Mini Bike Fun

[SMS]

Impulse buy at Rural King the other day. Turned out to be the most fun/$ one could image. Took them to a family get together and they ran for a solid 8 hours. Even my 86 yo Father got in on the fun.

Anyone else have pit bikes or mini bikes?

[Crush]

That is awesome I rode mini bikes as a kid and then I got a Honda 50. Are these things pretty good in terms of quality? I’ll have to check them out we don’t have a Rural King but we have a tractor supply

[Too Many Projects]

Yeah, if you have room, or a place with trails, they are a blast.

Never had a mini, I started on a Honda 50 Sport. I grew up "in the country" and I rode that bike anywhere I wanted to go, fields, woods, swamp. I've had a motorcycle all but 1 year since then....53 years. Motorcycles, muscle cars, drag racing...that "stuff" gets in your blood and becomes part of your makeup. Good to see your Dad enjoying riding...:biggthumpup:

[mssl72]

I always wanted one as a kid. A lot of my friends had them, Rupps, Benellis, Yamaha Mini Enduros and Hondas. I started to build one out a bike frame in metal shop in Jr. high school because I couldn't afford one. Unfortunately I never finished it and sold it to a couple of other kids who wanted to mess around with it. I still look at them now and then. I just don't have a place to really ride one these days, otherwise I'd buy one! Great to see the whole family enjoying things.

[Mr. Chevy]

I also thought about buying one of those from RK. I really want a quad though... They look fun..

Rich

[RALLY]

I own a 4 horsepower Tecumseh engine mini bike and have fun driving it around. A Manco Brand. I owned a mini bike back in 68-69 years and wish i would of kept that bike. Long chrome exhaust pipe with a black frame and a leopard style black and white dot seat. Mini Bikes are collectors these days.

[Big Block Bill]

Not me but a friend of mine I bought this from in 1971, a 1969 Rupp Roadster TT-500 5 horse Tecumseh with a 2-speed transmission. This was the S**T when you are 14 years old. It went 35 - 40 MPH.

Not as fast as my Dart Kart with a Mac 101 A on it, but I guess I can never question why I'm into fast cars. Bill

[SMS]

I wanted a Rupp so bad. My paper route had a guy that sold new ones out of his garage. Dream land.

[Big Block Bill]

I wanted a Rupp so bad. My paper route had a guy that sold new ones out of his garage. Dream land.

The Guy I bought this from purchased it from another friend who's Dad sold Rupps out of his garage as well. I guess Mick Rupp would call anyone a dealer if they bought in bulk. I remember he had an 800 Magnum Snowmobile that looked like it would go 150 MPH standing still. I also had a 340 Magnum Snowmobile in the early '70s as well. Besides being fast, I remember, the Rupps were always the best looking machines. Bill

[muscle_collector]

i bought this rupp from a guy a few years ago who threw newspapers on it as a kid. you can see where his newspaper bag wore the paint off the tank. otherwise it is near mint condition.

[flyingn]

I built this. Brutally fast. Had it up to 55 mph as per the gps . Crazy fun

[Crush]

I built this. Brutally fast. Had it up to 55 mph as per the gps . Crazy fun

That is perfect, love the exhaust!

[tcom]

Here's my 1972 Yamaha mini enduro. Had one as a kid, just looking at it puts a smile on my face

[TimG]

I had a Rupp Scrambler from 1969 to 1971, it had the torque converter. What a blast.
I believe it cost $250 and I shoveled snow in Chicago over winter to pay for it.

[Burd]

Dang, I wish I never sold mine, I got rid of my little Indian in the 80’s.
A buddy gave me a Chinese pit bike, it was all there, but beat to crap, so I went through it. The 4 stoke is so much easier to work on, this thing has a wiring harness you’d think from a car. All markings are in Chinese too.
Project stalled when I moved, I just need to make a seat.

[NorCam]

Love this stuff. I bought a 72 Honda Z/50 when I was 10 years old with the money I had earned from working on the farm during the summers. It was super fun to ride and I still have vivid memories of it to this day. In saying that, I have often said it would be cool to pick one up and this thread has piqued my interest once again.

Knowing that there are many people here who have a couple of bikes or know other guys who collect & sell these bikes...I would like to ask, if anyone here knows of a nice Honda Z/50, Monkey, or Mini Trail that's available to buy, please let me know? Ideally, I'd like to find a yellow one but would consider any color. Anything from the early 1968-1971 models, or the later designs between 1972-1978. Thanks :)

https://i.ibb.co/wzDXDrb/1280px-Honda-Mini-Trail-yellow.jpg

https://i.ibb.co/rQ2YQjQ/Z50.jpg

[SMS]

A neighbor kid got a new Blue Enduro. What a bike that was! I drooled for that or a Hustler.

[Damien]

I have a couple of Honda ATC trikes.
A ‘74 70 survivor and a ‘80 110 project.
Great fun!

[Crush]

I have a couple of Honda ATC trikes.
A ‘74 70 survivor and a ‘80 110 project.
Great fun!

