Anyone else like mini bikes?????

I'm not talking about the new pocket rocket types, but the ones from back in the 60's and 70's, when the craze was in full swing. Everybody was selling them, Sears, Montgomery Wards, Pep Boys..............and magazines like Rod and Custom had entire articles and ads devoted to them.

I don't know why, but seeing the mini bikes at the Billetproof Drags last October, and reading threads about them on the HAMB got me to wanting one. I know, it doesn't make sense, but I really wanted one. I had one when I was a kid and my Sons had one when they were kids. We used to race down our driveway, my Sons on the mini bike and me on the riding lawnmower. I would pull a wheelie and get them out of the hole, but they would beat me on top end. :LOL:

So last night I spotted exactly what I was looking for on Craigslist. An old school mini bike with no motor, but in pretty good shape, for $ 50.00. This morning I was the first guy to call and picked it up right after that. When I called my Son Don to tell him, he mumbled something about "maybe it's time for assisted living...........whatever the h*** that is." But it didn't sound good...........I don't think they build mini bikes there. ;)

I'm going to keep Dan away from this one because if he gets involved it will have Baer brakes, twin turbos, and some trick fabrication. I want this one to zip around the pits (or maybe Bonneville, some year) and maybe even race at the Billetproof Drags this October.

Anyone else have a soft spot for these or collect them? I'll post some pictures of my new find later on today..............that is, if the guys in white coats haven't found where I'm hiding. :eek:

Don

Yep, I can see you now.....

Cool, good for you. I have been wanting to get one, just havent looked too much yet. I wan't one of the old ones. When I was about 13 I got one traded a plastic stero, one that was free with record club membership, for it. It had a chrome molly frame. We got it running and didnt have a throttle so I rode it around the yard and field next door with a string tied to the carb. it was cool. Thats the only one I ever had, got into dirt bikes very quickly thereafter. But I need to start looking for one.:D

had one years ago when charlie was younger. loved riding it. until one afternoon during one of my backyard parties my hubby drank a little too much and took off on it down the road. gets to the end of the road where there was gravel and slid it sideways. he was a little scratched and the bike was okay but i sold it right after that. now nothing smaller than a z28 here. hubby has no sense.:LOL:

i want to add one to my growing antique collection .. had one when i wore a childs clothes

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Originally Posted by dlotraf33

Cool, good for you. I have been wanting to get one, just havent looked too much yet. I wan't one of the old ones. When I was about 13 I got one traded a plastic stero, one that was free with record club membership, for it. It had a chrome molly frame. We got it running and didnt have a throttle so I rode it around the yard and field next door with a string tied to the carb. it was cool. Thats the only one I ever had, got into dirt bikes very quickly thereafter. But I need to start looking for one.:D

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That’s funny you trading a mini bike for a stereo. I promised my little sister that I would buy her one when she turned 13 years old. She was really excited because that was a big deal in the early 70’s. Well my brothers and sisters put their 2 cents in and said you should get a (nice stereo) she could get hurt and that’s not something for young girls.

When I told my sister maybe she should have the stereo, she started crying, I said ok stop crying I’ll get you the mini bike. She is now 52 and still says how much she loved to ride and she was equal to the rich kids because hers was brand new and they rode all over. She broke her arm from a tumble but she still rode with the cast on her arm.

Richard

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Originally Posted by Bob Parmenter

Yep, I can see you now.....

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Don did say it was an old school mini bike with no motor.:)

Richard

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Originally Posted by ford2custom

That’s funny you trading a mini bike for a stereo. I promised my little sister that I would buy her one when she turned 13 years old. She was really excited because that was a big deal in the early 70’s. Well my brothers and sisters put their 2 cents in and said you should get a (nice stereo) she could get hurt and that’s not something for young girls.

When I told my sister maybe she should have the stereo, she started crying, I said ok stop crying I’ll get you the mini bike. She is now 52 and still says how much she loved to ride and she was equal to the rich kids because hers was brand new and they rode all over. She broke her arm from a tumble but she still rode with the cast on her arm.

