Mini dirt bikes have been functioning on 2 stroke engines for years. This is a tried-and-true method for getting as much enjoyment out of a compact dirt bike as possible without the huge investments of time, energy and money.

A 2 stroke engine is what might power a lawnmower or a chainsaw, so you know that there is some torque and power to be released. Combine this with the new suspension systems that are coming out and improved handling, braking and automatic transmissions, and you have a well-built entertainment machine which will keep kids busy for hours and hours.

There are significant advantages to purchasing a 2-stroke mini dirt bike over an electrical option. We have listed them below so you can make an informed purchasing decision based on the needs of your family.

Contrary to popular belief, 2 stroke mini dirt bikes are less expensive to purchase off the shelf when compared to electric mini dirt bikes. There are multiple explanations for this, but the main factor is that an electric dirt bike basically has to come pre-assembled in order to function properly. A 2 stroke mini dirt bike, on the other hand, can be built and maintained by the rider (or parent, in this case). This results in a bit more time spent on the machine itself, but it does save you money when making the initial purchase.

Totally Customizable

The beauty of 2 stroke mini dirt bikes is that they can be customized for aesthetics and function much more than any electric mini dirt bike. For one, an electric motor limits your ability to work with the mechanics of the bike. In effect, you are settling for a stock motor and the bike will never perform any differently, regardless of the amount of maintenance you put into it.

Additionally, the concern of battery-operated dirt bikes is that they will corrode over time. This is particularly true in cold climates. For this reason, 2 stroke mini dirt bikes are preferable if you are looking to customize them or simply for easy storage. Just keep in mind that they require extra maintenance and they will return the favor in fun many times over.

Higher Top Speeds

It is no secret that 2 stroke mini dirt bikes perform much better than electric mini dirt bikes when it comes to speed. Although they have smaller weight limits, they make up for this by out-clocking their electrical competition. In some cases, a 2 stroke mini dirt bike can achieve double the speed of a comparable electric dirt bike. This makes 2 strokes a favorite among experienced young riders who want to get the most out of their riding experience.

Although this can be a bit nerve-racking for concerned parents, we have found that exposing kids to powerful 2 strokes early in their riding development has led to more understanding across the board with respect to safe operation.

No Limitation On Operation Time

One significant limiting factor when it comes to electrical mini dirt bikes is that they only offer an hour of operating time before they must be recharged. This process can take up to 12 hours, which means that your kids will be limited to a maximum of 1 hour of biking time every day.

Add to this the fact that you will not achieve the same speeds with an electric mini dirt bike and it becomes clear that 2 stroke mini dirt bikes are the way to go if you expect your kids to be using them for significant amounts of time. Once you have your oil/gas mixture set up for your 2 stroke mini dirt bike, all you have to do is refill the tank and you are ready to go. This means you can operate these machines longer every day, which may be what your kids are looking for.

More Authentic Dirt Bike Feel

When it comes right down to it, the simple truth is that there is no way to replicate the feel of a dirt bike without using a 2 stroke engine. Although these mini dirt bikes will not achieve the same levels of speed and handling found in full-scale dirt bikes, there is no argument that a 2 stroke mini dirt bike is the easiest way to give kids the feel for larger bikes.

Although electric dirt bikes are quieter and can function for longer on a single charge versus a tank of gas for a 2 stroke engine, the long-term ability to simply fill up the tank and keep riding makes them extremely practical for day-to-day use. We particularly suggest 2 stroke mini dirt bikes for kids who are showing a special interest in motocross or motorcycles in general.

Regardless of what you are looking for in a mini dirt bike, it is always worth considering a 2 stroke mini dirt bike because they hold a lot of benefits over their electric rivals. Better performance, better feel, more customization options and a bike that can literally go all day – all big pros when it comes to giving your kids the thrill of a new outdoors toy. We are avid fans of 2 strokes for this very reason – they accomplish everything we want them to in a compact dirt bike. We hope you will enjoy them as much as we do!

Best 2 Stroke Mini Birt Bikes

49-50cc High Performance Red 2-Stroke Gas Motorized Mini Pocket Dirt Pit Bike

This red 2-stroke mini dirt bike is what we refer to as “the Cadillac of the mini pit bikes”. It is designed to be among the fastest and sleekest mini dirt bikes, and it achieves this in spades. From the beginning, it was clear that this mini dirt bike was created with rider comfort and user experience in mind.

It is shorter than most mini dirt bikes which provides a small turn radius and more control to the rider, making riding easier and reducing the risk of crashes and losing control. The suspension system is designed for rugged terrain with the rear shock absorption of particular note. It operates very quietly for a pit dirt bike, and features both front and rear wheel disk brakes.

We feel this bike would be ideal for kids who are starting to develop an interest in motocross but are too young to handle a full-sized gas-powered dirt bike. As far as gas-powered mini dirt bikes go, this is our pick for one of the best on the market in the 49/50cc class.

What We Love:

We fell in love with this machine almost as soon as it was out of the box. Unlike many other gas-powered dirt bikes, this bike was easy to assemble. It took our crew about 30 minutes to put together, compared to other products that took upwards of 3 hours. Once we had the fuel/oil mixture, we were able to start it up and operate it for about 25 minutes.

