Minibike maintenance

Of course, there are minibike maintenance things you need to do before racing your pocket bike. The first step in pre-race minibike maintenance is making sure everything that can be tightened is tight. Just normal riding can loosen nuts, bolts, exhaust systems, body parts, foot pegs and your bike chain. Make sure they’re good and tight so that the only thing flying around the track is you on your bike! Also, check your bikes clutch to make sure shoes and drum don’t show signs of wear and check brakes to make sure they not only stop like they should but also let you start out again without sticking.

You should also check your wheel rotation before riding to make sure that your tires move freely. A hairpin turn is no time to have a wheel lock up! Another part of minibike maintenance that is crucial to racing is tire condition and pressure. Check tires for cracks, breaks or blisters. The tire pressure you want for any race will vary with the weather and the condition of the track. You’ll want higher pressure on smooth tracks with good traction and on hot days. On bumpy tracks with a few wet or slippery spots and on cooler days, you may need to lower your tire pressure.

Another part of minibike maintenance is just learning how your bike sounds and rides when it’s at its best. If you pay attention during practice rides, you’ll be alerted to the first hint of trouble during a race.