sure that the filter is dry before reattaching to you mini moto.

Tyres

The tyres on your mini moto are filled with air (pneumatic). Please consult your mini moto handbook for the appropriate psi. It is important to check the tyre pressure regularly, an under inflated tyre will affect the performance of your mini moto, acceleration can become sluggish and cornering can become dangerous.

Chain

Before riding your mini moto you need to make sure that the front and back sprockets are aligned and that the chain is perfectly straight running between them. Once you have established this make sure that the chain is tensioned correctly (please see your mini moto handbook). To test the tension of the chain you can manually push the pocket bike, if you hear a ‘pinging’ or ‘popping’ sound the chain is too loose. If the chain is noisy and starts to bind the chain is too tight. Make sure that the chain is well oiled. The chain needs to be oiled before every ride.

Gearing

The gearing of you mini moto is dictated by the number of the teeth on the front sprocket and on the back sprocket. The sprockets can be changed as an easy way to manipulate top end speed and acceleration, quite like changing gear on a mountain bike. A front sprocket with more teeth will improve acceleration, however the top end speed will be reduced. A larger rear sprocket will produce a higher top speed but acceleration will suffer. The gearing on your bike can be adjusted in accordance for the track you are intending to ride I.e. a small track with a lot of bends will suit gearing for improved acceleration, however a track with long straights will require a mini moto that is geared for a higher top speed.

Throttle

The throttle on your new mini moto is a ‘twist grip’ style throttle. When you twist the throttle the throttle cable is pulled back revving the engine. It is important to keep this cable free from obstacles and clean. If the throttle begins to feel ‘loose’ of ‘gives’, the tension of the cable can be adjusted via the adjusting screw.

Brakes

The brake system comprises of brake levers, brake cables, brake callipers and brake discs.

The brakes on your mini moto are operated by levers found on the handle bars. The right hand brake controls the front brake, and the left controls the back brake. Pulling on the handle pulls the brake cable which in turn pulls the lever located on the bake calliper. This action pushes the brake discs towards each other. This creates friction on the brake disc which slows down or stops the bike.

The brakes can be adjusted in the following ways.

The brake cable can be tensioned using the adjustment screw found on the brake lever. Unscrew the locking nut, twist the screw to reach the desired tension. Re screw the locking nut.

This is a two person job. Adjust the screw on the hand brake so that is at the end of its travel. Undo the clamp that holds the brake cable on the lever located on the brake calliper. One person needs to push the lever forward as far as it will, the second person needs to pull back on the brake cable and re fasten the clamp. The crake cable will now be highly tensioned.

Pull Start

To start the mini moto pull slowly to turn the fly wheel. This pumps some fuel around the engine, which lubricates the moving parts. Pull the pull start firmly in order to start the engine. Important, do not pull the cord to the end of its run as it can break. If the mini moto does not start check the choke and the throttle cable.

Choke

The choke controls the amount of air that is allowed into the air/fuel mix. The choke is adjusted via a lever located on the side and back of the engine. The choke is off when the lever is down, and on when the lever is up. When you start the mini moto the choke should be on, when the mini moto is warm and ready to ride the choke needs to be off.

Carburettor

It is recommend that any adjustments to the carburettor are made by a professional. The carburettor pumps and mixes the fuel and air. The small diaphragms, orifices and ports mix the air and fuel very precisely, this process demands clean fresh fuel.

Jet

The jet can be adjusted by the screw located in the access hole to the right of the choke lever. The jet is adjusted by the manufacture however the conditions of where you wish to ride may be different, which means that you will need to make adjustments. Turning the screw clockwise will make the bike run with a leaner mixture, and counter clockwise will richen the mixture. Only adjust the screw 1 tern a at time and then test the mini moto, this is trail and error. Please note that it is best to find the optimum setting for performance and then run a slightly richer mixture as a mix that is too lean can seize the engine.

Mini Motos have been around in the UK for around ten years now. The first bikes we’re cobbled together with parts that were already available. Small 2 stroke engines, mainly from garden machinery, were used. This type of engine is still used today for a few models and is referred to as an ‘industrial’ engine. But now the mini moto has been given an overhaul and has taken off in popularity.

Mini Motos are true miniatures of their larger Super bike cousins. All of the details that go into the high performance motorcycles of today are scaled down. The slick tires, the race replica bodywork and the “super bike” colours are all present. Although usually only 15 to 18 inches in height and weighing 35 to 55 pounds, it can be difficult to tell they’re not full size when looking at them from a distance. The exactness of detail adds to their ‘coolness’ and is most certainly what has raised them to such heights of popularity.

Although beautiful, Mini Motos go well beyond being mere exquisite scale models. Advanced engineering has catapulted them to high-performance levels at only slightly outrageous prices.

