Originally, the pit bike was designed to be used by racers and mechanics to get in and out of the pits (hence the name). They were easy to manoeuvre and fast enough to get around during the heat of a big race. Most of these bikes have a  4 stroke, horizontal engine, however enthusiasts continue to push the boundaries by constantly modding them. You can easily swap and change exhausts, carburettors, and even wheels to modify both the style and performance of you bike.

There are many benefits to owning a pit bike. Firstly, they are a lot less dangerous than a full sized dirt bike. If your child is bugging you for a bike, but you are concerned about all the horror stories you have heard, one f these little beauties may be just the idea. They are lower to the ground, and are much less likely to cause serious injury. On the other side of the spectrum, us adults who are not as young as we used to be, and hurt a little more when we fall down, can benefit greatly from the added safety of these bikes.

Another benefit is ease of transportation, you can chuck one of these in the back of your box trailer and still have room for a weekends camping gear. If you’ve got a decent sized car, you can even chuck it in the boot.

Finally, these types of  bikes are much cheaper (to buy ad to run). Depending on your budget, you can pick up a decent model for less than $1,000, and if you have even the slightest mechanical know how, you can look after your own pit bike without having to worry about sky high mechanic fees.

As the popularity of these bikes increase, more and more are being mass produced in China, but the general consensus is that these brands are of a lesser quality. You would be better off spending a little extra and getting a decent Japanese model. However, if you really can’t afford the extra, keep in mind that you can still modify your bike as you go.

Lastly, a word of warning; If you do decide to purchase a pit bike, don’t be surprised if it takes up a lot of your spare time, these things are seriously addictive and will change your lifestyle forever.