RC Motorcycles: Types, How They Work and How to Choose Yours

RC motorcycles are one of the most eye-catching corners of the RC hobby: they lean into corners like the real thing, slide on dirt and, in the case of motocross models, even jump. They’re also more demanding to drive than an RC car, because they have to stay balanced on two wheels. In this guide you’ll see what types there are, how they work and what to keep in mind when choosing yours.

Types of RC motorcycles

• On-road (sport) bikes. Replicas of racing motorcycles for pavement, with a fairing and a rider figure. They’re all about grip and precision in the corners. A classic in this category is the Kyosho Hang-On Racer.
• Motocross and enduro bikes (off-road). Long-travel suspension and knobby tires for dirt and jumps. The Losi Promoto-MX is a well-known example of a motocross RC bike with electronic stabilization.
• Toy bikes. Designed for kids, with low speeds, training wheels or stabilizers and popular characters, like the Paw Patrol motorcycle.

Electric or gas

The vast majority of today’s RC motorcycles are electric: they use a LiPo or NiMH battery, a motor (more and more often brushless) and an ESC. They’re quiet, easy to use and need almost no motor maintenance. Combustion RC bikes do exist, but they’re very rare and need the same care as a nitro or gas RC car.

If your bike runs on a LiPo battery, learn how to charge and store it safely in our guide to RC LiPo batteries.

How it stays balanced

An RC motorcycle relies on the same things as a real one: the spinning wheels create a gyroscopic effect that stabilizes it, and the fork geometry tends to bring it upright. The trouble starts at low speed, when braking or when pulling away from a stop. To solve that, many models include:

• An electronic gyro, which corrects the steering automatically to keep the bike upright.
• A flywheel inside the rear wheel or the chassis.
• Training wheels or stabilizer legs on toy models.

The more advanced the stabilization system, the easier it is to learn and the fewer crashes you’ll have.

You can compare RC motocross bikes and on-road RC motorcycles on Amazon, as well as RC motorcycles for kids if you’re shopping for a gift.

What to check before you buy

1. Use and terrain. Smooth pavement for an on-road bike; dirt, grass or a motocross track for an off-road one.
2. Skill level. If you’re just starting out, choose a model with electronic stabilization and speed you can limit from the transmitter.
3. Scale and size. Big bikes are more stable and soak up bumps better, but they need more room and cost more.
4. Battery and run time. Check which battery it uses, how long it lasts and whether the battery and charger are included.
5. Spare parts. Crashes are part of learning, so choose a brand whose parts are easy to find (levers, footpegs, forks, fairings).
6. Recommended age, if it’s a gift for a child.

Basic maintenance

RC motorcycles take more hits than a car, so after every session it’s a good idea to:

• Clean off dust and dirt with a brush and compressed air, without getting the electronics wet.
• Check the screws, levers, footpegs and handlebars after every crash.
• Check the chain or drivetrain, and the chain tension if it has one.
• Inspect the suspension and look for oil leaks on the forks.
• Store the battery at storage voltage in a cool, safe place.

Many of these jobs are the same as on a car: you’ll find the full routine in how to clean an RC car.

Customize your bike

Just like with RC cars, you can give your motorcycle its own style: painted fairings, decals, tires in a different compound or a rider figure in your team colors. If you want to paint it, the techniques are the same as when you paint an RC body.

Would you rather start on four wheels? See which RC car to buy or check out our guide to RC cars for kids.