Looks like a few BMX bikes too!

[Damien]

Looks like a few BMX bikes too!

Sure do! Another passion left over from my youth!

[Crush]

Are those yellow wheels motomags?

[SMS]

Sure do! Another passion left over from my youth!

Still ride ‘em?

[wheelhop]

here's a pic of my older brother on our 1970 Rupp roadster. Pic is from around 1974.
I still have the Rupp but it's been apart for 14 years waiting to get restored.

[SMS]

here's a pic of my older brother on our 1970 Rupp roadster. Pic is from around 1974.
I still have the Rupp but it's been apart for 14 years waiting to get restored.

Let this be your inspiration to get that project going!!! That is a great photo. :)

[Damien]

Are those yellow wheels motomags?

They are, yes.

[Damien]

They are, yes.

The ATC's yes, BMX not so much.

[markinnaples]

Sure do! Another passion left over from my youth!

Where's the LOVE button for this post? I'm into early BMX, 78-83 primarily myself, but since I got my Camaro I've sold off most of the bikes I had except for a 79 Mongoose that's in parts in the garage. Love your collection. What all do you have there?

[bashton]

So true! We have a few, including a Honda CT 70, a Mini Trail and even an original 1970 Ruttman Grasshopper Chopper.

Every once in a while if Vicki is having a rough day, I'll dig out the Mini-Trail, (she had one when she was a kid) and pull up to our porch and rev it up. She'll come down from her office, I hand her the helmet and she always comes back with a smile on her face.

And to make it even better, any neighbors that may be around certainly get a smile on their faces too! lol

Bashton

[Damien]

Where's the LOVE button for this post? I'm into early BMX, 78-83 primarily myself, but since I got my Camaro I've sold off most of the bikes I had except for a 79 Mongoose that's in parts in the garage. Love your collection. What all do you have there?

I have 2 x '78 BMX Products Team Rampars, a '80 BMX Products Moto Trac, a Bill Bastian (Race Inc) made Rampar, a '83 Hustler Pro from Ralph's Bike Shop in Downey Ca, a '78 Mongoose Motomag and a few Australian made bikes.

You can check them out here if you like-

https://bmxmuseum.com/bikes/search?user=233608

[Donnie]

only two colors made in 72 I have one of each.

[markinnaples]

Damien, sweet. I used to go on BMX Museum a lot for reference and eye candy. I usually dealt in Robinsons, a few Mongooses, and the odd SE PK and Quad, GT, and Sting. I love the old VBMX ads with the great colors, and also used to haunt VBMX.com a lot.

Donnie, what's the other color CT70 do you have? I love those as well, but dang, the prices on those is pretty crazy these days. I want one of the early light/med blue ones.

[Donnie]

the other 72 color is candy yellow special.

[Mr70]

I had a Blue/white Heathkit GT18 Boonie Bike in 1975.Me & my neighbor Ron ran that bike 24/7 for almost 2 years.
It took everything we threw at it,and then threw it all right back at us...LOL
Tough lil bike..

[Too Many Projects]

You guys are youngsters. In 1975, I bought 1 of these...
To go with my 1970 LS5 Chevelle. And people accused me of having a "wild" streak...:dunno:



https://www.yenko.net/forum/cache.php?img=https%3A%2F%2Fexternal-content.duckduckgo.com%2Fiu%2F%3Fu%3Dhttps%253A%25 2F%252Ftse1.mm.bing.net%252Fth%253Fid%253DOIP.93ve bvAWNd1sq0xrVdGGvgHaFj%2526pid%253DApi%26amp%3Bf%3 D1

[Crush]

You guys are youngsters. In 1975, I bought 1 of these...
To go with my 1970 LS5 Chevelle. And people accused me of having a "wild" streak...:dunno:



https://www.yenko.net/forum/cache.php?img=https%3A%2F%2Fexternal-content.duckduckgo.com%2Fiu%2F%3Fu%3Dhttps%253A%25 2F%252Ftse1.mm.bing.net%252Fth%253Fid%253DOIP.93ve bvAWNd1sq0xrVdGGvgHaFj%2526pid%253DApi%26amp%3Bf%3 D1

You still have it?

[Too Many Projects]

No, in 1983, I wanted a KZ1100D, Spectre. The local dealer wanted to see this bike as a trade in, so I drove it to work one day. He took 1 look at it and said he couldn't justify allowing me as much as it was worth, that I should clean it up good and he would sell it off his show floor. It had 6,000 miles and not a scratch on it, which was AMAZING with the way I rode that bike. I had to replace the rear tire, for the second time, the chain, for the second time, and both sprockets to get the bike to showroom condition. It sold for $2,200 and paid half the price of the new KZ1100.

