That front wheel is worth more than the whole rest of the bike...and if the rear matches, then you really have something...
hey; i never heard of anybody else who had one of these ....made by italjet....folds up has a case to put it in ...about 1969 vintage . grampa bought it... i still got it in garage .. cant get it running ....you got info on yours ? wanna sell it???/ take care.............k
Hey! Bringing this back up! A gift to me, from my daughter (she know's me so well!) MINI BIKE RACES!!!!
Yep, Bonanza BC1200 early model with forward pegs and Go Power wheels. Great riders. Built in San Jose.
Yes...definately a Bonanza. Thanks guys! Need to redo the brakes, but funner (sp) then hell doing hot laps! Time for a power upgrade! YES!
Does any body know if Bonanza built mini bikes for Montgomery Wards? I have a Wards mini that looks alot like iammarvin's Bonanza. I picked it up in a package deal that included a Bird wren mini like on the previous page, but stuffed with a four speed Honda 50cc motor and lights and, wait for it... AZ motorcycle plates last registered in '74 or so! Don't think I want to be out in traffic on that! I'll post a picture in the next day or so.
There's a couple others that look a lot like a Bonanza. Does it have the large, wierd looking rear axle tabs?
I'll have to check on the axle tabs tomorrow. Where i see the similarities is in the jackshaft and swing arm mounts.
Picked up one just like it last summer. Had Western Auto decals on it. Here is a before and after pic.
I've got a 1949 doodle bug !!! Ever heard of it ? My grandpap bought it for my mother ,, when she was small .. They bought the first one that was sold at this store in 1949.. We think !!
I had to go get a pic .. Its hanging on my shop wall .. Its a 1949 Doodle Bug .. My mother still has the title to it some where ... Aint that cool ,, a title for a minibike,,
Ha! And you guy thought that Teeps Wren had allot of stuff cobbled on it... I present my once street legal Lark! (Or Wren??!) Honda 50 4 speed motor, lights, brake lights, tank, etc... Not real sure what to do with this one. Could be fun to restore as is although ugly, but then I could save it and hang my mid sixties Briggs 3 horse on it for the girlfriend and nephews to cruise around on. Any opinions?
Getting close on my TT-500. I had one in 8th grade just like this one, The teachers at my school really frowned on me riding it to school, they actually banned me from riding it so I had to park it at a friends house that lived close by. Boy, that thing really ran good! Tim
Thread title is Vintage minibikes. Not Chinese mini bikes or cool old bicycles. You know the mini is Chinese and dont fit, you know your bicycle isn't a mini bike and doesn't fit. What else is there ? This is a very very cool thread. Id hate to see it locked down for getting way off topic. By the grace of the mods its stayed here, id like that to continue.
Ed - try this link. http://www.oldminibikes.com/forum/ Start up a "what is it?" thread and you should get an answer pretty quickly.
I have a '59 Tote Gote in great condition. Supposedly the original mini, built in Utah. Torque converter drive like a Ski-Doo, that sucker will climb an outhouse wall! Had an Arctic Cat Trail Cat, sold it to a guy that just wouldn't leave me alone till he got it.
Awesome thread I read every page! Here's a pic of mine about 1971. I was not allowed to ever have one, so had to do it without my parents knowledge. The Tecumseh 3.0 hp was given to me by a neighbor, it was a basket case all parts, piston, rings, cam, were in a box. I recall the tank was from a sears snow-blower. The frame bought for 4 or 5 bucks and the wheels tires chain and clutch were cobbled up from friends spare parts. Stashed them in the basement, I made the seat from a foam couch pillow and covered with vinyl. It was assembled and running before mom&dad even knew what all those parts would be. I did not have it for long, it was very wobbly and never got around to the brake. Anyone know what frame this might be? I never knew the forks were bent until looking at this pic. Gosh to be 11 yrs old again!
The Jalopy Journal
