Different Pocket Bikes

Black Pocket Bike	Blue Pocket Bike
Burgundy Pocket Bike	Yamaha Camel Pocket Bike
Honda Fortuna Pocket Bike	LCR Pocket Bike
Ducati Alice Pocket Bike	Konica Minolta Pocket Bike
Kawasaki Ninja Pocket Bike	Honda Repsol Pocket Bike
Rizla Pocket Bike	Shell Pocket Bike

Custom Sprayed Pocket Bikes

Do you have a big bike and would like a matching pocket bike?

What Is A Pocket Bike?

Pocket bikes are real miniaturized versions of GP racing motorcycles. They are manufactured in Japan, Europe and China. Italy and other European countries call pocket bikes: "mini motos". While Japan and the rest of the world call them: "pocket bikes". The names pocket bike and mini moto are interchangeable.

Pocket bikes can come with full-fairing... just like a full scale GP motorcycles... and some come with half-fairing like the GT style race bikes (Fairing is the plastic cover that goes over the frame of the bike). Pocket bikes come in two sizes: mini and midi. There is no official definition of the sizes, but mini sized pocket bikes have approximately a 27inch wheelbase, and the midis have a 30inch wheelbase. The mini models are approximately 40 inches long, 12 inches wide, and the seat height is about 16 inches off the ground. They weigh approximately 40 - 50 lbs. (19 Kg). The midi size models are approximately 10% bigger than the minis.

90% of people who can fit on a midi pocket bike can comfortably ride a mini one. But larger people prefer to ride a midi. Mini pocket bikes are by far the most popular ones.

To the average on looker, pocket bikes, may look like cute little toys, but they definitely are not toys. They're purpose built racing machines. The experience of riding one is very similar to riding a full-size bike. On the racetrack the slick tires and high speeds mean you can "scrape your knee" round corners just like on a real bike. However, the short wheelbase and the lightness of them mean that they turn and change direction much quicker than a full size bike.

Pocket bikes are powered by single cylinder two-stroke pull-start engines. These engines can have different states of tune, producing between 2 and a whooping 15 Horse Power!

Some of the engines in pocket bikes are known as "industrial" engines, like the ones you find in garden machinery like a weed wacker. And some are full-on purpose built and tested racing engines. Pocket bikes don't have gears; they have a centrifugal clutch, which means all you have to do is twist the throttle and you take off.

Pocket bikes don't have suspension, headlights, electric starters or any other extraneous items on them. Their frames are made out of tubular steel or spar alloy. The brakes on pocket bikes are cable operated disk brakes. And they have treaded or slick tubeless tires on a 6-inch wheel.

Pocket bike racing is very popular in Europe and Japan. In some European countries and in Japan this type of bike enjoys the same level of popularity that normally associated with indoor activities such as free bingo and bowling. Kids start racing pocket bikes as young as 6 years old. In fact, current world Moto GP champion: Valentino Rossi learnt to ride when he started racing pocket bikes when he was 12 years old. No wonder he's world champ! Pocket bikes have been around for many years, however it's only recently that it has become popular in the USA, and other westernized countries.

The key feature, that separates this model from others, is it's "removable swing arm"

The swing arm is the key to identifying this model from the other mini size Pocket Bikes. What's the removable swing arm for? Well you can remove the swing by un-screwing a few bolts - which makes working on the engine and the carburetor a lot faster and easier

Other distinct design features on the swing arm model include the: chain guard on the bottom of the swing arm, the bolt on seat, and the chain guard in the middle of the bike.

The Tools and Hardware Required

Your pocket bike comes with a toolkit that contains a set of tools which you can use to pull your pocket bike apart with. However you may also want to go down to your local hardware store and buy some higher quality tools (if you don't already own some) to make the job easier...

Here's a list of the tools required to maintain your pocket bike:

• A set of Allen Keys
• A 17mm, 10mm and 8mm open-ended spanner
• A small and large Philips head screwdriver
• A flat blade screwdriver
• Some plastic containers to keep your nuts and bolts in

You will also need some clear space to work in. A workbench is very helpful and makes the job easier. If you don't have a workbench then some space on your garage floor will be fine.

Racing Pocket Bikes

Racing these pocket bikes can be the most fun you can have on two wheels. Because of their smaller size, less space is needed to sanction your own competitive events. Below are some suggestions and pointers for those new to the sport that has been popular for many years in Europe and Japan.

