Over the past decade, 50cc pit bikes (and its associated higher power models) have become a popular recreational vehicle across the US and other parts of the world. With the advent of mini bikes over the past several years their potential for competitive sports such as racing and freestyle stunts has amassed into a burgeoning sports culture, with the trend continuing to grow in popularity and size as the years progress. As more companies have realized their potential, several runs of models have entered the market, producing an increasing variety of brands and model types to choose from. This leaves prospective buyers with numerous options to choose from and the opportunity to test run several models before deciding which one suits them best.
While pit bikes may have originated from their associated competitive field, their appeal is not limited to purely sporting purposes, but is proving to be an attractive market towards young people for simple leisure as well. Many factors contribute to this fact, the most predominant one being that 50cc pit bikes are relatively inexpensive and cheap to maintain. This allows for several permanent pit bike tracks to become established and host races on a regular basis, or to simply accommodate for non-competitive gatherings, turning the sport and its associated lifestyle into a profitable business. This area is particularly strong among families and young children, where the bikes are targeted towards kids as well as older teens.
Many established businesses operate around the US, along with a number of devoted online pit bike clubs. Many of these clubs gather on a regular basis for race meets and general leisurely engagements, while also maintaining active forums with regular posts topics such as maintenance, buying or selling and other troubleshooting queries.
50cc pit bikes come with an automatic transmission and a 2.5 liter oil tank. With its modest, yet powerful small motor, they can reach speeds of up to 40mph and possibly more. The oil tank well accommodates for long endurance races and makes for a relatively low running cost. Other common features include disc brakes, a handlebar ignition/kill-switch and well-fitted tires suited for rough terrain. The suspension generally refrains from being too tight, so as to provide a safe and comfortable ride. In terms of safety, pit bikes generally feature a heat shield to absorb the hot temperatures emitted from the exhaust, along with air-cooling inside the engine as well. Insurance is available for pit bikes and is generally low cost, as a result of its small engine size and light weight exterior.
The general exterior of 50cc pit bikes are relatively simple, a testament to its priority towards practicality over aesthetics. This logical method of production applies to several of the bike’s characteristics. Its minimalistic frame design makes it easy for work to be performed on the engine, creating less hassle when it becomes necessary for parts to be disassembled. Shock absorbers are generally found in the bottom rear of most pit bikes, and are used to cushion the impact of landings or to maintain a smooth ride in particularly rough terrain that features several bumps and faults.
