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Minibikes, anyone?

R

RadRacer203

Veteran Member
Joined
Sep 25, 2016
Messages
1,467
Location
Burlington VT
Just curious if anyone on here is into mini bikes/go karts. I finished up my first one a couple months ago, a 1970's Sears Roper but I also have a Manco Streaker that I'm putting a Clinton Panther 2 stroke in and I'll be picking up a go kart soon to fix up and modify.

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I've never indulged, but I've wanted a jumbo sized street legal dirt bike for a while. You can't ride the things anywhere in NJ, sucha an ahold state. A dune buggy or like it on the small side is also of interest. When time allows.

Where is that photo taken?
 
That was up at my family's cabin on Lake Sacandaga in NY. They draw the lake down through the summer so the beach gets really big in august and september. I brought it up for my 12 year old cousin to blast around on, I tend to get stuck in the sand...
 
2icebitn said:
...street legal dirt bike...
Click to expand...

I believe they still call them enduros.

There is a group of 15 to 20 riders that go through my neighborhood every once in a while on small motorcycles. I believe they are customized small motorcycles similar to the Honda Grom. They pop wheelies and perform tricks on them.
They look like they're having a blast with them!

Personally, I want to get either a sport bike or sport touring bike. For years I rode motorcycles, but several years ago I got into a money pinch and had to sell the one I had.
Got the bug for another one now.
 
That looks like a mini bike. I realize that's your chosen topic, but I had in mind a full sized dirt-street bike. I'm nearly 6'4", I want something I'd feel comfortable on.
 
Nice minibike. It looks like the ones that were popular in the late 60s. I once had a Honda ATC70 offroad trike that I picked up at a drive-by garage sale. Only rode it a couple of times, but sold it some years ago - not amphibious enough for my taste. My 1971 Banana Splits Amphicat 6x6 AATV is waaaaay more fun but even that hardly gets out these days. Here's me driving (and swimming) it around in 2007: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=p5iT6CjQgaI
 
RadRacer203 said:
... a 1970's Sears Roper...

View attachment 50483
Click to expand...

I had a similar looking minibike in 1971 called "Cat 400" or some such but it didn't have the gas tank. The rear sprocket (which doubled as the disk brake) was almost as large as the rear tire so the chain would break frequently from hitting rocks, and I learned to bash the links back together while saving up for a new larger rear tire. The handlebars broke off once when I hit a bump, throwing me over the front. The clutch outer would constantly rattle from wear. So glad to trade up to a proper dirt bike.

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Those Cats are cool but pretty small. I've got a similar sized Manco frame I'm working on fitting a 2 stroke in but I have to fit some different handlebars to clear my knees. I also just picked up a parts bike yesterday to hopefully get my '83 Honda z50r back up and going. Dirt bikes are definitely better in pretty much every way but I like the minis for simplicity, and I don't think there's any way to have as much fun at 20 mph
 
The only real bike is a monkey with nice power and takegava parts. :)

I own 2 monkeys with now 125ccm , a Honda dax and a monkey clone from jingchen.
 
fritzeflink said:
The only real bike is a monkey with nice power and takegava parts. :)

I own 2 monkeys with now 125ccm , a Honda dax and a monkey clone from jingchen.
Click to expand...

I'd love to get a ct70 but my z50r will do for now. I bought a parts bike for it and just threw one the new forks, handlebars, and wheels. I think the parts bike had ct70 forks and wheels, and they look so good on my z50!
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Nice Z50r. As I'm from germany I got a lot of parts from the Netherlands - https://www.cmsnl.com/honda-mini-bikes_model7149/.

My 1st bike was a gorilla but now I have an aluminum tank and a a z50j seat. The picture added are older ones with the gorilla tank, sadly the tank got some crack below the bracket. Now I like the aluminum tank with 7liter but it has no painting. From the other bikes I will make some pictures in the summer - I seldom made pictures from my bikes as mostly I drive with them. ;)


hc_4077.jpg hc_4078.jpg
 
Ah man, this makes me want my Vespa back again :D I sold it a couple of years ago, thinking I was too old for a bike... now I believe I could handle it again :p
 
Just putting the finishing touches on my Manco Streaker now. I may pull it apart and paint it eventually but it'll do for now. I like that it's not very nice so I can just abuse it and not care. The oil bath air cleaner might have to go though

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