Pocket Bikes: Fad or Fun?

[Rik-Guyver]

Hi guys, I'm remaining neutral on this topic but just wondering what your thoughts are on the Pocket Bike craze. I live in Queens, NY and there is a tremendous motorcycle wave around my area and the outer boros. So much so that the NYPD is cracking down on pretty much any group of sportbike enthusiasts. So where does the Pocket Bike fit it? Well the other day I drove past a group of dudes riding what appeared to be miniature motorcycles. It was like 3 in the morning so I thought maybe I was hallucinating. I took a double take and yes this group of G-Unit afionados (all over 6' easily) were racing hobbit sized vehicles! Now i've read about Pocket Bikes on the net but never came across them in person until last night. It was awe-inspiring when compared to the size of a normal adult. I know you don't need a permit to ride them, the affordable models go for like 400-500 bux, and those little bastards are fast (30-40mph), but is it worth it? Or should we leave the optical illusions to Peter Jackson?

 

[Arrow]

i saw them for the first time in jersey city last sunday.. i think they are great. but i dunno if they should be crowding the street like they do. btw i know some of them an hit like 80

 

[Rik-Guyver]

yea they do seem interesting..but I have a feeling they're gonna fade into obscurity along with Sega CD, Elmo, Furby, Gameboy Advanced SP, and the NY Knicks.

 

[robriguez]

there is a HUGE contingent of the pocket riders around town lately. Even more on that damn gas powered scooters. I'm a big guy 6' tall 300lbs and I've seen bigger guys ridding these f-ing things and can only think to myself, "What the hell are you thinking"?

Most of the riders i see hav no regard for traffic, light, signs, anything. They try to zip in and out of traffic between cars and one of these days one of them are gonna get killed and guess whos fault its going to be? The driver in the car thats who. Not the idiot on the bike.

I think they would be kewl if I were 10 again and i would defintly want one. But for a grown man to ride one of those things is just rediculous.

 

[lykan]

Well, here we have no public transit, what we do have bites. If you couple that with the WAR against drunk drivers, in a small rural community (used to be farmland), You've got a LOT and I mean a LOT of 30 - 45 year olds with good jobs, but no way to travel 15-20 miles to work.

These guys took advantage of the no permit/license required. They are driving these things to and from work. The bonus is, they save about $150 a month in gas lol...

they are annoying, but they really do fill a gap for much needed transpo around here.

 

[Çh®i§tiªñ]

These things have been around wayyyyyy longer than most think. I remember seeing these as a kid, 20 years ago. I believe it was Yamaha who had them back then.

As for fun? Yeah, a guy brought one into work a couple weeks back and let me drive it. I'm 6' 2" and weigh about 225lbs. It handled great, BUT, I will tell you this, there is NO WAY IN HELL you would catch me driving this thing with general traffic. NO WAY!

Its hard enough to see people on full size bikes, much less these tiny ass things. From a safety standpoint, on the road with everyone else, I dont think its a good idea.

For fun? ABSOLUTELY!

 

[30%NitroBoy]

Originally posted by robriguez
[B
Most of the riders i see hav no regard for traffic, light, signs, anything. They try to zip in and out of traffic between cars and one of these days one of them are gonna get killed and guess whos fault its going to be? The driver in the car thats who. Not the idiot on the bike.
. [/B]

Great so some idiot is gonna get killed on one, then they're gonna blame it on the driver of the car and the people who make the mini-bikes and then a bunch of super liberals are gonna get together and ban them.

I've never ridden on one but have many friends who have who enjoy them. I'm 6'1" 185 and they just seem to phucking smalll.

 

[nitromaniac]

Originally posted by Çh®i§tiªñ
It handled great, BUT, I will tell you this, there is NO WAY IN HELL you would catch me driving this thing with general traffic. NO WAY!

Its hard enough to see people on full size bikes, much less these tiny ass things. From a safety standpoint, on the road with everyone else, I dont think its a good idea.

For fun? ABSOLUTELY!

