All
about Minibikes and Pocketbikes
by
Gisbert Oskam
For
those who were too small or too young to grip the handles
of a motorcycle, minibikes were a worthy alternative.
Minibikes were about 4 feet tall, weighed as little as
65 pounds, and had wheels about 10 inches in diameter.
With a frame like that, they didn't go very fast - but
no one seemed to care.
As
minibikes progressed, they soon came available with engines,
brakes, suspension and headlights. They became more popular
for off-roading than to race. Minibikes managed well in
rough terrain and were not damaged with a fall.
Because
of the small size of the bikes and the young age of the
drivers, minibikes were outlawed on main roads. Children
began seriously injuring themselves by driving on streets
where cars could not see them. By 1973, with the law was
much stricter with minibikes and with the first generation
of enthusiasts graduating to real motorcycles, minibikes
purchases slowly started to fade.
Now
however, there is a whole new generation that has discovered
the fun-factor of the mini bike or pocket bike. The latest
trend is to get a minibike and then totally customize
it into a super pocket bike. All kinds of accessories
are available to facilitate this. Think custom saddles,
headlights, chrome -everything- and of course engine kits
to increase the power of the mini motor bike.
With
these fun mini bikes getting more and more faster and
more popular then ever, some cities have banned the mini
motor bikes on city streets and sidewalks. Others have
adopted strict safety rules. For instance, California
requires riders of motorized scooters be at least 16 years
old and wear helmets, and the state does not allow riding
after sunset.
Although
there has been an increased number of complaints about
the motorized "pocket rockets", for instance the pocket
bikes would be "low to the ground and hard to see around
cars and trucks", and "they're noisy", the new pocket
rockets and super mini bikes have never been more popular,
and probably will be for some time...
Gisbert
Oskam is webmaster and editor of: http://www.about-minibikes.com
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