Anyone wise about Pit Bikes?
Discussion
Doing a bit of a garage clear out, I was looking to sell my daughters Yamaha PW50 that she hasn't ridden since 2016. We thought we'd take it out for one last blast first and she was brilliant on it, excellent control and able to do a few little jumps etc. She enjoyed it so much she asked if we could keep it. She'll soon be 10, and so is way too big for it really, so will be looking to upgrade to either a PW80 or Stomp 110 kids pit bike.
Anyway, I had a little go myself and it was hilarious. I think this is something I'd like to get into so we can do it together. My plan is to buy an adult pit bike when possible. I've got riding experience, but only on road bikes. I was a competent rider, fast group on track days and even entered a couple of races, but other than a few mini moto days I haven't ridden since a big crash at the start of 2017.
I have no experience on dirt bikes at all, although I was a decent downhill mountain biker in my youth, if that counts for anything at all. I've found some info on Pit Bikes but it's a fair bit of information overload and would like some first hand advice from PH if possible.
I'm not against getting something full size, but one of my main reasons for wanting a bit bike is to put off needing a trailer for a while. With the front wheel and bars removed a couple of pit bikes should bit in the back of my FN2 Civic type R, although I could always rent a van if needed.
I've been looking at the Stomp 140cc bikes. They seem plenty powerful enough with 17bhp, but I'd rather see if I can get something second hand in case I dont take to It well. I'm 5'8" and around 10.5 stone, so should be able to ride most things. In fact, my daughter at 4'8" means we might even be able to share a single bike.
Would love to hear any opinions/suggestions.
TLDR: Looking for pit bikes that wont break the bank, very little off road experience.
Cheers all
Anyway, I had a little go myself and it was hilarious. I think this is something I'd like to get into so we can do it together. My plan is to buy an adult pit bike when possible. I've got riding experience, but only on road bikes. I was a competent rider, fast group on track days and even entered a couple of races, but other than a few mini moto days I haven't ridden since a big crash at the start of 2017.
I have no experience on dirt bikes at all, although I was a decent downhill mountain biker in my youth, if that counts for anything at all. I've found some info on Pit Bikes but it's a fair bit of information overload and would like some first hand advice from PH if possible.
I'm not against getting something full size, but one of my main reasons for wanting a bit bike is to put off needing a trailer for a while. With the front wheel and bars removed a couple of pit bikes should bit in the back of my FN2 Civic type R, although I could always rent a van if needed.
I've been looking at the Stomp 140cc bikes. They seem plenty powerful enough with 17bhp, but I'd rather see if I can get something second hand in case I dont take to It well. I'm 5'8" and around 10.5 stone, so should be able to ride most things. In fact, my daughter at 4'8" means we might even be able to share a single bike.
Would love to hear any opinions/suggestions.
TLDR: Looking for pit bikes that wont break the bank, very little off road experience.
Cheers all
Edited by Pebbles167 on Monday 1st June 09:40
V8RX7 said:
The first question is - have you got somewhere you can ride them ?
I do a few off road days and none allow pit bikes - they are even too council for dirt bikers
Yeah we just gonna ride it around the town, it'll be reet... I do a few off road days and none allow pit bikes - they are even too council for dirt bikers
We have a track near us that are happy to have pit bikes, Tormarton MX off Jcn 18 of the M4. As tempting as it is to ride around the local fields, it just isnt worth it. The police didnt mind when my daughter was younger on the tiny PW50, but shes looking increasingly like a teenager and were either of us to be caught on something bigger, I doubt they'd be very pleased.
I'd recommend talking to Ben Harman at Ben's Pit Bikes in South London. Very helpful chap and a big range of bikes
https://www.takegawauk.co.uk/
https://www.takegawauk.co.uk/
Also worth checking out something like an Oset. A lot of folks hate all things electric, but in a trials bike application they work brilliantly. So easy to work on too.
The big benefit is they're so much more socially acceptable that something like a 110/125cc pit bike. Ride your local woods on one of them and the police will be there very quickly. Ride an Oset and even non bikey folks will smile as your daughter silently passes. Not great for learning clutch control and gears mind.
There's a lot at my local club for this very reason.
ETA...https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LhAtQ0Dwb3E
The big benefit is they're so much more socially acceptable that something like a 110/125cc pit bike. Ride your local woods on one of them and the police will be there very quickly. Ride an Oset and even non bikey folks will smile as your daughter silently passes. Not great for learning clutch control and gears mind.
There's a lot at my local club for this very reason.
ETA...https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LhAtQ0Dwb3E
Edited by take-good-care-of-the-forest-dewey on Monday 1st June 11:17
What's your budget?
You can buy a new psymoto 140 for around £1500 / £1800 quid.
Honda CR's are around the £3000 mark iirc.
Then you've got the likes of Bucci and Ohvale which are closer to £5000.
They are something I had been toying with the idea of getting for some time now, and I went over to Teesside Autodrome with Dom on his Psymoto 140 last tuesday and for what you pay for them they are seriously impressive things. I now NEED one myself!
From looking at his and seeing the issues he was having with it I would factor in the additional cost of a heavier weight rear spring and possibly an updated master cylinder too.
You can buy a new psymoto 140 for around £1500 / £1800 quid.
Honda CR's are around the £3000 mark iirc.
Then you've got the likes of Bucci and Ohvale which are closer to £5000.
They are something I had been toying with the idea of getting for some time now, and I went over to Teesside Autodrome with Dom on his Psymoto 140 last tuesday and for what you pay for them they are seriously impressive things. I now NEED one myself!
From looking at his and seeing the issues he was having with it I would factor in the additional cost of a heavier weight rear spring and possibly an updated master cylinder too.
Thanks for all the replies so far.
