Everything You Need To Know About Mini Bikes

I’m pretty sure that in one of your ritualistic internet surfing you’ve come across the term mini bikes. I mean, who wouldn’t? These miniature bikes have gained an increasing popularity over the years among the auto community and among avid bikers due to several manufacturers churning out impressive mini bike parts and styles one after another. Lately, the hype has reached an all-time high due to the growing community of mini bike enthusiasts who are more than eager to share and spread their love and knowledge of the said automobile. But what exactly is a mini bike?

What is a Mini Bike?

A mini bike, pocket bike, or minimoto is a smaller, lighter, and cheaper version of normal-sized motorcycles. Usually, the mini bikes sold in the market make use of a chain drive and two-stroke engines and can speed up to 45 miles per hour. Four-stroke mini bikes can even speed up to 60 to 80 miles per hour so it’s highly advisable to observe proper safety measures when riding these bikes despite their rather smallish size.

History of Mini Bikes

Minibikes originally started off as a type of motor scooters with single-cylinder Clinton engines in 1946. However, in the 1950s, avid builders and bikers have taken it upon themselves to customize and build their own mini bikes, thus its popularization. In the early 1960s, the first lines of mini bikes were commercialized with popular motorbike companies like Honda releasing their own lines. Since then, mini bikes have been a constant presence in the biking community.

Types of Mini Bikes

Since the height of mini bike era in the 1960’s to 1970’s, these miniature motorcycles have evolved into specialized types boasting their own pros and cons.

The pocket bike or the minimoto is the most popular type that’s found in the market. These resemble full-sized sports bikes and are usually powered by 39-50 cc two-stroke engines. They can run up to 64 kilometers per hour depending on the model. A variant of these pocket bikes called the super pocket bikes or midi motos are made with 110cc four-stroke engines that can either be manual or automatic. These are slightly larger than the normal pocket bikes and can speed up to 105 kilometers per hour.

The pit bike, on the other hand, follows the original motor scooter concept. These types resemble motocross motorcycles in appearance and are even used in some motocross competitions. In fact, there’s a racing competition solely dedicated to pit bikes in Las Vegas called the Mini Supercross.

Another type of mini bike is the mini choppers. Like its name suggests, mini choppers are a cross between choppers and mini bikes.

Things to Consider

When riding mini bikes, there are some traffic laws that should be considered. Some countries like the United Kingdom, prohibit the use of mini bikes on public roads as they do not comply with the safety regulations set by the government. In some states in the US, the larger super pocket bikes can be registered for legal street use if they can meet the requirements set by the state. You can visit http://www.tbparts.com/ for OEM mini bike parts that you can use for customization.