I'm looking for sub $500 pit bike. Here are criteria.

Needs to make at least 6 HP. Needs to be lightweight and easy to put into back of a pickup with camper shell. Easy to maintain. And look cool.

Any ideas?

Have you see what they are asking for old ones? Dont think I'll find one cheap

I think this may be close to what you are looking for. Even if the motor needs a rebuild, your local lawn mower repair guy can do it for a couple hundred bucks. Heck, 8HP Briggs and Stratton... you could climb trees with that thing. Long seat version that will fit bigger guys, like us. Not all that tough to just throw in the back of the truck or strap onto the front of a trailer. Tube frame forks in front could be made into a chopper real easy or just use it as is. Vintage look.

ooops... forgot the link http://sfbay.craigslist.org/eby/mcy/1584673091.html

If you want to put it together yourself, you can do something like we did.

Click to view attachment

125 lifan (Chinese made honda clone) on a CRF 50 style frame. With scooter tires, its a great pit bike.

We bought all the parts and put the thing together. Around $500 not including shipping and supermoto (scooter) tires.

Wicked fast!

I think you can find cheaper ones as well but check the quality....

My son recently bought a '78 honda XL 75 in excellent shape AND street legal for $500 on CL.

um.. Grant? is this for you?


B

Grant, there's a motorcycle recycler in Hayward that has used bikes - I don't know what they are - in front. I'm sure you can find them on the internet.


Jim

um yeah. need something for hillclimbs when im doing cousre work. ``and Im a lot more agile than I look.

Grant, Arnt you like 6'6?

Those mini pit bikes probably wont fit you well...

No I'm 6'4 and I have ridden more full size mini bikes (CT 70) with no issue

Vespa LX 50 or ET2. You can find these for 500-750 in rough shape.

Next would be a Honda Elite 50 or 80, these can also be had for similar cash. You have to look. If you were out here, it would be a different thing. I find stuff like that all the time in the east.

For a good pit bike, you want a few things. Automatic, ability to start the unit with a kick start because you won't charge the battery between race weekends, and one that is easy to clean the carb, because...you won't drive it between race weekends.


My ride, Aprilia SR50 Carb model, not a ditech or Purejet. Its easy and always runs.......

Good luck, don't buy anything you are not ready to lose, and don't let any jackass ride it, they will crash......


Erik

Vespa is more like it... Grant's zip code is more that way..

A dude here in the 'hood had a really nice longboard skateboard with a hand throttle for an electric motor... that would be cool too...

Living out in the country I suspect I will ride between weekends. Automatic is probably a good thing as my wife will want to ride it as well. and I'm type of person who doesnt care if a jack ass drives my scooter. thats why I'm trying for $500 budget.

...and my zipcode is more of a vintage Husqvarna or JawaCZ bike than Vespa. 10 miles south in socialist republic of Santa Cruz Vespas are considered hip.

Yeah I was looking at skateboards and little motorized scooters. Mini bikes are sort of hillclimb standard issue.

Found this for $575 + shipping 125cc motor.

I want one!


KT

"You take that thing off any sweet jumps?" It looks like fun and with a 125cc could be dangerous in the wrong (or right?) hands.

Napoleon Dynamite reference, not sure if that movie and this forum share a demographic.

Yeah it is flipping sweet!

10" or 12" wheels?

careful grant, the 125 will flip you over and pound you into the ground like a hammer.... if your not careful.








don't ask how I know....




still its a blast for a pit bike. there are kits for headlights, brake lights and turn-signals..... for those late night hill climb runs....

http://www.procycle.us/dskits/dskit.htm

I used to ride some fairly quick little 2 cycle bikes like a Jawa CZ. Although its been 35 years since I rode one. LOL! Never forget my first time on the Jawa went flying into a huge blackberry patch as I was used to power of my little SL 70. Jawa was just a little quicker! I may not look it but I'm pretty good at wrangling anything on 2 or 4 wheels.

