Q. Do these pocket bikes come with a paddock stand?
A. All bikes are supplied complete with a paddock stand.

Q. What is the approximate maximum speed?
A. Maximum speed is approx 37mph (60kph).

Q. What drives the wheel(s)?
A. The front wheel has a free wheeling axle, the rear wheel has a chain driven axle.

Q. Will it fit in the boot of a saloon car eg a Volvo or other average family size car?
A. They will fit most car boots easily - do check the dimensions though to be 100% sure.

Q. What fuel do these mini motorbikes use?
A. The fuel must be unleaded fuel which has been pre-mixed with 2- stroke oil at the ratio of 50:1 (30:1 during the initial running in period). For simplicity you could get a 5 litre petrol can, put 5L in it, add 165ml of oil, then finally shake it and your'e done. Simple.

Q. Are they automatic gears or manual?
A. All minimotos are are automatic (techincally - they are twist and go with a centrifugal clutch).

Q. How long does one full tank of fuel last?
A. Approximately 20 minutes running time on a 1 litre fuel tank.

Q. What is the maximum weight they will carry?
A. The maximum safe load is approx 243lbs.

As with any form of motorsport, minimoto racing can be dangerous, though with some sensible precautions, you can safely enjoy yourself. Your safety should be your top priority. You won't be allowed to race at a meeting if you don't have the proper equipment. Things you'll need :

A helmet. Make sure you have a good helmet that fits properly! A Vital part of your kit!

A suit. Motorcycle leathers are fine, although you can also buy a specially designed minimoto suit. These are lighter and easier to move around in, but don't offer the same level of protection as full leathers.

Footwear. Motorcycle boots offer good ankle protection in the event of a crash, but can be a bit restrictive. Minimoto boots are available from most dealers, and are a lot easier to ride in.

Knee sliders. You don't want to rip your leathers to bits when cornering... Note that titanium knee sliders are not acceptable for minimoto racing, stick to plastic sliders. These are fine for minimoto racing.

Gloves. Again, motorcycle gloves are fine. Preferably a nice, flexible summer set, with knukcle armour.

A back protector. If you have a minimoto suit or decent leathers, theit will probably have some form of back protector built in. Even if it has, you should also consider wearing a seperate back protector under your suit. Leathers and suits have been known to come apart down the middle of the back, or wear through during crashes. Your MiniMoto goes over 30mph - it HURTS if you're not kitted out!

Once you have all your protective gear, you'll want to carry a few spares for your minimoto. Things like sprockets (you need to change the gearing to suit the track you're on), footpegs (these are usually the first thing to break in the event of a smash), maybe some clutch parts, brake pads, and if you have a standard Polini pull-starter, get a spare plastic starter wheel. It WILL let you down at some point.

Better still, change it for a BiZeta starter for your minimoto. A vernier and a rev counter are usefull for setting the clucth biting point. It's also a good idea to carry a tyre pressure guage, compressor/footpump, a measuring jug for mixing your fuel, and a fire extinguisher. There is normally a minimoto dealer present at race meetings, so you can get most engine parts on race day if you need them, If they deal in your make of minimoto, other stuff may be available too.

Minimoto manufacturers include Polini, GRC, Pasini, Stamas, ZPF, DM, GEM, Vitorazi/ATM and Blata. All are Italian, except for GEM (British) and Blata (Czechoslovakian).

The bikes are also available in 2 sizes, mini and midi. There is no official distinction between the 2, but midis are normally around 10% bigger than minis. This means that midis tend to be a bit more comfortable to ride than minis, but some people find that minis handle better due to their smaller size.

All of the manufacturers use a Polini engine, with the execption of Blata who use an industrial engine on their 2.5 models (2.5 is the kilowatt rating of the engine, it's about 3.4 horsepower), and their own engine on their Elite and B1 Origami models. Pasini also produce a 4 stroke model aswell as Polini engined bikes. The Italian bikes tend to be the most popular with racers, although Blata is very popular in the USA.

The race minimotos compete in different classes, depending on the engine power output. The main classes are 4.2, Production, and Supers. There can also be sub-class in each of these, such as Lightweights, Heavyweights, Juniors, and Seniors, but this is up to the race organisers.

The 4.2 class relates to the Horse Power output, and is exactly what it says, all the bikes are limited to 4.2 horsepower, with no internal, carb, or exhaust modifications allowed. This creates a level playing field for all the riders, so winning races purely comes down to rider skill.

Production class bikes produce around 8 or 9 horsepower. The class rules allow for exhaust tuning, but no internal or carb modifications. Production class racing is the most popular class,

In the MiniMotos Supers class, just about anything goes! 50cc engines, porting, bigger carbs, and power output of anything up to 15 horsepower. Only the exceptionally skilled and 'brave' need apply here.

There currently isn't a racing class for MiniMoto Blata 2.5 bikes, although there is talk of one starting soon. The success of this class will depend entirely on rider turn out at the races. It has been tried before, and a grand total of 1(!) rider showed up (I don't know if he got the trophy or not...). There are probably more Blatas sold than any other make of minimoto, but it seems most end up being used as car park toys. So, if you've got one, get down to your local track on a practice day and make your presence felt!

The MiniMoto Polini 2 stroke is a pretty simple single cylinder, all aluminium lump. Being a 2 stroke, high revs and silly power bands are the order of the day. The engine is pretty reliable, but reliability does suffer slightly as you increase the power output. Engines are generally rebuilt once a season. There are a number of people who will do this for you if you're not too handy with the spanners, and prices start at £50 plus parts.

If you take basic care of the MiniMoto engine, it should give you no trouble. Warm it up before racing, use a good quality 2 stroke oil, and mix it at the right ratio (40:1 when running in, 50:1 for normal use).