Pocket Bikes

Pocket Bike Safety

Pocket bikes are little bitty teeny tiny motorcycles that go very fast. Watching pocket bike riding reminds you of dads sitting in kindergarten chairs - the people are way too big for those tiny machines. There's an elegance, though, about the way skilled pocket bike racers move around the track.

Pocket bikes originated in Japan and were pretty expensive until recently. As the price has come down, they have become more popular, and today pocket bike racing is the fastest growing motor sport in America. Because the bikes are so small, it's a dangerous sport that's not suitable for young children. You can get seriously hurt or die in a pocket bike accident.

Safety Gear

If you ride a pocket bike, you've gotta wear safety gear. Protect yourself from scrapes and abrasions by wearing long-sleeved shirts and trousers. Leathers offer even more protection. You also need ankle-high shoes, gloves and knee and elbow pads.

Your most important piece of safety gear is your helmet, which should be a full-face DOT approved pocket bike racing helmet.

Appropriate Use

Pocket bikes are not suitable for children under the age of 12 or 13, and even then should only be ridden under supervision. They are not designed for off-road, rough terrain or hills. They are not safe under low visibility or wet conditions. They are rarely street legal and are not safe in traffic (you are nearly invisible to drivers).

Pocket bikes are designed to be ridden on tracks - flat, smooth, dry pavement free of obstructions, litter and even paint.

People describe pocket bike racing as exhilarating, exciting and a lot of fun. It's important to take appropriate precautions to make sure it's safe, too.