Suggestions for your own events:

• Gather a few of your friends for some sunny and clear daytime racing.
• Find an abandoned parking lot or get permission from businesses that have big parking lots; Schools, College Campuses, Malls, Plazas and Event Stadiums are some suggestions.
• Make sure the pavement is dry and smooth with minimal concrete parking stops, speed bumps and islands. The best racing grounds are those without any of the above obstacles.
• Make sure there are no other moving vehicles, animals or people that may obstruct your racing route.
• Buy miniature pylons and cones (even shopping plastic bags with a bit of sand in it)' to set up your track. Twenty should be sufficient to set up a decent sized track.
• When riding, and especially when racing, make sure you are wearing the proper safety equipment in case of an accident.

Basics of riding fast:

• Make sure your bike is well maintained and well lubed. Proper tire pressure, chain tension and alignment, gas mixture and throttle adjustment can make a big difference in speed between two otherwise identical bikes.
• Cleaning your air filter and spark plug regularly can also keep your bike running at its optimal speed.
• Adjust the handlebars to the height and angle you feel most comfortable when riding and cornering. This will help in your speed and endurance during a long race.

Basics in cornering:

• The physics of these miniature bikes are the same as their larger counterparts, only on a smaller scale.
• It is best to adjust your foot pegs so that it will not come in contact with the ground as you lean your bike into a turn.
• Never use your rear brake in a turn. Locking up the rear brake in the middle of a turn can cause your bike to slide and then high-side.
• When approaching a sharp turn, gradually lean your bike into the turn along with your body weight. Everything should happen smoothly with no abrupt moves. As you hit the apex of the turn, you can gently and progressively tip in the throttle for the highest exit speed.
• A common practice in taking a very sharp turn is to look for a virtual fulcrum (or pivot point), pretend to anchor yourself to that point with a string, and tether yourself through the turn using that point.
• With practice, many riders are able to lean the bike through a turn, dragging the inside knee on the ground. This is done to give the rider an idea of where his or her bike is relative to the ground and provides the fastest cornering speeds.

Mplay Pocket Bike Safety Tips

• Before each use verify that there are no loose or missing parts, and that the brakes are working properly.
• Never ride your mini pocket bike or scooter at dusk or at night without appropriate lights.
• Avoid large hills. This may overheat the motor.
• Don't stunt ride.
• Avoid curbs, cobblestones and other rough surfaces.
• Never ride with more than one person on a pocket bike
• Wear an approved helmet at all times.
• Always wear protective gear such as elbow and knee pads. Make sure they are fastened properly.
• Always wear gloves that will protect the rider when falling. Many motorcycle gloves have extra protection for the knuckles and palms of your hands.
• Leathers are best if you are going to have a day of fun around a parking lot with your friends. The next best is a strong pair of jeans and a jacket.
• There must always be adult supervision when minors are riding.
• Never tie or hold your dog leash as you ride your bike while still connected with your pet.
• Don't ride in wet or icy conditions.
• Perform regular pocket bike maintenance to reduce the risk of riding mishaps.
• Avoid roadways, paths, or other areas that are used by motor vehicles.
• Ride in control at all times.

Upgrading Your Pocket Bike

There's a range of bolt-on performance parts you can buy and "bolt-on" to your Pocket bikes to make it go faster. You don't have to be a rocket scientist to do this, you just need a basic knowledge of 2-stroke engines and a bit of common sense.

At the moment there aren't that many upgrades for the Water- Cooled Cagami and the Banshee, but the ones that are listed make a huge difference. And these bikes are faster out-of-the-box then all the other pocket bikes on the market anyway.

These performance parts can be purchased at any good pocket bike shop. Check the resources section at the end of the book for shops in your country.

I've listed them in the order that you should buy them and install them on your pocket bike. Why? Because some upgrades only work when other upgrades have been done already. So if you're not going to buy the parts all at once, buy them and install them in the order I've listed them.

Also, if you're going to buy them all at once, i recommend installing one part at a time. After you install a part, start your bike up and test it to make sure it runs fine and the part is working. Then install the next part. Because if you install everything on at once... and then there's a problem or your bike won't start... you won't know which part or change you made it causing the problem.

Spark Plug

Without a spark your engine wont start! The spark plugs that come fitted are very average. Use high quality NGK spark plugs instead for a reliable spark.

Fuel Filter and Fuel Line

Get some high-flow fuel line that doesn't kink, and install a fuel filter on the line to keep your carby from getting blocked up with debris. The fuel filter goes in between the fuel line between the carby and the fuel tank. Any good pocket bike shop will sell fuel filters and fuel line. Alternatively you can go to a motorcycle shop and buy one there. Ask for the smallest fuel filter they've got.

