Minibikes, Ya'll Have One Growing Up?

cshold · Post by **cshold** » Tue Dec 17, 2013 12:31 pm

Stumbled across this forum while thinking back to my minibike days last evening.
Of course I instantly thought of OS when I came across this section.

http://www.oldminibikes.com/forum/photo ... bikes.html

1886 · Post by **1886** » Tue Dec 17, 2013 12:42 pm

Yes, a Honda QA50. Very slow. A gently used German made Sun Downer. 2 cycle, pull start, auto tranny. I purchased that bike with my paper route $$. Very nice bike. Dad brought home a well tuned Suzuki TM 100. Very fast, loud, and scary for a 12yr old! Wow! The dogs and neighbors would really bark when that bike roared to life. We lived in the woods with many trails and sand pits. Always lusted after a Honda XR 75 but it was not to be. Haven't thought about those fun days in a while. 1886.

Streetstar · Post by **Streetstar** » Tue Dec 17, 2013 1:00 pm

My first one -- '83 Honda CR60 R - Christmas '82 - age 11 (now its inline for a restoration )

But I went through a mini bike phase as an adult too ----- I'm also a tad obsessive-compulsive ----
even more insane when you consider these are all adult ridden --- the little green one packed in snow is my pit bike at the races though, so it has some utility

Portions of the mini bike/ RC car track I tilled up in my backyard

Streetstar · Post by **Streetstar** » Tue Dec 17, 2013 1:04 pm

But if I'm a tad OCD -- then this guy is waiting for the men with white lab coats to whisk him away --

cshold · Post by **cshold** » Tue Dec 17, 2013 1:14 pm

Definitely a different world today.
Sears, JC Penny, Montgomery Wards and many others sold them in their stores.
Spent many summer afternoons with a partially torn down Briggs engine in front
of myself & friends, not video games.
Always seemed to be small local wood lots and fields to ride around back then.

Blaine · Post by **Blaine** » Tue Dec 17, 2013 1:34 pm

I would never have been allowed near a motor bike of any sort.

TedH · Post by **TedH** » Tue Dec 17, 2013 1:46 pm

Always wanted one, never had one. The closest I got was a Honda 185 three wheeler that Dad bought new in 1980. Turns out that thing was dangerous enough for me with three wheels.

madman4570 · Post by **madman4570** » Tue Dec 17, 2013 1:50 pm

For just the dirt stuff

1969 Yamaha YZ80
1972 Honda MT250
1976 Yamaha DT 175
1976 Yamaha YZ 400
1991 Suzuki LT250R ATV Quadracer
1999 Honda CR 500

All the playing in the dirt done now with " Big Gus" 2008 Yamaha 700 Grizzly Outdoorsman Edition 4WD ATV

Don McDowell · Post by **Don McDowell** » Tue Dec 17, 2013 3:24 pm

Never had a minibike, some of the neighbors had "totegoats", and then dad broke his ankle just before hunting season in 65 and he bought a Honda 55 trailbike so he could finish up the fall cattle work without having to get on a horse, and have some way to get around at hunting camp without flailin away on crutches. That lil bike was around a long time before it finally died for good, but I think when the kids got a little older and the folks bought them a 3 wheeler is when everybody quit tinkering with the Honda to keep it running.

Griff · Post by **Griff** » Tue Dec 17, 2013 3:49 pm

They didn't have minibikes when I was a kid. Although Dad did mount a B&S 3hp motor on my bike... for about a week! Caught me ridin' it on PCH to get gas... Then again, it coulda been complaints from the neighbors!

Muffler? What muffler? Oh that! It fell off!

new pig hunter · Post by **new pig hunter** » Tue Dec 17, 2013 4:34 pm

a minibike in my day looked like this: tube frame and Briggs-Stratton engine ....

all those little Honda's and such, I think of them as a mini-motorcycle, they came along after my time. I wish I'd had one.

but this one I like, very inventive and creative !!!

