My first one was a 'Lil Indian like that in '67, had a 3hp Briggs, went 20mph max before the governor disconnect. I stuck the engine out of my Rupp Roadster in it for a while when I was painting the Rupp, just barely fit, and would spin the rear wheel like crazy, until it quickly spit the chain off. The Roadster was the shit, it was a '69 with the "big" headlight and speedometer, 5hp Tecumseh, Del'Lorto carb and a straight pipe, no governor, two-speed "transmission"- man, would that sucker get up to 40 quick. Used to buy the Torrington one-way locking bearings that let it shift into second gear three at a time, I was real lucky if I got three weeks out of one. Wish I still had that one, it was a terror
Repainted mine with lime flake and lime candy and had a local fellow take care of the seat. I still have a few things to finish it up but it will be ready for the Steel In Motion show.
I don't know if anyone mentioned this here earlier, but this was how I spent my Saturday at the Detroit Velodrome-not a lot of vintage minibikes, but yes, some were there and it was a great little low-key, grass-roots event. See you in September? Bring out your minibikes... http://thunderdrome.com/ http://thunderdrome.com/about-thunderdrome/ http://youtu.be/cj1lBfVKpI0
Damn it fellas! I've read this entire thread over the past few days and I am definately hooked!! If anyone in the Phoenix area has a project they'd like to get rid of or anything like that, let me know. I'm starting the search....
As it sits this thing is a stock '64 Bug minibke. If I ever get another wild hair, to finish it I'm going to weld up the bars I twisted, and finish the seat, make the gas tank, and then sell the little bastard. It's time, I've owned it since new.
I have this bike, but mine is metalic green (at least it was). I have been wanting to restore it but the clutch is trashed and I don't think I could ever find that kind of clutch again. My Dad had it since new. He used to take me for rides through wooded trails with me hanging on for dear life. Do you have any pics of the other side of it?
The clutch should be close to a Comet Torque O Verter like Northern Hydraulic sells. I had and parted out a green one a few years back.
Dam that's a cool green flake. I'm going to start on my lil indian and was going to go with green flake too. Just haven't got a good seat color yet. My orange flaked alexander needs to be redone I have beaten the crap out of it for 2 years now. We are having a fun race this sunday in new york. Any takers pm me I will tell you where
Heres mine, not really "Vintage" but still cool. Its a '91 Yamaha YSR80. Its a 1/2 size mini sportbike, with an 80cc engine. Yamaha & Honda both made them from 1987-1992 (Yamaha) and 1988-1999 for Honda. Honda's was the NSR line up, Yamaha's was the YSR's.
here is one for ya. a friend just got done restoring this one. its a British military bike called a Welbike that use to get tossed out of the plane with the paratroopers. holds a gallon of gas and would make it about 100 miles before they would abandon it. pretty cool!
Picked up this Shriner mini bike at the Ann Arbor bike show and the second pic is an action shot from the past
while looking for something in the attic over the wekend I came across a box of my old magazines,race programs,and assorted cataloges and found this cataloge from the alexander reynolds company,my father worked at an auto parts store that was selling them and I was supposed to get one but was were able to score a honda ct 70 instead.....
I picked up this gold and green bike, they're both sears. The gold one is a two speed chain drive with a 4hp tecumseh.
I have one just like this on the counter in my office of my shop (except it's not restored) I had one just like it as my first bike, and the shop I have now sold them (and mine) years back. I even found the shipping receipt for mine cleaning the place out when I moved in....