Getting on a pit bike - what the Russian market offers

A pit bike is a rather strange modern motorcycle, closest in class to a cross-country bike, but distinguished by its cheapness and simplicity of design. In Russia and around the world, pit-bike is considered more like a children's motorcycle, the initial stage of motocross. But in fact, a pit bike is something more.

Short story

The history of pit-bike began not so long ago - in the late 1990s, such motorcycles first appeared in California, the most "motorcycle" state in the United States. Most likely, experienced bikers decided to introduce their young children to two-wheeled vehicles, and started with a cross-country class. The name of the class appeared even earlier. At that time, bicycle mini-equipment was used on race tracks as internal transport for personnel. Mechanics, and often the drivers themselves, with their help, quickly moved around the territory of the race track or between the boxes of the teams in the pit lane.

Gradually, motorcycles with small displacement engines spread to other US states. Honda quickly responded to demand by releasing the first factory device of this class - the Honda XR50. It is this four-stroke small machine that is still considered the standard in the pit bike class.

Other well-known Japanese manufacturers could not stand aside by releasing models:

• ? Yamaha TT-R50E and TT-R110E
  
• ? Suzuki DR-Z70
  
• ? Kawasaki KLX110
  

Almost immediately, the Chinese joined in, releasing a huge number of clones of children's pit bikes.



Considered the potential in a new class of motorcycles and Guy Cooper - a former champion in motocross. His company Xtreme first improved Japanese models with Chinese parts, and then began to order devices from the Celestial Empire already with tuning.
Since 2004, USA Motortoys has also started ordering children's motorcycles from China and selling them under the Pitster Pro brand. By the way, these pit bikes are now actively sold in Russia.

The most popular brands of pit bikes in Russia

In Russia, almost 100% of Chinese-made pit-bikes sold. It doesn’t matter which country the company belongs to, almost always these are Chinese devices, branded or assembled in the Middle Kingdom for a third-party brand.

Chinese motorcycle manufacturers represented in Russia:

• ? Kayo
  
• ? B.S.E.
  
• ? Mikilon
  

Next to purely Chinese brands, you can also put Pitster Pro from the USA.



It is most profitable in Russia to sell pit bikes from the Middle Kingdom under their own brands, this is done by:

• ? Irbis
  
• ? J.M.C.
  
• ? C.Moto
  
• ? Navy
  
• ? Patron
  
• ? Forsage and so on
  

Of all the brands listed above, KAYO makes the best pit bikes. This manufacturer has its own testing ground and engineering division.



Motorcycles of this class can be divided into children's and adults, or recreational and sports, or you can use two classifications at once.

But pit bikes of Japanese manufacturers are not officially represented on the Russian market. This is logical - for most Russians, these are children's toys. Nobody wants to overpay 2-3 times more for a Honda or Yamaha, if you can take the same outwardly Chinese motorcycle.
With a strong desire, you can order Japanese pit bikes through official dealers.



By purchasing a branded motorcycle from a Japanese manufacturer, the owner will receive reliability, durability and quality. But there is no demand for such devices, except that some enthusiasts order used equipment from Japan.

Pit bike design

Externally, all pit-bikes have the same design. The most important thing is a powerful frame made of thick pipes, which must withstand tough use and occasional jumps. The frame is of a spatial type, the driver's steps of the "correct" motorcycles depart directly from the frame.

Suspensions for pit bikes are necessarily long-stroke, the shock absorber is hard - the motorcycle must withstand jumps and tough off-road operation. The wheels are only spoked - cast ones do not withstand strong impacts and crack. The rims must be reinforced, off-road tires, "toothy", with an aggressive tread shape.

The quality of components for Chinese motorcycles is floating, so you should not focus on any brands, especially since the Chinese do not use suspensions, brakes and other components of world brands. Often there are no lighting equipment on pit bikes.



Separation of pit-bike can also be used:

• ? enduro
  
• ? motards
  
• ? Cross
  

The most durable motorcycles for cross-country. Motards are equipped with lighting equipment and shod with road tires - such bikes are suitable for urban use.


The engines that are put on the pit-bike are all clones of old Japanese engines from the 1970s and 80s. The most popular clones from Honda of various series. Engines have been produced for more than 10 years, they are structurally simple, and there is nothing special to break. Given the low quality of the metal, the motors do not cause any complaints even in Russia, where they are subjected to increased loads. And the weight of local riders is much more than that of the average Chinese.

China engine manufacturers:

• ? Yinxiang
  
• ? Zongshen
  
• ? Lifan
  

As for Lifan, it’s difficult here - the company went bankrupt, and what will happen next is still unknown. Although, the company's motorcycle division is likely to remain.

The most popular pit bike engine is Yinxiang, according to statistics, 35 percent of pit bikes are equipped with such motors, regardless of displacement.



As for the complexity of the design, the level of equipment and the price, it all depends on the working volume and “childishness”. The smallest pit bikes with 50cc engines can even be started with a rope starter. Accordingly, the price of such equipment will be minimal, on a par with minibikes.

The most popular pit bikes from Japanese manufacturers

I would like to say a few words about Japanese devices, which Chinese manufacturers initially focused on. The cost of these motorcycles is high, so in Russia it is possible to buy them only on order, and even then, the issue will have to be resolved with dealers.

The Honda CRF50F is the first mass-produced pit bike still in production. Motorcycle companies from the Middle Kingdom looked up to him. The simplest device with a three-speed gearbox and automatic clutch. It has an electric starter and, unexpectedly, an inverted plug.

Honda CRF70F - "big brother" of the CRF50F, suitable for older children. A sharp device thanks to the engine displacement of 70 cm3. At the same time, it costs less than the “youngest”, differing in a less rich bundle.

Yamaha TT-R50E is a model based on the Honda CRF50F.

Yamaha TT-R110E - thanks to a powerful engine, an "evil" pit bike, not recommended for beginners. It differs from other motorcycles from Japanese manufacturers with a four-speed gearbox.



Kawasaki KLX110 - high-speed pit-bike. Respected in the USA, where it is used by numerous custom builders for tuning.

It is easy to buy a pit bike in Russia, but this only applies to devices of Chinese origin. You will have to run after the Japanese, but is it worth it? Kids grow up fast on these bikes, and adults would be better off buying a motocross model or a full-fledged motard.