Shopping on line can be easy, simple and save you lots of money. It can also take a lot of your time, frustrate you, and result in unwanted purchases. Now the same can be said for regular high street shopping, but with the vast opportunity presented by the Internet it will pay you to spend a few minutes reading this and understanding how to better optimize your Minibike shopping experience:
1. Compare - without doubt the biggest advantage that the Minibike offers shoppers today is the ability to compare thousands of Minibike at a time. This is a great thing, but not necessarily all the time! Too much can be daunting at times so take advantage of the great comparison sites and where possible let them do the hard work for you.
2. Research - if it has been said it will be on the internet. Ignorance is no longer a justifiable reason for buying the wrong thing. Take the time to research in detail everything that you could possible want to know about
3. Testimonials - don't know anybody that has bought a Minibike? Wrong! If the Minibike is good the internet will let you know. Use the Internet as a friend and get testimonials before you buy.
4. Questions - Got a question about Minibike then search the Forums, FAQ's, Blogs etc. Don't be afraid to ask .....
5. Reputation - Never heard of the company selling Minibike? Don't worry, no reason why you should know every company in the world, but you know someone that does! Use the internet to find out what people are saying about Minibike and build up a picture of their reputation for sales, returns, customer service, delivery etc.
6. Returns - still worried that even after all of the above your Minibike wont be what you want? Check out the returns policy. There is so much competition now that someone, somewhere is bound to offer the terms that you are comfortable with.
7. Feedback - happy with your Minibike then let people know, after all you are depending on others people input in your buying decision, so why not give a little back.
8. Security - check for the yellow padlock on the Minibike site before you buy, and the s after http:/ /i.e. https:// = a secure site
9. Contact - got a question about Minibike, or want to leave a comment then check out the sites contact page. Reputable companies have them and respond.
10. Payment - ready to pay for your Minibike, then use your credit card or PayPal! Be aware of companies that don't accept them, there may be genuine reasons but given the huge amount of choice you have when buying online there is no reason at all not to buy via credit card or PayPal.
A
minibike, also recently known as a
mini moto or
pocketbike, is a miniaturized version of a motorcycle. Traditional minibikes usually use Four-stroke cycle motors that power a chain to turn the rear wheel. These
Four-stroke cycle motors are similar to a lawnmower, but not identical. The main difference is the shaft direction. A minibike requires a horizontal shaft while a lawnmower uses a vertical shaft. Contrary to popular belief, old lawnmower engines cannot be used to make a minibike since the crankshaft is oriented in a vertical position instead of a horizontal position like a minibike would need. Some models may use Two-stroke cycle motors although electricity-powered models are also available. The 2-stroke motor produces a loud, whining buzz and a more polluting cloud of smoke as exhaust if not properly tuned. These features, along with the minibike's small size, mean that minibikes are almost never street-legal.
History
Along with the
go-cart, minibikes were first made out of spare parts found around the garage. They were first popularly used as "pit bikes" for drag racers to scoot around in the pits during races in the late 1950s. They were very useful for this purpose, as they could maneuver very well in the tight pit roads and they could fit in about the same space as a small bicycle in a trailer or pickup, plus they were faster than most previous forms of transportation. As racers brought and used them around their neighborhoods, children thought they were cool and started building their own. A whole market developed for minibikes and many cottage and major industries developed to meet the demand. Some famous minibike companies include Arctic-Cat, Rupp, Taco, Heath, and Fox. Many of these companies also made other power toys such as go-carts, trikes and choppers. The height of the minibike/go-cart era was from the late sixties to the early seventies in America.
Today they have evolved into several distinct specialized types of minibikes, but the concept is the same, they are all mini motorcycles:
Pocketbike/MinimotoThese look like sport bikes and are used to race (
Pocketbike racing) on tracks used for
kart racing. The popularity grew due to the influx of cheap pocket bikes imported from China.
Pit bikesTrue to the original concept of a small scooter used to quickly move around the pit areas of motor racing tracks and events. They look like
motocross motorcycles and are also used in some motocross competitions. Recently the sport of mini moto (racing pit bikes on motocross and supercross tracks) has taken off. There are numerous series in the United States and there are also full fledged mini moto pros. The Las Vegas Mini Supercross is the biggest mini moto event of the year and it often draws top pros such as Jeremy McGrath, Ryan Abrigo, and Derek Costella. The UK has also seen a huge increase in Pit Bike's due to Pure Rush (www.mypurerush.com) transforming the market with the Akuma and Dirt Cat series.
Mini choppers
Mini choppers are mini bikes that look like
Choppers.
Quad bikesMini bikes that look like
quad bikes which are four wheeled off road motorcycles (
all terrain vehicles).
Safety
Due to their high speed and design, the rider is advised to take extra care when riding mini bikes. Minibikes can attain speeds of over 40mph. Riders are recommended to use safety equipment at all times.
Legal status
In the U.S., minibikes are banned on public roads throughout some states such as
California,and are banned in many cities, including New York City. Penalties enforced by police departments may include the issue of a verbal reprimand by the officer or the confiscation of the vehicle.
