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Thread: Buying a cheap Pocket Bike from TradeMe: Bad?

  1. #1
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    Buying a cheap Pocket Bike from TradeMe: Bad?

    Hello All,

    Just got into riding, and I already own a '98 Suzuki RG150. I was watching a movie with a mate last night, and the lead character riding a pocket bike.

    Looked like great fun, so I immediately hopped on trademe, and was very surprised to find these bikes at low prices ($300 and below). There's even a dude selling some for $199 on "Clearance".

    Since it's so cheap, I'm toying with the idea of buying one.

    I'm very familiar with the "you get what you pay for" rule.

    So, I'm seeking advice from you experienced people. Is buying this cheap pocket bike a bad idea?

    Any input appreciated

  2. #2
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    21st June 2005 - 20:11
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    Go for it, but expect it to break.

  3. #3
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    Just found this.

    Too bad shipping will cost me many times the price of the bike

  4. #4
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    WOW lol....

    Racing Pull Starter - increases HP with elimination of the electric starter


  5. #5
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    You already have an RG150...whaddya want ANOTHER pocket bike for?

    Seriously though - buy it - how much will it cost to weld it back together again...or even remake the frame from scratch if it breaks.

    There's not an awful lot to pocket bikes really.
    In space, no one can smell your fart.

  6. #6
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    Quote Originally Posted by McJim View Post
    You already have an RG150...whaddya want ANOTHER pocket bike for?
    Ohh that hurts

    I figured I'd give it a go, since $199 seems like a very reasonable price for such a machine.

  7. #7
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    We've just recently picked up a couple of cheap chinese bikes off trademe. They've taken a fair beating and are still going. As soon as you get it I would recommend pulling it to bits and sticking it back together, or at the very least going over ever nut/bolt. Other than it trying to shed parts for the first few weeks it has been a nice fun little toy.
    I think the phrase rhymes with "Clucking Bell" - Blackadder

  8. #8
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    Thumbs up Good fun

    Quote Originally Posted by breakaway View Post
    Ohh that hurts

    I figured I'd give it a go, since $199 seems like a very reasonable price for such a machine.
    Yeah go for it. The cheap ones are fine, just a few things to look at before you start out.

    Replace the handlebar, front fork and foot peg bolts with some high tencile steel bolts from an engineering shop. Doesnt cost much and allows you to tighten everything up good and proper.

    Watch the pullstarter units, the plastic ones break easy. You can replace with a metal race unit later.

    Make sure your chain is running straight, sometimes the cheap bikes are not put together well, you can align up the engine and rear wheel to fix this.

    Parts are very cheap but there is a big difference in quality from a $200 to a $500 bike. Check us out if you need anything.
    www.newmanz.co.nz/shop

    Its better to burn out
    Than to fade away

  9. #9
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    Quote Originally Posted by breakaway View Post
    Just found this.
    Why the hell would a windshield do any good on that?

    "This is a racing bike and as such carries no warranty."

    lol!!

  10. #10
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    People do race those mini bikes dude. They use kart tracks like the one at Mt Wellington.

    It has quite a following.

    Just the other day me and Hellraiser were measuring up my section to see if we could feasibly create a mini bike circuit - would take a few days with shovels, stones and concrete but it could be done.....be great for the kids...even better for the adults on a friday night after a few beers
    In space, no one can smell your fart.

  11. #11
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    Yeah, i'm looking at buying one for my 10yearold sister. Breakaway, u buy one, tell me if its shit, and then i won't/might buy one.
    Sorry Officer - I wasn't speeding, i was qualifying...

  12. #12
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    Quote Originally Posted by CM2005 View Post
    Yeah, i'm looking at buying one for my 10yearold sister. Breakaway, u buy one, tell me if its shit, and then i won't/might buy one.
    mate contact newmanz he has ordered a bike for me.Nice guy to deal with and a lot of good feedback on his bikes im sure he will hook you up a good deal

  13. #13
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    they ARE fun, I played on one at a trackday.
    I only posted this because of the global economic crisis

  14. #14
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    Quote Originally Posted by McJim View Post
    People do race those mini bikes dude. They use kart tracks like the one at Mt Wellington.
    Yup, I know about that. But was not referring to mini-bikes in general. Just that $10 bike. And specifically the part about "no warranty"! Makes sense for them to say that...

  15. #15
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    This one looks cool, bit out of your price range though.
    Check out how much you can spend on hotting it up.
    http://www.trademe.co.nz/Trade-Me-Mo...n-97794938.htm
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