Pit Bikes - which to avoid..

A100man · World Chat Champion Joined: 19 Aug 2013 Karma :

My ex wife surprised me recently by suggesting I encourage my (early) teen sons into motorcycling..

Since we are lucky enough to have access to some open land (legally) I thought about getting a chinko pit bike ( much cheaper than trying to find a C90 or Bantam, like we had..) Stomp appear popular but having once owned a JingChen(?) Dax replace I know the components can be very poor quality.

Any advice suggestions for collective BCF wisdom?
____________________
Now: A100, GT250A, XJ598, FZ750

Then: Fizz, RS200, KL250, XJ550, Laverda Alpina, XJ600, FZS600

P. · Red Rocket Joined: 14 Feb 2008 Karma :

They are much the same unless you go to decent brands. If they want to fart around, a Stomp 140 is probably ideal, but you'll get some decent quality bits, some bad quality. It is a gamble.

If you wanted to spend money well, an actual Honda CRF80 might be do-able.

Then again a chinese 125 crosser style bike will be just as 'reliable' as a pit, but would be decent sized, depends on the size of the early teen.

MarJay · But it's British! Joined: 15 Sep 2003 Karma :

Stomp are OK, the good ones are WPB, M2R and Symoto but they tend to be more money. I had a Stomp, and it was OKish.

It depends what you want to do with it really. Off road? Supermoto racing?

What the racers do is buy something middling and replace everything and then race, or buy from a specialist.

Do they need automatic or manual box etc?
____________________
British beauty: Triumph Street Triple R; Loony stroker: KR1S; Track fun: GSXR750 L1; Commuter Missile: GSX-S1000F
Remember kids, bikes aren't like lego. You can't easily take a part from one bike and then fit it to another.

A100man · World Chat Champion Joined: 19 Aug 2013 Karma :

Hi Chaps thanks

Teens are small for their age 4' 10" (13 this month) - 5' 3" (14) max (but still growing).

Usage would be for crossing fields maybe set up a few ramps to jump over each other Wink

etc..

No racing planned. TBH this is more 'our' idea than theirs.

I was raring to go at 14 and was already painting, fettling my Fizz at 15.. but these guys are hopeless. If it doesn't work out the market doesn't look bad for second hand and I will have only lost a few hundred quid trying.

I figured 110cc 3 speed semi-auto or 4 speed manual would be a good place to start.

Cheers
____________________
Now: A100, GT250A, XJ598, FZ750

Then: Fizz, RS200, KL250, XJ550, Laverda Alpina, XJ600, FZS600

MarJay · But it's British! Joined: 15 Sep 2003 Karma :