Pocket Bikes – Miniature Form Of Motorbikes

Pocket Bikes

Pocket bikes, also known as mini motors are miniature-sized motorcycles, fueled with either gas or oil and powered with gas-burning engines. The concept of motorbikes had begun in Japan, a country known for miniaturizing full-scale products.

Previously pocket bikes were used only on closed racetracks, private roads and on roads that were not under public traffic laws, so that no big car or truck can run into your minute sized pocket bikes. But these you will often find pocket bikes zinging in and out of the parking lots, up and down the residential streets and occasionally onto the side of the cars.

The pocket bikes usually move at a top speed of 35 mph, but often the speed can be raised further. Another interesting feature of these pocket bikes are their duplicate imitation of normal-sized street motorcycles. The pocket bikes are equipped with handlebars, twist-grip throttles, and chain drives, electronic ignition and disk brakes.

The pocket bikes are not at all safe for the highways or high traffic zone areas. If you are driving a small sports car and someone is driving a mini pocket bike behind you, you will fail to see him or the pocket bike. So it becomes really dangerous to move in a traffic-crowded area, as the rider can be easily run-down by the driver of the bigger truck. The pocket bikes are specially designed to travel only on the racetracks.

There are some safety measures that should be followed while one is driving these pocket bikes. The person driving the bike should be an ace in driving and he should always carry his helmet and pads. If by chance if your kid is riding the pocket bike, then make sure that he/she does not go out of the backyard or the driveway.

The pocket bikes follow hi-tech technology so the snazziest models cost even more than thousands. The smaller models, however, cost around $200 to $800. They basically come from Japan and China and are specially famous amongst the teenagers and people in their early youths. These bikes weigh almost 50 pounds, stand about a foot and half high and can be carried stacked in a corner of the trunk of the car. They have really tiny engines with 47 cc to 49cc displacement, less than 1/20th the size of the bigger motorcycles.

Try out the pocket bikes. If you want something thrilling, something exciting, something enticing to bring a difference to your monotonous days, then pocket bikes are the best alternatives for you.

Value Through and Through

pocket bikes

Many motorcycle enthusiasts agree that pocket bikes "Motorcycle Works of Art."  Pocket bikes are at their best in sports competition, as the increasing number of races has shown.  Pocket bikes provide all the thrill of MotoGP racing.  Pocket bike racing is also the most affordable motor sport.  Some even claim that the very fine riding skills like balance, self-control, agility, and fast reaction time required for pocket bike racing is proving helpfull in learning to use full sized motorcycles on open roads as well.

Transportation is eay since at only 38-47" long and less than 50 lbs, they can be transported without any additional support equipment, even in a car trunk or backseat!  Pocket bikes can be raced in parking lot competition or on Go-Kart Tracks, and you won’t be alone since this is one of the fastest growing motor sports in the world.

These bikes are suitable for any age 16 and up, to the 300 lbs adults, though obviously what type of bike you would give each varies greatly.  There are smaller pocket bikes designed for younger children, but caution should still be used.  Pocket bikes are the thoroughbreds of minimotos and are therefore intended for competition. They are designed for racing and private land only, not for highway use.  A helmet, protective gear, gloves and good shoes should be worn at all times during their operation to minimize the chance of injury. Children under 18 should operate these or any other motorized devices only under the strict supervision of an adults.

Several international MotoGP Champions started their careers with Pocket bike racing. The best example is Valentino Rossi.  He was Italian Pocketbike Champ twice before becoming 125, 250, 500 and several time 1000cc MotoGP World Champ.  Thomas Luethi is the first Swiss Pocketbike Junior Champion that made it into the Moto World Championship.  He was followed by others, such as Vincent Braillard. There is no doubt that there will be more Swiss top riders to come, the Swiss Pocketbike Championship being one of the best providers.

Why is my Bike so Slow? How to Rev it Back Up

pocket bikes

One of the attractive things about owning a pocket bike is the adrenaline rush that speed can bring on, feeling the wind whip around you whether it is alone on a private track or in the middle of a race.  Pocket bikes were built to race, they were built for speed.  A pocket bike is a miniature version of a Grand Prix moter bike, so this makes sense.  These bikes can be customized to go 50, 60, or even 70 miles per hour!!  The current world record, in fact, is at 72 mph.  So what happens if you start your bike, and it just won’t hit those speeds you know it should be?  What if your pocket bike is going too slow?

There are a few basic steps you can take to try and locate the problem yourself, and a brief explanation of how to go through each one.

1. ((It is important to note that you do this ONLY AFTER the bike has been turned on and warmed up already for a minimum of a few minutes))  Turn the air-intake on to open.  You can find this behind the front wheel, close to the engine.  This will give the bike more power.
2. Follow all the fuel tubes, and make sure none of them are pinched off anywhere.  One single tube that is even slightly pinched can affect your entire performance.
3. Check the throttle cables.  If they are too loose, the engine doesn’t get enough gas when you turn the throttle.
4. If this is your first bike, don’t push it.  Pocket bikes need to be broken in.  Don’t turn the throttle all the way for at least the first two gas tanks, if not three.  In the long run, this will lead to better performance and more top notch speed.
5. Note: be very careful if you attempt the following.  There is a gold screw, with a spring behind it, near the carburetor.  This is the idle control.  If you unscrew it by only half of a turn, it can also give you more power.  If this screw is tightened too much, the bike will start then immediately switch off.  If you make it too loose, the bike will jump and go as soon as you start it.  Finding the balance is critical, and this is not recommended for beginners.

If none of these things help, make sure to take your bike to a professional to get it running again at its optimal performance.

