Pit-bikes Questions

kevinr
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kevinr
Edited Date/Time 10/17/2019 9:50am
Seems pitbikes are becoming a local favorite around here on intermediate tracks. The more I see them the more fun they seem to be.
When my son and I go to the track we take turns riding but if I had a pit bike I could ride on the main track with my 250 and with him on the intermediate track. It seems most guys are riding Chinese ones with the exception of a build up KLX110 once in a while.
Worth going to KLX route or does everyone just buy a new Chinese bike every year? What should I look out for?
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mx 219
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mx 219 8/14/2018 11:57am
8/14/2018 11:57am
If you want a reliable bike get a 110L lightly used or if you can find a great deal on a new one go for it. If you look on craigslist you may be able to find one that someone doesn't know what they have for cheap. I recommend an L though so it will need to be a 2010 or newer.

I have had a 110L since 2011 and have yet to regret getting them, at one time I had 3 so my dad and buddys could ride too.
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kb228
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kb228 8/14/2018 11:59am
8/14/2018 11:59am
Tons of people have the piranha 190s around here and seem to like them. Imo the right way is to build a KLX110L.
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731chopper
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731chopper 8/14/2018 12:09pm
8/14/2018 12:09pm
I've been out of the pit bike scene for several years now so I may be a bit out dated although I don't think it has changed too much. I'd recommend looking at building up a KLX140/L or getting a Pitster Pro LXR. I looked at Pitster Pro's website and they now make a 14/17 wheelbase option which is what I'd recommend. In my past experience the Pitster Pro LXR was the best Chinese bike option. There is a lot of Chinese junk out there but Pitster Pro actually provides a nice value in terms of the quality of stuff you're getting.

The KLX140/L and LXR options are close in size to an 85cc race bike though. If you want something smaller then you can go KLX110 or 110L. The nice thing about the bigger bikes though is that you can ride them more like a full-size motorcycle so you don't have to change you're riding style as much.
kevinr
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kevinr 8/14/2018 12:09pm
8/14/2018 12:09pm Edited Date/Time 8/14/2018 12:10pm
How about a TTR125L? I have one of those laying around. Seems to be a bit large for a “pit” bike although I still think it would be fun. Slow, but fun.

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dsmith
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dsmith 8/14/2018 12:30pm
8/14/2018 12:30pm
what about a kx65?...kinda cheap and fast...
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Cokeham23
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Cokeham23 8/14/2018 12:38pm
8/14/2018 12:38pm
If you want a pitbike you can ride on actual tracks, get a KLX140L, or CRF150F. The TTR125, and KLX/DRZ125 are good options too, but I’d go with the 140 or 150F. The 125s mentioned have an open cradle design on the bottom, they have bent or split before from abuse. BBR used to sell a cradle for them, but I think they are hard to come by now.
I ride (and race) my KLX140L on all the big bike tracks here, it’s actually a lot of fun. It handles them just fine too. All I’ve got done to my 140 is a 170 big bore kit, a pipe, and HD springs front and rear. I also have a built CRF150F/230F, I made a thread in the bike build section about it.
731chopper
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731chopper 8/14/2018 12:45pm
8/14/2018 12:45pm
kevinr wrote:
How about a TTR125L? I have one of those laying around. Seems to be a bit large for a “pit” bike although I still think it...
How about a TTR125L? I have one of those laying around. Seems to be a bit large for a “pit” bike although I still think it would be fun. Slow, but fun.
The TTR is fine but you're more limited on upgrade/customization options compared to a KLX140 and it's pretty slow. The thing about the KLX 140 is that is shares a few parts with the KX85 like wheels and front suspension. You can bolt an entire KX85 front end on a KLX140.

