| When you are looking for a pit bike you will quickly find | | | | sure your bike will last. |
| that some pit bikes sell for only 500 dollars, shipping | | | | The next thing to look for is a decent engine. If you are |
| included. Now I am not saying that it is 100% sure you | | | | considering a Chinese bike, look for a Jialing, Lifan or |
| are buying junk that will break down easily. Some of | | | | YX engine, and make sure that the engine is fitted |
| these bikes ARE well constructed. | | | | using superior quality bearings. This will result in lower |
| Some say this quality of the bike depends of the | | | | maintenance and the engine will start easier. Also look |
| region where they are manufactured. Some of these | | | | for SDG wheels (stronger rims and studier spokes) as |
| manufacturers are located in regions known for the | | | | non-SDG wheels are weaker and can fall apart while |
| mass production of toys. Here the quality will be rather | | | | driving. Make sure the bike has a KMC chain because |
| poor. Now, some other regions in China are known for | | | | cheap chains tend to stretch and break easily. |
| their experience in automotive productions. These | | | | Now, when you finally found a bike with the required |
| factories and the production processes are highly | | | | specs, you can modify it to gain speed and |
| regulated and DO deliver quality products. For instance, | | | | horsepower. |
| the Jialing motors used by Honda ARE produced in | | | | Start with replacing the carburetor. Look for a |
| these areas. Other quality brands from these regions | | | | performance carburetor. You will notice some |
| proved to be Lifan and YX engines. | | | | improvement. Now, when you add a performance air |
| Now, whether you are buying a cheap one or a more | | | | filter and performance exhaust you will notice that |
| expensive brand, always bear in mind that some | | | | your pit bike gains power (higher mid range torque, |
| components will determine how safe it is to ride and | | | | better top end, small increase in horsepower). |
| how easily the bike might break down and need | | | | Next you will want to replace the restrictor in the CDI |
| maintenance. | | | | unit for a performance CDI, which will result in |
| One of the most important things to check is the | | | | smoother and more powerful acceleration and higher |
| frame. If you are considering jumping and heavy duty | | | | top end. |
| racing you really have to stay away from single beam | | | | Most of the times you wil need to fix the gearings |
| frames, because they tend to break easily. Snapping | | | | (standard= 14tooth sprocket in front and 40 tooth on |
| your bike in half landing a jump may cause serious | | | | back) Replace the front with a larger one and the |
| injury and of course you will need to get a new frame | | | | back with a smaller one. Depending on how much |
| and mount the components of the old bike to the new | | | | acceleration you want to trade for top end and vice |
| frame. I advise you to look for a frame with a twin | | | | versa. |
| beam design. This frame should have a (preferably | | | | I hope this info will result in people having the guts to |
| chrome moly tubing=lighter and stronger) cradle to | | | | buy the right Chinese bike and mod it into a bike that |
| support the engine from below. This way you make | | | | makes those overpriced Japanese ones eat its dirt! |