Children's motorcycles on gasoline. Review of minicross and pit bikes

The article is relevant for the first half of 2022.

So, the article on the topic of Chinese cross/enduro motorcycles, once again, is undergoing changes. The motor market is constantly changing, adding new models, and that’s good. But prices in 2022 and now in 2022 are jumping like stoned kangaroos. In this article we will talk about Chinese enduro motorcycles, let’s say, for riding in a sporty manner. But an ARTICLE in which we analyze in detail dual-purpose motorcycles for long-distance riding and motorcycle touring. And so as not to miss anything, subscribe to our channel on Yandex.Gen, YouTube channel and VK group

For convenience, I will name the range of prices, since everyone asks for it. But what's the point of this now? The principles of Chinese motorcycle construction have not changed; the better the components, the more expensive the enduro motorcycles themselves are. To put it simply, pay the price for rice and rags, you get rice and rags. And then you shouldn’t be surprised that the motorcycle you bought for half a ton begins to fall apart. And so let's go......

1st place Chinese enduro motorcycles at a price of about 300 thousand rubles and more... much more

In first place, completely different motorcycles rule the roost than they were a few years ago. Yes, and for completely different money.

The most affordable motorcycles from the top spot are BSE Z8, Anantis A7 Premium, BRZ X6, Motoland XT300 ST-FA-NC and Motoland WRX250 NC. These motorcycles, like most Chinese motorcycles in general, are worth the money, but of course they are inferior to the best of the best.

And the best of the best can be called the carburetor Avantis Enduro 300 Carb, BSE RTC-300R, ZUUM CX300NC and ZUUM K8-300NC, which I ride myself (detailed review HERE ), as well as the injection Avantis Enduro 300EFI and GR8 F300L Enduro PRO. The last two, by the way, have already gone very far from the 300 thousand level, and are very close to a whopping 400 thousand rubles!!!

Standing a little apart are the two-stroke GR7 and GR8 with an engine from Yamaha Lanza (my report can be read HERE ) and the new BRZ X7 with a 150cc engine, a replica of the engine from the KTM 125SX, an increased CPG to 150 cc and with an electric starter. Despite the lack of any low end in the engine, the main feature of this moto is its declared weight of 100 kg (!!!), and of course the hydraulic clutch.

For bigger fans, many manufacturers have models with 450cc engines, for example BSE M8, Avantis Enduro 450, Motoland WRX450 NC, ZUUM DX450. Although I think that they are excessively heavy for enduro, and you will probably have to take stronger friends with you to lift such a bike.

What is a motocross motorcycle?

A motocross motorcycle is a sports equipment used for motocross competitions. They are usually held on rough terrain or a closed track that simulates it. To make everything look more spectacular, springboards and other obstacles are created here. Therefore, the motorcyclist has to make jumps, after which he will face quite hard landings. To achieve good results, the vehicle must be lightweight and yet durable. These qualities were taken into account when creating a motocross motorcycle.

Other characteristics that are a distinctive feature of a crossbike:

1. Reinforced suspensions that can withstand significant loads. They are compressed, rigid and energy-intensive, allowing energy to be absorbed during landing.
2. High speed engines. The purpose of this vehicle is to accelerate quickly, so the engine has to constantly work at high speeds with high torque. It is very difficult to drive it slowly. As a result, they have increased fuel consumption.
3. Short passes. This allows you to accelerate to 100 km/h as quickly as possible.
4. Small gas tank volume. Fuel should be enough for no more than a few races.
5. Lack of electric starter in older models. Basically, they install a kickstarter. This allows the rider to start the bike with his foot. Modern motocross motorcycles may already have a small battery and an electric starter.
6. No headlight. He simply does not need this element, since competitions are always held during daylight hours.
7. The fork has a significant offset, so the front wheel visually moves forward. This made the bike more stable.
8. 19 inch rear wheel. Low profile tires are more stable and stiffer when driving at high speed.
9. No footrest. This element is clearly superfluous here. Instead, a special stand is installed to hold the motorcycle between races.

A motocross motorcycle is a sports equipment

Since a motocross motorcycle is a sports equipment, it does not need to be registered with the traffic police, and it is allowed to drive it without a driver’s license. In addition, this is not a universal vehicle that can be used on asphalt roads.

