What Is A Pit Bike? Everything You Should Know
Jane Tu - November 23, 2022It’s enjoyable to ride a pit bike. Unfortunately, especially for new riders, dirt bike maintenance and repair costs can be very high. Therefore, it should come as no surprise that many young riders choose pit bikes because they are a little less expensive to purchase and maintain.
But what is a pit bike, and how is it distinct from the dirt bikes we are familiar with? Please continue reading if you have any questions.
What is a Pit Bike?
Pit bikes and dirt bikes are both classified as particular types of motorcycles technically. Pit bikes are smaller and designed to be used in different environments, but their general structures are quite similar.
A motocross race’s pit areas were the original purpose of pit bikes. They are gaining popularity due to their small size, ease of maintenance, and relative affordability. Similar to Motocross, pit bike racing is a popular sport today, and there are more and more racing-specific pit bikes available on the market.
Among teenagers and older kids, pit bikes and pit bike racing are particularly popular. Despite the fact that many adult riders prefer pit bikes to full-size dirt bikes and that many of them even enjoy them, most still view pit bikes as the dirt biking equivalent of training wheels.
Why Are They So Cheap?
In the world of dirt bikes, pit bikes are a fascinating concept.
They are significantly less expensive than typical dirt bikes, but they don’t seem all that different. Pit bikes are so inexpensive because they aren’t made to be competitive or perform at the same level as a typical dirt bike. They are typically made fairly cheaply and are designed to be more of a toy than a vehicle.
Pit bikes are toys that will easily break. They won’t last for very long, despite the fact that they can happen fairly quickly. They even typically arrive partially assembled.
Since they were made cheaply, they are inexpensive. Having said that, they are a great way to quickly and cheaply get a lot of people on vehicles that resemble dirt bikes. These bikes are frequently purchased by grandparents for their grandkids, who later develop into avid dirt bike riders.
Why Are They Called Pit Bikes?
Clown bikes, which were used in the pit areas of racing events in the 1940s and 1950s, gave rise to pit bikes.
Originally, the name “pit bikes” was used to refer to the motorcycles and bicycles used to navigate racing events. They actually started the minibike market, with Honda introducing the Honda-Z line.
Because they were inspired by the vehicles that racing staff used to move around the pit area of racing tracks, these vehicles are known as pit bikes. They became the most advantageous choice for this use because they are affordable, small, and practical.
Honda-Z50 Monkey bikes, which were also the preferred model for pit bikes, are frequently cited as the original pit bike.
People eventually learned that these bikes serve more purposes than just being vehicles for staff to use in and around the race pits. Pit bikes have been found to be a useful tool for riders to perform some cool stunts and impressive jumps. Its increasing popularity, particularly among young riders, is largely due to this.
Pit bikes are less common than other types of bikes, despite the fact that their popularity has been rising since the early 2000s. People have differing opinions about pit bikes, and many of them are made for small riders, which is why.
Should You Get a Pit Bike?
A pit bike has a few advantages over a full-sized dirt bike, despite the fact that it cannot perform the same tasks or withstand the same conditions.
Pit bikes are excellent beginner bikes, and this is true for both children and adults. A pit bike is a good way to get a feel for things if you have never ridden a motorcycle before.
You’re less likely to hurt yourself while learning to balance and turn because you’ll be riding at slower speeds and on gentler trails, or even just in your backyard. You may have seen some pretty horrific dirt bike crashes if you’ve ever been to a Motocross event or just browsed YouTube. On a pit bike, you still have a chance of crashing, and you almost certainly will, but that chance is much lower, and the injuries you sustain are probably not going to be as bad.
A full-sized dirt bike can be expensive, especially if you don’t have the time to go off-roading every weekend. The good news is that anyone who doesn’t necessarily have the money or the time to dedicate to an actual dirt bike can have a lot of fun on a pit bike instead! Like a regular dirt bike, you can still ride it on paved surfaces or beginner trails, but you can also just ride it around your backyard.
If you don’t want to spend a lot of time working in the garage, you might want to think about getting a pit bike because it’s much simpler to maintain than a full-size dirt bike.
If you’re new to riding or don’t want to commit to a full-size dirt bike, a pit bike can be a great investment. If you later decide to purchase a dirt bike, the skills you gain on a pit bike will transfer over, and in the interim, you’ll have a lot of fun for less money and hassle.
What Are Pit Bikes Made For?
Pit bikes were made specifically for cruising around the pit area of racetracks, as we’ve already established. However, as more people became aware of how entertaining these bikes were, producers began creating better iterations of pit bikes. Honda improved its pit bikes as a result of this. As a result, we are now seeing more potent and capable pit bikes that are not just small bikes for idly riding around the pits.
Rider appeal increased as a result of the upgrades. The frame was redesigned to become a larger-participant structure. A plastic unit and a mono-shock are a couple of the components that have been added to the pit bikes’ frame.
The original pit bike design underwent a few other improvements to meet rider demand. However, what increased their appeal was the aftermarket options that provided big bore kits and robust suspensions.
People were drawn to these quick, yet inexpensive, pit bikes because of their more potent engines. Kawasaki introduced the Kawasaki KLX110 for adult riders when their popularity soared in the early 2000s.
At the moment, every significant manufacturer has its own model of pit bike. For smaller riders, Honda created pit bikes, for instance.
What Are the Differences Between Pit Bikes and Dirt Bikes?
Pit bikes and full-size dirt bikes differ primarily in a few key ways. The first is that pit bikes move much more slowly; this is mainly because their engines are less potent. Their engines typically only have a capacity of 50 to 150 ccs, whereas dirt bike engines can have a capacity of 450 ccs and rarely go below 140 ccs. Additionally, pit bikes have much less torque than full-size dirt bikes, which significantly reduces their speed.
