What are mini dirt bikes?

As the name suggests, mini dirt bikes are basically small dirt bikes. They have quite a lot less power than a standard dirt bike but appear virtually the same. Costing much less than a full size, full power dirt bike they are perfect for your budding Motocrosser and becoming very popular with children of all ages.

How do mini dirt bikes differ from standard dirt bikes?

Apart from the fact that they are normally designed to carry only ten stone in weight and are much smaller than a normal dirt bike, a mini dirt bike has a lot less power; normally around a 47cc two-stroke engine. They obviously have all the working parts and are designed as well as a 250cc, and because they weigh less and carry less it is still possible to get a quite impressive 70kph out of them.

The petrol tank is much smaller holding only around 1 litre of petrol and seat height ranges from 500 to 600 mm off the ground. They have full shock suspension and brakes and are perfectly safe to drive as long as a reasonable amount of care and safety is used.

Are mini dirt bikes really safe?

As with any motor powered bike, or car for that matter, there is an element of danger involved and proper safety measures should be taken into consideration especially if you are buying one for your child. It is advised not to let pre teens ride a mini dirt bike because they can still do considerable speed and offer little in protection in the event of a crash.

A helmet and safety suit should be worn an at all times when riding a mini dirt bike, and riding without these is dangerous and fool hardy. As long as you pay close attention to the safety of the rider, though, mini dirt bikes are incredibly good fun and a really good way to get the adrenalin pumping.

How much do mini dirt bikes cost?

The bike itself is comparatively inexpensive, when compared to a full size dirt bike, and you can expect to pay anywhere between £150 and £300 (roughly $300 and $600) depending on the make, model and specifications you require. You also need to buy a strong helmet and protective clothing if you want to take this seriously and safely. These can vary dramatically in price dependant on whether you want the outfit to match the bike, whether you buy a well-known brand and whether you buy new or used.

Obviously you have to pay for petrol but this is next to nothing because a two-stroke 47cc engine will literally run for miles on a litre of petrol. Apart from that, repairs or new parts are really the only other price you need to take into consideration and again, these are relatively inexpensive.