A couple more videos from minidragbike on youtube. There is some serious craftsmanship in these. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=leRVUm0Txy4&feature=related http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OUaJ7SGoxQs&feature=related
There is already one at http://www.jalopyjournal.com/forum/group.php?groupid=161, but nobody ever posts there.
In my opinion, the finest mini bike ever made. It is a 1974 Honda MR-50. 50cc, 2-stroke, 3-speed, kick start, full suspension. Honda only made it for 3-years I think. I bought this one new for my kid in 1974 when he was 7-years old. I later took it to a local 2-stroke tuner for the full-race treatment and an expanison pipe. I chased him all around the dirt bike trails of Colorado on my 390 Husqvarna.
Another classic from the 1950's. If your parents were among the uber-rich, you might have had one of these. This machine blured the line between mini bike and motorcycle. It was called the Mustang. Maybe 60-70 MPH + in the elarly 50's
I just acquired a George Barris Super Stocker(the one with the red/white/blue paint scheme), I'm new to minibikes, so if anyone knows anything about that particular one, I'd love some info on it. I'll try and get a picture snapped of it.Thanks!
I bought this mini-bike today, built by Bird Engineering. Used to see the little black and white ads for them in the back of Boy's Life, Rod&Custom, etc. Bird named all of their mini bikes and go karts after birds...Wren, Lark, Hawk, etc. This is a "Duck". LOL. When I was a kid in the '60s, mini bikes were quite popular, and most young boys would've killed for one...including me. Alas, I never did get one. (Oh the poor child...LOL.) Even though the burning desire to have one diminished over the years, I would still think about getting one sometimes. Just somethin' that I can mess around with. You know...kinda like hot rodding, but on a smaller scale. Rationalized that the nieces and nephews could ride it around the farm when they come over. Told myself it'll come in handy to zip back and forth to the neighbor's and back. (1/4 mile down the road.) And that's true...but really, I'm simply fulfilling a dream that a 10 yr old boy (I) had so long ago. I can die now. LOL. I've already got ideas of hoppin' 'er up. Maybe mill the head, bigger cam, etc. LOL. Hey...how 'bout a small motorcycle engine and I can shift gears?! I don't know...somethin' neat about the old one-lunger for the true mini bike experience. A torque-converter would be nice though...
Got one too! 70s vintage Garelli Broncco, advertised that it wil do 70mph. I bored and put a new piston in it, sompletely rebuilt the bottom end. Took too long and now the kids are grown up so I might sell it or trade for some project stuff I need, we'll see Check it out anyways
I had a friend back in the early 70's, who had a mini-bike that folded up into itself. (basically into the frame...which was almost like a square.) anyone have any pics of these??
A good friend of mine just picked up a mini called "Campus bike" that is in good shape. I checked all of the mini bike web sights for info, but found none. I'm sure I remember seeing it as an add in an early to mid sixties Hot Rod or Car Craft mag, but I can't find it in my collection. Any ideas who made this little thing and when? Sorry, no pictures quite yet.
I started a mini bike pic thread on the "Jockey Journal" and they closed it at page 4??? Its closer to motorcycles than it is cars. SOB!
These are pics of Thor when I first got him. I killed that first engine and now have a 6hp on it. I have had some welding done on it by a friend. Collapsable foot pedals and a new brake lever that was sheared off in a crash. He also tacked a bar on across the handlebars, heated them up and pushed them forward and turned the grips to a better position for me to hold onto. I have since bought another mini and Thor Jr. was just completed and test driven. No pics of him yet.
Holy CRAP!!!^^^^^^^ Are those mini-bikes......or shoe store seats???? makes me wonder what else you've got in your collection!
I have had this Skat Kitty since I won it in a pickup game in junior high. I just disassembled the bike for restore and after I get my clutch cover and side car (Christmas gift to myself) I will be putting her back together as close to stock as possible.
Pretty sure your bike is a Fantic and NOT a Garelli. BTW it's a very nice bike and a love Fantics (got several of them)