The Thrill of Electric Pocket Bikes
A motorcycle can be a fun thing for anyone to own and ride. Of course, a motorcycle is a serious piece of equipment which is going to require a great deal of attention and care. If you have a young person who enjoys motorcycles but you know isn't ready to practically or legally handle the responsibility of a motorcycle, electric pocket bikes may be the answer you are looking for.
A pocket bike is a scaled down version of a larger motorcycle. It offers a sleek, stylish design and if you are riding a pocket bike, you will still have all of the fun of a traditional motorcycle without the danger. These bikes can traditionally ride up to 15 miles per hour, allowing you to scoot around town without risking high speeds or getting into too much trouble.
Even though the pocket bikes look small, riders can traditionally ride them as long as they are under 6 feet tall. Some models of the bikes can handle riders who weigh up to 170 pounds, letting many adults have the same thrill as younger children might. Electric pocket bikes are made for many people, not just younger ones.
Of course, the best part about these bikes are that they run completely on electric power. Traditionally, 12 volt batteries are attached to the bike which can be recharged. Up to 30 minutes of continuous use is possible with these batteries, which can recharge in about 4 hours. This means these bikes will run without the cost and the hassle that gasoline would require.
Running on electric energy, these bikes are also super quiet. You can ride them around without causing much of a distraction in your neighborhood. Electric pocket bikes are also a great choice when you or your children want all of the fun that can come with a motorcycle but you don't have the space or money.
Electric Pocket Bikes vs Gas Pocket Bikes
Which is better, a gas or electric pocket bikes? If your compare them, there are several things to consider.
Which is faster, an electric pocket bike, or a gas pocket bike? The speed would depend on the pocket bike. Currently, you can more easily find a faster gas pocket bike than an electric pocket bike. In the future though, this may not be the case. There are several electric cars out now that can easily smoke even the fastest gas cars when it comes to speed. When electric motors become more popular, you can bet there will be more faster electric pocket bikes on the market, but for now, gas pocket bikes are generally faster.
Which one costs less? At the time this article was written, you can get a gas pocket bike that goes faster than an electric pocket bike that costs around the same price. In the long run however, a gas pocket bike will cost more for you to use than an electric pocket bike, because you will have to pay for gas. The cost to charge an electric pocket bike is much less than the cost it takes to fuel a gas pocket bike.
Which has more choices? By far, currently there are much more gas pocket bikes being made than electric pocket bikes. This is one reason why they are generally cheaper. In a few years that may all change though!
Which requires less maintenance? Gas pocket bikes require more maintenance than an electric pocket bike. Gas motors require more work and upkeep than an electric pocket bike.
Which one is better for the environment? Without argument, electric pocket bikes are more environmentally friendly than gas pocket bikes. Electric pocket bikes produce no exhaust, no smell, and they run a lot quieter.
All in all, deciding which one is better will be a matter of opinion. Gas pocket bikes currently are generally faster, but electric bikes are cheaper to use and require less maintenance.
In my opinion, I think electric pocket bikes are much better than gas. I don’t like smelling exhaust, I like how quiet they are, and the fact that electric pocket bikes run clean and don’t pollute the air is a big plus to me. In a few years you can bet that electric pocket bikes will have caught up with gas pocket bikes in terms of speed, and when that happens there won’t be any contest as to which one is better!
All Ages Can Ride Electric Pocket Bikes
Pocket bikes are for riders of all ages. For Obvious reasons however, not ALL ages can ride one. You probably wouldn't want to see a 90 year old grandma ride on one, or a 2 year old. For the most part though, people of most sizes and ages can enjoy riding electric pocket bikes. Kids age 8 (and even younger) to adults age 60 or above have had fun riding a pocket bike, whether they were 4 feet tall or 6 feet tall.
It may look goofy to see an adult riding an electric pocket bike, but it isn’t as uncomfortable as it may look. The great thing about an electric pocket bike is that unlike a full sized motorcycle, kids and adults can enjoy and ride the same pocket bike. One pocket bike can provide fun for the kids and even the adults in a family.
When looking for an electric pocket bike make sure you check its max rider weight. Some bikes are recommended for ages 6+, while others may be made for ages 12+.
Some electric pocket bikes can handle weight up to 300 lbs, making it possible for them to handle riders of all sizes and all ages.
And racing these mini bikes is a serious sport for many adults and kids. There are racing events held in several countries. Minimoto racing is especially popular in Italy. The video shows what these races are like. Note that the bikes they are riding are not electric, which is why they are so loud. A couple awesome benefits to electric is that there's no exhaust and it is quiet as a mouse.
Why Ride an Electric Pocket Bike?
Why would anyone want an electric pocket bike? There are tons of reasons!
Electric pocket bikes are small. To some people that might seem like a bad reason to buy an electric pocket bike, but it actually has lots of advantages! There is no wonder as to why these bikes are called “pocket” bikes. Electric pocket bikes can weigh anywhere from 40 to 65 lbs. A pocket bike in that weight range can be picked up and put in the back of a car, or carried elsewhere, and their small size makes them easy to store. They won’t take up much room in a garage, and they are able to fit in the trunk of a car.