Richard

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Now that's a cool sister, and even cooler big brother for getting it for her. I may have said it wrong I traded the stereo to an older kid for the mini bike. And I was just thinking..............hmmmmmmm........ I can't remember what I traded the mini bike for. Lol I remember the frame cracked and I got my mom to take me somewhere to get it welded. Youre little sister and I must be around same age 52 and it was the early 70's. You could ride them around the neighborhood and not get busted. They would just tell you to get off the street. Now it would be 3 or 4 tickets. Back then they were more about your safety, now it's about the money. Hmmm I think I need to check craigslist, might be some on there..........:D

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Originally Posted by dlotraf33

Now that's a cool sister, and even cooler big brother for getting it for her. I may have said it wrong I traded the stereo to an older kid for the mini bike. And I was just thinking..............hmmmmmmm........ I can't remember what I traded the mini bike for. Lol I remember the frame cracked and I got my mom to take me somewhere to get it welded. Youre little sister and I must be around same age 52 and it was the early 70's. You could ride them around the neighborhood and not get busted. They would just tell you to get off the street. Now it would be 3 or 4 tickets. Back then they were more about your safety, now it's about the money. Hmmm I think I need to check craigslist, might be some on there..........:D

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I meant that you trading a stereo for the mini bike not the other way around.

And it was funny because my family wanted me to get her a stereo instead of the mini bike. Anyway she loved it. Sometimes my typing gets ahead of my brain, old age syndrome.

I was married and when I would go home she would show me how good she was.
There was a big paved hill by our house and she would have to go really fast to make it to the top. I could hardly stand to watch her she scared me so bad.
She was a real daredevil but she really has the memories and thinks I was the greatest for getting it for her.

Sorry for the confusion.

Richard

Don my dad had a motoguzzi mini bike when I was a kid. What a blast that was. Later it was dirt bikes, then street bikes, and now the Harly. It's funny everytime I take it out, my blood pressure seems to drop, and all that pressing crap that needs to get done, fades from memory. I support your interest 100%. P.S. why did Bob post a picture of himself? :)

Don,
My kids have the same thoughts many days, "...may be time to think about 'the home'...", and my wife from time to time mentions hiring someone to keep an eye on me in the shop when she's at work :confused::LOL:;)
I always thought the mini bikes were great, but I guess I was in uncle's canoe club when they were at their peak, or we lived too far into the sticks, anyway I never had one. I figure that there have been a bunch of Craig's List hits across the country this morning, checking for old mini bikes. I know that the KC Craigs list has had at least one..... ;)

Yeah Roger, when they start suggesting you put one of those "Life Alert" bracelets on, you KNOW you are in trouble! :LOL: I think those things are actually a GPS tracking device so they know where we are at any given moment..............."Oh oh, the old man is in the garage AGAIN, go get him and prop him up in front of the TV, Lawrence Welk is on.":eek:

Steve, no, that wasn't Bob on that "mini bike", HERE is Bob on his mini bike. The food at SEMA must have been REALLY good.:p (now all those cuties Bob posts really make sense)

Don

Pretty sad Pops when ya gotta get yur nephew Steve to help double team me.:p

Pops actually was looking for two mini bikes, the other for his new girl friend. But then he realized she needed something a bit.....uh, more proportional let's say.

that just ended my breakfast

that girl is just nasty:LOL:

Actually I’m still sitting in front of the computer eating my raisin bran since the rain stopped the car show for me. I think she’s rather cute.:)

Bob what would be the gear ratio of that rear end?:HMMM:


Richard

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Originally Posted by ford2custom

Bob what would be the gear ratio of that rear end?:HMMM:
Richard

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Out of respect for Pops there are just some things we don't comment on.:3dSMILE:

[QUOTE=Bob Parmenter;393633]Pretty sad Pops when ya gotta get yur nephew Steve to help double team me.:p

Family has to stick together Bob. :D BTW, I think that picture you posted exceeds the bandwidth of this forum. :eek: It took 15 minutes for your post to download on my computer. :LOL:

Don

I put this one together to get food,fuel or anything else at the track,I was a crew chief on a outlaw sprint car and it seamed like every track that we went to every thing that we needed was at the other end of the pits.I put this one together with a frame and motor that had been given to me.The only thing that I did not like about it was it had no brakes! You had to drag your feet to stop...The front fender I made from a main wing that didn't survive a roll over. I use to repair wings on the side for extra cash and I originally made the small wing for one of the drivers that we knew,he was going to put it on top of his mail box,but I think his wife changed his mind ...he never got it so I put it on the bike.
Had a lot of fun with the bike,was easy to carry ,could stuff it any where in the trailer and cost a lot less than a four wheeler.I still have it ,but I pulled the motor and put it on my granddaughters go-kart.I'll get it going again....one of these days.
Kenny

Looks just like the one for sale here locally. The guy who has it, doesn't seem to have a answering machine though!:CRY:

Kenny, that is a cool little bike and I really like the patina. I bet it did save you a lot of walking in the pits. Turkey Run in Daytona would be a perfect place to use one, but they don't allow any motorized rides except for handicapped people.