Playing with the CT70 clone idea as well.

http://www.68customs.com/ct70.htm

I have found the new CT 70 clones with 90cc to 125cc motors going for as low as $1000. They range from $999 to about $1500.

http://www.retrobikes.com/ct70/ct70.php
http://shop.pitsterpro.com/2009pitsterclassic125.asp
x

Probably a safer more practical option for me too! I'm just price shopping. Some of them include shipping.

Decided to go with CT70 clone but its a 125cc with disc brakes 4 speed auto. Little over $1000 delivered. Just needs Honda Trail decals and I'll be set. LOL!

I'm learning these are sort of the mystery meat of pit bikes. Will see what arrives. I went with company with verifiable address and it was one of cheapest. So if it shows up with front disc brake and 125cc motor I'll be happy. Rear brake is traditional drum.

Maybe I need to find Porsche decals and call it a tiptronic trail bike.

Well buggy guys have doodlebug minibikes with 6 hp motors so I need something that can keep up with them up the hill. Its a hillclimb thing. Little pit bike races are also part of festivities. Figure I'll have a sleeper with a 125.

I know it isn't a water cooled 5 valve 125cc like the dirt bikes but that is probably a good thing as they are all over 30hp. Should still be pretty nippy though, has to be at least 10hp I would think.

I am beginning to wonder if you have this whole racing thing backwards though. I thought the big engine in the small vehicle was the one that you are suppose to race, not use as a support vehicle Oh wait I have it now, the fast pit bike is just an excuse to put a 2.9L in the Boxster because you can't have pit bike was getting too close to outrunning the Boxster

Honestly I would have been be happy with 90cc motor but 125 cc equipped bikes came with more upgrades and I negotiated lowest price I could find on the internet for 90cc bike on a 125cc with a local supplier. And because they arent street legal in California I got huge discount. Bike cost under $1000 and it will be fully assembled/tested by a local reseller in Santa Clara. They will offer 6 month parts and labor warranty on the bike for free!

Apparently these will be in short supply soon due to not being approved by CARB for street use in California. I wasnt really considering riding on the street and I have miles of dirt trails right out my front door that I will likely go explore when I get it. . Guys selling them locally think the manufacturer will discontinue them in favor of scooters which seem to sell better and already have CARB cert. Funniest part is that all the motor parts are designed to work with a real CT 70 which still drives aftermarket parts sales. So I'm not too worried about gettng parts for this little replica in the future.

Now I need to find Honda Trail decals. I'm supposed to be getting a red one.

Real pit bikes are junk unless you spend the money for a good one. I would go old school and find a Honda CB200 to CB350. Small, light weight, classic look, way more comfortable than a pit bike, and relatively cheap.

I was hesitant to go bigger than traditional mini bike with CT70 clone. CB200 while a nice little motorcyle would be way too big and heavy for my purposes. They are easily 300 lbs. I look at pit bikes as being under 200 lbs and having seat hieht under 30 inches.

My little Lifan powered CT70 clone only weigts 164 lbs. Lots of old hondas out there with Lifan motor transplants that are running very well. Lots of Japanese made parts on my little clone as well. Obviously quality wont be that of a new or used Honda, but I think most would be suprised at value these bikes bring if you take proper steps to asure no debris is in fuel tanks, replace all fluids with good quality stuff, etc. I have talked to people who have same bike and they report very few problems.

And to finish off the replica 70's trail bike retro style easy rider helmets for the Sheilah and I. She's wearing a helmet while I teach her to ride this thing. Figured I would need one too.

I especially like the rear rack. Great for hauling a toolbox/cooler etc...

Brought her home today. Rolled it off back of the truck. With much anticpation - havent rode motorcycle or minibike for 30 years So being cautious type I jumped on started it up and hung a wheelie in first gear. Whoo hoo!

YEA BABY!!! Very cool

And the next thing we know is the PB is for sale and Grant is hanging out on the Motocross forums

Just couldn't help but note that a Husqvarna is from Sweden and a CZ from Czechoslovakia (some socialist humor for you....)

LOL! This is so wrong in so many ways.

I don't know. In my area you'd have to paint it black and put some Harley decals on it

In my area you'd have to put a big ol' lock on it... ha ha ha