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.

I can guarantee you, once your kid has had a taste of riding a bike, with the wind blowing in their hair, the sunshine on their face, and the roar of the engine under them, they will never want to go back to their little square screens.

Kids have always loved motors and engines; they are fascinated by the smell and the sound. Even before the invent of the motorbike, kids were zooming around in Go Carts, it’s a built in desire for speed and competition. If you can just give them that initial shove in the right direction, you will never look back. 

So where do you start? Firstly, you have to choose between different levels of power. A bikes power is measured by the fuel capacity of the engine in cubic centimetres. You can get a 50cc and a 110cc pit bike, as well as the larger 125cc and 250cc. The bigger the cc, the more power. Generally speaking, for a child, a 50cc should be plenty, and I wouldn’t be going over a 110cc for a beginner.

New makes and models of bike are coming out every day, so it’s hard to give any recommendations on what brands to look for, but the more well known and respected brands include Thumpstar, Pitster Pro, Sikk and Giovanni. The general consensus is to steer clear of bikes manufactured in China, but there are some that come from there that can be of decent quality and a cheaper price. You should be able to pick up a decent 50cc for less than $750.

Once you have decided on the bike, you are definitely going to want protective gear for your child. He/She is going to fall off this bike many times (don’t worry, it’s all part of the fun, and these bikes are so close to the ground that your kid won’t fall far). You will be needing a helmet, knee and shin pads, gloves and elbow guards.

Finally, another added benefit of getting your kid on a pit bike is that they will be given the status of cool by all their schoolmates. To encourage this, you are going to want to get some stickers (also known as decals) that your kid can put on their bike. Involve them in the purchase of these so that they can customise the look of their bike to suit their personality.

If you want to give your bike some extra power, you are going to want to fit a new carburettor. You can pick up a decent carb fairly cheaply (for around $60). For an even greater boost in power, you will probably want to install a free flow air filter, this will derestrict the airflow and give you extra horsepower.

Another trick that some people use is to advance the timing. Basically, after the fuel is ignited, some time elapses before the expanding gases push the piston down. Advancing the timing causes the fuel mixture to ignite sooner, giving you a power boost. 

Other popular modifications include porting the manifold, removing the spark arrester screen, increasing the compression ratio, removal of the choke, opening up the air intake and removal of the flywheel cover.

Of course, for the serious enthusiast, it is enough to get the bike performing at the top of its capabilities, however for some people, looks are important too. In recent years, these bikes have become flashier with people installing motorbike decals on their machines. These stickers can be found in numerous places and can be ordered online from many websites. 

Before attaching your graphics, you need to ensure that the area you are installing them is clean and free from any major scratches. If you are replacing existing stickers, you will need to remove these first, which can be done easily using a hair dryer. Once you have removed the existing stickers and cleaned the surface, you will need your hair dryer again to warm up the plastic that you will be applying the graphics too. Apply your sticker a little at a time, making sure that no bubbles form as you lay it down. If there are any bubbles that you can’t squeeze out, simply prick them with a needle to let the air out and flatten them down.

As you can see, there is a lot that can be done to your pit bike to modify it’s look and performance. If you are not sure of what you are doing, it is worthwhile finding someone in the know to help you. A lot of these modifications are irreversible and can cost you a lot of money and grief if done wrong.

In most states of the USA, it is not legal to ride your bike on public roads. Generally speaking, US laws state that a motorcycle has to be about 25″ off the ground. Even in places where they may be considered legal, there are factors that may still make them unroadworthy such as not having indicator lights or headlights, not being insured, or making too much noise. Also, some of these bikes can’t reach the high speeds needed to travel on public roads (yes, you can get booked for travelling too slow as well as too fast).

In Australia and the Netherlands, it is also illegal to ride these bikes on public roads; however they can be ridden on private land. That said, some of the larger versions can actually be registered in Australia (for example the X18, X19 and X22). These 4 stroke models can generally reach the speed limit required on public roads, and are fitted out with the necessary street gear (headlights, indicators and the like) to make the street legal. Obviously, you will need to ensure that you conform to local traffic laws, and ensure you wear a helmet and carry third party insurance as a minimum. 

In the UK, any kind of mini bike  is frowned upon. This is largely due to a tragic accident that occurred in August of last year, where 3 year Abbie Perrin was being taken for a ride on a mini-moto by her stepfather. The bike collided with a pick-up truck and the girl lost her life. Long before this accident, in August 2006, the government ran a large campaign warning the public about these bikes and the dangers associated with their misuse. For these reasons, even if you were able to modify a bike to meet the requirements of local road laws, it is highly unlikely that you would be able to get it registered for street use. If you are caught riding one of these bikes on the roads in the UK, the police will seize and destroy it.

Regardless of where you live, it is extremely important that you follow the road rules set out for your area. You also need to make sure that you are wearing all the proper safety equipment, that you have the proper motorcycle number plates, and that you are ever mindful of other vehicles and pedestrians.

If money is an issue, then another thing you may want to consider is buying your bike second hand. If you are going to go down this road, there are a couple of precautions that need to be taken. Firstly, make sure that you get the bike checked out by a qualified mechanic, and if it comes back all clear, then don’t forget to ask for a motorcycle bill of sale from the seller.

Frames – A common problem that can occur with these bikes is the engine breaking away from its mounting points, especially if you are jumping your bike. You need to avoid single beam frames if possible, twin beam frames are much more strong and reliable.

Engines – The best cheap engines are Jailing, GPX and Lifan, but if you can afford a little more, definitely look at a Honda engine. 

There is a common misconception that upside down forks are better than traditional forks, but this is not necessarily the case. As upside down forks have increased in popularity, they have been mass produced in factories that do not regard quality as being top priority. If you are after a good upside down fork, make sure it produced by a quality company such as Zhenlong, One Shot or Fast Ace .

SDG wheels are the best type to get. They are equipped with heavy duty spokes which make them particularly strong. You also need to ensure that the wheels have alloy hubs. If you will be primarily racing your bike, then 10 inch wheels are best, but for off road use, enthusiasts tend to prefer a 12 inch wheel. 

The most important advice I can give you about buying a pit bike is to research, research, research. Go to forums and enthusiast blogs and ask lots of questions, there are plenty of people out there that will be more than happy to point you in the right direction.