Entering the History of the Pocket Bike

By Michael Newton

There is some stage in every boys life where they become interested in engines, racing cars, and all things that go vroom. If your boy has reached this stage in your life, you may be in the awkward position of wanting to encourage this exploration, but having concerns about their safety. In this article we will look at the pocket bike as a viable alternative, and exploring some ways that you can save money on the purchase of one.

Before we get into the nuts and bolts of it all, I'd like to give you a brief background on this bike, and it's history. The pocket bike was first invented in Japan, a country that has always been notorious for it's love of all things small. It wasn't long before it became a huge craze, and this enthusiasm was carried across the oceans to Europe, and eventually to the United States.

When these bikes initially started being shipped overseas, they cost an insane amount of money, and although everyone and their kid wanted one, it was only the rich that could really afford them. once the manufacturers started realising just how popular they were, however, they began exploring ways to manufacture them that would help to bring down the cost to the end user.

Nowadays, it is quite possible to purchase a pocket bikes extremely cheap, to the point where it is even becoming a popular Christmas present for small children that are just starting to venture into the world of engines. If you are wanting to spend as little money as possible, then your best bet will be to look at auctions of second hand bikes on the Internet.

Second hand pocket bikes are a great way to save money, as quite often they will be every bit as mechanically sound as a brand new one. Children tend to outgrow these bikes fairly quickly, and want to move on to something a little larger. This means that the bike will have only been used for a year or two. You should, however, still have the bike checked out by someone who has a little mechanical knowledge before purchasing.

Usually with pocket bikes, a new model will come out every year or two. If you would prefer to purchase a pocket bike new rather than risking a second hand one, you can save a lot of money by being aware of the market and knowing when a new model is about to come out. Retailers will start dropping their prices as this time approaches, trying to get rid of their old stock and make way for the new models coming in.

It can be tempting for first time buyers of pocket bikes to buy the most inexpensive model available. unfortunately this can lead to problems down the track. The cheaper pocket bikes are usually made in China and other Asian countries, and are generally considered to be of a lesser quality. Not only that, but if your bike breaks down, you may find yourself in a position where you are unable to find replacement parts for your bike.

Some people forget that the expense does not end with the initial purchase of your pocket bike. You will also need to consider the safety aspects involved. If your child is just learning how to ride, then you will need to be especially careful to ensure that you have all the right safety equipment, such as riding helmets, knee and shin pads, and gloves. If you are wanting to have a street legal pocket bike, then you will need to also consult your particular state laws, as you will probably need to make some further modifications to the bike before you you can ride it on the road. - 21396

About the Author:

When Michael is not writing about the world of the pocket bike, he is out riding his own super pocket bike.