For children 5-10 years old. 50 cm3, 10/10" wheels

But let's return to children's motorcycles. Today we will talk about gasoline-powered equipment. We'll talk about children's electric motorcycles another time.

Motoland XT50

Where should you start when choosing motorcycles for a young athlete? It all depends on the age of your child. At the lowest level is the Motoland XT50 and MOTAX Minicross motorcycle. These are children's gasoline motorcycles, also known as minicross or pit bikes. Motorcycles are the smallest in size. The front and rear wheels are 10". Length only 130 cm. Seat height 58 cm. Weight about 25 kg. Designed for children aged 5 to 10 years. Equipped with a two-stroke engine with a volume of 49 cm3 and a power of 3.5 hp. The starter is manual. What is important is that the transmission is automatic – CVT. The child just needs to press the gas and the motorcycle will start moving. This engine has a completely calm and smooth character, which is a necessity considering the age of the rider. The motorcycle picks up speed smoothly and predictably. The maximum speed is about 40 km/h. Front and rear disc brakes with cable drive. The suspension on this vehicle is the simplest, spring, without shock absorbers. But considering the weight and maximum speed, this is enough. Another advantage is that it easily fits into the trunk of almost any passenger car.

Among the disadvantages, before each trip you will definitely have to “shamanize” with canisters, mixing gasoline with oil. The technique is push-pull. It is also worth noting that the weak and not the most reliable point of these motorcycles is the manual starter. Fortunately, it costs around a thousand rubles and can be changed in 5 minutes. Otherwise, this technique is quite reliable and problem-free. Price at the end of 2022 25000 rub.

Touring enduro

For long-distance travel, 400 cubes is objectively not enough, so there are practically no options in this category. Large brands do not risk releasing potentially failed models to the market, so all hope remains only with the Chinese.

Examples

• Honda XL400V Transalp . An honored veteran of the roads, due to the advanced age of most copies, it is inexpensive. It is incredibly reliable, but age is taking its toll.
• Kawasaki KLE 400 . Out of production more than 20 years ago, so spare parts are extremely difficult to find. However, the “stick” was not particularly popular during his lifetime.
• Stels GS400 . A Russian-Chinese tourenduro designed for bad roads with a spacious gas tank. According to reviews, it's pretty good.
• Stels GT400 . A lighter and more “parquet” version of the above model. In many ways it is structurally similar to it.

The best sport and hobby in the world

In any technical sport, be it motorsport, road racing, motocross or enduro, champions become people who start playing their sport in early childhood. But unfortunately, in order to achieve real heights on the world stage, for example, in motocross, it is not enough to have talent or start training from the age of 4-5 years. We also need money. Big money. But every parent can give their child a cool hobby for life. After all, the entry point is not that big. For example, children's motorcycles with gasoline cost only a little more than 20 thousand rubles.

In addition to the fact that motorsports is very interesting and exciting, it is also very useful from a physical point of view. People who are far from technical sports often think that auto or motorsports are easy. Spin the steering wheel and admire the scenery. But no, I assure you, this is not true at all. The same motocross or enduro, very energy-intensive sports. Professional racers are real athletes. In addition to developed muscles, high endurance is also required. But most importantly, it is a hobby and a sport rolled into one. I am sure it will captivate both children and adults. It's really interesting! And by the way, motorcycling is not only for boys and men, but also for girls and girls too. A clear confirmation of this is the Russian athlete Anastasia Nifontova, who finished the legendary Dakar rally marathon on a motorcycle, in a very tough class where riders participate without any technical support!

Anastasia Nifontova

The best 250cc motocross motorcycles

Among the best 250cc motocross motorcycles, it is worth highlighting the following models:

1. MOTOLAND XT250 ST-NC (177MM) (2020) – new for 2022, characterized by increased cross-country ability even on sand and loose soil. Moreover, on asphalt, the motorcycle behaves no worse. The engine with a power of 17 horsepower allows you to reach speeds of up to 120 km/h. The telescopic fork ideally overcomes any obstacles and uneven roads. The pendulum-type rear suspension has a monoshock absorber. The total weight of the model is 120 kg. At the same time, it is able to withstand a load of up to 150 kg. The four-pin single-cylinder engine is air-cooled.

