Pocket Bike Facts

Facts you may never have known about pocket bikes...

1. Pocket bikes have a potential top speed of 60-70mph when race prepared.
2. You can race minimotos at Hullavington airfield. www.minimoto.co.uk
3. Minimotos originated in Japan.
4. Minimotos are hugely popular in Italy and Japan, and the Italian and Japanese race minimotos from an early age (under 12).
5. You don't need a license to race a minimoto.
6. Some bikes come in mini and midi sizes so people of all shapes and sizes can ride them!
7. The standard power of a minimoto is 4.2hp but it can increase to 12.5hp for race-tuned bikes!
8. Standard engine size is 37cc - but with a race-tuned engine this can be up to 50cc!
9. Minimotos run on unleaded petrol and 2-stroke engine oil. The correct fuel to oil balance is fuel:25, oil:1.
10. The biggest minimoto manufacturer is Polini who make chassis, bodywork and engines.
11. Although you can get replica minimotos of original bikes, the big bike manufacturers do not make them.
12. When buying a minimoto choose the bike first before choosing the paint scheme!
13. The 4.2hp minimoto is probably the cheapest to run - there are two classes: junior and adult.
14. For useful info about minimotos, check out the forum at www.myfirstchopper.com.
15. Wear a helmet, gloves, knee pads and elbow pads when riding a minimoto to prevent injury.
16. Pocket bike controls are very simple to use - with either no or only one gear.
17. The frame of an adult minimoto has been designed to take the weight of an adult up to 110k.
18. Minimoto racing is a rapidly growing sport for both children and adults in the UK.
19. As it is lighter, a minimoto will change gear much faster and the front wheel lifts up more easily than a bigger bike.
20. It is recommended that children under the age of 7 do not operate minimotos.
21. Minimotos will fit in the boots of most cars.
22. It is illegal to ride minimotos on roads - they should only be ridden on private land.
23. There are many local racing tracks around the UK.
24. Moto GP world champion Valentino Rossi learnt to ride on a minimoto.
25. Most bikes weigh around 23kg.
26. Moto GP world champion Marco Melandri began racing with a minimoto.
27. Moto GP world champions Loris Capirossi and Nobuatsu Aoki started off on pocket bikes.
28. Minimotos come in loads of awesome colours - even pink!
29. Minimotos can be designed as replica big bikes.
30. The North American Pocket Bike Racing Association (NAPRA) is a racing sanctioning body which promotes pocket bike racing in North America.
31. Ensure that you ride on a smooth, hard surface - avoid pedestrians!
32. Super pocket bikes are bigger than a pocket bike but nevertheless smaller than a normal bike - they still have 49 cc engines but extra lights and a horn.
33. Electric mini bikes are slightly slower than gas powered ones but have quieter engines and can go for an hour and a half on a single charge so are cheap to run. They are also better for the environment.
34. The speed of a minimoto depends on the weight of the rider and the ground surface.
35. Electric pocket bikes range from 500 - 800 watts of power.
36. Pocket bike parts are readily sold online and are easily installed.
37. You can get a good pocket bike for around £500.
38. A pocket bike stands at about 15-18 inches high depending on the model.
39. Pocket bikes weigh from 35 - 55 pounds only.
40. As they are so low on the ground - it feels like you are riding very fast and the acceleration is good so it is quite an exhilarating an experience to ride a pocket bike!
41. You can still do wheelies in even the most powerful pocket bikes!
42. There are kits available to restrict the engine power for when children are using them.
43. It is important to wear good quality leather gloves both for safety and for control.
44. Generally, the European models are superior in make and performance to the Japanese / Chinese manufacturers.
45. Make sure you use top quality 2-stroke oil in the engine of your minimoto.
46. It is recommended to not ride in the rain as you lose traction on the tires.
47. The bikes are designed for riding on concrete / asphalt surfaces.
48. The front wheel normally has a free wheeling axle and the back wheel is controlled by a chain driven axle.
49. A one-litre tank of fuel usually lasts 20 minutes of riding.
50. The maximum weight most pocket bikes will carry is 243 lbs.
51. Some minimoto manufacturers are Polini, GRC, Pasini, Stamas, Blata and GEM.
52. Most pocket bike manufacturers are Italian but GEM is British and Blata is Czechoslovakian.
53. Midis are normally 10% bigger than minis.
54. Most manufacturers use a Polini engine apart from Blata.
55. Blata is a very popular minimoto manufacturer in the USA.
56. Italian made bikes are most popular with the racing community.
57. The main classes of racing minimotos are 4.2, production and Supers - there can be subclasses in each of these categories.
58. Production bikes produce around 8 or 9 hp - this is the most popular racing class.
59. The 4.2 racing class limits all bikes to 4.2hp with no modifications so it is individual riding skill that counts.
60. In the minimotos supers class - power up to 15hp is allowed - you have to be pretty fearless to compete in this!
61. There is talk of starting a racing class for Minimoto Blata 2.5 bikes soon.
62. There are probably more Blatas sold than any other make of minimoto.
63. Warm up your minimoto before racing!
64. Minimotos have been used on race circuits in Britain since the mid 1990s.
65. Minimotos can often go faster than they weigh!
66. More than 530,000 were sold in the US in 2004.
67. Minimoto racing is an excellent way to spend a stag weekend!
68. Most minimotos have 2-stroke engines.
69. Pocket bikes are not toys! They are built to GP world-class standards!
70. Most Polini powered pocket bikes will accelerate to about 45 miles per hour in very little time.
71. Pocket bike speeds can be modified using performance upgrades and depending on sprocket sizes.
72. A 2-stroke engine is very powerful - it has a small cubic inch displacement and so gives more power than a 4-cycle engine.
73. Pocket bikes can do wheelies at over 25 miles an hour.
74. Every couple of years it may be necessary to change the cylinder of the 2-stroke engine - this is fairly inexpensive though.
75. One of the founders of minimoto racing, Pier Franco Zanetti passed away in October 2005.