Cheers,

Carl

Barcelona Rick · Post by **Barcelona Rick** » Tue Dec 17, 2013 4:38 pm

That brings back some memories...I worked in a full service gas station (they all were back then) after school and on weekends. We cobbled together a bare bones mini bike to play with. We took a B&S 10HP and shaved the head a little and did a hand grinder port & polish job. We skipped the centrifugal clutch and just ran the chain direct to the rear sprocket...we pull started it with the back tire off the ground on a wooden crate in the grease rack...to kill it we had a string on the sparkplug wire...a little water on the floor of the grease rack made for a heck of a burnout...however, when that sucker finally got traction you were in for a ride. Finally one night my buddy rocketed into traffic and busted his butt...Police requested that we retire the "widow maker"...I still have skin missing from my knees after getting drug a ways...

rick

cshold · Post by **cshold** » Tue Dec 17, 2013 4:53 pm

Torque Converters were like the just gotta have holy grail back in the day.

mikld · Post by **mikld** » Tue Dec 17, 2013 6:51 pm

Nope never had one like those. The rich kids had 'em though. I made my own in Jr. High. I used a 24" bicycle frame with the center bar removed, and mounted an old lawn mower engine in it with a jack shaft, centrifugal clutch, and used v belts. Used 20" wheels/tires with a modified 20" rim attached to the rear rim/wheel (welded it together in metal shop). Brakes were cobbled/home made friction set up for the rear, and clamp type for the front. Worked pretty good, mebbe 20 MPH, but kinda hard to stop (wore out a pair of tennis shoes!)....

gundownunder · Post by **gundownunder** » Tue Dec 17, 2013 7:30 pm

I had a Honda 90 step thru. Not really a mini bike but it was no cruiser either.
Later they upgraded them to a 110cc and now thousands of Australia post workers use them to deliver the mail all over Oz.
I couldn't think of a better little pony to strap a saddle scabbard on if I wanted a bike for hunting.
Here's a link to what you can do with them if you're keen.
http://www.postiebikechallenge.org/the_challenge.htm
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6s0GAKuc_Is

horsesoldier03 · Post by **horsesoldier03** » Tue Dec 17, 2013 7:43 pm

My brother and I both received RUPPS for Christmas in 1972. We were far from rich, my dad bought them used. We had a hard time keeping the chain adjusted right and when the clutches went out on them he was tired of spending money and ended up selling them. I would love to have it back today!

cshold · Post by **cshold** » Tue Dec 17, 2013 8:08 pm

gundownunder wrote:I had a Honda 90 step thru. Not really a mini bike but it was no cruiser either.
Later they upgraded them to a 110cc and now thousands of Australia post workers use them to deliver the mail all over Oz.
I couldn't think of a better little pony to strap a saddle scabbard on if I wanted a bike for hunting.
Here's a link to what you can do with them if you're keen.
http://www.postiebikechallenge.org/the_challenge.htm
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6s0GAKuc_Is

Loved my little Honda trail 90.
I don’t even remember what year it was; I think it was a 70 or 71.
Man that little bugger could all but climb walls in that low range gear setting.
Pictures are from 1986. Ms. J and I had been recently married living in our apartment.
One of the toys I had to say a sad goodbye to, finances were needed for our first house.

J35 · Post by **J35** » Tue Dec 17, 2013 8:09 pm

I was poor but had two

First one was bought with paper route money it was a Zebra with a 31/2 HP. 1966

Second one was a Yamaha Maverick 50 CC 1968, I paid half and my Dad paid the other half.

Had some xtra fun times with the Yamaha, I can still smell it, those old two strokes had a neat smell.

WE lived on the Southside of Tucson and I could take the alley to the Papago reservation and then I had miles and miles to ride. Would sling my 22 rifle across my back and be gone all day.

One time I rode up to a little MTN that lies just SW of the Mission http://emol.org/tucson/sanxavier/
A old two track went up to a saddle I parked in the saddle and took off up the Mtn got up on top and looked back down at the scooter and a little whitetail buck was trying to spar with it.

