Mini Pocket Bikes

Pocket bikes are the latest wave in the never-ending American fascination with motorized vehicles. It's easy to look at a pocket bike and ask, "What's the point," particularly if you ride a regular-size motorcycle. I found myself asking this question, but the first time I saw somebody riding around on one, the huge smile on their face told me the whole story.

Pocket Bike Safety Issues

Pocket bikes are a controversial subject in many communities across the country. Their diminutive size means that they are not regulated by normal motor vehicle laws, which means you don't have to register them and you don't have to have a license to drive one. It also means, however, that you can't legally drive pocket bikes on public roads.

Pocket bikes were originally designed to be driven--and raced--on closed-course tracks. As their popularity increased, however, people began buying them who don't have access to race tracks. This means that they were driving them on the roads, even though they weren't supposed to. Assuming that people are going to stick to their driveways is more than a little naïve.

Law enforcement officials have been going crazy over pocket bikes because they recognize how dangerous they can be. They are so small that it's difficult and sometimes impossible to see them when you're inside a car or truck. If you're thinking about buying a pocket bike, always think of safety first. However, on a closed track, they are tons of fun.