In the UK, in virtually all cases, it is illegal for minibikes to be ridden on the road. Minibikes are regarded as "
motor vehicles" as defined by section 185 of the Road Traffic Act 1988 and therefore to be ridden on the public road, a
motor vehicle must comply with all aspects of road traffic law and meet the mandatory European construction requirements by having a "Certificate of Conformity" indicating that they have European Community Whole Vehicle Type Approval (ECWVTA). “Vehicle Type Approval”
In Canada Ontario province, like in the UK, it is illegal for minibikes to be ridden on public roads.http://www.mto.gov.on.ca/english/dandv/vehicle/emerging/
Minibikes are not manufactured in such a way that allows them to meet these requirements, and would need to be modified significantly to do so. Reported instances of this occurring are incredibly rare, meaning that it is very unlikely that minibikes can actually be registered for road use. However, where a minibike or other vehicle does not have ECWVTA, it might conceivably pass a Motorcycle Single Vehicle Approval (MSVA) inspection which would result in a Ministerial Certificate of Approval, permitting it to be road-registered.
In addition to the Vehicle Type Approval, to be ridden on the road the minibike must be registered with the Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency, display a valid road tax disc (
vehicle excise duty), and the driving or rider must be aged 17 or over (or 16 if the vehicle meets the definition of a
moped), have an appropriate
driving licence, have
vehicle insurance covering the vehicle's use and wear a suitable
motorcycle helmet. The only exceptions relate to electrically-assisted pedal cycles and mobility aids for disabled people.
In the UK in 2005 and 2006, minibikes became the focus of concern relating to
road traffic safety and
anti-social behaviour, with seven deaths – five young people and two adults – being attributed to them by the
Royal Society for the Prevention of Accidents. "The mini-motorbike menace", BBC News, 2 August 2006.
During August 2006, the UK Government ran a campaign to highlight the dangers of minibike misuse on roads and their anti-social use. A guidance document was produced to provide police and other agencies with practical information to deal with the issues and prevent misuse. The guidance outlined the legal status of minibikes and included information on enforcement measures and the provision of legal sites. “The Home Office press release”]
In the United Kingdom, Minibikes are popularly thought of as a "
chav" accessory or toy, bringing with it all the issues of anti-social behaviour and irresponsible use.
Legal sites
It is the responsibility of the individual to ensure that they (or their children) use minibikes correctly but there is no specific obligation for local authorities to provide a facility to ride minibikes safely and legally.
See also
External links
- New and Alternative Vehicles - Ontario Ministry of Transportation
- Royal Society for the Prevention of Accidents – Mini Motorbike Safety Factsheet (PDF)
References
A
minibike, also recently known as a
mini moto or
pocketbike, is a miniaturized version of a
motorcycle. Traditional minibikes usually use Four-stroke cycle motors that power a chain to turn the rear wheel. These
Four-stroke cycle motors are similar to a lawnmower, but not identical. The main difference is the shaft direction. A minibike requires a horizontal shaft while a lawnmower uses a vertical shaft. Contrary to popular belief, old lawnmower engines cannot be used to make a minibike since the crankshaft is oriented in a vertical position instead of a horizontal position like a minibike would need. Some models may use Two-stroke cycle motors although
electricity-powered models are also available. The 2-stroke motor produces a loud, whining buzz and a more polluting cloud of smoke as exhaust if not properly tuned. These features, along with the minibike's small size, mean that minibikes are almost never street-legal.
History
Along with the go-cart, minibikes were first made out of spare parts found around the garage. They were first popularly used as "pit bikes" for
drag racers to scoot around in the pits during races in the late 1950s. They were very useful for this purpose, as they could maneuver very well in the tight pit roads and they could fit in about the same space as a small bicycle in a trailer or pickup, plus they were faster than most previous forms of transportation. As racers brought and used them around their neighborhoods, children thought they were cool and started building their own. A whole market developed for minibikes and many cottage and major industries developed to meet the demand. Some famous minibike companies include Arctic-Cat, Rupp, Taco, Heath, and Fox. Many of these companies also made other power toys such as go-carts, trikes and choppers. The height of the minibike/go-cart era was from the late sixties to the early seventies in America.
Today they have evolved into several distinct specialized types of minibikes, but the concept is the same, they are all mini motorcycles:
Pocketbike/MinimotoThese look like sport bikes and are used to race (
Pocketbike racing) on tracks used for kart racing. The popularity grew due to the influx of cheap pocket bikes imported from China.
Pit bikesTrue to the original concept of a small scooter used to quickly move around the pit areas of motor racing tracks and events. They look like motocross motorcycles and are also used in some motocross competitions. Recently the sport of mini moto (racing pit bikes on motocross and supercross tracks) has taken off. There are numerous series in the United States and there are also full fledged mini moto pros. The Las Vegas Mini Supercross is the biggest mini moto event of the year and it often draws top pros such as Jeremy McGrath, Ryan Abrigo, and Derek Costella. The UK has also seen a huge increase in Pit Bike's due to Pure Rush (www.mypurerush.com) transforming the market with the Akuma and Dirt Cat series.