Between the Indian hospital and the Mission the Santa Cruz river makes a big bend and on the outside edge, the river when it flooded had carved some pretty big caves ,one day I was riding in the river bed and went over to one of the caves, inside I found a brief case and a 38 revolver, inside the case was just paper's so I left it but took the revolver and hid it, never mentioned it to my dad till I was much older. I went back by the cave about a month later and the brief case was still there.

---J

Pitchy · Post by **Pitchy** » Tue Dec 17, 2013 8:14 pm

I only remember one, the one I picked up my first chick on.

cshold · Post by **cshold** » Tue Dec 17, 2013 8:39 pm

Pitchy wrote:I only remember one, the one I picked up my first chick on.

Yep! I get that Pitchy

ollogger · Post by **ollogger** » Tue Dec 17, 2013 8:58 pm

80 cc yamadingger was as Minnie as I had
I think that was 1968, the bike was older than that, street legal but I wasn't at that time

ollogger

cshold · Post by **cshold** » Tue Dec 17, 2013 9:08 pm

ollogger wrote:80 cc yamadingger was as Minnie as I had
I think that was 1968, the bike was older than that, street legal but I wasn't at that time

ollogger

Two of my friends had Yamaha 80’s back in the day.
They were nice running little bikes.
Once away from parents and at the quarry where we used to ride, out came the exhaust baffles

ollogger · Post by **ollogger** » Tue Dec 17, 2013 9:54 pm

One kid had a 100 twin & it was acting up one day, I took the baffles out
for him & that thing really came to life, of course mine was long gone

Brad

J35 · Post by **J35** » Tue Dec 17, 2013 10:35 pm

ollogger wrote:80 cc yamadingger was as Minnie as I had
I think that was 1968, the bike was older than that, street legal but I wasn't at that time

ollogger

The only traffic ticket I have had so far in my life was from riding the little Yamaha on the street when I was 12, my punishment was no learner's permit when I turned 15, had to wait till I was sixteen and get the regular license.

-----J

horsesoldier03 · Post by **horsesoldier03** » Tue Dec 17, 2013 10:45 pm

It seems like the fact that I received a WARNING CITATION from our local police was also a factor in my dad selling my mini-bike.

Mescalero · Post by **Mescalero** » Tue Dec 17, 2013 10:49 pm

Well,
I thought it did not belong here but there are some interesting diversions,
I had a Cushman, went forever on a tank of gas.

OldWin · Post by **OldWin** » Wed Dec 18, 2013 1:18 am

Had a few.

1973 Yamaha DT-250
1974 Yamaha TY-250 Trials
1978 Yamaha DT-175
1982 Honda XL-250R
1989 Yamaha XT-600
1992 Honda XR-600R
Not counting all the 4-wheelers.
I know these aren't "mini-bikes" but I've ridden all my life and a day doesn't go by that I don't miss having a dirt bike. I enjoy my Harley and ride it a lot but there's nothing like riding the woods.

Gobblerforge · Post by **Gobblerforge** » Wed Dec 18, 2013 6:57 am

[quote="new pig hunter"]a minibike in my day looked like this: tube frame and Briggs-Stratton engine ....

That's what mine looked like only blue. Cool.

cshold · Post by **cshold** » Wed Dec 18, 2013 7:30 am

Mescalero wrote:Well,
I thought it did not belong here but there are some interesting diversions,
I had a Cushman, went forever on a tank of gas.

"Interesting diversions"
It's what sets this forum apart from all others.

Keeps things real and fresh and you get to know the forum members.
Take a guy like Len aka the Pitchy, you could go visit him and it would
be like you've known him your whole life.

Post by **Old Savage** » Wed Dec 18, 2013 7:45 am

Missed the minibike craze. We did have a Honda Super 90, then a 160, then a 305 Superhawk. Put that one in a ditch. We also had a dirt track similar to a Streetstar except an oval. Had a 50 Chevy for that.

