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Pit Bikes are small motorbikes that participants in powersport events use to ride around pits, which are the staging areas where team support vehicles are located. More recently, they have been used in races held on either super cross or motocross tracks.

Smith Optics are based in Sun Valley, Idaho and was founded in 1965. The founder was Dr. Bob Smith who was an orthodontist, who made goggles using dental tools, foam and glue, around his kitchen table with some friends.
Smith Optics has developed over the years and now sets the standard for high performance eyewear & goggles. The company has been responsible for the innovation of many features such as the Fog-X anti fog coating and the Perforated Membrane Technology Lens Ventilation System (PMT) plus many more.
Funbikes are proud to sell the Smith EVO Goggles which are superb for use with an open face moto cross style helmet. The goggles feature a thick layer of face foam for extra comfort and a fully elasticated strap to ensure a secure fit.

The average holiday or weekend away may involve a trip to the seaside or hotel resort, lounging around the pool or on the beach and generally doing as little as possible to recharge your batteries. However, if you are the more active type and want a more challenging vacation, then a quad tour may be what you are looking for.

The quad bike was developed to be able to handle the sort of rough terrain that the average vehicle can’t cope with. It is believed that the first all terrain vehicle was developed by Honda and was a 3 wheeled version, which was intended to help with a boost in sales for dealers when the winter months came. Over the years the safety and handling of all terrain vehicles has improved and now the more familiar 4 wheeled version is used all over the world. The quads were commonly used on farmlands and for work purposes, however, it didn`t take long for the adrenaline junkies to discover the fun side to the vehicles. With the quad bike being easy to get to grips with, there is no reason why the whole family shouldn`t enjoy the recreational uses of the quad bike.

Quad tours and the recreational use of the quad is now becoming a popular activity on adventure holidays and the locations available for a quad tour are vast. How does a tour to see the Taupo Volcanic region in New Zealand or a scramble through the woodlands of Wales or Scotland sound?

If you are thinking about the purchase of a quad for recreational use then why not check out our range of quad bikes and accessories available on our funbikes website or contact us on 0844 8730307 for more information.

Pitbikes are now selling the 110cc Pit Bike - M2R KX110F Carbon Limited Edition for £470 including VAT inclusive of mainland delivery (exc highlands/Islands). This really is a fun piece of kit and if you choose to make it even more responsive then there is the option of adding our performance upgrade exhaust.
The KX110F is a great entry level bike with some fantastic features. The power plant in the M2R 110F is a high power 4 stroke which provides approximately 11 BHP, making this engine the most powerful and reliable "stock" engine available in it's class.
The gearbox is now a 4 up system which makes for quicker gear changes and no more false neutrals. They have also used a Mikuni carburettor which has been proven to deliver the fuel at the rate needed. The tyres are motocross knobbly tyres which give superb grip and the SDG re-enforced wheels have thicker spokes and are of a heavier gauge which sets this bike apart from the rest of the competition.
Not only is this pit bike a better performing model than other similar bikes, it looks great too. With the Limited Edition M2R you get carbon look plastics, gold alloy rims, gold forks, silver fork yokes, black CNC exhaust with gold tip, and a limited edition graphics kit.
Now it’s Christmas you know what to ask for!

The mini-moto, quad bike and off road vehicles are tremendous fun, but you still have to consider your safety when using these types of vehicles. It goes without saying that a crash helmet is an essential piece of kit and this month Funbikes are selling the Kylin Full Face crash helmet at just £29.99!
The helmet is silver in colour and is made from polycarbonate. The visor is anti-fog, anti-scratch and comes with a quick release fastener. The outer shell features two layer lacquering, a quick release visor mechanism and chin and head ventilation. Interior features include an anti-allergic, absorptive inner lining with removable and washable cheek pads with a press-stud fitting. The helmet is also safety compliant to ECE 22.05 regulations.
If you are unsure how to measure what size of helmet that you need then you can use a piece of string and measure in cm’s the circumference of your head just above your ears and eyebrows.

Cm`s	Size
54-55	Extra Small
55-56	Small
59-60	Large
61-62	Xtra Large

Unsure what to buy the kids for Christmas? A pair of socks, jumper or gift voucher? Well how about an Off-Road Buggy?
The start of off-roading as a hobby began after WWII, when there was a huge surplus of light off-road vehicles such as the Jeep. The Jeep became really popular as a utility vehicle and it was here that recreational off-roading began. To be able to drive off pavement, off-road vehicles have to have several characteristics. They need to have low ground pressure to prevent sinking, this is helped by the characteristic chunky tyres and good ground clearance to go over any obstacles the driver may come across.
Well now these features are available in the kids version of the Off-Road Buggy. Similar to their big brother counterparts, these modern vehicles come with electric start keyed ignition, automatic transmission and even a reverse gear. If your concerned about safety the buggies come with seatbelts, roll bar and kill switch which enables the engine to be shut off quickly in the event of an emergency. They are highly engineered with a high stress strong frame to make a robust and reliable vehicle.
Currently the fastest single seater in it`s class is the Mini Warrior (see above picture). With a 110cc 4 stroke engine and speeds capable of over 35mph it is sure to give anyone a thrilling ride. Prices start around £999, which includes full assembly, pre-delivery check test and UK mainland delivery, go on give the children a Christmas present that they will never forget!

