Mini bikes, also known as motor scooters or pocket bikes is a miniature version of a motorcycle. In the past mini bikes were built from parts around the garage. They were used as pit bikes in the pits of drag racers to scoot around the track area and pits in the 1950's. As racers used them around their neighborhoods, kids thought they were cool and started building their own. Minibikes became very popular in the 1960's and 70's.

  Today the minibike has evolved from the garage built scooter to the sport style pocket bike ( also known as minimotos ) which has become very popular due to cheap imports from China. These bikes are about two foot tall and the bigger ones are about 51" long using 49cc engines. They are so named because they are small enough to be carried under ones arm, although most people would rather ride them. They can also be carried in the trunk of most cars. Pocket bike racing is all the rage in Europe and Japan and getting very popular in the United States. They are at their best in competition with knee dragging turns and flat out straightaway runs just inches off the ground. Since they are small in size, yet outstanding in performance, they are easy to transport and replacement and performance parts are available at low cost. Depending on your budget these mini bikes can be upgraded to many different configuratiions. If you just want to race with your friends around the parking lot or enter into competition, the sport of pocket bike racing  is growing very fast around the country.

  I still like the old minibike that started the whole craze. One of the original manufacturers with the brand names of Fox and Rupp are still around today because avid mini bikers love to collect and restore them to original condition. The Rupp minibike has been called an "American Classic". You can buy this style of minibike in kit form and have the pleasure and satisfaction of building it yourself or maybe you can find someone to give up their "classic" minibike that is ready to ride. There are many resources for vintage minibike enthusiasts dedicated to the restoration and preservation of the original mini bike that was so popular in the 1970's.