Buying Your First Pit Bike
When purchasing your first pit bike, you need to be sure that you know what you’re after before approaching salespeople. An hour’s research before purchasing your bike can save you a whole lot of grief in the long term. The first thing you need to consider is who you are buying the bike for. If a child will be riding it, then the strength of the frame and the power of the motor may not be such a big consideration.
As far as price is concerned, a bike can range anywhere from $400 to over $2,500, and in most cases you are getting what you pay for. Factories in China have been mass producing these bikes for quite a while now, and a lot of the stock coming out of there is not worth poking a stick at. This is not to say that everything coming out of China is bad, you just need to do a bit of research. The main benefit of buying a Chinese model is that these bikes come already equipped with modifications that are simply not available on your stock standard Honda models.
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.