In terms of budget, I hadn't really thought too much on it. I guess I'd kind of hoped id be looking at something brand new for around £1000, and second hand for somewhat less.
I'm aware that with that I'm not going to be getting the absolute best available, but it seems companies like Stomp, DemonX and Welsh Pit Bikes do some decent adult models in that ball park.
As regards the PW50, I stuck it on Ebay about 30 minutes ago for £550 and it's gone already to a seemingly pleasant chap from Hampshire. Also listed it on Facebook marketplace and I'm being blasted with messages. Maybe I listed it too low? Think I'm going to replace hers with a WPB 110cc semi auto. I've looked at the Oset bikes, and I'd considered them before I bought the Yam. They are nice machines, but out of price range really.
In terms of budget, I hadn't really thought too much on it. I guess I'd kind of hoped id be looking at something brand new for around £1000, and second hand for somewhat less.
I'm aware that with that I'm not going to be getting the absolute best available, but it seems companies like Stomp, DemonX and Welsh Pit Bikes do some decent adult models in that ball park.
As regards the PW50, I stuck it on Ebay about 30 minutes ago for £550 and it's gone already to a seemingly pleasant chap from Hampshire. Also listed it on Facebook marketplace and I'm being blasted with messages. Maybe I listed it too low? Think I'm going to replace hers with a WPB 110cc semi auto. I've looked at the Oset bikes, and I'd considered them before I bought the Yam. They are nice machines, but out of price range really.
Pw50s are very desirable.
Something like a pw80 or ttr125 would be a sensible step up.
For yourself I'd probably suggest just getting a proper bike rather than a mini bike/pit bike.
Around £1500 you'd get an older Japanese trail bike that would be practically depreciation proof and bolted together much better than all the cheapy pit bike brands are.
But that's just me not really seeing the point in wanting to ride a child's size bike I suppose!
Something like a pw80 or ttr125 would be a sensible step up.
For yourself I'd probably suggest just getting a proper bike rather than a mini bike/pit bike.
Around £1500 you'd get an older Japanese trail bike that would be practically depreciation proof and bolted together much better than all the cheapy pit bike brands are.
But that's just me not really seeing the point in wanting to ride a child's size bike I suppose!
I bought my younger two sons (12&16 at the time) Stomp 110 pit bikes in 2007, after the eldest lad had passed away my wife became very protective of them and I was completely the opposite thinking that life is to be lived.
They were surprisingly reliable, the eldest lad got too big and sold it to help buy a car.
The younger blew the engine up and put a 140 in it with money he had earned from various odd jobs, he traded it for a Kawasaki trials bike and now has a modified Suzuki RM250. Oddly he will not take a bike test as he feels the roads are too unsafe.
He loved riding and was good at it. Now he has a home & family and thought about selling as he feels he is too old to be doing that sort of thing. I've told him to hang onto it as he will reach the age of immaturity again and his son and daughter might be interested.
Make sure that you buy every piece of safety wear, the youngest has had a few spills and that stuff has meant he has never done worse than sprain a wrist.
It is fun, even this old git has had a go and enjoyed it.
They were surprisingly reliable, the eldest lad got too big and sold it to help buy a car.
The younger blew the engine up and put a 140 in it with money he had earned from various odd jobs, he traded it for a Kawasaki trials bike and now has a modified Suzuki RM250. Oddly he will not take a bike test as he feels the roads are too unsafe.
He loved riding and was good at it. Now he has a home & family and thought about selling as he feels he is too old to be doing that sort of thing. I've told him to hang onto it as he will reach the age of immaturity again and his son and daughter might be interested.
Make sure that you buy every piece of safety wear, the youngest has had a few spills and that stuff has meant he has never done worse than sprain a wrist.
It is fun, even this old git has had a go and enjoyed it.
I've ridden and race pitbikes for a while now, keeps me busy when not on Track days.
Personally I'd stay away from Stomp, not the best quality wise, look at CW Bikes and M2R.
We use 140s-160s, visit m4 karting, Swindon karting, loads of places to use them.
Personally I'd stay away from Stomp, not the best quality wise, look at CW Bikes and M2R.
We use 140s-160s, visit m4 karting, Swindon karting, loads of places to use them.
Edited by GYTRDave on Monday 1st June 14:40
The new symotos for sale at pitbike parts are great. I have the supermoto version and use it at kart tracks when they're running pitbike days.
To be honest I wouldn't fancy an offroad version unless you have a private place to ride for fun, I'd sooner buy a proper mx/enduro bike as they'll take far more abuse and you'll have alot more opportunities to ride.
Engine wise the go to is a yx140, my understanding is that the bigger motors are abit more of a mishmash of bits, more expensive and far more likely to break.
The newest yx140 engine (referred to as a gen 4) has an oil filter and easier access to the clutch. Supermoto bikes should come with a lightened flywheel and a different cam (z40) to be more revvy and cope with the sustained nature of tarmac use.
Engines are pretty much identical but all the other parts can vary alot in terms of quality and serviceabilty.
To be honest I wouldn't fancy an offroad version unless you have a private place to ride for fun, I'd sooner buy a proper mx/enduro bike as they'll take far more abuse and you'll have alot more opportunities to ride.
Engine wise the go to is a yx140, my understanding is that the bigger motors are abit more of a mishmash of bits, more expensive and far more likely to break.
The newest yx140 engine (referred to as a gen 4) has an oil filter and easier access to the clutch. Supermoto bikes should come with a lightened flywheel and a different cam (z40) to be more revvy and cope with the sustained nature of tarmac use.
Engines are pretty much identical but all the other parts can vary alot in terms of quality and serviceabilty.
Edited by ar-em-en on Tuesday 2nd June 09:10
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