If you're into sports and recreational activities, especially anything related to motorcycles or just about anything on wheels, you might have heard about something called pit biking. So just what the heck is it? Read on to find out:

What is Pit Biking?

A pit bike is basically a miniature motorcycle. Pit biking originated in the 1950's, with people riding mainly Honda CRF50 50 cc mini bikes. The smaller motorcycles were made for riding in the so-called "pits", which are areas where riders could set up their bikes before they participated in a race or other event. The smaller frames and tires are made specifically for riding around these areas and many dirt bikers made their own backyard pit racing track. The advantage of pit racing in your backyard is that you need less room for the track.

What is a Pit Bike?

The original pit bike was considered to be the Honda CRF50, but there are many models now. They have also been called pocket bikes or mini motos. A pit bike consists of nearly all the same parts as a big motocross bike, but the frame and tires are smaller. As such, they need less room to turn, less room to store and can be much more easily transported than other motorcycles. You can actually fit several pit bikes in the back of a pickup truck. The original pit bikes were generally 50cc, but now they can be much more powerful than that. Often pit bikes are made in garages by do it yourselfers. Pit bikes are great for young teens and kids who are getting into the sport as the size is just right for them to control. Pit bikes are often improved with taller seats, bigger engines, better frames and other additions for more serious pit bike racing. The small frame of a pit bike allows people, especially kids, to do some great tricks on their bikes. Pit biking is also a relatively accessible sport, where you can get a perfectly nice pit bike for only a few hundred dollars. The real advantage of a pit bike or mini bike is that they are ultra maneuverable, especially compared to larger bikes.

Pit Biking of Today

The sport has been adopted worldwide, and different types of pit bike racing have emerged, including classes like MX, Enduro, Xtreme and Supermoto. There is also a class for ladies pit biking. Popular brands and models of pit bikes include Pitster Pro, OGM, Xtreme Motors, Motovert, Explorer, Thumpstar, Xsport and Works. Pit bikes are not street legal in most countries, including the United States. In most cases, they can only be ridden on private land.

Whether you want a bike that is the right size for the kids, whether you want a bike to race around your back yard or if you want a bike that is easy to take with you on trips, a pit bike is an option that you just might find right for you.