Pocket Bike Guide

If you don't know what pocket bikes are yet, you need to get up to speed.  They are mini motorcycles with much smaller engines.  They were originally made back in the 50s as pit bikes for drag racers to move around in the pit faster.  Since then they took on different forms to resemble small crotch rockets and dirt bikes.  I will explain what they do, what types there are, and point you in the right direction.

Have FUN! What else? They are THE ultimate toy for a youngster, and can be hilarious fun for adults as well. You can just play around with them, race them through obstacle courses, do tricks and jumps with them, or for kids usually from about 5 years old to pre-teens there are competitive races and motocrosses, and even some extremely fast ones for adult professional racing. Different types specialize in different uses, but all around they are just for fun. No one takes them that seriously.  Below are some videos of what you can do with pocket bikes.

There are many looks and varieties, and with many different names being used interchangeably (pocket bike, mini bike, pit bike, mini moto, midi moto) it's hard to know what's what. They range in size usually from 22 inches to 34 inches high. The taller ones are midi motos but are the same thing as a mini moto or pocket bike just a little larger.  They look like mini crotch rockets.  Mini bikes are the same as pit bikes, which resemble a hot rod style bicycle. Then there are super motos which are beefed up pocket bikes for competitive racing. And there are mini dirt bikes and mini choppers too. Either way, most people get all these mixed up, especially since even the websites selling them will call them all the same thing. Disregard the formal name when looking for one. The average person goes by the terms "pocket bike", "mini bike" or "pocket rocket", and most places selling them do too.

There are many speeds and motor sizes. Electric ones are the slowest ones, usually bought for little kids - usually topping out around 15 mph. Gas ones have a wide range of power. There are two stroke motors, usually ranging from 39cc - 50cc. These are often around 5 hp and go between 20-35 mph. The parents who trust their kids more, or older kids, get 2 stroke bikes. They can go 50 mph if some parts are switched and assuming a kid is riding it. It will be slightly slower with an adult sitting on it. Then there are 4 stroke motors that are normally over 100 cc and around 15 hp and go around 40-50mph (70 mph with performance parts). These are for teenagers and adults young at heart. Last, there are 5-port motors that are around 40 cc and 15+ hp and go almost 70 mph from the day you buy it.

The looks are not just looks. Pocket bikes that look like miniature crotch rockets are for speed and driving on paving. Ones that look like miniature dirt bikes are for off-roading and jumps. Mini bikes that look like a high handle-barred old school bike are mainly for tricks and stunts. If you try a jump on one that's built like a crotch rocket the landing will not go too well since you are leaning forward when riding the bike will take a nose dive after the jump. It's still fun to try of course (speaking from experience), but you should buy the type that fits your intentions.

It's hard to feel in danger when you are sitting two feet or less from the ground, but you should still wear a helmet and some thick clothes, if not leather, when riding them.

In almost all countries they are illegal to drive on public roads. You can make them legal for street use, but it's a lot of work, and you'll probably still get pulled over for driving them where there is any kind of traffic. In the US, laws seem to be changing yearly per state on their use. If you stick to using them on your private property, abandoned areas, and off-road you shouldn't run into any issues though.