MOTOLAND XT250 ST-NC (177MM) (2020)

2. MOTOLAND CROSS 250 XT250 ST-FA is a 250cc motocross motorcycle that has become an updated model. It uses an improved suspension with rebound and compression settings for both shock absorbers. The four-stroke engine produces 21 horsepower and can be started from an electric or kickstarter.

MOTOLAND CROSS 250 XT250 ST-FA

3. CROSS 250 XT250 ST-W – this model is significantly different from its predecessor XT 250 ST. For comfortable movement in any conditions, this 250cc motocross motorcycle uses significant suspension travel, a high handlebar stem and reliable milled yokes. Due to the special rubber profile, it is better to use it on rough terrain than in city conditions. The crossbike of this series is comfortable to ride and maneuverable. Due to the fact that the model is unpretentious in maintenance, it is recommended for beginners.

CROSS 250 XT250 ST-W

For children 7-12 years old. 110 cm3, wheels 12/10″

Motoland CRF10

For older children, there are already more serious models, for example, Motoland CRF10 and Motoland Apex10. These are essentially brothers, differing only in appearance. They are larger than previous models, length 140 cm, saddle height 63 cm. And heavier, dry weight is already 56 kg. Wheel size 12/10. Designed for children aged 7 to 12 years. And this technique, unlike the previous one, is more mature in every sense. Firstly, the engine here is already much more powerful. It is four-stroke, so there is no need to mix oil and gasoline. It has a volume of 110 cm3 and a power of 5 hp. This engine drives even adults quite cheerfully, and children even more so. The good thing is that there is a power limiter on the throttle. And by the way, these motorcycles already have an electric starter. The transmission is also a variator. The suspension is more advanced, although it is overly stiff. Hydraulic disc brakes. The main disadvantage, compared to younger models, is the noticeably increased price, 42,000 rubles.

For children 10-15 years old. 125 cm3, wheels 14/12″

Motoland XT125 14/12

This is where pit bikes with 14/12 wheels come into play. These are still children's motorcycles, still with a gasoline engine, suitable for children aged approximately 10 to 15 years. They already weigh 70 kg. As a rule, all representatives have an engine of this size, 125 cm3, with a power of 8-10 hp. There are pit bikes with both an electric starter and only a kick starter. Transmission or semi-automatic, where you need to click through the gears, but do not need to use the clutch, or classic, adult mechanics. The suspensions on such motorcycles have longer travel. By the way, such motorcycles are quite suitable for adults, but short people. Representatives in this size are Motoland XT125 14/12 and Kayo Mini YX125EM 14/12. The price for both is a little more than 50,000 rubles.

Sportbikes

Old Japanese 400cc sportbikes are real sports machines with souped-up engines. They have not been produced for a long time, and all modern Chinese analogues are just stylizations of full-fledged racing equipment, and none of them reaches the 400 cc capacity.

Examples

• Honda CBR400RR . Removed from the assembly line at the end of the 20th century. During the years of production it was wildly popular. The technical characteristics of this model can outshine all modern 400s.
• Honda VFR400 , also known as RVF400 (in a different modification). A real racing machine. It’s just a pity that it’s difficult to find a “living” specimen.
• Kawasaki ZZR400 . A phenomenally popular “zizer”, which, strictly speaking, refers to sports tourists. The bike is reliable and practical, but due to its age, most Zizers have a problem with third gear in the gearbox.
• Yamaha FZR400RR . A now rare sportbike, produced before 1994 and even officially supplied to the markets of other countries.
• Suzuki GSX-R400 . At the time of release, it was distinguished by excellent power (59 hp), very low dry weight and modern design.

Total

It's not that complicated, right? Thanks to the huge selection of used equipment, 400cc motorcycles remain popular, and will not lose it as long as they are made in Japan. For most novice motorcyclists, this capacity will be optimal , especially if they are not planning long trips over many thousands of kilometers. And only later, when you want more volume, you can always sell the bike and buy another, fondly remembering your “400”, which taught you everything you know.