| Motorcycles and Twowheelers: Motorcycle hobby and interest - "Mini Moto Mayhem" Wednesday, 20 August, 2008 | Home | Suggest a Link |
Formula 1 Fantasy LeagueMini Motos have been around in the UK for around ten years now. The first bikes were cobbled together with parts that were already available. Small 2 stroke engines, mainly from garden machinery, were used. This type of engine is still used today for a few models and is referred to as an ‘industrial’ engine. But now the mini moto has been given an overhaul and has taken off in popularity.
Mini Motos are true miniatures of their larger Superbike cousins. All of the details that go into the high performance motorcycles of today are scaled down. The slick tires, the race replica bodywork and the “superbike” colours are all present. Although usually only 15 to 18 inches in height and weighing 35 to 55 pounds, it can be difficult to tell they’re not full size when looking at them from a distance. The exactness of detail adds to their 'coolness' and is most certainly what has raised them to such heights of popularity.
Although beautiful, Mini Motos go well beyond being mere exquisite scale models. Advanced engineering has catapulted them to high-performance levels at only slightly outrageous prices. European companies like Blata and Polini sell units for £1200-£2000 but less expensive and arguably less reliable ones are made by Chinese manufacturers and cost £180-£400.
Most models have two-stroke, 47cc engines, which run on a combination of petrol and two stroke oil. Despite the awkward-looking position it takes to mount one, they are a sheer joy to ride. The short wheelbase and overall low weight give them a lightning-fast turn and the thrill of riding so fast and so close to the terra firma is indeed intoxicating.
Safety measures are a must when riding Mini Motos. Gloves, elbow pads, knee pads, a leather suit and a helmet should all be worn for each and every ride. Without them, road rash is quite likely and worse injuries are possible.
Despite the size of these little wonders, adults are getting them for their kids - but more commonly for themselves. Normal models can regularly go 35mph, although parents can set them to max out at much slower speeds, or … modify them to go faster. Moreover, models with more powerful engines are available. A GRC RX with 15hp 50cc engine by GRC Moto can be purchased for a mere £1999.
The Mini Moto explosion shows no signs of ending anytime soon and MM racing leagues have been in practice in the UK for around seven years now.
The Mini Moto Racing Association offers the following categories for you to test your Mini Moto.
Junior Lights (4.2 hp) Age 6 - 15 up to 35.9 Kg
Junior Cadets (4.2 hp) Age 6 - 15 over 36 Kg
Junior Production Age 9 - 15 no weight limits
Lightweight Production Age 16 + up to 74.9 Kg
Senior Production Age 16 + over 75 Kg
4.2 Senior Age 16 + no weight limits
Supers Age 16 + no weight limits
Race meetings are held around to the country at Go Kart and Mini Moto Tracks. There are also many ‘Arrive and Drive’ practice sessions hosted by tracks around the UK.
The latest craze worldwide is purchasing and racing Pocket Bikes.
However, these can be very dangerous to the inexperienced rider. These bikes are not toys and should never be underestimated.
The bikes that are more powerful and expensive are strictly built for experienced adult riders, not children looking for a joyride. These bikes are built sleek and fast for racing. They have power of 9.5 hp or 12+ hp - these models are definitely suggested for professional racers only.
Due to the incredible power to weight ratio, if you have no previous experience with these bikes, take safety precautions and educate
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With the popularity of shows like Orange County Choppers where we watch Pauly and his dad argue while building hot rod motorcycles, magazines about building hot rod bikes are gaining in popularity. There are two magazines in print today that specialize in providing editorial reviews about hot rod street bikes.
These two magazines are similar in subject but offer slightly different perspectives. Hot Rod Bikes is for the person who loves to work on his own hot rod motorcycle as well as to ride. Hot Rod Bikes provides instructions on how to modify your factory bike to suit your taste. It
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Choosing the parts that your custom chopper will be made of can be very confusing, considering the large numbers of custom chopper bike kits available on the market today. Chopper innovators like Biker’s Choice, Phantom Cycle, Paul Yaffe and many more sell chopper-in-a-box kits available for chopper enthusiasts. Thanks to these kits, custom choppers have become quite affordable and are no longer necessarily toys for millionaires or master mechanics.
Custom chopper kits provide the future chopper owner with all the instructions and just about every component necessary to create a perfect chopper of ones dreams. Jesse James, famous for his
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Weeks before I'm ready to leave on a long motorcycle trip, I start getting excited. Often I get to the point where I can't think of anything else.
Unfortunately, this doesn't mean that I spend the time getting prepared for it. I usually put this off to the very end. I've learned, however, over the years that this means that my packing never matches what I will really need for the trip. Proof: last year I was in Sturgis with nothing more than a sweatshirt and leather vest riding around in 45 to 55 degree weather. DUMB MOVE.
Anyway, to
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With bike week just around the corner, bikers from all over the country are pulling their motorcycles out of winter storage and cleaning up their leathers in anticipation of a motorcycle rally like no other. While Daytona is definitely the place to be the week of March 5th, Florida offers some great stretches of road through pristine landscapes to some great biker destinations.
About an hour and a half north of Daytona on A1A lies the bustling beach community of Jacksonville Beach, which is where we will meet for the start of our road trip- because, well, that's where I'm
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