Is There More To Going Fast On A Pocket Bike Than Sheer Horsepower?

The stock horsepower quoted by a pocket bike manufacturer is, in the end, only a notional number. Let loose with modifications and pocket bike racers can entice, on average, much more power out of an engine. Double the manufacturer's HP is not uncommon.

But how long a seriously modded engine will last is another question. All engines are built to design limits and while manufacturers err on the cautious side, stretching an engine to work beyond its intended capacity can only lead to increased wear and a reduced working lifetime.

Modifications, however, only take you so far, there are other factors that come into play in determining how much speed you can squeeze out of a pocket bike. Among these is the surface on which you are riding, weather conditions, wind direction and gradients.

The largest variable, of course, is the rider. The heavier the rider, the more work the engine has to do. Skill, too, comes into the equation, smooth inputs to the steering and throttle are vital, as are reaction times.