A quick and hopefully entertaining post this week, we've taken a handful of excellent videos from YouTube showing for your enjoyment, enjoy!


Some general tricks:



Very skilled wheelies:



And finally:




Obligatory warning that performing these stunts is potentially very dangerous. Please make sure you wear correct safety equipment (at the least a good helmet and protective pads). You will also want to ensure your bike is in good working condition, we at Fun Bikes sell all necessary pit bike parts & spares, as well as clothing, accessories and safety gear.

Pit bikes have a long and interesting history, the extent of which is likely not known by most riders. The pit bike, mini moto and similar all stem from the humble beginnings of the bicycle. Original mini bikes were nothing more than scaled down push bikes with small engines attached, most commonly a Briggs or Stratton delivering up to 5BHP! Being based on a push bike, these bikes lacked a formal breaking system (a simple mechanism which would rub on the tyre when activated was used) and totally lacked suspension. These early bikes were made and used by engineers in the pits at race tracks (hence 'pit bike'), providing a quick way of getting around - far from suitable for the track! Though a far cry from today's designs, these bikes laid the blueprint from which later models would be built upon.


It would be some time before a bike resembling a pit bike as we know it would be released. An important milestone in motorcycle history, the Honda Super Cub 50 began the revolutionary rise in popularity of the Japanese motorcycle, with production reaching millions of units - the Honda became incredibly popular in the United States. Despite not being a pit bike by any means, the Honda did lay further ground work for mini bikes to come, being designed around the same 4-stroke engine many use today.

Arguably the bike that started the revolution - the four-stroke engined Honda Z50 Mini Trail (AKA the 'Monkey Bike'). In addition to being the first Honda bike made to be used off-road, this bike had many design features which led to it's popularity in the US and around the world. It could be stored easily in a truck or trailer for easy transportation, and throughout the Z series life saw many design updates and improvements. Pit bike parts for this bike and other models were freely and cheaply available, making them an ideal run-around.


Modern bikes have not strayed far away from early designs, with major differences being longer wheelbases, suspension and taller handlebars as well as improved breaking systems. These changes have allowed adults to comfortably and safely ride and also increase the durability of what these bikes can tolerate.

So there you have it, a quick recap of where today's modern pit and mini moto bikes have developed from. Hopefully you've learned something! ;-)

In this short post we will outline a sample of some of the tracks up and down the country suitable for riding your mini moto bike.

Starting in the North:

• Fast tracks is a popular location in Yorkshire. It is a purpose built circuit featuring plenty of straight, chicanes and hairpins. Two circuits are available to suit riders of all skills. Print outs are available showing lap times. A full range of facilities are available including chancing rooms and light refreshments. Call 01482 308740 for more info.
• In Lancashire you will find Prestige Indoor Karting. A so called technical track featuring very tight corners, this is not for the faint hearted! Also equipped with ample facilities. Call 01282 865675 for more info.

Midlands:

• The very cool sounding Stretton 2000 near Leicester City Airport has a long 800m track with extended bends and high speed corners. Well lit for day or night riding. No pre-booking necessary. Call 0116 259 2900 for further info.
• GP Karting, based in Northampton is another great track with more tight bends and high speed corners. Also available for 'arrive and drive', just turn up and ride. More info: 01604 59159.

London:

• London's premiere track at Rye House is run by Motorsport World Ltd, promoting itself as being run by racers, for racers. Their track promises to offer an exciting mini and midi moto experience. For more information call: 01992 460895.

East:

• Kartsport in Cambridge offers riders an outdoor and indoor track to suit all people. Both tracks purport to offer a challenging ride with the usual mix of tight bends and fast straights. Contact them on: 01954 718200.
• Located at Ellough Park you will find Norwich Karting, an outdoor track available for drop in sessions. Another long track at 800m, combined with long bends and super fast straights this track will take lots of stamina and skill. Speak to them on: 01603 486655.

Hopefully you don't live too far from one of these excellent tracks. Don't forget to carry around with you some of those essential mini moto spares.