The Dbottino Weblog

As your child grows out of their little bicycle and wants more than a battery powered car to get them ‘cruising’ along. It can be a head scratching thought as what would be the next step up…

The wait is over as now comes a full range of affordable minimoto’s & miniature dirt bikes to suit children as young as four with the right supervision.

Amongst many questions often asked the first one is always “Are these petrol powered pocket bikes safe?” The answer is YES! With built in safety features and speed restrictor an ideal starter bike is called the PY50 and is a quality dirt bike which comes with fitted restrictor to allow children to ride at a speed they feel comfortable with. Fully automatic (rev & Go) and fully enclosed shaft drive to the rear wheel so kids cannot get their finger, toes and clothes caught. An example of this bike can be found on on the links below in the Dirt Bikes 2 stroke between 47cc – 80cc link.

As your child’s skill progresses there are many more models of petrol powered pocket bikes that allow your child to feed the need for speed. These miniature dirt bikes come with 2 stroke engines and as your child becomes more comfortable you can even move up to a 4 stroke engine as powerful as 125cc.

Once your child masters the basic starter bikes there are also lots of other models that are priced as low as £150 which can do speeds of up to 35mph such as the mini motard dirt bike which is small enough to fit in your car boot yet is strong enough for anyone up to 10 stones to ride it… so even mum and dad can have a ride!

Dirt Bikes 2 stroke between 47cc – 80cc :
http://www.ghostracingseries.com/dirtbikes2stroke.htm

Dirt Bikes 4 stroke between 50cc – 110cc:
http://www.ghostracingseries.com/dirtbikes2stroke.htm

This article will discuss the characteristics of motorcycles in everyday traffic situations. Automobile drivers, also known as Cagers, need to be aware that a motorcyclist will often slow down their motorcycle by downshifting or by simply rolling off the throttle. What this means is that the brake light is not activated. Given this knowledge, we advise that motorists allow more following distance to give motorcyclists and yourself more room to maneuver. Common sense also dictates that you predict a motorcyclist may slow down at intersections without visual warning.

Motorcyclists use both their turn signals and hand motions to announce a lane change or turn. Some motorcyclist forgets to cancel their turn signals. Although newer models have built in self-canceling turn signals, some beginners and experts may still forget to cancel their signal. So, make sure a motorcycle’s signal is valid.

A motorcyclist will often adjust their position within their lane. This is mainly for better visibility, to avoid debris, and to minimize affects of weather and other vehicles. This behavior should not be interpreted as reckless driving. If anything, it will help you, the Cager, be aware of the motorcyclist.

Since a motorcycle is obviously smaller in size than an automobile, although the rider may be quite large, please be aware that because of its small size a motorcycle may seem to moving faster than it actually is. Also because of this small size, a motorcycle may look farther away than it is. When checking traffic to turn at an intersection, always predict that a motorcycle is closer than it looks. A car pulling left in front of an oncoming motorcyclist causes the number one motorcycle and automobile accident. Please do not do this; it tends to ruin everyone’s day.

A motorcycle’s stopping distance is almost the same as for a car, but road conditions and rider skill level may affect stopping distance. As always, allow for more following distance when behind a motorcycle.

When a motorcyclist is carrying a passenger, this will complicate all of the motorcyclists riding responsibilities. Stopping distance, motorcycle handling, maneuverability and balance are all affected by the passenger. When you see two on a motorcycle, give the motorcyclist plenty of room.

Keeping a safe following distance when following motorcyclists cannot be stressed enough. From the motorcyclist ability to slow with using the brake, to having a passenger, to having smaller mirrors making it harder to judge the distance of the car following them. We strongly recommend keeping a three or four second following distance and space cushion when following a motorcyclist.

As the weather turns warmer, start to look for motorcyclists, especially when checking traffic at intersections. There are a lot more trucks and cars than motorcycles on the highways. Many motorcyclists do not recognize a motorcycle. They often choose to ignore it. Whether unintentionally or through stupidity because the Cager is busy applying their makeup or talking on their cell phone while drinking their Starbucks coffee all while trying to drive. Please stop and be a responsible citizen and drive your car when you are moving. There will be plenty of time later in the day to use your cell and drink your coffee. Hopefully these tips will keep me alive by making you more aware of the characteristics of a motorcycle in traffic.

Finally, do not think of a motorcycle as a machine; we motorcyclists are people so treat us with the respect with which we are due.

Contributing author to Cycle Solutions and Kingpin Cruisers
http://www.cyclesolutions.net
http://www.kingpincruisers.net

A report from the Massachusetts Male Aging Study shows that cycling more than three hours a week increases a man’s risk for becoming impotent, while cycling less than that decreases risk. Impotence is caused by nerve and artery damage. Exercising regularly helps to keep arteries healthy, so bicycling helps prevent impotence, as long as it does not damage arteries and nerves. Three percent of regular male bicycle riders become impotent and virtually all feel pain or numbness when they ride.

If you feel no discomfort when you ride, keep on riding and stop worrying. If you feel numbness, get a new seat. When a nerve is pinched or the blood supply is shut off to the penis, a man always feel numbness. Men who ride with conventional bicycle seats and do not feel numb are not at risk. Half of the penis is inside the body and the main blood supply comes from the area just behind the scrotum and in front of the rectum. So bicycle seats that press on that area can cause impotence, while those that do not have a nose and have a widened area for pressure on the sitz bones should not cause impotence.

Racers need to have a bicycle seat nose between their legs to help control the bicycle with their legs, but if you have no need to ride with both hands off the handle bars at the same time, you should be able to use a noseless seat, and enjoy cycling without discomfort or impotence,. I use a seat that has no nose and is wide enough to allow me to sit on the sitz bones of my pelvis. I never suffer numbness and don’t worry about impotence.