Engine
Although dirt bikes are more powerful than pit bikes, they can have either 4-stroke or 2-stroke motors. In 2-stroke dirt bike motors, the piston performs only 2 movements rather than 4 for a full cycle. This implies that the 2-stroke dirt bike will accelerate quickly but won’t be simple to control.
The top speeds of 4-stroke dirt bikes are higher than those of 2-stroke engines. As a result, a 2-stroke motor produces a bike with high acceleration while a 4-stroke motor produces a bike that is faster. Pit bikes typically aren’t as quick or as powerful as dirt bikes, some of which have 750cc engines.
Comparatively, pit bikes have 4-stroke motors with power ranging from 50 to 140 cc. In fact, it is incredibly difficult to find a pit bike with an engine larger than 250 ccs. Because they are so small, pit bikes have 4-stroke motors. It has four pistons of motion, so to speak.
Energy is propelled with each stroke while ensuring a steady and dependable output. Pit bikes are ideal for teenagers and kids because of their dependability and ease of use.
The Tires
All motorcycle tires are designed to travel over a specific type of terrain. Because dirt bikes are used for off-road riding and track riding, they have knobby tires. With their outer rubber surfaces, these tires are excellent for rough terrain. They have a better grip when off-roading thanks to their rubber surface because they are designed to handle a variety of terrains. They are larger than pit bikes and have 18-inch tires.
Pit bikes, on the other hand, are smaller, so their tires range in size from 12- to 14-inches. The front tires are 14 inches in diameter, while the back tires are 12 inches. Pit bike tires are therefore better suited for quiet trails with few to no obstacles.
Design
The design of the two bikes is the next key distinction between them. Since dirt bikes are bigger and more powerful than pit bikes, they are basically perfect for off-roading. Riding a pit bike on terrain that is only suitable for dirt bikes could result in damage to the bike or injury to you.
You can buy a dirt bike that can fit any rider, big or small, which is another significant difference. Pit bikes are different because they are only intended for small riders. While dirt bikes can overcome any obstacle, narrow tracks are not the best place for them because of their enormous size. Dirt bikes aren’t as portable and convenient to store as pit bikes.
Pit bikes have compact, lightweight frames that give them their distinctive shape. This is what makes them ideal for young riders and for cruising around the pits of race tracks. They are not at all suitable for off-road driving because of their compact and lightweight design.
Pit bikes can only be used on trails with few to no obstacles because of how low they are. However, moving and storing pit bikes is made easier by their size.
Speed Difference
Pit bikes lack the speed and power of dirt bikes, some of which have an engine capacity of around 750cc. Furthermore, the pit bike has less acceleration torque due to its size and weight. Therefore, the pit bike would still be slower even if you had dirt and pit bikes with the same engine capacity. Pit bikes, however, have the capacity to reach speeds of 25 mph on short trails with lower gears.
Pit bikes have a top speed of 50 mph on longer trails. On longer trails, pit bikes with larger engines can travel at a top speed of 75 MPH.
Fortunately, a few straightforward modifications will allow you to speed up your pit bike without reducing its torque. Its original 14-tooth sprocket can be swapped out for a 15-tooth model. Another way to speed it up is to switch out the 42-tooth rear sprocket for a 32-tooth one.
A dirt bike is best for racing because it can reach high speeds much more quickly than a pit bike can. 400cc bikes can attain a maximum speed of about 87MPH, while the speed of 50cc bikes ranges between 25 and 40MPH.
Noise
Although all motorcycles make noise, 2-stroke pit bikes make more noise than 4-stroke pit bikes. However, due to their short mufflers and high RPMs, dirt bikes are louder than pit bikes. Because of this, whenever you ride a dirt bike, you should prepare to annoy everyone nearby.
Suspension
Suspension systems on bicycles link their frames to their tires and always include shock absorbers. The suspensions shield the rider from jarring rides in addition to connecting the frame and tires.
Pit bikes don’t have as sophisticated of suspensions as dirt bikes do. As pit bikes are not intended for off-road use, they do not require sophisticated suspensions.
Dirt bikes may require strong suspensions, depending on the model. For instance, motocross bikes have long-travel suspensions that can handle high jumps at extremely high speeds.
Safety Considerations
Since they are driven on smooth roads, have less power, and are slower, pit bikes are generally safer. After all, a bike’s potential to crash increases with its power.
Pit bikes are the best choice for kids and novice riders because they have less power than dirt bikes. Naturally, this does not guarantee that you will escape an accident involving a pit bike without any bruises. It won’t, however, be as bad as the harm a dirt bike could cause.
Pit Bikes for Kids
There are a few things you should look for when purchasing a pit bike for your child. You probably won’t want anything with an especially powerful engine if it’s their first motorcycle; something in the range of 50 ccs might be appropriate. As a result, if your child is older, you might require something a little more potent because weight and height make a significant difference.
Getting your child protective gear is important because safety is obviously important when using a motorcycle.
Pit Bikes for Adults
Even though there aren’t as many adult-specific pit bikes available, there are still a lot of options. Check to see if it will fit your height and weight before you buy one.
Additionally, you should refrain from purchasing anything of poor quality. The majority of riders advise staying away from models made in China and claim that they have discovered that those pit bikes don’t last very long and require constant maintenance.
Just keep in mind that they will be very small, and some might even describe them as uncomfortable. Ensure that you are aware of what you are getting into. Before you buy one, try sitting on one and then turn the handlebars.
Pit bikes are smaller and designed to be used in different environments. Currently, teens and older kids use pit bikes to hone their riding abilities and introduce them to the world of dirt biking. Do you like pit bikes? Do you know more about pit bikes?
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