Pit bike. Small MX bike help

[bosshog]

Hi,

I motocrossed for 10 years straight age 30-40 and loved it, but a broken leg and a move to another country put a stop on it, and i never took it up again.
Now 10 years later with a couple of kids living on a farm, I'm wanting something fun to play around with and perhaps get the kids into it if they like it.

I was initially just thinking of getting a pit bike, as it seems a lot of adults ride these, and the thought being I could get one for the older kid as well and we can 'play' together.

Anyone here ride one? Are they just too small though? Are there any 'mid-size' versions?

I don't want to to get a full size MX bike again (YZF, CRF, etc) as I know what I'm like and I'll end up building a full size MX track with jumps to match. I don't want to up the ant that much (just broke my arm skateboarding), so would like to keep the pace down (and jump height) so was thinking the pit bikes could be a laugh especially with the kids.

Any advice welcome.

[Drabbesttunic]

I'd be going for something along the lines of a Kawasaki KLX110, the smaller 4 stroke engined Japanese stuff.
Cheapo pitbikes will drive you insane as they're garbage, you need something that will just work

[ar-em-en]

I've got quite a high spec supermoto one, cracking fun but I wouldn't fancy off roading as an adult on one and all the abuse and hits that come with it unless you like fettling and fixing.

If you do buy one buy new, it's not worth the slight differences in parts when trying to repair something used. The 140 engines are more reliable than the 160s.

Pitbikeparts are very good, I'd be looking at buying something like a ktm 85 used though for your purpose.

[Steve Bass]

bosshog said:

Hi,

.................. I know what I'm like and I'll end up building a full size MX track with jumps to match.

You say that like it's a bad thing.....


As for Pit Bikes, usually horrid crappy affairs' that last about as long as a UK summer... If you're not wanting a full fat bike, what about the softer enduro type bikes like the 230 CRF's and Yamaha equivalent

[Drabbesttunic]

Steve Bass said:

bosshog said:

Hi,

.................. I know what I'm like and I'll end up building a full size MX track with jumps to match.

You say that like it's a bad thing.....


As for Pit Bikes, usually horrid crappy affairs' that last about as long as a UK summer... If you're not wanting a full fat bike, what about the softer enduro type bikes like the 230 CRF's and Yamaha equivalent

It would be the first thing I built

[848evo]

Theres actually quite a big pit bike scene in the UK now and even a British and World championships, look up Minibike champs on facebook. The cheap china imports are crap and will send you round the twist when they break, have a look at a KLX, I know people over 6 foot who ride pit bikes in the British and World champs. If you want something top end then check out the Bucci bikes or something a bit bigger like the Honda CRF150

[bosshog]

848evo said:

Theres actually quite a big pit bike scene in the UK now and even a British and World championships, look up Minibike champs on facebook. The cheap china imports are crap and will send you round the twist when they break, have a look at a KLX, I know people over 6 foot who ride pit bikes in the British and World champs. If you want something top end then check out the Bucci bikes or something a bit bigger like the Honda CRF150

Great thanks.

For the likes of KLX I presume I would need some bigger/higher bars?

[KTMsm]

Might not be what you want but when they were young I bought my kids cheap, fully caged, off road buggies

I wasn't happy to stick them on bikes and after one went through a hedge and the went sideways hard into a tree I think I made the right decision (for my daughters)

Later I bought them a CRF100 and although it's reliable it's hardy good quality very easy for them to learn on as the power delivery is so tame but I think it's used once a year

[bosshog]

KTMsm said:

Might not be what you want but when they were young I bought my kids cheap, fully caged, off road buggies

I wasn't happy to stick them on bikes and after one went through a hedge and the went sideways hard into a tree I think I made the right decision (for my daughters)

Later I bought them a CRF100 and although it's reliable it's hardy good quality very easy for them to learn on as the power delivery is so tame but I think it's used once a year

Yeah I've been thinking about a buggy as well.