So I'm on overthink overdrive today.
For a pit bike I've been using my Mongoose BMX bike. I keep toying with bringing my 62 Honda 90 but always fall back to the BMX bike is so light and fits flush against the wall........it's perfect.
Yet I am trying to reinvent the wheel.
So at of curiosity what are you all using.
My Chevrolegs mostly but if I have room my fixie commuter bike comes along.
I use one of these Jetson Folding e-bike. It's not a great bike but it folds up super small and it can go a full day on a single charge if you use it in pedal assist mode. A few of us on staff have them and have had good luck.
Same boat, I have a moped, but weight and space constraints usually lead to either a bmx or non-motorized razor scooter.
Would love to have a small E-scooter, but considering it would only get used about a half dozen times a year, not worth the investment. Plus, some of my events only allow human powered devices.
We have a Honda Motocompacto e scooter that is super easy and small. We also bring a Yamaha c30 49cc scooter, especially if it is a larger track for the weekend. The Honda fits anywhere, the Yamaha has a hitch rack bolted to the tongue of the trailer. Since we got the Honda we certainly use the Yamaha less.
I can't speak to its use as a pit bike, but I had a Honda Trail for a while and it was just stupid fun. I imagine it might be a bit much for a pit bike, but it is small, easy to manhandle, and very practical. The handlebars are easy to rotate 90 degrees to sit flush against a wall.
Sonic said:We have a Honda Motocompacto e scooter that is super easy and small. We also bring a Yamaha c30 49cc scooter, especially if it is a larger track for the weekend. The Honda fits anywhere, the Yamaha has a hitch rack bolted to the tongue of the trailer. Since we got the Honda we certainly use the Yamaha less.
The Motocompacto presses ALL the right buttons for me except price, but honestly I think it's cool enough that one day I'll probably pull the trigger in a moment of weakness.
Like chris mentioned a few of us have Jetson Bolts and they're really stellar at what they do for under $300. Real bagain as long as you don't need something to go through grass or gravel a lot.
In reply to pinchvalve (Forum Supporter) :
I have a C200 90. It's a street bike so the bars do not fold flat.
In reply to JG Pasterjak :
The ironic thing is one of my BMX bikes cost more than the Motorcompacto; yet I too think the Motocompacto costs to much money.
I can get a Honda CT70 cheap as well but I'm trying to cut down on the motorized things I own.
I put this in the Challenge thread but I'll post here also. Razor (yeah the scooter brand) MX-500 or MX-650 electric dirt bike. Buy one on FB Marketplace needing batteries. Add 48v Lithium Ion battery and go 18mph around the pits. They are a hoot and no really cares since they are electric.
For many years, i just had an old mountain bike I took to the track, which was fine for moving me around, but not cargo.
I got a smaller cargo style ebike (Radrunner Plus) a couple of years ago, and it's great at the track, but much harder to transport. It weighs over 60lbs and only fits angled in the 5.5ft bed of my truck. I don't always bring it because of that. But it's way better at larger, hillier tracks like vir and road atlanta. And it has a second seat and footpegs, so my wife can ride along.
I have the absolute cheapest GoTrax scooter. G2Plus? It only goes 12mph and not very far BUT it's very light and takes up very little space. It's so small and simple that I'll take it to go 50ft away rather than walk on a hot day in my leathers.
I do experience some scooter envy in the paddock but I don't want to lug a bigger one around.
I use an electric scooter. Originally I used one of the "razor"-style stand up electric scooters, but once I started going to NASA NorCal events where they require that anything you ride in the paddock has to have a seat (I think this is an insurance rule) I switched to an "urbanmax" sit-down e-scooter. Similar to this, although I bought it locally and didn't pay as much as Amazon is asking for this one:
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0B4WLWYVG/
I used to use a bicycle, but one my main reasons for wanting a pit bike is to avoid having to walk around the paddock in racing boots (great for driving, but they have basically no arch support). If I'm wearing my racing shoes then I'm wearing my coolshirt, and that's just an accident waiting to happen when the hoses get caught in the chain.
In the past, I used my skateboard--lots of miles at Thunderhill. If anyone has ever heard of a Blockhead, extra points to you. Ironically, many tracks prohibit skateboards in the pits, as they are dangerous . . .
Electric scooter is pretty much the best compromise of everything. Personally I think a bike is similarly functional and substantially safer (and still fairly low effort while not having to charge a battery) but it's significantly larger and more awkward to transport.
For anyone considering going the scooter route, It's worth it to upgrade at least to something with 10" tires versus the 8" that the cheap ones have. It's more functional on mixed surfaces, rides better, and it's less likely for the tiniest hole in the pavement to snag a tire and launch you overboard.
I was planning on buying a Brompton folding bike ... until I found out they start at $1500 bucks.
I picked up a Worksman folding bicycle off Marketplace several years ago. I think I paid around $65 for it. Identical to this one.
One clamp to undo, another to pull out the handlebars and it fits in pretty much any trunk. It's not geared for speed, so it's a leisurely ride through the paddock, but way better than walking. The rack on the back is super handy. I no longer use it, and will cheerfully sell it to a GRMer for what I paid. Located in south central PA.
In reply to LanEvo :
Depending on how tall you are a BMX bike works great.
I am 5' 7" so it's not an issue.
Mongoose has retro bikes.............they fit in at a vintage race.
https://www.mongoose.com/products/supergoose?variant=40456085110940
A Giant TCR I built out of spare parts. Aluminum frame, 16 lbs, cheap enough that if someone dings it I won't be down all weekend.
A Giant TCR I built out of spare parts. Aluminum frame, 16 lbs, cheap enough that if someone dings it I won't be down all weekend.
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