Pit Bike? Options

[CJ-TA]

Do any of you use a pit bike?

Since I'm one of the event organizers/setup/tear down guys, I can blow through a 16g tank of diesel in a day just driving around the track, working corners, cones, etc.

I'm looking for #1: comments #2: suggestions.

#1: Are things like pit bikes 'acceptable' around race events? Please realize that I'm very sheltered at my local track and I'm sure we to tons of non 'PC' things. There are about 20 hard core guys that always race and we are all very comfortable with each other, so small things not directly related to safety tend to slide.

#2: I'm looking for a ~50cc pit bike/moped. Has to be small as I'm limited on space in my trailer.

I'm trying to max out at $1k, $5-700 is my preferred price range. Obviously I'm looking for something used. Street legal doesn't matter.. I don't want to have to pay for Title/Registration/Insurance if I can absolutely avoid it. Track only vehicle.

Does anyone have a small bike like this forsale... maybe to bring to nashville?

Thanks.

This post has been edited by CJ-TA: Jun 15 2007, 12:28 AM

[marka]

Howdy,

I've had a bunch of different pit bikes in one form or the other. Some stuff I've learned.

#1, a golf kart makes a heck of a lot better pit bike than any pit bike. Of course, it also takes a lot more room to get there...

#2, the cheapo "weedwacker" motor based pitbikes are pretty lame. Frame is super flexy/feels dangerous, they don't seem to run particularly well (or at least for particularly long), etc. There's a reason they're so cheap.

#3, a deal on a pit bike that doesn't run well doesn't seem like such a good deal when you're on the side of the track, trying to get the damn thing to start.

#4, while most tracks allow these things, some don't allow anything except street licenced vehicles.

#5, every now and then there's a quickie-mart close by the track, but you need to drive on the streets to get there.

#6, most tracks have places you want to go that aren't paved. Knobby or dual purpose tires are really nice.

All that in mind, I'd recommend getting a golf cart. If you can't carry a golf cart, then I'd recommend one of the 50cc "real" scooters like the Yamaha Zuma, in good condition. Heck, you can buy one brand new for $2k and when it has a problem, you can call the yamaha dealer, can finance it, etc. One a few years old will be a decent bit less, but probably not quite down to $1k.

If you really want to rebuild something, then get one of the '80's or so 60cc or whatever minibikes for kids. Older ones that need to be rebuilt are essentially given away, and they make a nice pitbike, with the exception of street legality. If you do the work yourself, you can rebuild them for pretty cheap, you just need to be willing to rebuild it.

Mark

[CJ-TA]

Thanks Mark...

I'd love a golf cart / 4 wheeler, but, I just don't have the room. A scooter/dirt bike is already going to take up more room than I think I'd like.

I know to stay away from the Chinese scooter crap.. but, wow! that stuff is *everywhere*.

I think that I've read that 50cc and smaller don't need to be 'registered' in Texas.. they are a powered bicycle or something. That gets me away from insurance as well.

I did look at the Zuma... in fact, there is one for sale in Dallas.

If I do buy new... do dealers charge TT+L for something like that? Tax, sure.. but, Title + license/registration? Any idea?

Thanks for the input.

[rmackintosh]

We use a Honda 80 Elite which is nice.....a little big, but has a lot of power.

Put it in the back of the trailer behind the race car. (IMG:http://www.frrax.com/rrforum/style_emoticons/default/cool2.gif)

[mitchntx]

I found a Honda XL100 motorcycle locally and snagged it for few hundred bucks.
Small, light and plenty big for a person of my displacement.

Downsides are you can't carry much of anything on it and you can't give someone a lift somewhere.

[rpoz-29]

Once in a while I'll see a Kawasaki KE 100 for sale pretty cheap. Two stroke, air cooled, street legal, 5 speed. They were still being built, (and may still be), until just recently. I think it was the last street legal two stroke made. It's only real oddity being nuetral is at the bottom. That is, "5 up", rather than the typical "1down, 4 up".

[CMC#5]

One of the guys in California was selling Chinese import dirt bikes. These things were about $700 brand new and looked really good. They're Honda ripoffs (lots of parts interchangeability). They were very very nice for the money. They also came in handy for giving umbrella girls rides around the paddock. (IMG:http://www.frrax.com/rrforum/style_emoticons/default/2thumbs.gif)

I wouldnt buy anything that doesnt have electric start.

[pknowles]

I'm waiting for BigEnos or Sam to chime in because a friend of ours named Mike Snyder has IMO the perfect pit bike, but I have no idea what it is other then a Yamaha. It's light, has enough power and doesn't have all the excessive body work that makes most pit bikes heavy and hard to load onto a trailer.

[DRD T-bone]

I had a 49 cc minibike (the ones that look like mini-crotch rockets) that did pretty well (until it got stolen!). It was pretty loud and annoying but was a blast to ride!

[BigEnos]

I'm waiting for BigEnos or Sam to chime in because a friend of ours named Mike Snyder has IMO the perfect pit bike, but I have no idea what it is other then a Yamaha. It's light, has enough power and doesn't have all the excessive body work that makes most pit bikes heavy and hard to load onto a trailer.

Yamaha QT50. Other than the brakes (which seem to constantly need attention) it's indestructable. 50cc, shaft drive, light. Starts with an easy kick. Whenever I go to NYC I see lots of them being used as courier bikes. That says a lot. They seem to get all the money on Ebay, too, but every now and then you'll see one for a good deal.

[12secSS]

We bought a pair of chinese knock off Honda quads (Boreem Motorsports), for the pits. They are small 110cc quads, 3 pseed semi auto, reverse, lights ... very nice. I sometime pull my wifes drag race car with it (3000lbs) without a problem. We used them at WSIR to get around the hill sides, heck our friends also used them to get around. Very versatile and we got them for about $1500/ea brand new. We will occassional take them out to the OHV areas as well to relax and sight see. (IMG:http://www.frrax.com/rrforum/style_emoticons/default/smile.gif)

[mitchntx]

I was looking at those. But was concerned about a centrigal clutch and dragging around the car's weight being the achilles heel.

[CJ-TA]

I ended up buying a Go-Ped GSR25. It folds small for easy storage. $600.