Many mini moto modifications will require you to remove the engine from the mini moto. This is why I have produced the following guide.

Firstly you will need to remove the mini moto’s fairing.

Start with the seat fairing, unscrew the four seat screws and remove the seat. Unscrew the screw at the front end of the seat fairing and remove the petrol cap. The fairing can now be lifted from the mini moto. Replace the fuel tank petrol cap and remove the fuel tank by pulling the rubber tube of the nipple on the top of the carburettor. You may want to double the rubber fuel tube over and secure it in this position with a clothes peg. This is to stop fuel leaking out.

Remove the bottom fairing by unscrewing the holding bolts (two on each side), this frees the bottom fairing from the top. Unscrew the two bolts on the underside of the bottom fairing. The bottom fairing is now free. The top fairing is only now held on by one last bolt located in between the handle bars at the front of the mini moto.

Once you have removed the fairing, you will need to take the chain off the front sprocket. To do this loosen the back wheel nuts and the tensioning bolts. The back wheel can now be manoeuvred toward the front sprocket loosing the chain. When the chain is loose enough you can remove it from the front sprocket.

Remove the pull start from the engine by unscrewing the three holding screws. Once the pull start has been removed you will see the wire that comes from the stop switch. Unplug this.

The throttle cable can be removed from its fitting on the top of the carburettor. Pull the rubber seal up so that the locking nut can be unscrewed, the throttle can now be pulled from the carburettor along with the needle valve and spring.

The next step is to Remove the Exhaust. The exhaust is fixed to the mini motos frame by a bolt located just under the seat fairing toward the back of your mini moto. Undo this bolt with a spanner and an alan key. The exhaust is fixed to the underside of the engine by two bolts via a gasket. Remove the two bolts with an alan key making sure that you do not lose the gasket washer. The exhaust can now be slid out past the engine and removed form the mini moto.

The engine is free from its mechanical fittings, the engine then needs to be removed from the mini motos frame. The bolt at the top of the engine must be undone first using the alan key. The three screws located on the underside of the engine are the last fixings to be undone. The engine can now be completely removed from the mini moto.

Mosport Expert Scott Maxwell Joins Mustang Challenge
2008 KONI Challenge Champion tapped to provide coaching at Mosport

Tooele, UT (8 June 2009) — Any smart racer will tell you that the bigger the challenge, the better the help you need in order to succeed.

And as the racers in the Ford Racing Mustang Challenge take on one of motorsports greatest challenges –Mosport International Raceway in Bowmanville, Ontario–the drivers will have some tremendous help this weekend as 2008 Grand-Am KONI Sports Car Challenge Champion Scott Maxwell has been signed to serve as the series driver coach this weekend.

Mustang Challenge has made the commitment to have a representative from Miller’s Performance Training Center on hand for every race of the 2009 season, giving all the drivers a remarkable resource to continue to improve their racing and driving. Joe Foster, who shared the 2008 KONI Championship with Maxwell, has been on site for every race so far this season. Foster will be missing the Mosport round, however, as he’s been drafted to share the driving duties with Patrick Dempsey in the 24 Hours of Le Mans.

In his stead will be Maxwell, who is not only a Mosport expert, but also has his own shining resume of Mustang competition with scores of victories with the Blue Oval.

“In my opinion, and I know I am not alone in this, Mosport is the most challenging track in North America,” said Maxwell, who added to his long list of Mosport wins with a KONI Challenge victory at the track on his way to the championship in 2008 in a Ford Mustang FR500C. “It is not a track where you can just go out and get up to speed immediately and be right on the limit. You have to treat it with respect because it can bite you if not.”

The Mosport race weekend marks the second visit to the Ontario facility for the series, which will share the event weekend with the emerging NASCAR Canadian Tire series on the traditional Fathers Day weekend date. The track has seen scores of upgrades and modern elements added through the years, but the courage-requisite track has remained largely unchanged through the years, something that Maxwell appreciates.

“I first did laps on the track on my mini-bike when I was seven or eight, and got to race there for the first time when I was 18, so you can pretty much say I’ve grown up there,” said Maxwell. “Anytime you win there, it is a pretty special thing because you can not just back into a win at Mosport, you have to work really hard at it.”

While Foster has been on-site for the Mustang Challenge events through the 09 season, Maxwell has also been doing his own homework to be perfectly prepared to provide as much instruction and feedback as he can.

“I’ve watched the Mustang Challenge races and I know there are a lot of really good drivers in the series and I’m really looking forward to meeting more of the guys and working with them this weekend,” said Maxwell. “I was out at Miller earlier this year and I’ve driven these cars
so I know what the guys will be experiencing behind the wheel. The cars are really forgiving, and that’s very important at a place like Mosport.”

The race weekend, which marks round seven of the ten-race championship, will get underway with practice on Friday.

-credit: www.mustangchallenge.com