Since you've already got a TTR-125 I say just get that running, take it to the track and see what you think. These size of bikes can be a lot of fun because they're still smaller than a full size bike and are much less powerful so they're a lot easier to throw around in the corners.
Wandell
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Wandell 8/14/2018 1:19pm
8/14/2018 1:19pm
I agree. If you want a "big mini", the Kawasaki KLX140 is hard to beat. The big advantage it has is it's full frame vs. an open cradle design like the old KLX125 or the DRZ125 and the TTR125. I'd try to go with the KLX140L as it has a better rear shock compared to the standard model. It's the size of a KX100 while the standard model is the size of a 85. I've really enjoyed mine.
pdub187
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pdub187 8/14/2018 1:51pm
8/14/2018 1:51pm
Spend a fortune on an xr75 and then spend months looking for a decent xr100 engine to slot into it. Still looking btw lol
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NJKawi913
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NJKawi913 8/14/2018 1:55pm
8/14/2018 1:55pm
I haev had a bunch of KLX110's, but my favorite pit bike is the XR100. I bought an 2001 XR100 for $900, spent $500 on forks/shock springs, and a 120 big bore kit. The bike is bulletproof, I change the oil in it once a year.
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Moto Mofo
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Moto Mofo 8/14/2018 6:43pm
8/14/2018 6:43pm
I’ve done every type of pitbike over the years, 50s, 110s and various vertical cylinder bikes. As mentioned above, 50s and 110s aren’t that great unless you have a track that’s purpose built for it. You can have fun most anywhere on any of the vertical cylinder bikes. It all depends on what you wanna do with it and how much you wanna spend, but there are plenty of options. I like all of them for different reasons, but lately have been really into the XR100 stuff. They are cheap, have an insane amount of hop up potential, and the motor is very light, which makes for a nimble bike regardless of what chassis you’re running it in.
RandyS
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RandyS 8/14/2018 7:08pm
8/14/2018 7:08pm
NJKawi913 wrote:
I haev had a bunch of KLX110's, but my favorite pit bike is the XR100. I bought an 2001 XR100 for $900, spent $500 on forks/shock...
I haev had a bunch of KLX110's, but my favorite pit bike is the XR100. I bought an 2001 XR100 for $900, spent $500 on forks/shock springs, and a 120 big bore kit. The bike is bulletproof, I change the oil in it once a year.
What kind of forks/shock do you have? I'm building an 02 XR hundrit now for my um......wife.

Wandell
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Wandell 8/14/2018 7:42pm
8/14/2018 7:42pm
Moto Mofo wrote:
I’ve done every type of pitbike over the years, 50s, 110s and various vertical cylinder bikes. As mentioned above, 50s and 110s aren’t that great unless...
I’ve done every type of pitbike over the years, 50s, 110s and various vertical cylinder bikes. As mentioned above, 50s and 110s aren’t that great unless you have a track that’s purpose built for it. You can have fun most anywhere on any of the vertical cylinder bikes. It all depends on what you wanna do with it and how much you wanna spend, but there are plenty of options. I like all of them for different reasons, but lately have been really into the XR100 stuff. They are cheap, have an insane amount of hop up potential, and the motor is very light, which makes for a nimble bike regardless of what chassis you’re running it in.
I read that lately people are buying crf150r's with blown engines and stuffing xr100 engines in. Apparently it's a pretty easy swap.
Moto Mofo
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Moto Mofo 8/14/2018 8:26pm
8/14/2018 8:26pm
Wandell wrote:
I read that lately people are buying crf150r's with blown engines and stuffing xr100 engines in. Apparently it's a pretty easy swap.
Yes, and Service Honda was even selling them at one point, too. It’s a much easier project than the CR80/85 chassis that people often used for XR100 conversion for decades.
Deja New
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Deja New 8/14/2018 11:26pm
8/14/2018 11:26pm
I had a Pitster pro 140 rode the ass off it was fun but then i got a cheap rm85 big wheel and that thing screens like a nest of angry wasps and never lets me down. I'm 5'11 and 90KG no idea what that is in pound or stone ( Get with the metric system folks) its cheap to rebuild plastics are cheap if you had a get off and break them. then again any 85 big wheel will do the trick. I love chasing the weekend warriors on the 450's that think they can ride and need a 450 and i pass them on the 85 the look on there faces in the pits after is priceless.......
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YeddieVanHalen 8/15/2018 5:58am
8/15/2018 5:58am

On a practice day I used to bring my pit-bike & my 450. I would ride the big bike sessions & then jump into it with the kids session on my pit-bike. I have to say that riding the pit bike was almost more fun than riding the big bike! Every time I came off the track after riding the pit bike I had a big ol' smile on my face. Riding with the kids was fun too as they knew I was not a kid & they would try to 'race' me! The little guys are a lot more competitive than I would've imagined. I built up a pretty trick KLX110. It was a lot of $$ to convert a KLX into something that could handle an adult rider. Compared to most of the Chinese pit bikes which are already kind of tricked out. I got to ride a lot of Chinese pit bike back in the day when I was working with Guy Cooper. The quality of parts was not as good but the ride is just as fun (for a whole lot cheaper!)
TJMX947
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TJMX947 8/15/2018 6:03am
8/15/2018 6:03am
I have a friend who I consider a mini guru, he races super moto 50s/110s, and had a sick CRF50 he built for the dirt (full frame/suspension/motor - 5k bike). He sold his dirt 50 and bought a Piranha 140. He said the key to it is basically to strip it down and build it back up from the frame. He said they cut a lot of corners from the standpoint of grease and torque specs. Once you do that you're good to go.

When I was a kid I had a CR125 but I always loved breaking out my brother's XR100 and shredding it. With all of the cost of new bikes (that I don't race anymore) and all of the people getting killed these days it would probably be very refreshing to get my hands on an XR to play with. It would probably turn into another obsession.