I checked out this site and agree,, NO WAY IN HELL OR ANYWHERE ELSE!

http://www.speed-sports.com/Pocket_Bikes/

 

[El Pirata]

I think I'd rather shoot myself than try one of those.

 

[FastEddy]

Here you go.
$360.00 + 50.00 shipping in the US
I'm going to get one and ride it to the ECB I'm leaving now. I will see you in August.
http://www.clearviewcompany.com/

 

[FRIDGE]

lil 6 year old here on my block has one the dam noisy thing up and down up the street. i like it.. i wish i were 6 again. cops say nutthin. if cops say sumthin out here then most likely the next stop is the hospital fo a cap up they a__. that kid desent even go full throttle and its pretty fast. i always see him he's out right now lol. are these nitro vehicles. that kid is chubby and he looks ready to fly on that little thing. P.S. he does wear a helmet and the fuel tank must be big because he stays out long without a refill.

 

[olds97_lss]

I didn't know what the hell you were talking about until someone posted a link!

We called those mini-bikes. I've never actually seen a crotch rocket style one though. Man, that has to be one of the most uncomfortable looking things I've ever seen! 15 miles is about as far as I would ever want to attempt to go.

 

[El Pirata]

Originally posted by FastEddy
Here you go.
$360.00 + 50.00 shipping in the US
I'm going to get one and ride it to the ECB I'm leaving now. I will see you in August.
http://www.clearviewcompany.com/

Dude, it'll do 40mph, all it'll take is 66 hours for you to get there on one. You'll be safe to wait until mid July before you leave.

 

[FastEddy]

Originally posted by El Pirata
Dude, it'll do 40mph, all it'll take is 66 hours for you to get there on one. You'll be safe to wait until mid July before you leave.

You forgot all the pushing time between gas stations, food stops, sight seeing, Chiropractor visits, and hospital layovers.

How in the hell am I supposed to pick up cute hitchhikers?

 

[El Pirata]

Shave your mustache so they have a place to sit.

 

[Rolex]

Originally posted by olds97_lss
I didn't know what the hell you were talking about until someone posted a link!

We called those mini-bikes. I've never actually seen a crotch rocket style one though. Man, that has to be one of the most uncomfortable looking things I've ever seen! 15 miles is about as far as I would ever want to attempt to go.

The mini bikes are open frames with lawnmower engines. These full dress miniatures have always been called pocket bikes.

FastEddy....you need a pocket sidecar.

 

[Çh®i§tiªñ]

Actually, it feels like riding a gyroscope. Literally.

It was VERY EASY to ride, but I assure you, my COMFORT level of SAFETY was lacking to say the least.

Ill see if I can get the guy to bring it back into work and shoot some vid. The scaryest part is going through the parking lot (300 + cars where I work) and not being able to see around corners, much less, nobody being able to see you.

 

[Rik-Guyver]

hmm i dont think i can remain neutral on this subject any longer because I just had another sighting! i was on my way to clearview cinemas in midtown manhattan for the opening of the movie "Super Size Me" and I spot yet another full grown man zipping this thing thru traffic. That had to be one of the most dangerous things I have ever witnessed in manhattan and I've seen plenty! Imagine zipping this thing thru traffic and getting smashed by the passenger door of a taxi. He really had some balls. Perhaps he thought the machismo would make up for the fact that he was riding A HOBBIT SIZED BIKE!

btw "Super Size Me" rocked and Morgan Spurlock showed up for a surprise Q & A and standing ovation...this guy is gonna be famous

 

[Candyman]

I have a feeling I'd feel like a Shriner on one of those things. Do they come with a free Fez????

 

[El Pirata]

Originally posted by Çh®i§tiªñ
Actually, it feels like riding a gyroscope. Literally.

It was VERY EASY to ride, but I assure you, my COMFORT level of SAFETY was lacking to say the least.

Ill see if I can get the guy to bring it back into work and shoot some vid. The scaryest part is going through the parking lot (300 + cars where I work) and not being able to see around corners, much less, nobody being able to see you.

Now you are starting to sound like an old man...