Electric pocket bikes look sweet. They look just like their full sized brothers and are very pleasing to look at.
Electric pocket bikes are fun. They are as fun, if not more fun, then the full sized motorcycles they are modeled after. These small electric pocket bikes offer a fun and unique riding experience.
Electric pocket bikes are affordable. Their small size and popularity, makes them affordable to most people! Even buying an electric pocket bike online is affordable, as because of their small size and light weight, the cost of shipping won’t break your wallet!
Electric pocket bikes are cheap to use. On top of being affordable to buy, electric pocket bikes are incredibly affordable to use, especially when compared to gas pocket bikes. You’ll save much more money powering your pocket bike with electricity, rather than fueling it with gas.
Electric pocket bikes are emissions free. Don’t worry about polluting the air while riding an electric pocket bike, as they are exhaust free!
As you can see, an electric pocket bike’s size, looks, affordability, and the emission free fun it provides are just a few reasons why someone would want to get one. They aren’t for everyone, but for those that are looking for an affordable dose of adrenaline- an electric pocket bike should be right up your alley!
Why Electric Pocket Bikes Aren’t Meant for the Streets
Electric pocket bikes may look and function just like their full sized cousins but there are differences when it comes to street legality and where you can ride them.
Too small
The biggest problem that makes them dangerous to ride on streets is that they are too small to be easily noticed by drivers in cars. At close distances SUVs and trucks that are high off the ground will have trouble seeing someone riding an electric pocket bike. They can easily disappear in blind spots of fellow motorists making riding one a dangerous and potentially deadly activity.
Because they are too small for road use, they are illegal to ride on the roads in many areas. They also shouldn't be ridden on sidewalks and paths.
They aren't street legal
Aside from being too small for road use, pocket bikes don't meet U.S. DOT standards which rules whether or not a motor vehicle is legal for road use. Motor vehicles that do pass DOT standards will have a VIN, a title of ownership issued by DMV, as well as license plates. Since pocket bikes don't come with this, they are meant for off road use.
Where can I ride my electric pocket bike?
If you can't ride it on paths, sidewalks, roads, where then can you ride? For starters you can ride on your own property and any other private property that you have permission to ride on. If you don't have a large enough riding area to ride in you can ask a friend or someone you know of who owns a large flat paved surface if you can ride on it.
There are forums for pocket bike owners where you may be able to find other riders in your area and ask them where they ride. Some locations even have riding clubs that get together and race. However, keep in mind that many of the electric pocket bikes available today don't go nearly as fast as gas ones.
Stay safe and stay off the streets
These bikes are a ton of fun to ride, but they just aren't safe enough to be on the roads. So have fun, ride safe, and keep off the streets.
The History of Pocket Bikes
Pocket bikes have been gaining much more attention over the last decade. They are sized perfectly for kids, but yet they also can fit adults as well. Young or old, they can be enjoyed by all.
Many people wouldn't guess that they have been around since the 1950's. They were first used by racers who would ride them to get around the pits. Accordingly, they called them "pit bikes". Riding them, they could easily navigate through crowds and get to where they needed to be faster.
Photo taken by: Looking Glass
If you have ever seen a pocket bike, you know how easily they catch attention. It was no different in the 1950's. Kids loved them then and love them now.
As the demand increased, more companies began producing them for consumers. Some popular brands of the 1960's and 1970's included Arctic-Cat, Rupp, Taco, Heath, Gilson, and Fox.
Events started popping up. One silly contest was where two riders jousted with rolled up newspapers. To win you had to pop the balloon on your opponents head using the newspaper.
Racing events also began and in fact are still alive today. Mini-moto racing became popular in Japan in the 1970's. As the sport grew, so did the power of these little bikes.
During the 1980's the Italians started using higher quality, higher powered mini bikes. Today, most of the best quality pocket rockets are manufactured in Italy.
Through the 1990's mino-moto was found all over Europe and in 1996 the Swiss Pocket Bike Championship was initiated. At this event you can find as much as 120 racers, both male and female and a range ages. There are different classes of bikes (junior, stock or racing prepared) and categories of racers (male, female, age).
It is interesting to note that many world champions in motorcylce racing first started in minimoto. Valentino Rossi was a two-time Italian Pocket Bike champion before going on to become a 7 time MotoGP World Champion.
Today you can find clubs for pocket bike enthusiasts, a number of racing events in several countries, and a wide variety of choices in bikes.
Recently, with the advancement and increasing popularity of electric motors, you can now find an increasing variety of electric powered mini bikes. Although electric motors currently provide benefits such as cost savings and very little maintenance, they still have a little ways to go in terms of power.
However, as batteries continue to improve, it won't be long until electric pocket bikes take over the market and provide just as much, if not more, speed and power as even the best gasoline powered mini bikes do.