Clutch Springs

The clutch controls when the power goes to the wheels. Simply put: it decides when the bike should start going forward. Pocket bikes have a centrifugal clutch. The drum of the clutch houses springs that are connected to some plates. This springs and plates spin around as you increase the throttle, and as the engine Revs higher and higher the springs get pulled out further and further, until the plates at the end of the springs eventually engage with the drum housing - sending the power to the wheels causing the bike to go forward. And here's where the clutch upgrade comes in... By installing stiffer clutch springs the pocket bike won't take off until the engine reaches a higher amount of revs... which means when the clutch engages your engine is reving harder and you take off faster.

The Big-Bore Kit

If you've measure your engine and you found out it's got the smaller head and piston, making it 40cc, then i recommend one of the first things you do is upgrade to the 49cc engine with the "big bore kit."

The big bore kit comes with a piston and cylinder that is 44mm (as opposed to the 40mm piston on the stock 40cc Cags), two piston rings, a gasket, and the G-clips you need to connect the con rod to the piston, and it upgrades your engine from 40cc to 49cc. I highly recommend you do this early on to take full advantage of all the other modifications you make.

High Performance Carburetor

This is an essential upgrade! The faster the carburetor can deliver the airfuel mixture into the head and cylinder the faster your engine can go and the faster your pocket bike will go! One of the best carbys is the "Dell'Orto 14mm SHA 14-14L" made by Pollini - the European pocket bike manufacturer. To fit this carby onto your pocket bike you will need a Blata 2.5 intake manifold. Which you can get from any shop selling Blata parts. You'll notice a big difference in performance after installing this carb. Don't forget you need the Blata 2.5 "intake manifold" to make it fit on.

Tuned-Pipe

A tuned-pipe is the best investment in performance you can make (if you have upgraded your carby as well). Installing a tune-pipe is like turbocharging your pocket bikes engine! However, to utilize the extra power a tunepipe can give your engine - you must also install a high performance carburetor - otherwise the tune-pipe cannot do its job properly.

How a tuned-pipe works:

A tuned-pipe harnesses the pressure waves that naturally come out of the combustion chamber... pulling an extra amount of fuel and air mixture out of the cylinder (into the tune pipe) and then... packing that extra fuel and air mixture back into the cylinder.

Reeds

Performance fiberglass and carbon fiber reeds open and close faster allowing the engine to reach higher RPM quicker. They also seal the fuel mixture in the crankcase better.

Reeds are made from either carbon fiber or fiberglass. From our experience the fiberglass ones seem to work a little better than the carbon fiber ones do.

For maximum performance the best reed setup is a "4 petal reed cage." The 4-petal reed cage will really boost your pocket bikes performance when you've made the other upgrades listed above. These are hard to come by so be sure to order them

Sprockets

Pocket Bikes come with 6/68 gearing. This means that the front sprocket has 6 teeth and the rear sprocket has 68 teeth. Changing the amount of teeth on the sprockets allows you to increase your top-end speed and sacrifice bottom-end speed, or increase your bottom-end speed and sacrificing top-end speed. Adding teeth to the front sprocket increases your top-end speed. Adding teeth to the back sprocket increases your bottom-end speed.

Most people only change the front sprocket because it makes the most difference.

Full-Circle Crank Shaft

(Note: this is an "advanced" upgrade the requires grinding work to the crank case so the full circle crank can fit in, you need to correctly space the cylinder also because the full circle crank increase the stroke length, and grinding work to the exhaust port is required.) Installing the full circle crank lets you engine rev a lot harder then it currently can now with only the half circle crank. It also increases the length of the stroke by 3mm, which means if you have installed a big bore kit already, it takes your engine size to 53cc! (Big Bore + Full Circle Crank = 53cc)

Riding a Mplay Pocket Bike could be dangerous and serious injuries are possible. Wear an ANSI or Snell approved helmet at all times when riding a Mplay Pocket Bike. Failure to wear an approved helmet may result in serious injury or death. Always be aware of the weather conditions before riding. The risk of accident is dramatically increased in wet conditions. Riding at dusk, after dark, or at times of poor visibility is dangerous and can result in serious injury or death since cars and other vehicles may not see rider. We are not responsible for any mishaps to rider. Rider, buyer and parents accept all risks.

With a little research and planning, this can be a very thrilling hobby.