Chinese Dirt Bike Brands Compared: Apollo, Tao, Coolster, TrailMaster and RPS
- on October 21, 2026
- Categories: Articles
These brands are not interchangeable. TrailMaster has the longest warranty and the widest size range, Apollo has the deepest pit bike lineup and the best parts commonality, RPS is where the dual-sport options are, and Tao is entry and youth only. Coolster we no longer stock as a dirt bike brand. Here is where each one fits and where it does not.
We sell four of these five, so read this knowing that. What follows is how we actually sort them when a customer calls and tells us the rider’s age, height and what they will ride on. If you want the general reliability picture first, start with our honest answer on Chinese dirt bike reliability.
The short version
| Brand | What we stock | Where it fits | Where it does not |
|---|---|---|---|
| TrailMaster | 70cc through 300cc, including the JHL Pro and EFI models | The broadest choice, and the only brand here with a 12-month engine warranty. The upper models are the closest thing we sell to a trail bike you can live with long term. | It is still a value-tier machine. Do not expect motocross suspension at any price point. |
| Apollo | 70cc through 300cc, heavy on 110–125cc pit bikes | Step-up and full-size pit bikes. Uses the common horizontal-engine pattern, so consumables and engine parts are available from many sources. | Thinner at the youth automatic end than in its mid range. |
| RPS | 70cc up to the 250 Hawk and Blade | The only brand here with dual-sport models — lighting, mirrors and a VIN. Also good value in the 140–150cc full-size class. | Street titling depends entirely on your state. Confirm with your DMV before you count on it. |
| Tao Motor | 107cc to 140cc youth bikes | First bikes. Simple automatic and semi-automatic small-displacement machines at the bottom of the price range. | Not an adult brand. There is no serious full-size option. |
| Coolster | Not currently stocked in dirt bikes | — | We cannot vouch for current Coolster dirt bike build quality because we do not sell them. |
TrailMaster: the one with a real US parent
TrailMaster is a brand of BV Powersports, a US company — “BV” stands for Best Value. BV designs and specs the machines, has them manufactured in China, and sells through authorized US dealers. Motobuys is one of them. BV runs its own parts department, which matters more than any spec sheet two years into ownership.
That structure is why TrailMaster carries our longest coverage: 12 months on the engine and 6 months on parts, versus 6 and 3 on everything else. The range also goes further than anyone else’s here, from a 60cc kid’s bike up to a 298cc EFI machine. If you do not want to think hard about this purchase, this is the default answer.
Apollo: the best parts situation
Apollo’s strength is boring and important. Its 110cc and 125cc bikes use the horizontal four-stroke engine layout that the entire pit bike world standardized on decades ago. Consumables and engine parts for that family are stocked by many suppliers, not just the brand — which makes it the cheapest of these bikes to keep running. More on that in can you get parts for a Chinese dirt bike.
The X-series bikes, the DB-X18 and DB-X19, suit teenagers and smaller adults who want a manual transmission. The Thunder line covers full-size 250cc and 300cc.
RPS and Tao: specific jobs
RPS, sold as Ricky Power Sports, is the brand to look at if you want something you can potentially plate. The Hawk 250 ships with lights, mirrors and a VIN, and in many states it can be titled for road use — but that is a state-by-state question, so confirm it with your DMV. Treat any site that promises street legality without naming your state as unreliable.
Tao Motor does one thing: inexpensive youth bikes, 107cc to 140cc, mostly automatic or semi-automatic with electric start. For a young rider’s first bike at the lowest possible price, that is a legitimate product. For an adult it is the wrong purchase.
One from each
TrailMaster TM31 Pro 250 223cc Adult Dirt Bike
TrailMaster — 250-class, 5-speed, 34" seat
$1,649$1,899
View
RPS Hawk-X 250 223cc Adult Dual Sport Dirt Bike
RPS — Hawk-X 250, 5-speed, 35" seat
$1,819$2,039
View
Browse by brand: Apollo, RPS, Tao Motor, or by size in 125cc and 250cc dirt bikes.
How to choose, honestly
- •Pick by rider, not by brand. Seat height and transmission type decide whether the bike gets ridden at all.
- •Spend up one tier if you can. The jump from the cheapest model in a lineup to the $1,200–$1,600 bracket buys better brakes, suspension and in some cases fuel injection. It is the best value step in this category.
- •If you want a machine that needs nothing for five years, none of these is the answer. Buy a Honda CRF or a Yamaha TT-R. We would rather tell you that than sell you the wrong bike.
- •Buy from someone with a parts department. The brand matters less than whether a person answers the phone in eighteen months. Motobuys has been in business since 1989.
Frequently asked questions
Which Chinese dirt bike brand is considered the best?
There is no single best. For the longest warranty and widest size range, TrailMaster. For parts availability and pit bikes, Apollo. For a potentially street-titleable dual-sport, RPS. For the cheapest youth bike, Tao.
Are Chinese bikes good quality?
They are good quality for their price bracket and not comparable to Japanese machines. Engines and frames are generally sound; fasteners, chains, carburetors and electrical connectors are where the budget shows. Almost all of it is cheap to fix.
Is Apollo better than TrailMaster?
They are close. Apollo has better parts commonality because its small engines use the standard horizontal four-stroke pattern. TrailMaster has the longer warranty, a US parent company with its own parts department, and more models above 250cc.
Is Coolster a good dirt bike brand?
We do not stock Coolster dirt bikes and will not give an opinion on machines we do not sell. Coolster is generally positioned at the ultra-budget youth end of the market. Ask whoever is selling it what their parts and warranty support looks like.
Which Chinese dirt bike is best for a beginner adult?
A full-size 125cc to 150cc with a manual transmission and a seat height you can reach, such as the Apollo X-series or the RPS Viper 150. Skip the 250s until you are comfortable with a clutch, and skip youth-only brands entirely.
