Now we could start this column by saying 'is that a pocket rocket in your pants or are you just happy to see us...' but we wouldn't be so pedantic or crass. If you aren't totally covered in frozen snow or torrential rain, perhaps you spent this weekend racing around on your Pocket Bike. Pocket Bikes or Mini Motorcycle were one of the hottest holiday gifts this year.

This mini bike is all the rage across the country, especially in the heartland of America and the South, which some attribute to NASCAR's strong popularity in those areas. The bike originated as personal transports for racers and their crews at racetracks, becoming enormously popular within the hip racing subculture. For decades scooters had been used at tracks for that purpose. These bikes vary in style, but mimic sleek racking bikes from Harley-Davidson to Kawasaki. These shrunken bikes are just inches off the ground, can reach up to 40 MPH and sound like a souped-up chainsaw.

Most parents and local police departments see these bikes as one of the most dangerous vehicles to come down the street in years. They are illegal on public streets - but tell that to our neighborhood kids. And these bikes aren't cheap. They sell for $300 and can go into the thousands for the sexier, pimp-my-ride types. The latest trend with owners of mini-choppers is to race late at night and on the weekends against other dare-devils. As they continue to zoom across our streets and roadways expect more and more bans and fines to be put into effect.

Regardless of the danger, these bikes are insanely popular. One veteran mini-rider described the experience as "motorized crack cocaine." Last year, pocket bikes were as popular as searches for The United States Army, the NBA and the film The Passion of the Christ.

Here is the list of most searched Pocket Bikes and related terms for the week ending January 1, 2005:

1. Pocket Bikes
2. Mini Choppers
3. Mini Bikes
4. Pocket Rocket
5. Mini Motorcycles
6. Pocket Bike Parts
7. Super Pocket Bikes
8. Pocket Rocket MPH
9. Pocket Bike Race
10. Pocket Bike Helmet