Mescalero · Post by **Mescalero** » Wed Dec 18, 2013 1:02 pm

Gundownunder,
That actually looks like fun, I think I could be talked into going down under for that one.
Could I take a rifle?

Blaine · Post by **Blaine** » Wed Dec 18, 2013 2:36 pm

I've had it for a few years, but, this YamaDiddle 125 is pretty cool. Fuel injected, disc brakes, and tops out at about 50 with my fat behind on it. 85mpg might come in handy someday soon.

Mescalero · Post by **Mescalero** » Wed Dec 18, 2013 2:46 pm

You have to put up a picture of you on it!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Blaine · Post by **Blaine** » Wed Dec 18, 2013 2:59 pm

[quote="Mescalero"]You have to put up a picture of you on it!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Pervert!

Mescalero · Post by **Mescalero** » Wed Dec 18, 2013 4:01 pm

Tutt set us on a way too serious journey yesterday,
we could use a good laugh!

gundownunder · Post by **gundownunder** » Wed Dec 18, 2013 4:04 pm

I suggested to my missus that I could get another postie bike and enter the postie challenge, she suggested that I was a crazy person of advancing years and illegitimate parentage

Mescalero, the gun might be frowned on. but I believe there have now been a number of people come downunder for the postie challenge. both from the US and Britain as well.
If you came over for the challenge you could also rock up at one of the lever action rifle clubs around the country and someone would always be happy to lend you a rifle to shoot with.

Mescalero · Post by **Mescalero** » Wed Dec 18, 2013 4:29 pm

Looked like some desolate country to be without a rifle, but then there ARE a lot of support people around from the description.

Blaine · Post by **Blaine** » Wed Dec 18, 2013 5:04 pm

Honda were idiots for stopping production of those Trail models....These "dual sport" POSs are a poor substitute......I'm pretty sure my 125 Zuma is not geared low enough to be very useful off road...

Bob Hatfield · Post by **Bob Hatfield** » Wed Dec 18, 2013 5:55 pm

Mine was just like the one in Gobblerforge's picture except mine had a foot brake. Dad bless his heart bought it at the company store around 1967 for $149/95 IIRC. It had a 3-1/2 hp motor and wouldn't pull a greasy string out of a cat's rearend. My buddies that had ones with a 5 hp Tecumseh motor would out climb me. I pushed my 3-1/2 hp Briggs until things were level and then I learned to stretch the governor spring and increase the RPMs. Then I could outrun my buddies and their 5 hp Tecumsehs. But alas the extra RPMs made mine use oil and smoke like a freight train. Ahh the memories............I would have been much better off with a Bridgestone or a Jawa......................

Bob

Mainehunter · Post by **Mainehunter** » Wed Dec 18, 2013 6:51 pm

The one and only Honda QA 50!

I had some fun times with that green machine.

Mainehunter

foxtrapper · Post by **foxtrapper** » Wed Dec 18, 2013 8:16 pm

mikld wrote:Nope never had one like those. The rich kids had 'em though. I made my own in Jr. High. I used a 24" bicycle frame with the center bar removed, and mounted an old lawn mower engine in it with a jack shaft, centrifugal clutch, and used v belts. Used 20" wheels/tires with a modified 20" rim attached to the rear rim/wheel (welded it together in metal shop). Brakes were cobbled/home made friction set up for the rear, and clamp type for the front. Worked pretty good, mebbe 20 MPH, but kinda hard to stop (wore out a pair of tennis shoes!)....

Did it the same way here on long island. Be told some youths would "borrow" the steel plate conectors holding the wood planks together over the third rail

made a good engine mount.

44-40 Willy · Post by **44-40 Willy** » Wed Dec 18, 2013 8:26 pm

My first bike was the smallest. 1971 BSA 441 Victor.

2ndovc · Post by **2ndovc** » Wed Dec 18, 2013 8:48 pm

[quote="Streetstar"]But if I'm a tad OCD -- then this guy is waiting for the men with white lab coats to whisk him away --

Doug,

The second photo in your post looks a lot like my first one.
'78 Honda Z 50.