Steve, don't you hate people who run an ad and then either just put an email address in it or who don't answer their phone. Keep after it, if you aren't getting through chances are other potential buyers aren't either. I got the guy out of bed at 8 AM sharp to buy mine.........I wasn't going to miss out. :LOL:

I went on line and found a place that carries virtually every piece to build a go kart or mini bike:

http://www.mfgsupply.com/m/c/index.html

And strangely enough, I found my EXACT mini bike on there. I was wondering what brand it was, and I see they sell the same bike as a kit. Turns out my $ 50 wasn't such a hot deal because they sell the bare frame and forks for only $ 129.00 and that is all I will be using on mine.......I plan on putting everything else new on it anyway. Oh well, live and learn. Here is a picture of the exploded components they sell. I can even get a new seat and I thought I was going to have to make one and have it covered.

BTW, Harbor Freight has a smokin deal on horizontal shaft engines. $ 129.99 for a 6.5 hp one. I know it isn't a Briggs and Straton, but on a mini bike that sees little use it should be fine, and the cylinders are even cast iron lined. I plan on pulling off the 6.5 hp decals and putting some 3.5 ones on. Nothing like cheating a little.........don't tell the guys at the Billetproof Drags. :cool:

Don

thanks bob.............. now i'll hear tech singing all day and see that to boot....:(

some things you just cant unsee....

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Originally Posted by shine

thanks bob.............. now i'll hear tech singing all day and see that to boot....:(

some things you just cant unsee....

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Ain't it a wonderment how some gifts just keep on givin'?
:D

[QUOTE=Itoldyouso;393754]Kenny, that is a cool little bike and I really like the patina. I bet it did save you a lot of walking in the pits. Turkey Run in Daytona would be a perfect place to use one, but they don't allow any motorized rides except for handicapped people.



I went on line and found a place that carries virtually every piece to build a go kart or mini bike:

http://www.mfgsupply.com/m/c/index.html

Don thanks for the comment,and thanks for posting the link for the parts ,I am going to order
every thing I need to put brakes on my bike.When I was still useing the bike at the tracks there were people trying to buy it from me,they kept saying that they were not made anymore,hard to find and stuff like that.I guess they were not really looking that hard, cause after looking at that link ,there is every thing there to build a totally new bike.
I am going to fix this one and ride it at the local kart track(in the pits of course!!)as I help a buddy with his and his son's karts and help with parts and fuel sales out of his parts trailer.
As a side note I followed your t-bucket build,and I love the car. I am getting the parts together to build one of my own.I hope to get started this fall as it is just too hot here to do much outside (or even in the shade!!) now .
Kenny

The Harbor Freight engine is on sale until August 29th for $99.99. This engine is pretty much a clone of the Honda engine. I'm told there is even some parts interchange with the Honda. I put one of these on a go kart that my Grandson rides. I disabled the governor and he rides the thing wide open. It goes like a scared rabbit. No problem for three years! Should work great on a mini bike too!

Whoa, good information. I'll be there before 8/29, even if I have to store it away for a while until I'm ready for it. Thanks for that info.

Yep, I used to put a string onto the governor so I could pull it back and get a few more revs out of it. I did the same on my riding mower I used to race my Sons mini bike with, but they still got me on top end. I've noticed I've started getting strange mail from area Retirement Homes........I think my Sons have ratted me out. :eek:

I finally was able to download a couple pictures of my new project, but they are very small. Not sure what is up with my computer.:(

Don

I counted 6 mini bikes at the swap meet today for sale, three being used by vendors, eight larks ( two towing wagons ) operated by buyers, and one electric wheel chair. forgot to take the camera..:LOL: