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Up until today, we’ve ignored a staple in the world of Full Send: the cheap pit bike. While it’s not exactly a full-sized motorcycle, pit bikes are essential to the Full Send lifestyle. What better steed to have available on a hot summer day, when you and your pals have some surplus dirt sitting around? Need something to put around the racetrack? The campground? Or, if you’re like us…contemplating a super-sketchy situation that might result in a crash? You need a cheap pit bike on hand to take the beating, sparing your money bikes. And no, you’re not weird for wanting a pit bike. These things have absolutely exploded in popularity. There are even leagues for pit bike racing!
TAO DB10 Review
Short for TAOTAO, these guys have become a staple in the world of the cheap pit bike. Tao’s DB10 is a proven winner in the sub-$1,000 category. This little pit bike features a rugged, aggressive style much like we’re used to seeing from the name-brand dirtbike retailers. Offered in a variety of colors, the DB10’s graphics design is unique, colorful, and beyond expectations for this price point. The air-cooled 110cc engine is coupled with disk brakes and aggressive dirt tires. The TAO DB10 is big fun in a small package.
SYX Moto Holeshot Review
Syx Moto is quickly becoming one of our favorite pit bike brands. Be sure to check out our full Syx Moto review. Coming in even smaller than the TAO, the SYX Moto Holeshot is possibly our favorite 49cc cheap pit bike. This is the perfect little 50cc bike to pick up for those random summertime thrashing sessions. The SYX Moto 50 comes with a variety of nice features that we honestly didn’t expect from such a cheap pit bike such as a safety kill switch, disk brakes, and a speed limiter. (Editor’s note: Why would you need or want a speed limiter when the bike tops out around 25 mph?) Fair question. Moving on, the little 49cc power-plant has a pull start ignition system and a relatively cushy seat, where your butt rests around 21″ off the ground.
Apollo DB-X18 125cc Pit Bike Review
Now, things start to get exciting! Who said cheap pit bike options are limited to small cc tiny machines? No one ever! The 125cc DB-X18 is produced by Apollo, another Chinese motorcycle manufacturer to hit the scene recently. We must say, this is a really good looking little bike! Offered in blue, black, green, or red color schemes, the styling is both unique and aggressive. It is powered by a 4-stroke, 125cc air-cooled engine with a kick-start ignition. The 36.5″ seat height should make this pit bike a little more appealing to the rest of us “big guys”. Given the fact that it will max out around 55 mph on a nice, flat surface, the disk brakes should definitely come in handy! The fuel tank holds a little over a gallon, which is plenty for a day of send.
APOLLO 250cc AGB-36 Review
Now, you’re probably wondering…why is a 250cc dirt bike being brought up in a discussion about cheap pit bikes? That’s a fair question. While technically, the Apollo AGB-36’s four-stroke 250cc engine should probably disqualify it from the pit bike category, we couldn’t go without mentioning it here. Why? Because we live in the 21st century where cheap overseas manufacturing has driven down costs to the point that yes – you can literally pick one of these bad boys up and have it shipped to your front door for a fraction of what you might think. The AGB-36 comes with all the bells and whistles you could possibly ask for. The air-cooled 250cc thumper is backed by disk brakes, a manual clutch, and both kick- and electric-start options. With multiple color variations available, you can order to suit your particular style. Did we mention…this is a really good looking bike?
What is a pit bike used for?
Let’s start with that odd name…pit bike. It all began with Honda and an early ancestor to the Grom: the Honda Z50. It was so common for people to use these little bikes to zip around the pit areas at race events, that the term “pit bike” just began to stick! Heading into the late 90’s, pit bikes had become super popular with kids and adults alike. Honda’s Z50 had matured into the XR50 that we all know and love today. As the market continued to grow around the XR50, aftermarket manufacturers began to cash in on the trend with tons of different options that allowed fans to modify both the look and performance of their pit bike. As they became faster and more agile, the pit bike racing scene blew up right along with it. By the early 2000’s, Kawasaki had entered the market with their KLX110. This slightly bigger platform was an instant hit as it required fewer parts to make it comfortable for adults.
Questions to ask yourself before you buy
How do you plan to use it? Will you ride MX tracks, trails, or simply put around the local drag strip in between races? You want to make sure you pick up a bike that is well-suited for the type of riding you do, along with the environment.
Two-stroke or four? Just in case you’re unfamiliar with this topic, we’ll try and keep it simple here. These terms simply refer to the basic way in which an engine produces power. Most engines you’re used to are likely four-stroke, meaning that the moving components within the engine move together in four distinct patterns in order to produce power. A two-stroke platform cuts that in half. They are louder, and typically smellier than four-strokes. Also, a two-stroke engine will likely require you to mix in a bit of oil with your gas. We’re not for or against either platform, since we’ve all had a mix of both that we love all the same.
What’s the difference between a pit bike and a dirt bike?
Although pit bikes have evolved quite a bit over the years, the answer to this question generally traces back to their names. Early on, pit bikes gained popularity as small, lightweight motorcycles that were super convenient to ride around the pits or staging areas at race events. They are light, easily transported, and require relatively little ongoing maintenance. Because max speed isn’t usually a priority in the pits, pit bikes have smaller engines usually in the 50cc to 150cc range. A good pit bike will pack a decent suspension setup into a small frame, keeping the small size while allowing adults the ability to ride.
On the other hand, dirt bikes are more purpose built to tackle more unforgiving off-road terrain. Dirt bikes are taller than pit bikes, which makes them better able to conquer jumps, rocks, and other aggressive obstacles you’re likely to encounter. Also, dirt bike engines are generally larger in size and many are even of the two-stroke variety. This increased power makes them better suited for competitive events such as motocross racing.
Why Are Pit Bikes So Cheap?
Great question! At first glance, pit bikes look incredibly similar to dirt bikes. They’re made up of the same type of components, and operate the same way, so its natural to wonder what makes pit bikes so cheap.
First off, the smaller size of a pit bike certainly helps to keep prices down. Little bikes take little parts, which requires less material. Makes sense, right? Pit bikes are also intended for a very different purpose than dirt bikes and other motorcycles. They usually aren’t used for competition. And often, their riders are kids and young adults just getting started on motorcycles. As a result, pit bikes don’t require many of the specialized engine and suspension parts that other, more seasoned bikes have.
For those who are looking to build a race-ready pit bike to compete in any of the growing number of pit bike race circuits out there, there is a wide variety of aftermarket parts available to suit your needs. Just check out our recent write up on the best pit bike engines available.