This is not much longer than the traditional gas-powered dirt bikes out there, but it is slightly better fuel economy on what is easily one of the better products available to you. Our testers were particularly impressed with the suspension system this mini dirt bike features. Unlike many dirt bikes that have sub-standard suspensions, causing bumpy rides and making tough terrain a frightening prospect, the suspension system on this bike is first-class, permitting hours of comfortable ride time without the soreness associated with long rides.

We really enjoyed the functionality of the basics on this bike – the steering, braking and automatic transmission. It was designed with learners in mind and allows even beginner riders to enjoy their ride without concern for safety or loss of control. Once the bike is built, we feel confident that even a 7 year old could operate it safely and effectively.

However, we do suggest a minimum age of 9 or 10 before use. The weight limit of the machine is 127 pounds, but it is operating on 40 pounds net weight, making it one of the most trimmed-down yet powerful mini dirt bikes on the market. Many comparable products weighed in around 65 to 80 pounds and were capable of supporting about 140 pounds. Keep in mind that your kids might have to move this bike out of muddy areas and a lower net weight will make it easier for them to operate the machine autonomously.

What Could Be Improved:

In terms of improvements for this machine, there are relatively few to list. We were a bit disappointed that it couldn’t handle more than 127 pounds while operating. We know these machines are designed to handle smaller children, so a low weight limit is to be expected. However, electric mini dirt bikes showed themselves better able to handle larger weight limits (a medium-range electric dirt bike can handle a 175 pound load).

That being said, no electric dirt bike is going to measure up to this one when it comes to speed and the comfort of the ride. Since it is gas-powered, there will be a bit more assembly and maintenance required from this machine than any electric dirt bikes. This is to be expected, and we feel it makes for a more authentic dirt bike riding experience.

One significant issue we had with the bike had more to do with assembly instructions than with the bike itself. We have some experience with the assembly of dirt bikes, so the instructions that were provided were frustrating when they dictated we take actions that would be problematic to the operation of the bike (such as mounting the choke the opposite way to what it was supposed to be).

For that reason, we suggest that you have some experience in the assembly of gas-powered motors to get the most out of this product. It might take a bit of work to put it together and get it running, but once it is in working order, we feel there are not many products that can compete with it on the market.

Overall Review

Best performance of any gas-powered bike we have tested

Pros:

• Very easy to ride
• Very lightweight
• Excellent suspension system

Cons:

• A bit pricey compared to other models
• Assembly instructions might be confusing to inexperienced buyers
• Low rider weight limit compared to electric mini dirt bikes

DB49A Red 49CC-50CC 2-Strock Gas Motor Mini Dirt Pit Bike

The DB49A is a great little dirt pit bike which operates on a single cylinder 2-stroke air-cooled engine. It is a step-up from the typical beginner bike and requires a fair amount of technical knowledge for construction, installation and operation. It features a fully automatic transmission, meaning you or your child will not have to worry about shifting gears while riding.

It can reach a top speed of 25 miles per hour, and has handle-mounted breaks for easy use. We strongly suggest only using this dirt bike if you or your child have experience on these machines.

What We Love:

Although this is a dirt bike for experienced riders, we found that most of the testers who rode it could operate it safely and very well. This owes a lot to the DB49A’s sturdy design and excellent functionality. Unlike many other dirt bikes we tested, the DB49A was able to take an insane amount of punishment and keep on functioning.

This was great news since the bike itself is lighter than many of its counterparts and can really kick out some speed, especially when younger kids are operating it. One of the biggest selling points we can provide you with is the set-up time. Many of the machines we reviewed took hours to piece together using a combination of assembly instructions and YouTube. This 50 cc mini dirt bike took us less than 20 minutes, took a beating and kept on moving.

A huge selling point for the DB49A is that it comes with a 30-day factory warranty. If any parts are found to be defective within that time frame, the manufacturer will replace them at no cost to you. Simply replace the defective part and you have a tough dirt bike ready for operation.

It weighs only 50 pounds, making it one of the lightest dirt bikes we have ever tested. It also makes it ideal for learners, since they are not operating a machine beyond their ability to move. It is also one of the flashier dirt bikes we reviewed, and was well-received by nearly every rider we paired with it.

What Could Be Improved:

Although the DB49A performed extremely well in our reviews tests, there are some shortcomings to this machine that you should be aware of before purchasing. For one, the weight limit of this machine is about 100 pounds, making it a great choice for younger kids but not ideal for older teenagers. Most machines we tested were in higher weight classes, making this a lightweight when it comes to the size of passenger it can handle. The bike required some assembly which is pretty common for dirt bikes that are purchased brand new.

The primary issue we had, however, was with the operation of the mini dirt bike itself. It is designed for experienced riders as it does not feature an “easy” start-up process. Most dirt bikes have a simple chain pull start-up mechanism which makes them ideal for younger kids who do not understand the intricacies of clutches, throttles and intakes.

This is a bit troublesome since the weight limit of this bike makes it ideal for younger kids – exactly the audience that will intrinsically have less riding experience and therefore more difficulty with the start-up. Once they get a handle on this, however, this dirt bike operates like a dream.

Overall Review

Pros:

• Exceptional quality dirt bike
• Extremely durable
• Very little assembly required
• Very simple to operate once you get the hang of it

Cons:

• Better suited to experienced riders
• Can be difficult to start-up for beginners
• Small 100 pound weight limit