Pocket bike racing is a sport that continues to grow in appeal all across the world. While Japan is credited with the first large scale cultural interest and organization of pocket bike racing, this is no longer just a Japanese or Asian phenomenon.

pocket bikes

Pocket bike racing is a sport that continues to grow in appeal all across the world.  While Japan is credited with the first large scale cultural interest and organization of pocket bike racing, this is no longer just a Japanese or Asian phenomenon.  Pocket bike racing has increased dramatically in popularity through out the world.  While the United States and Australia are two of the most noted places where this sport is growing rapidly, don’t forget Europe!

Switzerland actually holds a championship that is gaining international recognition.  Geographically close to Italy, where almost all of the highest quality racing pocket bikes are manufactured now, the Swiss Pocket bike Championship first appeared in 1996.  This happened when a pocket bike club (the Gruyere Pocket Bike Club, to be precise) decided to compete against all Swiss pocket bike riders who showed.  It has been growing ever since and now the Swiss Championship has grown to become one of the biggest in the world, when compared to the nation's size.

Commonly the competition will now have over 120 competitors, with a few of them coming even from nearby countries like France, Austria and Liechtenstein.  There are between 8 to 11 races on 8 to 11 different tracks that are counted for the championship, meaning there are anywhere from 64-121 races.  Several categories are awarded based on age and gender of the pilots and on the type of pocket bike (junior, stock or racing prepared).

The growth of this sport in Switzerland and Europe is a continued reflection of worldwide trends.  Pocket bike racing has never been more popular in the United States than it is now, and there are no signs of it diminishing.  New race circuits, pocket bike stores, and online forums pop up every year, and the devout group of pocket bike junkies grows with that number.  Australia has a respectable series of races and a continued growth in the sport, and it is not like pocket bike racing just disappeared in Japan.  The sport is still going strong.

The trend continues in pocket bike racing’s rising popularity, and seems to continue unabated.  What was once seemingly a strange Japanese sideshow has proven itself to be far more, and with each new race, only further re-enforces its current respect.

Custom Pocket Bikes

Custom Pocket Bikes

So you buy your first pocket bike, or maybe you buy your first major upgrade.  It's a great looking bike, you go to show it off and realize there are two other people who have the exact same bike.  That takes the wind out of the sails a bit, but the good news is that it does not have to stay that way.  One of the nice things about pocket bikes is that you don’t have to buy a customized bike to have one!  You can change your pocket bike’s appearance, upgrade its performance, and transform your machine into a custom pocket rocket you can be proud of.  You’ll find all the tools, parts, and accessories you’ll need at pocket bike chop shops. 

Turn your normal stock pocket bike into your personal custom pocket rocket!  If you’re not sure where to find the parts you need, a good place to start is at one of the numerous mini bike forums or that have recently rolled into action on the Internet.  There you’ll find an enthusiasts' community with unsolicited testimonials (because have you ever seen a company's website with a bad testimonial?) from members— other bikers, who’ll tell you where they’ve found the best deals, and even more importantly, they’ll tell you where and what to avoid at all costs! 

You may also want to check with your mini-bike dealer.  Because of the mushrooming popularity of minimoto and custom pocket bikes, many dealers who originally didn’t sell spare pocket bike parts have recently added both parts and accessories to their inventories to meet an increased interest and demand in both.  Along with individual parts, you’ll see that many chop shop owners and pocket bike dealers also sell performance-enhancing kits that are even complete with instructions that will tell you how to touch up everything.  These are very helpful if you’re new to the mechanics of custom pocket bikes. 

You don't have to look the same as everyone else.  Make your custom pocket bike look as good as it rides.  Between the Internet and chop shops you will have a wide choice of accessories to make you custom bike stand out from the rest of the group with accessory designs, saddles and saddlebags, trunks, tanks and tank pouches, headlights, horns, chromed wheels, decal kits, etc.  If you've seen something done to a pocket bike, you can probably either get it or do it to your own!

110cc Pocket Bikes

pocket bikes

A 110cc pocket bike is a miniature motorcycle that is becoming increasingly popular.  There are even Pocket Bike races held world wide now, with some of the pros taking home thousands of dollars in cash and prizes.  110cc pocket bikes look like they were built for kids, they are typically 38 to 47 inches long and weigh about 50 pounds, but don't let the small size fool you.  The 110cc pocket bikes are specifically built for adult drivers.

The 110cc bikes are made in Italy, and can reach speeds of up to 75 miles per hour.  The 110cc pocket bikes have a 30 inch wheelbase, which in layman's terms means that you are barely inches from the ground.  This definitely adds an adrenaline rush when it comes to high speed turns!  Due to their miniature size, riding a pocket bike offers certain thrills that cannot be obtained on a regular motorcycle.

Pocket bike racing is also the most affordable motor sport in existence today, which is no small part why it is also one of the fastest growing.  This draws participants from all over the world, offering them the ability to get in on motor sports, when they might not be able to otherwise.  Make no mistakes about it, though, riding a pocket bike isn't like riding a regular motorcycle, even though the concept of balancing on two wheels at high speed is the same.  Due to its small size, riding a pocket bike requires more balance, self control, agility, and faster reaction times.  The adrenaline rush is a major reason many beginning participants become hooked and life-long fans.

Pocket bikes can be suitable for children over the age of nine, as long as they are very carefully supervised.  The bikes were designed for adults, and so are set to support up to 300 pounds of weight.  110cc pocket bikes are not designed or intended for street use, these are bikes made for racing on tracks.  Protective gear should be worn by both kids and adults at all times.  This includes, but is not limited to, helmet, gloves, knee and elbow pads, and leather clothes in case of an accident.  While they may look like toys, the 110cc pocket bikes were designed for extreme motor racing, and need to be treated with the same respect accordingly.

50cc Pocket Bikes

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.