Yes, you heard right, a pit bike. That tiny annoying but exceedingly fun motorbike people bomb around pit lanes with at the race tracks! Or even race themselves.
We are going to talk a little bit about how you can do it, why it helps and how much money a pit bike will cost - Stunt ready and ready for action!
So firstly, as you are all most likely aware, I would like to point out the fact that Chesca started out on a 110cc pit bike (like the above picture) before transferring her skills on to her Stunted out Honda CBR 600 F4i. She had put a hand brake set up on to her pit bike to allow herself to learn basic control and the techniques a rider needs to become a skilled stunt rider, before moving on to her 600cc machine. This was in fact a very good idea, why? Well...
''By learning to control the machine using the handbrake on the pit bike, I allowed myself to conquer the battle of self disbelief at a very early stage of my riding career. When I was kicking back the pit bike and hanging it in mid air by pulling the brake at balance point, I felt a sudden rush of belief and strength that I could achieve this skill. It was very encouraging, for now I was aware of what this handbrake did and how much of it I should use and when, I would be able to do the same thing when I got on to my 600. All this I achieved without damaging my road bike, a solution I had been looking for.''
So by learning how to use the brakes correctly to stop flipping the bike on a pit bike first, you will be saving a lot of time when you move on to the 600. You will in effect be by-passing some of the toughest learning curves of your stunt riding career. Not only that, if you mess up on this thing, you are less likely to receive the damage to your body as having the same accident on the 600.
''The pit bikes are light, they are small and they are extremely unstable. All of these attributes are totally opposite to the 600. Although the 600 becomes more unstable up to and beyond Balance point, it is still a heck load more stable than the 110. Learning how to battle with stability on the pit bike will help so much for the 600 too. Learn how to wheelie the pit bike without flipping it and know your limits. Then, when you move on to the 600, although you have a whole new mental barrier to cross, you will be half way there with the knowledge you have gained already on your pit bike. It works. I know.''
So, you want one?
A new pit bike can cost from £350 to around £500 But, you can pick them up second hand from around £150 - £200.
Then, you are ready to stunt it straight away but you will benefit hugely if you buy a decent handbrake set up. One that you can put on to your 600 as well afterwards. These cost from £190 plus a reservoir and brake line which will come to max £250 and you will need to change a few bits like the standard foot brake master and reservoir which can be replaced with a Honda foot master from £30 second hand. You may also need to weld the foot master or buy an adapter to accept the banjo thread in the inlet for the reservoir. It is also a good idea to buy HH racing pads to prevent brake fade and scooter tyres to give it more stability.
All of the above can be put on to your 600cc stunt bike after you have learned on your pit bike, this way, you are not loosing a single penny. Just make sure that the second hand bits that you buy are from a fairly new bike.
To buy a fully stunted out pit bike, you are looking from roughly £400 - £550
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