I get it… why would you want to spend more time waiting to get your bike registered than needed? You want a motorcycle that is nimble and durable offroad but also street legal fresh off the showroom floor.
With the various bike styles we have today, you’d think there would be a better selection of street legal mini motos. As it turns out, there are some great options we’ve found whether you lean towards street dominant riding or a more offroad focused discipline, you just have to look a little beyond the traditional notion of a pit bike. You truly can cherry pick the bike that best fits your needs.
What Bike Fits Your Riding Style Best?
Unless you’re planning to buy 2 bikes, the first step is to decide what needs you have and the style of riding you intend on using it for. Do you plan to only ride roads to get to the trail? Are you focusing more on learning street stunts? Do you simply need a reliable commuter that can also hit the occasional trail when you’re feeling spunky, or do you actually want to use your pit bike in the pits and at events?
Like shoes, bikes have specific strengths and weaknesses that are enhanced by whether they’re being used for their designed function or not. If you try to play basketball in baseball cleats it won’t work out very well. Just like if you ride an offroad focused bike on the streets it will be limited by the tires to only a fraction of its capabilities.
The only person who can truly decide which bike is most fitting is you. I’m just here to give you a strong selection allowing you to avoid unnecessary research and rip on 2 wheels as soon as possible. In the end, it comes down to personal preference, and there are plenty of choices.
Street Legal Pit Bikes: Modern vs. Vintage
This is almost as deep of a conversation as the 2 stroke vs 4 stroke debate. All the new style bikes are sleek and flowy with smooth cut body lines appealing to the eye, while classic bikes like the Honda Monkey stay true to the vintage styling. The big 3 modern mini motos all have similar ergonomics and specs. Almost a “pick your favorite color” scenario if you choose a new style bike.
Personal preference between internal combustion or electric motors also plays a factor when selecting the proper bike. Obviously, electric bikes have a limited range before having to recharge. Unlike their gas counterparts, you have to be somewhere able to plug it in, carry a mobile charger, or stay within the battery range – otherwise, you could be left stranded if the battery percentage isn’t monitored properly. To be fair, what E Bikes lack in the ability to quickly “gas” up, they make up for in stealth and reliability.
You Can Ride These Home From the Showroom
There are many reasons you’d want a factory street legal pit bike. Whether you’re too busy to build one, not mechanically inclined, or buying it to commute and don’t want the headache of gathering street legal parts. This list should help you make a calculated decision based on the style of riding you’re intending to use your new bike for.
Honda Monkey
Vintage bike enthusiasts who value current technology like fuel injection and ABS will gravitate towards the Monkey/Z series body style almost immediately. This bike is a great option that’s essentially the same bike as the well known Honda Grom, except with the OG aesthetics of classic pit bikes. The Monkey comes standard with ABS, a higher seat, and a longer wheelbase. By looking at the Monkey you wouldn’t think it’s a bigger bike than the Grom due to the bodywork, but it’s a noticeable difference in handling when you ride it. Although, not necessarily better or worse, it really comes down to personal preference and style.
This is a quality platform with all the street legal parts installed by Honda. No troubleshooting or testing required to get it perfect – the manufacturer already covered that for you. It comes with a plush comfortable seat for longer commutes. Obviously, it’s not ideal, but you can manage on the interstate if the need arises. Not to say this is a speed demon by any means, but you won’t get passed like you’re sitting still either.
Honda Grom
Modern bodywork with a very minor power increase over the Monkey, the Grom shines as the most well known mini moto in the riding community. The Grom gained its reputation by having a low price, ease of maneuverability, high fuel economy, while keeping up with a decent amount of big bikes. Whether you need a gas saving commuter or want to learn how to stunt; the grom is perfect for any application.
For such a small bike, it has a strong reputation for taking a beating without batting an eye. The Honda Grom is an Honorary Supermoto. I’ve seen these bikes looped out, endo’d over the bars, and hit by cars like nothing happened. At most you might have to replace the handlebars, grips, or touch up paint if you push the limits too far. Even then, the bike still holds up to the hard life of a stunt machine if that’s what it’s called to do. If it can withstand beatings like that, you can trust it to reliably get you from point A to B, especially if you plan to use your street legal pit bike for actual pit duty on the weekends.
Talaria Sting
This one requires leaving behind the traditional notions of a pit bike and considering that the versatility of a pit bike is sometimes found in a very different wrapper.