For information on the “noseless” bicycle seat see http://www.drmirkin.com/fitness/8733.html

Dr. Gabe Mirkin has been a radio talk show host for 25 years and practicing physician for more than 40 years; he is board certified in four specialties, including sports medicine. Read or listen to hundreds of his fitness and health reports at http://www.DrMirkin.com

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Motor scooters are vehicles with small wheels and a low-powered gasoline engine geared to the rear wheel. The first patents for “foot powered” scooters date back to 1921. Up to that time there were no motors attached to the scooter. They were propelled by “foot power.”

The old-fashioned foot-powered push scooter was updated to a Razor motor scooter under the direction of Gino Tsai, whose father was a mechanical engineer for the J. D. Corporation in Shanghai, Taiwan. His motor scooter took about 5 years to design.

Gino Tsai claims that the reason he invented the Razor motor scooter was due to the fact that his father had to walk for miles every day around the huge bicycle factory that he worked for because of his short legs. To solve this problem he updated the old-fashioned push scooter into what we now know as the modern Razor motor scooter.

When Gino finished the development of his motor scooter he began to market it to the public. It quickly became a huge success with customers waiting as long as six months for their orders.

Why was the Razor motor scooter so popular? The Razor scooter was made from lightweight airplane grade aluminum which can support over 1000 pounds without bending. It is foldable, which means it can be stored in very small places. It has small polyurethane wheels and a low-powered engine. Braking is activated by stepping down on the rear fender.

Today there are many different brands and models of motor scooters. We have electric scooters and gas powered motor scooters. They are very versatile and functional, serving many different purposes. They are patterned after motorcycles, but have smaller wheels, lower-powered engines and can be “stepped through,” unlike the motorcycle.

The most commonly seen style of scooter is the “folding,” or “foldable,” scooter. These are two-wheeled models that are typically used for traveling short distances around the neighborhood. Braking occurs when the back fender is stepped on, putting pressure on the back wheel and stopping its movement. This type of motor scooter is made for kids or adults and can also be used to perform tricks on. It is very compact in size and can be folded for storage in small places.

A unique feature of freestyle folding motor scooters is the “kicktail,” a portion of the foot deck that extends over the back wheel. This is what provides the leverage for performing tricks. Motor scooters with “kicktails” are called freestyle scooters and usually have hand brakes due to the fact that the back fender allows for the performance of tricks instead of braking.

Electric scooters are generally bigger and heavier. Because of the extra weight they consume more power and can only go shorter distances when compared with the folding scooters. After about 10 or 15 miles it may be necessary to recharge the battery.

These electric, or battery-powered, motor scooters are often used to travel short distances around the neighborhood or perhaps on a school campus or other confined environment. They are particularly popular among the elderly, handicapped and disabled. Instead of being confined at home these elderly or handicapped people can now have some of their former independence returned to them. Motor scooters of this type are usually called mobility scooters.

Gas powered motorized scooters are usually more powerful and can attain higher speeds than the folding scooters or electric scooters. They can also travel longer distances when a larger fuel tank is included. Gas scooters may not be permitted in some areas so it is wise to check out the laws and regulations in your area before purchasing a motor scooter.

Motor scooters are cheap fun. Larry Johnson loves traveling around town without the need to take out a loan for gas. Visit My Motor Scooters for more information about motor scooters.

Many mini moto modifications will require you to remove the engine from the mini moto. This is why I have produced the following guide.

Firstly you will need to remove the mini moto’s fairing.

Start with the seat fairing, unscrew the four seat screws and remove the seat. Unscrew the screw at the front end of the seat fairing and remove the petrol cap. The fairing can now be lifted from the mini moto. Replace the fuel tank petrol cap and remove the fuel tank by pulling the rubber tube of the nipple on the top of the carburettor. You may want to double the rubber fuel tube over and secure it in this position with a clothes peg. This is to stop fuel leaking out.

Remove the bottom fairing by unscrewing the holding bolts (two on each side), this frees the bottom fairing from the top. Unscrew the two bolts on the underside of the bottom fairing. The bottom fairing is now free. The top fairing is only now held on by one last bolt located in between the handle bars at the front of the mini moto.

Once you have removed the fairing, you will need to take the chain off the front sprocket. To do this loosen the back wheel nuts and the tensioning bolts. The back wheel can now be manoeuvred toward the front sprocket loosing the chain. When the chain is loose enough you can remove it from the front sprocket.

Remove the pull start from the engine by unscrewing the three holding screws. Once the pull start has been removed you will see the wire that comes from the stop switch. Unplug this.

The throttle cable can be removed from its fitting on the top of the carburettor. Pull the rubber seal up so that the locking nut can be unscrewed, the throttle can now be pulled from the carburettor along with the needle valve and spring.

The next step is to Remove the Exhaust. The exhaust is fixed to the mini motos frame by a bolt located just under the seat fairing toward the back of your mini moto. Undo this bolt with a spanner and an alan key. The exhaust is fixed to the underside of the engine by two bolts via a gasket. Remove the two bolts with an alan key making sure that you do not lose the gasket washer. The exhaust can now be slid out past the engine and removed form the mini moto.

The engine is free from its mechanical fittings, the engine then needs to be removed from the mini motos frame. The bolt at the top of the engine must be undone first using the alan key. The three screws located on the underside of the engine are the last fixings to be undone. The engine can now be completely removed from the mini moto.

Matt Tong has been importing and riding Mini Motos for two years. For expert advice and Mini Moto information please visit http://www.minimotosandmore.com