Monkey Bike or Pit Bike?

[Throttle]

Hello all,
First time poster long time lurker! I have been riding around now for just under 12 months on a rather funky and radical CG and while I am getting the benefits of experience I have found that I am rapidly getting bored. I have been interested in the idea of a mini-bike ever since I decided to try out the two wheeled experience. However due to my naivety, I decided that a bigger more established learner bike would be better. I also thought it would help my look bigger in front of women who I knew would be eyeing me up as I flew past at the amazing speed of 30mph.

Now having gained some experience and being told that my current "ride" is in the way (personally I can't see why ANYONE wouldn't want such a beautiful motorbike sitting slap bang in the middle of the garden). I have decided to sell the CG and try out either a Monkey or a Pit Bike. Initially I longed for a Skyteam Gorilla but recently having seen the work that Binge has done to his Masai, I have been having second thoughts! I am not particularly mechanically minded and I am not flushed with cash, so I am somewhat worried that a Pit Bike would cost me too much to maintain. However I am still undecided! So Bike Chat Forums this is where you come in. I would like to hear your opinions and thoughts on which you prefer and feel would be the better choice for me!

Cheers
Throttle

[Doovy]

I want one too.
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Yamaha RXS 100 > Honda CD 250 > Honda Hornet 600 > Honda CBR 600RR > Yamaha RXS 100 > Kawasaki ZX6R J2 > Yamaha FZ1

[EUMP]

They do look fun, but kinda small.
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C.B.T - Expired
MOD1 04/08/10
MOD2 10/08/10

[Whosthedaddy]

My little monkey will be due for its first MOT this December and not really put a foot wrong considering it came in a crate from China.

I love my monkey and its hard to get across why as they are impractical in so many ways compared to a regular bike.

I'm looking forward tp splashing some cash and getting it pimped In the next few months.
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Current : MSX 125 Past : CBR 900RR Monkeybike : c50 LAC : ZXR750 H2 : FZR600 : ZX7R P3 : YW100 : TRX850: Trophy 900 T309 : GSXR 600 L0: Monkeybike : XJ6S Whosthedaddy

[Throttle]

It was actually your project thread that originally sparked my interest in a Gorilla!

Size isn't really much of an issue for me as I am a bit on the short size and from pictures and videos I have seen they don't look too bad with an averaged sized person sitting on them. I think Monkey's come into there own when people starting toying around with different parts and this is what attracts me to them. Look at this 'beast'.

https://www.monkeytuners.com/album/gallery2/d/56570-4/g26.jpg

Although some people have to take it too far!

https://www.monkeytuners.com/album/gallery2/d/56682-4/g11.jpg

[garth]

Duh, neither, get a cub. I have an 82 C70 with a 110 4 speed semi auto lump in it. Brilliant fun. 2nd gear wheelies off the throttle (with some pull back, obv) and off the speedo on the flat (good for comedy purposes, still slow though.)

Group of 8 of us leave in 2 weeks for a 450 mile round trip on them...
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[garth]

The top tarted gorrilla you posted... Why go to all the effort and expense of what is presumably a Takegawa 125 5 speed lump (££) and leave i with a standard front brake? Mental.
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You ain't a has been if you never was

[Throttle]

I hadn't noticed that. After putting in so much effort and attention to detail you would think they would have replaced it.

I'd be interested so see photo's of your 450 mile trip

[binge]

Quick Summary:

Pit bikes are bigger than monkey bikes physically, Handle better, And are probably a bit more comfortable to ride.

Monkey bikes have a FAR superior tank range (2 Gallon as apposed to 2 Liters)
They have a certain coolness about them that pit bikes dont quite cut it.



Plenty of upgrades for both. I've just upgraded my front brake again for the TZR engine. Top speed of around 85mph at the moment and its still not running right.

My Pit bike handles the absolute mutts nuts. Will lap a roundabout faster than a big sports bike. Easily!

My TZR pit bike is Stupidly unpractical though. I can manage about 20 miles to a tank. Which is pretty pathetic.


https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v358/binge/Photo0508.jpg

[Throttle]

Great, cheers for that .
I noticed you had to do a lot to your bike initially though which worries me somewhat. However I didn't realise the tank range was that low which to be honest has put me off a little. How much do you think it would cost to get a road legal Pit bike to a decent standard?

I already have a rough idea what I would do to a Monkey to begin with even though it would be mainly cosmetic for the time being. I bet a TZR power Monkey would be a site

With regards to a Pit bike I am somewhat clueless. It seems there is a never ending choice for graphics, swing arms, shocks etc and having never messed about with anything like that before I am a little intimidated.

[binge]

Well if you was stick with the Standard type 4 stroke pit bike engines, Even the YX150 and the Lifan 150 12-13bhp motors will do an easy 60 miles to the 3 liter tank. It's just my TZR125 lump is quite juicy.


In terms of graphics/plastics. There are now 3 types of pit bike style.


CRF50
KLX110
And now CRF70.


Best thing you could do is buy a cheap, Non Runner, Road legal Chinese bike. For around the £100 mark. Ideally a pit bike so you can use the lights, wheels, tyres etc.

Now buy yourself a high spec Stomp or similar. Brand new they are only about £500.


Swap the Frames if you must, Or just re-stamp the stomp frame. Fit the lights, electrics and reg plate to the Stomp. And now you have a pretty top spec Road legal bike for no more than £700.

I wish I'd of done this before buying my Masai. My pit bike was pretty low spec when I bought it, I paid around £600 for it. And ended up changing every last part anyway.





Ben

[Smooth]

I had an Italian variation on the theme.

https://farm4.static.flickr.com/3062/2385228583_c414550e32.jpg

It was a great laugh to ride and got a good reaction from other people.

I grafted on a Midimoto expansion chamber exhaust which sounded good, but wasn't tuned for the engine's powerband.

I thought about fitting a Monkey bike engine, but sold it to fund the next bike.
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TDM850

[Faraz]

Get a monkey bike, pit bikes are chavvy.
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'56 Yamaha MT-01
'05 Nissan 350z Roadster GT
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