Dad Brought it home, fired it up and I was off!
'Round and round the house while he ran in to get my mom. I saw her come out with an odd look on her face.
Forgot where the brake was and proceeded to shoot off the dock in the back yard and rode it straight to the bottom of the channel!
I popped up a few seconds later ( it's a real B----- to swim in cowboy boots and a helmet!), my mother screaming and my dad laughing so hard he can hardly grab my butt and haul me out of the water.
After I calmed down, he dove in with a line and hauled it out. He called Ralph at the Honda shop (I'll never forget that laugh I could hear coming over the phone

), he told Dad what to do and I was back in business an hour later.
After that I was the only kid in the neighborhood that had to wear a helmet AND a lifejacket while riding my Honda!!

Dad loves telling that story!

jb

Mescalero · Post by **Mescalero** » Wed Dec 18, 2013 9:51 pm

Blaine · Post by **Blaine** » Wed Dec 18, 2013 11:15 pm

2ndovc wrote:
Streetstar wrote:But if I'm a tad OCD -- then this guy is waiting for the men with white lab coats to whisk him away --

Doug,

The second photo in your post looks a lot like my first one.
'78 Honda Z 50.

Dad Brought it home, fired it up and I was off!
'Round and round the house while he ran in to get my mom. I saw her come out with an odd look on her face.
Forgot where the brake was and proceeded to shoot off the dock in the back yard and rode it straight to the bottom of the channel!
I popped up a few seconds later ( it's a real B----- to swim in cowboy boots and a helmet!), my mother screaming and my dad laughing so hard he can hardly grab my butt and haul me out of the water.
After I calmed down, he dove in with a line and hauled it out. He called Ralph at the Honda shop (I'll never forget that laugh I could hear coming over the phone ), he told Dad what to do and I was back in business an hour later.
After that I was the only kid in the neighborhood that had to wear a helmet AND a lifejacket while riding my Honda!!
Dad loves telling that story!

jb

Ok....that there was funny as he!!

cshold · Post by **cshold** » Thu Dec 19, 2013 6:53 am

Thanks guys for some great growing up stories

2ndovc · Post by **2ndovc** » Thu Dec 19, 2013 6:08 pm

BlaineG wrote:
2ndovc wrote:
Streetstar wrote:But if I'm a tad OCD -- then this guy is waiting for the men with white lab coats to whisk him away --

Doug,

The second photo in your post looks a lot like my first one.
'78 Honda Z 50.

Dad Brought it home, fired it up and I was off!
'Round and round the house while he ran in to get my mom. I saw her come out with an odd look on her face.
Forgot where the brake was and proceeded to shoot off the dock in the back yard and rode it straight to the bottom of the channel!
I popped up a few seconds later ( it's a real B----- to swim in cowboy boots and a helmet!), my mother screaming and my dad laughing so hard he can hardly grab my butt and haul me out of the water.
After I calmed down, he dove in with a line and hauled it out. He called Ralph at the Honda shop (I'll never forget that laugh I could hear coming over the phone ), he told Dad what to do and I was back in business an hour later.
After that I was the only kid in the neighborhood that had to wear a helmet AND a lifejacket while riding my Honda!!
Dad loves telling that story!

jb
Ok....that there was funny as he!!

So wish I had that on tape! Be worth a fortune!
jb

1894c · Post by **1894c** » Fri Dec 20, 2013 2:20 am

my brother built one from an old Briggs & Stratton 5hp engine and an old mini-bike frame...boy was that bike fun... :)

Canuck Bob · Post by **Canuck Bob** » Sat Dec 21, 2013 11:48 am

Nope, I had a Ford tractor pulling a hay wagon to play with.

Grizzly Adams · Post by **Grizzly Adams** » Sat Dec 21, 2013 1:42 pm

Mescalero wrote:Well,
I thought it did not belong here but there are some interesting diversions,
I had a Cushman, went forever on a tank of gas.

Yep, Cushman Highlander. Always wanted an Eagle, but it was not to be.....