Minibike

A minibike, also known as a mini moto or pocketbike, is a miniaturized version of a motorcycle. Traditional minibikes usually use four stroke motors that power a chain to turn the rear wheel. These four stroke motors are similar to a lawnmower, but not identical. The main difference is the shaft direction. A minibike requires a horizontal shaft while a lawnmower uses a vertical shaft. Contrary to popular belief, old lawnmower engines cannot be used to make a minibike since the crankshaft is oriented in a vertical position instead of a horizontal position like a minibike would need. Some models may use two stroke motors although electric-powered models are also available. The 2-stroke motor produces a loud, whining buzz and a more polluting cloud of smoke as exhaust if not properly tuned. These features, along with the minibike's tiny size, mean that minibikes are almost never street-legal.