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.