Friday, 30 March 2012

UK Dirt Bike Tracks and Parks


So, you have just bought your brand new Dirt Bike from Funbikes and now you want to get out there and have some fun!

Below we have listed some of the best tracks up and down the UK for both beginners and experienced riders.

So get out there and start enjoying your dirt bike experience!


North 

NORTH YORKSHIRE OFFROAD CENTRE
Track Type: 14 Acres of tracks used by 4x4s, enduro bikes and quads. Open most days, please ring first
Location: Robin Hoods Bay, North Yorkshire
Website: www.nyoffroad.co.uk

MONCKTON SHOOTING GROUND - MX
Track Type: Motocross with kids track - just don't get shot!
Location: North Newbald, York
Website: www.moncktonshoot.co.uk/the-motocross-track/

ELSWORTH MOTO PARK
Type: Established for 25 years, hard surface Motocross track
Location: Brockley Road, Elsworth, CB3 8PR, UK
Ph Ahead: 01480 831152
Website: www.elsworthmotoparc.co.uk

ROBSON RACING MX PRACTICE TRACK
Track Type: Motocross
Location: Broomley Holme Farm, Edmondsley, County Durham
Contact: Ph 07 799 641491

LEISURE LAKES MX
Track Type: One of the North West premier mx facilities, track reconstruction done by GP track builder Johnny Douglas Hamilton
Locastion: Lancashire
Contact: 07972237735

DONCASTER MOTOR PARK
Track Type: The track is sand based, incorporating tabletops, waves, jumps and occasionally other obstacles
Location: Yorkshire
Contact: 01302772092
Website: http://www.doncastermotoparc.co.uk/

Midlands


GONERBY MOORE PRACTICE TRACK
Track Type: Motocross
Location: A1 Grantham, Lincolnshire, Postcode - NG32 2AB - Ring for Directions
Contact: 07720 123876

HAWKSTONE PARK MX CIRCUIT
Track Type: World class, sandy motocross track
Location: Just off the A49 near the village of Hopton. North west of Birmingham
Website: www.hawkstonemx.co.uk

J4M54 MOTOCROSS TRACK
Track Type: 1 mile of sand based MX track suitable for all levels
Location: Just off Junction 4, M54, Telford
Website: www.j4m54.co.uk

MALLORY PARK MOTOCROSS TRACK
Track Type: Very good MX track
Location: Leicestershire
Contact: 01827 874949 or try 07973 967845

WILDMORE PRACTICE TRACK
Type: Changing sand based quarry, MX track
Location: Sandy Ln, Wildmoor, Bromsgrove, B61 OQR
Website: www.wildmoor-racing.co.uk

PEAK DALE YOUTH MOTOR CYCLE CLUB - PEAK DALE TRACK
Track Type: 4 tracks available including trials
Location: Wainwrights Quarry, Batham Gate Road, Peak Dale near Buxton, Derbyshire - (nearest post code SK17 8AJ)
Website: http://pdymcc.teamserver.co.uk

THORESWAY HONDA MOTOPARC
Track Type: Excellent motocross track - big jumps
Location: Off B1225 Thorseway, near Caistor, Lincs. LN8 3UX
Website: www.thoresway-motoparc.co.uk

South

APEX MOTOCROSS
Track Type: 1200m of well maintained motocross track
Location: Located directly off the motorway roundabout at Junction 6 off the M5 (Worcester North)
Website: www.apexmotocross.co.uk

ARLINGHAM PRACTICE TRACK
Track Type: Motocross - Natural terrain with rich soil. Open during the winter months
Location: Stroud Junction 13 M5,Gloucestershire. Sign posted from the A38
Contact/Ph: 01454 419548

ASHDOWN MX TRACK
Track Type: Motocross. Amongst the woods
Location: Situated off the A417 between Blewbury and Streatley
Website: http://www.bebo.com/AshdownMX

BESTHORPE
Track Type: Two hard pack tracks. One for the kids
Location: Attleborough, Norfolk
Contact/Ph: Karl on 07919036425

CHEQUERED FLAG MOTOCROSS TRACK
Track Type: Three practice tracks spread out over 20 acres
Location: Yorkshire - Located on the left 1 mile from the village of Aldbrough traveling towards Hull
Website: www.chequeredflagmx.co.uk

DODFORD TURN MX PRACTICE TRACK
Track Type: Motocross track
Location: Northamptonshire
Contact: Ph. 07971 588367

EAST ANGLIA SUPER TRAX
Track Type: A well maintained motocross track which is a mile long with 6 flat tops, 1 step down and 12 other jumps. Includes a beginners/kiddies track and a quad track. Washing facilities available
Location: Crown Farm, Eastlands Bank, Walpole St. Andrew, Wisbech, Cambridgeshire. PE14 7LB.
Website: www.easupertrax.co.uk

ESSEX MX TRACK
Track Type: Two motocross tracks - one for advanced and one for novices
Location: Junction 7 M11, Take the Chelmsford exit off roundabout (A414) 3/4 of a mile turn right into Weald Hall Farm, follow green arrows to track
Website: www.essexmx.co.uk

LANDRAKE MOTO PARCTrack Type: MX - 1 mile long up to ACU standards, takes approx. 2 mins per lap. Has 40 GP standard start gates
Location: 3 miles from Plymouth
Website: www.landrakemotoparc.com

