Thumpstar
| Company type | Private |
|---|---|
| Industry | Motorcycle manufacturing |
| Founded | 2004 |
| Founder | Timothy Hunter |
| Headquarters | Australia |
| Products | Pit bikes |
Thumpstar is an Australian manufacturer specializing in pit bikes, established in 2004 by Timothy Hunter, a motorcycle dealer and racer.
History
In 2003, Hunter encountered a pit bike at a trade exhibition and sought to enhance its design. Partnering with a Taiwanese firm, Thumpstar commenced production in April 2004.
Initial phase
From 2004 to 2006, Thumpstar introduced several models such as the JNR 90cc, Super Hunge 110cc, and the notable Professional Hunge 125cc, which featured a CNC TUV certified billet T6 heat-treated alloy frame. The company rapidly gained prominence, generating over A$45 million in worldwide sales within just over a year. Nevertheless, operational setbacks occurred due to infrastructure limitations and trademark violations by counterfeit producers.
Terra Moto era
In 2007, Hunter rebranded the company as Terra Moto and obtained intellectual property protections. Despite these efforts, Terra Moto experienced weak sales and manufacturing was discontinued soon thereafter.
Revival
Thumpstar was revived in 2012 with three fresh models: TSX 88cc, TSX 125cc, and TSR 160cc. Starting in 2013, the brand expanded into junior motocross bikes, launching competition variants TSB-C, TSX-C, and TSR-C by 2015. Thumpstar motorcycles participated internationally in mini moto championships held in Las Vegas with riders including Mike Brown and Dan Cartwright.
By 2015, the product lineup encompassed sixteen models ranging from 50cc to 250cc across five categories: TSB (entry-level), TSX (mid-tier), TSR (racing), TSK (children’s), and TSC (competition). These motorcycles were designed primarily for young riders engaging in trail riding, motocross, and pit bike racing. In April of that year, chartreuse was officially adopted as the brand’s signature color.
Enhancements
The 2016 collection featured upgrades such as Pipe Bomb DW-1 exhaust systems on TSX and TSR models to boost performance. The TSR 150 received suspension improvements with a redesigned rear linkage mechanism, while the TSX 140 was updated with new seven-series aluminum wheels and exhaust modifications. The TSK 50 was redesigned for younger riders with scaled-down dimensions, handlebar-mounted brake controls, and detachable training wheels. Additionally, the Ts300 two-stroke model was introduced to broaden the range.
Frame design
Thumpstar pioneered the use of alloy frames in pit bike manufacturing. The Pro Hunge 25 model, incorporating this alloy frame technology, became one of the brand’s best-selling bikes due to its lightweight construction and robust performance. It is distributed internationally.
Models
- Hunge 10 (discontinued)
- Hunge 25 (discontinued)
- TSB 70
- TSB 110
- TSB 125
- TSB 125 3D
- TSX 88
- TSX 125 LE
- TSX 125 SW
- TSX 125 BW
- TSX 140 SW
- TSX 140 BW
- TSR 88 PRO
- TSR 125 PRO
- TSR 150 3D
- TSR 160 PRO SW
- TSR 160 PRO BW
- TSK 50
- TSK 52
- TSK 110e