Buying a mini bike is an exciting experience and you probably can’t wait to get your new mini bike, but you don’t want to rush out and buy the very first one you see. There is nothing worse than getting home and realizing what you got isn’t exactly what you want.
There is a lot you need to consider, like the brand, size, style, and price. With all these decisions, the process of buying the right mini bike can become overwhelming, especially for first time mini bike buyers. Don’t worry, this article will guide you through the process to make sure you make an informed decision and end up with the mini bike that’s perfect for you.
Steps to buying a mini bike:
- Determine what you need
- Do your research
- Know your budget
Determine what you need
The first step in buying a mini bike is knowing what you want or need if for. This is very important because it will be the basis on which you make most of your decisions. Once you know what you want to use it for it will be easy to eliminate the mini bikes that won’t work for you.
Knowing the type of riding you want to do and where you want to ride are definitely important factors to consider. If you want to ride off-road, you need a mini bike built for riding on tough trails through dirt and mud. These bikes are going to have features like suspension, knobby tires and low gearing for conquering those steep hill climbs.
On the contrary if you are looking for something to take on a joy ride around a parking lot or down the block to show off to the neighbor, knobby tires and suspension might not be necessary. Instead a reliable engine, street tires and an awesome frame design could be what you’re looking for.
Something else to consider is if you need the ability to carry gear, like maybe some beverages to share with the neighbor while you show off your sweet new ride. A mini bike with an ATV style rack would be really useful in this type of situation.
ATV style racks are probably also a necessity for someone looking for a vehicle to cruise around their farm and carry equipment back and forth to the barn. Lot’s of mini bikes have such racks, but even more don’t have a rack at all.
The time of day you plan on riding can influence your buying decision too. If you have any intention of riding after dark or even during dusk, a headlight will come in very handy. A lot of mini bikes don’t have a stock headlight and adding an after market one can be a lot of work.
Finally, maybe you are looking for more of a project than a vehicle. If this is the case, maybe what you actually need is just a frame kit so you can build a custom mini bike to your own exact specifications. Mini bikes are inexpensive and easy to work on, making them a great option for custom builds. All of these different considerations will help narrow your search down to the models that will work for you.
Do your research
Now that you know what you want and need, it is time to see what’s out there. In this day and age the best place to start is the internet. There is so much information out there, including this blog! So hop on you phone or laptop and start searching around to see what’s out there.
You want to make sure you are buying a good product. One way to do that is to research the brands themselves. There are tried and true brands out there that have been building some pretty cool mini bikes for a long time. Coleman Powersports, Massimo Powersports, Monster Moto, MegaMoto, and BV Powersports (Trailmaster) are a few examples of popular mini bike brands.
Once you start zeroing in on a few specific models, do what every good internet sleuth does and read the reviews. I recommend reading reviews from more than one source so you are sure you are not getting a bias opinion. Video reviews are also great because you get to see the mini bike in action and get an idea of what it is capable of.
Online research is great, but when it comes to a vehicle, nothing beats a test drive. Being able to take a mini bike for a ride allows you to get a feel for how it handles, how much power it has and how comfortable it is.
If you can’t find a store that will let you test drive one, try asking a buddy. If you have any friends that own a mini bike, I promise they will be happy to let you test it out. Everyone with a mini bike is always looking for an excuse to take it out for a ride with a buddy.
Know your budget
For most of us, budget is a big consideration. If you are one of the lucky ones out there and money is no object then feel free to skip this section and buy one of every mini bike model. After all, your friends are going to need something to ride too and it’s always more fun to ride with friends.
If too much money isn’t your problem, than make sure you look around and compare prices before you buy. Often times, one retailer will be selling the exact same mini bike model at a much lower price than their competitors. Again, this is where you can leverage the power of the internet to your advantage.
Mini bikes are also a popular item for retailers to put on sale. If you find the perfect mini bike, before you buy, ask if it will be going sale any time soon. I saved a couple hundred dollars on my first mini bike during a summer kick off sale.
Also, if your budget isn’t quite what you wish it was, you can always look into a buying a used mini bike. There are a lot of great deals out there for used mini bikes on sites like Craigslist, OfferUp, and Facebook Marketplace. A lot of the time these used mini bikes have barely been ridden and are basically new, but cost a fraction of the price.
Other article you might find helpful
Coleman CT200U Review (Great First Mini Bike); Are Mini Bikes Good for Beginners?; Can You Ride a Mini Bike on the Road? (State Guide)