If you’re craving a modern bike that puts out zero emissions, this is one of the best options for you. The Talaria Sting is fully electric which means 24/7 stealth mode. Coming in as the second lightest on this list, and the most powerful E Bike, the Sting is a great city commuter capable of hitting tight alleys or technical trails with enough power to maintain the speed limit in town. Can’t say I’d take it on highways, but it’s the most fun you’ll have on a silent killer.
Equipped with more than enough power to tackle steep hillclimbs or clear jumps at your local moto track, Talaria offers a quality bike with a range of uses available on the stock package. If your skill level exceeds the bike’s capabilities, there are a diverse variety of parts, upgrades, and aftermarket manufacturers sure to provide what you need, like our sister site, GritShift.
Kawasaki Z125 Pro
This is by far the most underrated mini moto available for purchase. For such a quality, eye catching bike, it’s hard to believe they’re not more common. Kawasaki took this build seriously leaving no stone unturned. The body lines and styling of the Z125 Pro are unmatched compared to other bikes in its class, not to mention, this is the most aggressive looking, aerodynamic 125 street bike manufactured today.
Kawasaki made sure their 125 wouldn’t be outdone on top speed tests by the Honda Grom, but they didn’t stop there. The seat height is 1” higher catering to taller riders and giving the Z much smoother lines compared to the Grom. Plus, in comparison, it has a more nimble feeling when riding. The decision truly comes down to rider preference. Kawasaki built an incredible bike that will likely be in production for many years to come.
Sur Ron Light Bee L1E
Coming in as the lightest bike on this list is the Light Bee L1E. This street legal mob machine weighs only 110lbs and makes 9hp. To be fair, that doesn’t mean it has to stay making 9hp. With a deep arsenal of aftermarket parts available, the Sur Ron could easily be the most customizable bike on this page. Perfect for smaller or less experienced riders to grow their skills on and upgrade performance are they learn, and a killer street legal pit bike right out of the box.
Benelli TNT 135
Likely the most unknown bike on this list, but definitely the best styled and fastest, the Benelli TNT 135 is a force to be reckoned with having a claimed top speed of 71mph. The 135cc engine produces 11.3 horsepower, meaning you can technically run faster than the Z125 Pro and the Grom while reaching that speed quicker thanks to the extra 3-4 horsepower.
Italian engineering can be thanked for the TNT 135’s aesthetics with the painted steel frame and creatively aggressive headlights. This alone sets Benelli on a separate level from its Japanese counterparts. Not to mention, it’s blessed with a larger cockpit compared to either of its competitors allowing larger riders to still enjoy the mini moto trend. It’s hard to beat a street legal pit bike that will hang with some supermotos at top speed.
Coming to a decision on which bike fits your personal needs and preferences best can be a challenge with so many quality options to choose from. The gas mileage of the Grom, taller cockpit space the Z125 Pro offers, stealth and usability of an E Bike, and the top speed provided by Benelli gives the ability to choose exactly what you want. While it might seem like a lot, this wide variety allows you to select exactly what your riding style and skill needs.
Go to the DMV or Save Time
All of these pit bikes are considered street legal the majority of the time. The trouble is, they might not be easy to register in your area. In some states, you can simply go to the DMV and transfer the ownership & registration into your name. If I’m betting, odds are, the last place you want to spend your day is at the DMV talking to the “lovely” attendants.
You never know what to expect when gracing the DMV with your presence, but one thing is for sure – you’re not getting out in a timely manner. If you’re lucky, the dealer will register your bike for you, but this isn’t a luxury afforded by most purchasing a bike. This is especially true if you opt for an E Bike like Talaria or Sur Ron; when you buy directly from the manufacturers or from companies like GritShift. Not only do you risk wasting time on the DMV stringing you through a process of paperwork and fees, but you also may be informed that your efforts are in vain since they won’t register the bike for whatever reason, as some areas are known to be against registering pit bikes and smaller motorcycles for road use.
Obviously, the DMV is a viable first course of action, but if you don’t want to deal with the headache or would rather not risk jumping through hoops, I know the perfect solution for you. This allows your bike to get registered without leaving your couch. Dirt Legal can walk you through getting started, then take over and manage the entire process for you with an out-of-state DMV. Take the first step to simplify your registration process today by following the link below.
We are not attorneys. This article is not legal advice.
Caleb Hysell has been around dirt bikes, 4 wheelers, side x sides, drift cars, and diesel trucks from a young age. He began stunting and racing moto at 14 which created a lifelong passion for motorcycles. When he's not writing he can be found bringing positivity to the community by riding his supermoto.