What do you guys do for suspension on those little bikes? Heavy Weight springs/valving/oil?
YeddieVanHalen 8/15/2018 6:08am
8/15/2018 6:08am Edited Date/Time 8/15/2018 6:09am
TJMX947 wrote:
I have a friend who I consider a mini guru, he races super moto 50s/110s, and had a sick CRF50 he built for the dirt (full...
I have a friend who I consider a mini guru, he races super moto 50s/110s, and had a sick CRF50 he built for the dirt (full frame/suspension/motor - 5k bike). He sold his dirt 50 and bought a Piranha 140. He said the key to it is basically to strip it down and build it back up from the frame. He said they cut a lot of corners from the standpoint of grease and torque specs. Once you do that you're good to go.

When I was a kid I had a CR125 but I always loved breaking out my brother's XR100 and shredding it. With all of the cost of new bikes (that I don't race anymore) and all of the people getting killed these days it would probably be very refreshing to get my hands on an XR to play with. It would probably turn into another obsession.

What do you guys do for suspension on those little bikes? Heavy Weight springs/valving/oil?
I work at Öhlins so I built up a shock for the rear. For the front I found some KX60 forks on flee-bay & got the heavy-duty spring kit from 'Mini-bike springs' (don't know if they are still in business?) & Race Tech gold-valves & heavy fork oil. You definitely been stiffer suspension or you are going to have a hard time hitting any jumps, etc.

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Wandell
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Wandell 8/15/2018 6:19am
8/15/2018 6:19am
TJMX947 wrote:
I have a friend who I consider a mini guru, he races super moto 50s/110s, and had a sick CRF50 he built for the dirt (full...
I have a friend who I consider a mini guru, he races super moto 50s/110s, and had a sick CRF50 he built for the dirt (full frame/suspension/motor - 5k bike). He sold his dirt 50 and bought a Piranha 140. He said the key to it is basically to strip it down and build it back up from the frame. He said they cut a lot of corners from the standpoint of grease and torque specs. Once you do that you're good to go.

When I was a kid I had a CR125 but I always loved breaking out my brother's XR100 and shredding it. With all of the cost of new bikes (that I don't race anymore) and all of the people getting killed these days it would probably be very refreshing to get my hands on an XR to play with. It would probably turn into another obsession.

What do you guys do for suspension on those little bikes? Heavy Weight springs/valving/oil?
On my KLX140L, I did the KX fork conversion and added a preload spacer and heavier oil. I need heavier springs front and rear, but this gets me by on my backyard pitbike track.
Broughton859
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Broughton859 8/15/2018 7:52am
8/15/2018 7:52am
For my 150f I just added stiffer springs front and rear from BBR and heavier weight fork oil. Compared to my CRF100's it's definitely heavier but I'm not worried about breaking the frame in half every jump like I was on the 100. I use them for Supermoto and they work really well. I've only been taken my 450 to the MX track but this thread is making me want to put the dirt wheels back on the mini's and go rippen with the kids in the mini classes
TR72Moto
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TR72Moto 8/15/2018 7:58am
8/15/2018 7:58am
I have a Pitster Pro 160 that I'm finishing up if anyone is interested, Brand new motor right out of the box !
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Team Ideal
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Team Ideal 8/15/2018 8:22am
8/15/2018 8:22am
if you really want to have fun go the KLX140 route or buy the CRF150R and stuff a CRF100 engine in it. I did the CR85 route and the 150R route is much simpler bc you do not have to rebuild the cradle for the engine to fit. I have a 150R and just waiting to find the time to make another one. if you want some serious power look at the Takegawa kits.
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JBecker 72
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JBecker 72 8/15/2018 8:58am
8/15/2018 8:58am
My girlfriend just got a KLX140L and it’s an awesome bike. I jumped a couple 25’ tables on it and it’s smooth as butter. Way more pep than a TTR125 as well.

A CRF150R roller with XR100 motor sounds like a great winter project.
dirtmike86
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dirtmike86 8/15/2018 9:10am
8/15/2018 9:10am
I have a 110l and wish i had kept the crf150f the wheels on the 110 are too small. Ever rock you hit hurts and i knife the front end constantly. The klx 140 and crf150f are my pick. I dont like the ttr's.
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YeddieVanHalen 8/15/2018 10:15am
8/15/2018 10:15am
Team Ideal wrote:
if you really want to have fun go the KLX140 route or buy the CRF150R and stuff a CRF100 engine in it. I did the CR85...
if you really want to have fun go the KLX140 route or buy the CRF150R and stuff a CRF100 engine in it. I did the CR85 route and the 150R route is much simpler bc you do not have to rebuild the cradle for the engine to fit. I have a 150R and just waiting to find the time to make another one. if you want some serious power look at the Takegawa kits.
I am so wanting one of the 150r's!
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ginger969
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ginger969 10/17/2019 9:50am
10/17/2019 9:50am
What bike did you end up getting? I've got a Piranha 190 4v and it's a beast!
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