Mini choppersMini choppers are mini bikes that look like
Choppers.
Quad bikesMini bikes that look like
quad bikes which are four wheeled off road motorcycles (
all terrain vehicles).
Safety
Due to their high speed and design, the rider is advised to take extra care when riding mini bikes. Minibikes can attain speeds of over 40mph. Riders are recommended to use safety equipment at all times.
Legal status
In the U.S., minibikes are banned on public roads throughout some states such as California,and are banned in many cities, including
New York City. Penalties enforced by police departments may include the issue of a verbal reprimand by the officer or the confiscation of the vehicle.
In the UK, in virtually all cases, it is illegal for minibikes to be ridden on the road. Minibikes are regarded as "motor vehicles" as defined by section 185 of the Road Traffic Act 1988 and therefore to be ridden on the public road, a
motor vehicle must comply with all aspects of road traffic law and meet the mandatory European construction requirements by having a "Certificate of Conformity" indicating that they have European Community Whole Vehicle Type Approval (ECWVTA). “Vehicle Type Approval”
In Canada Ontario province, like in the UK, it is illegal for minibikes to be ridden on public roads.http://www.mto.gov.on.ca/english/dandv/vehicle/emerging/
Minibikes are not manufactured in such a way that allows them to meet these requirements, and would need to be modified significantly to do so. Reported instances of this occurring are incredibly rare, meaning that it is very unlikely that minibikes can actually be registered for road use. However, where a minibike or other vehicle does not have ECWVTA, it might conceivably pass a Motorcycle Single Vehicle Approval (MSVA) inspection which would result in a Ministerial Certificate of Approval, permitting it to be road-registered.
In addition to the Vehicle Type Approval, to be ridden on the road the minibike must be registered with the Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency, display a valid road tax disc (
vehicle excise duty), and the driving or rider must be aged 17 or over (or 16 if the vehicle meets the definition of a
moped), have an appropriate driving licence, have vehicle insurance covering the vehicle's use and wear a suitable
motorcycle helmet. The only exceptions relate to electrically-assisted pedal cycles and mobility aids for disabled people.
In the UK in 2005 and 2006, minibikes became the focus of concern relating to
road traffic safety and
anti-social behaviour, with seven deaths – five young people and two adults – being attributed to them by the Royal Society for the Prevention of Accidents. "The mini-motorbike menace", BBC News, 2 August 2006.
During August 2006, the UK Government ran a campaign to highlight the dangers of minibike misuse on roads and their anti-social use. A guidance document was produced to provide police and other agencies with practical information to deal with the issues and prevent misuse. The guidance outlined the legal status of minibikes and included information on enforcement measures and the provision of legal sites. “The
Home Office press release”]
In the United Kingdom, Minibikes are popularly thought of as a "chav" accessory or toy, bringing with it all the issues of anti-social behaviour and irresponsible use.
Legal sites
It is the responsibility of the individual to ensure that they (or their children) use minibikes correctly but there is no specific obligation for
local authorities to provide a facility to ride minibikes safely and legally.
See also
- Tote gote
- Pocketbike racing
- Honda Z series - commonly known as the Monkey bike.
External links
- New and Alternative Vehicles - Ontario Ministry of Transportation
- Royal Society for the Prevention of Accidents – Mini Motorbike Safety Factsheet (PDF)
References
The Minibike Arena
honda,crf50,kawazaki,xsport,pitbike,minibike tracks ... we have had the all clear for the new road and network rail have given permission to use there entrance off ...
Monkey Bikes, Fun Bikes & ATV's
UK distributor for Monkey-Bikes, Dax, ATVs and tuning accessories.
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Mini bike and pit bike talk, articles and forums. Mini bike track map, pit bike track map. Gallery with mini bike and pit bike pictures. Racing and freestyle!
MiniBike Tracks
Motocross, freestyle, enuduro, pit bikes talk, articles and forums. Motocross track map and pit bike track map. Gallery with mx pictures, mx babes and mx crashes.
Snowboard motocross mountain bike minibike extreme sports articles ...
Motocross, freestyle, enuduro, pit bikes talk, articles and forums. Motocross track map and pit bike track map. Gallery with mx pictures, mx babes and mx crashes.
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Open resource for mountainbike, dirt bike, surf, snowboard, motorbike and Go-Ped action sports. Providing information throughout the UK with where to go, gear reviews, where to ...
Mini Bike Spares
mini bike spares as the uk's biggest supplier of quality european 50cc auto fun & race bikes, we are able to supply original manufacturers spare parts and many tuning accessories
Gold's Gym Mini Bike Review
Sheila Ashwood gives the Gold's Gym Mini Bike a test run from her armchair, here's her review
Minibike - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
A minibike, also recently known as a mini moto or pocketbike, is a miniature motorcycle. Most traditional minibikes use four stroke engine to turn the rear wheel via a chain.
Snowboard motocross mountain bike minibike extreme sports articles ...
Extreme Sports Forums featuring large motocross, Mountain Biking, snowboarding communities. Join us now
