I'm getting new pocket bike. Help!

[Foobin]

Hello,

Im having a lot of trouble deciding what pocket bike to get, after me my mates $230 trademe ones fell apart after 3 days (it was helps of fun while it lasted though)

Now, we want something that is reliable over something screaming fast. And it seems a lot of these chinese bikes, regardless if we pay $300 or $800, all have their issues. Neither of us are mechanically minded, if it keeps on going, it will still keep us happy.

So, right now there is a trademe seller selling Blata 2.5 for $950, is this a good bike to go for?
I know 2.5HP may not be much, but we won't use them for competition, and just wana have fun. Plus meet with a guy saying he can upgrade them to 4-5HP.

The other option is to get a water cooled Zpf, gp3, D1 etc (few sites in auckland have these) but these are still chinese made and aparently still require lots of maintaince. Is this true/false?

There is another bike im looking at, a MT-A4 water cooled one thats being sold by newmanz, is this any good stock? (does it require much or any maintainence?)

Ideas & thoughts regarding which is the best deal or bike to go for please.

Appretiate any help!

Thanks for your time

P.s if you are in chch and know who is out racing these in groups/clubs we would like to know who you are. Thanks!

[CookMySock]

Now, we want something that is reliable over something screaming fast. And it seems a lot of these chinese bikes, regardless if we pay $300 or $800, all have their issues. Neither of us are mechanically minded, if it keeps on going, it will still keep us happy.

The chinese pocket bikes are never going to be reliable.

Best bet, is you meet up with a group down your way who can work together and learn about them. They are really basic (just a chainsaw engine) but some of the problems can be a little non-obvious.

Yes, a genuine Blata will have a lot less issues than a chink copy, but its your $1000 so you have to decide. If you are not going to thrash them hard on the track or repeatedly crash them then it's unlikely that there will be much work to do on them, and then it is just a matter of learning how to set them up so they are reliable, and learning all the do's and don'ts.

Don't give up. They are really rewarding to muck around with, and you will get to grips with them pretty quick. They are also great training for the road. There were a few interested people in your area, so with any luck they will comment in your thread.

edit: don't for goodness sake go out and buy some top-end watercooled kickarse race bikes. They are even more difficult to work on, they are lots LESS fun, and you will have no one to race them against.

Steve

[imdying]

What do you mean by fell apart?

[Foobin]

Well me and 3 friends all got 1 each. Here is what happened to 3 of them.

1. Exhaust fell off, the bracket actual fell off, needs to be welded back on. Exhaust welding also crap and leaks like a sieve.
2. Pull starter broke only after a couple of pulls.
3. Carb (i think) is faulty as bike stops randomly and bike dies if you give it too much gas. Accelerator also broken, and rear tire doesn't stop spinning. (temporary fixed)

The breaks on all 4 bikes are crap, and no matter what you do it cannot be adjusted properly without the vibration killing it after 2 mins of riding anyway. Many bolts all fall off due to vibration and crappy bolt/nutt. The plastic body also cracks easily.

Regardless of these issues, for $230/pop, they are still hilariously fun.

[imdying]

Only little things then, you'll get used to those

We should have a ride day next weekend!

[Foobin]

Little things maybe, but added up it can be a pain in the A**

Give me a bell at fucharles@gmail.com and we can sort something out. My mates are always out riding them nearly daily

[888mike]

Hey there you could try Greg at Extreme minimoto his web site is on the nzmmrc web site or you could google him, I think he has moved back to wellington, his bikes are dearer but they are well put together.

[imdying]

Little things maybe, but added up it can be a pain in the A**

Totally know what you mean, we'll have a yap sometime then, there's some other options you haven't considered yet that are definitely worth a look.

[Foobin]

Im kinda set on getting the Blata 2.5

From what i have gathered everyone says they are reliable and fast enough for playing around with in a car park etc

I would rather pay something double the price for reliability, over a cheaper one but have many nights of headaches

[CookMySock]

Im kinda set on getting the Blata 2.5 [...] I would rather pay something double the price for reliability, over a cheaper one but have many nights of headaches

Headaches?? Fixing them is half of the fun.

Oh well, soon we soon get to buy your stuff for peanuts when you've frustrated with it.

Steve

[imdying]

Given that you've made your mind up, what is it that you're after?

[Jonno.]

Well me and 3 friends all got 1 each. Here is what happened to 3 of them.

1. Exhaust fell off, the bracket actual fell off, needs to be welded back on. Exhaust welding also crap and leaks like a sieve.
2. Pull starter broke only after a couple of pulls.
3. Carb (i think) is faulty as bike stops randomly and bike dies if you give it too much gas. Accelerator also broken, and rear tire doesn't stop spinning. (temporary fixed)

The breaks on all 4 bikes are crap, and no matter what you do it cannot be adjusted properly without the vibration killing it after 2 mins of riding anyway. Many bolts all fall off due to vibration and crappy bolt/nutt. The plastic body also cracks easily.

Regardless of these issues, for $230/pop, they are still hilariously fun.

The first one is really a metal issue I believe (the metal could have broken around the welds not the actual welds), not much you can do but get some wire and tie around the frame.
Second one is all about technique, get a new one and be gentle and not pull it all the way. I'm still on my first one after 8 months.
Three, could be the float, and the rear tyre should always spin I believe although shouldn't pull if it's on the ground.

My brakes aren't bad (stock on a d2) although I've changed with metal levers. You really need to find the point where they don't bind too much and give maximum braking ability.
For bolts losening try locktite (medium) and it should hold them together.

These bikes really are quite fun to work on because they are so simple (providing you're ready to learn).

[Foobin]

Given that you've made your mind up, what is it that you're after?

I only really made my mind up during the course of today haha!
You think its a good choice?

[Foobin]

These bikes really are quite fun to work on because they are so simple (providing you're ready to learn).

Guess im the kind of person that likes riding these toys, but don't have the time or patience to fix them.

[imdying]

I only really made my mind up during the course of today haha!
You think its a good choice?

Personally, yes. But...

Guess im the kind of person that likes riding these toys, but don't have the time or patience to fix them.

...half the fun is in keeping the going, you'd be better off not spending the money on the blatas and finding another hobby if you don't like to tinker, even they will require a certain amount of maintenance. You might consider making the necessary changes to the cags to get them going properly, you'll learn a lot from that exercise that will help you with the Blatas.