MATCHAMS LEISURE PARK
Track Type: Motocross, minibike and supercross tracks. Catering facilities and toilets on site
Location: Ringwood. On A31 Westbound. Matchams is signposted. Take left just after Ringwood. Follow road down till you see track entrance on right (about 3 Miles)
Contact: Ph 07956075218 (minibike track) or 01425-483933

MILTON MALSOR MOTOPARC
Track Type: 4 tracks including beginners/kids and 2 full size MX tracks
Location: Milton Malsor, Northampton
Contact: Ph. 01788 566412 or 07976696773 after hours

TONY MOTO MOTOCROSS PARK
Track Type: Two motocross tracks for varying abilities
Location: Hampshire
Website: www.tonymoto.co.uk or ph 01962 882005

WASHBROOK FARM
Track Type: 3 tracks - Beginners loop, kiddies track and a MX track.
Open: Every Saturday 11 - 4pm most days of the year. Washing facilities, food catering and workshop
Location: Benwick Road, Doddington March, Cambs, PE15 0TY
Website: www.washbrookfarmmx.co.uk

WESTON INDOOR SUPERCROSS ARENA - UK
Type: 35'000 sq ft of indoor superx track
Location: South West of England, Weston Super-Mare (Near Bristol)
Open: 7 days p/wk, 10 - 9pm
Ph: 07970526588 or 07973479701

Wales


BIG COUNTRY MOTOCROSS TRACK
Track Type: 1200m of flowing, graded track with jumps for all levels. Intermediate track too
Location: Llantrisant, North West of Cardiff
Contact: Ph. 01443 799901

BUILTH WELLS PRACTICE TRACK - RHYDBLAWD FARM
Track Type: One motocross track which is hard-pack with stones, and an enduro loop. On-site toilets and parking. Hot food on Sundays
Location: Builth Wells, Powys LD23TL. Off A483 Builth to Llandrindod Wells Road
Website: www.builthmxtrack.co.uk

CMX CENTRE
Track Type: Very good dedicated off-road motorcycle venue. Motocross, freestyle motocross, enduro, trials, quad, pit bikes, downhill mountain bikes
Location: Just off, Roverway, Tremorfa, Cardiff, South Wales
Website: www.cmxcentre.co.uk

GREEN VALLEY MOTOCROSS TRACK
Track Type: 3 tracks for beginners to advanced
Location: Caerphilly, South Wales
Website: www.greenvalleymotoxtrack.co.uk

LLANBADARN FYNYDD
Track Type: Beginner to medium level MX track
Location: Signposted off A483 between Llandrindod Wells & Newtown
Contact: Ph 07887 687535

Scotland

ARRAN MOTOCROSS CLUB
Track Type: MX
Location: Isle of Arran
Website: www.arranmotocross.co.uk

BALMULLO PRACTICE TRACK - FIFE
Track Type: Motocross - sandy and fast flowing, not for the inexperienced
Location: From the Balmullo Village take the turn-off at the Balmullo Inn. Go over a small bridge and the farm is on your left
Contact: This is the farm it's on.. www.black-environmental-services.co.uk/ContactUs/tabid/254/Default.aspx

DOUNE MOTO PARK
Track Type: Long sand-based MX track. Kids track also
Location: Doune
Contact/Website: http://secure.bebo.com/doune-racing

DUNS MOTOCROSS TRACK
Track Type: MX Practice Track - Suitable for beginners and experts. Big jumps!
Location: Langton Lees Farm, Duns, TD11 3NS, UK
Website: www.dunsmotocross.co.uk

HIGHLAND MOTO-X-CLUB - ARDERSIER TRACK
Track Type: Motocross - Frequently graded
Location: Off the A96 near Nairn
Website: www.highlandmotox.com

Thursday, 8 March 2012

The Difference Between Midi, Mini and Pit Bikes

All of these bikes can boast popularity and being incredibly fun to ride. But to anyone not experienced with these bikes, what is the difference is between pit bikes and mini or midi motos?

As the name suggest, mini motos are miniature versions of full motorbikes. They are most commonly used for recreation, although there does exist some competitive racing for them. Minis, standing an no more than a couple of foot in height are primarily used for fun.

Midi motos on the other hand are smaller versions of full size racing bikes. They are a natural introduction to motorcycle riding for younger riders, especially those who prefer the shape and style of sports bikes rather than mopeds.

Pit bikes were originally used as a handy way of getting around the circuit and pit areas at race meetings. More closely resembling motocross bikes, they are mainly used for off-road fun.

Pit vs Midi vs Mini


Mini Motos

tend to use have a small 40cc 2 stroke engine which will have a top speed of around 25mph. Don’t be fooled though, this feels a lot faster when riding just inches from the ground.

Midi Bikes

These are a lot larger than Mini Motos and can be ridden on public highways. Still with small two stroke engines they do have a lot more oomph and it is possible to get bikes capable of 60mph+ without any need for tuning.

Pit Bikes

Pit bikes vary wildly in how much power they have. Whilst still used for their original purpose (as a way of easily getting around circuits) there has been a rise in the interest of racing pit bikes on circuits intended for their full size motocross cousins.


Choosing A Bike

Each type of bike has a fairly specific purpose. Before purchasing, the main decision is whether you want to use the bike strictly for fun and if so, what surface do you intend to be riding on. Budget is also a factor although running costs are low for all bike types.

If you have any stories, questions or advice on any of these bikes, we would love to hear about it in the comment below. For bespoke advice on any aspect of bikes, scooters or quads, please get in touch and we will do our best to help.