[markinnaples]

You guys are youngsters. In 1975, I bought 1 of these...
To go with my 1970 LS5 Chevelle. And people accused me of having a "wild" streak...:dunno:



https://www.yenko.net/forum/cache.php?img=https%3A%2F%2Fexternal-content.duckduckgo.com%2Fiu%2F%3Fu%3Dhttps%253A%25 2F%252Ftse1.mm.bing.net%252Fth%253Fid%253DOIP.93ve bvAWNd1sq0xrVdGGvgHaFj%2526pid%253DApi%26amp%3Bf%3 D1

NOTHING sounds like those 70's KZ's. Love those.

[JRSully]

Maybe a CBX..

[wheelhop]

I just bought this bike

[Too Many Projects]

Very nice... '74 ?

[Too Many Projects]

This is my current bike. Bought it new in 2000...12,000 miles.
I had a 1995 Springer in Aqua Pearl, but that color wasn't a choice in 2000. It came Black and stayed that way until 2018. I bought used sheet metal, had it painted the correct color and HAND pinstriped and lettered with correct 1995 Blue and Silver colors.

[Mr70]

Sweet Mitch!

[Billohio]

I was looking at future Mecum auctions and there were several Hondas I think at the Houston sale. Looked nice

[wheelhop]

Very nice... '74 ?

It’s a 78 KZ1000 with a 73 paint scheme

[SMS]

Awesome bikes guys!

My Grandfather was a partner in the creation of the Cyclone Motorcycle in the 19teens in St Paul, Mn. He was the draftsman for the engine. The Cyclone was the first production overhead cam cycle engine and was extremely fast for its day, winning on board tracks and dirt tracks across the country. The effort however was short lived as high production costs, competition and WW1 did them in.

We think about 300 bikes were built, including road and track models. 12 are known to remain today, and most of those have replica frames around a Cyclone motor.

Here are a few photos.

First pic is me and Dad with the owner of one of the few engine/frame numbers matching road models. Still actively being ridden.

Second pic is the only known original paint road bike. There is also an original paint race bike out there.

Period shot from a team rider.

Page from the 1915 sales brochure showing the stripped stock version.

[jl8z28]

I have 2 mini cycles

[Too Many Projects]

Awesome bikes guys!

My Grandfather was a partner in the creation of the Cyclone Motorcycle in the 19teens in St Paul, Mn. He was the draftsman for the engine. The Cyclone was the first production overhead cam cycle engine and was extremely fast for its day, winning on board tracks and dirt tracks across the country. The effort however was short lived as high production costs, competition and WW1 did them in.

We think about 300 bikes were built, including road and track models. 12 are known to remain today, and most of those have replica frames around a Cyclone motor.

Here are a few photos.

First pic is me and Dad with the owner of one of the few engine/frame numbers matching road models. Still actively being ridden.

Second pic is the only known original paint road bike. There is also an original paint race bike out there.

Period shot from a team rider.

Page from the 1915 sales brochure showing the stripped stock version.


WOW, that is WAY cool. My Dad was born and raised in St Paul and rode Indian's and Harley's but I don't recall him mentioning a Cyclone. BUT, he was born in 1925 and would have started riding around '39-40, so they may have already been scarce.


The pic with the cam cover removed is really cool, shaft driven, overhead cams. :ooo:

[SMS]

WOW, that is WAY cool. My Dad was born and raised in St Paul and rode Indian's and Harley's but I don't recall him mentioning a Cyclone. BUT, he was born in 1925 and would have started riding around '39-40, so they may have already been scarce.


The pic with the cam cover removed is really cool, shaft driven, overhead cams. :ooo:

Here is some detail on the cam drive and internals. They used beveled gears and SK roller bearings heavily. Later the same gents opened a gear company.

Note also the race version had ports in the cylinder walls so at BDC it had extra breathing capacity. Grandpa also built a sled out of Cyclone parts.

[Too Many Projects]

Those pics are priceless. Even the mag is shaft/gear driven. Seems way ahead of the time, with all the ball bearings. Too bad the economy killed this.


Those ports at the bottom of the cylinders is how a Detroit Diesel runs, but they are 2 cycle and depend on the blower to force feed air into the cylinder. That engine was very innovative.


That improvised sled is really neat too. People would make what they need from what they had back then.

[SMS]

Thanksgiving Day mini-bike fun!

[SMS]

2

[wheelhop]

Just picked up a 1977 Yamaha Champ 80 to go with my 1971 Honda CT70 and 1975 Kawasaki KV75

[HuggerSS]

Indians 50 with training wheels I use to have

[HuggerSS]

Harley X90 I use to own

[HuggerSS]

A pair do Speedway Silver Shadows with 5 speed Sach’s 125cc on a 10 in wheel bike. One lighted and one motocross

[1969L89]

A few of my vintage Sears mini bikes:

[ssl78]

The 50s are my recent bikes. the mini bikeI had since I was 10 it started off a a sears mini bike. I used to go to Sears go in the basement and look at the mini bikes all the time. The Honda cub I just recently bought never knew anything about them until I seen this one. I just bought my 6 year old grandson a PW 50 he loves riding it. The 175 is my newest purchase.

[NorCam]

Reading this thread again I thought I would update this request....

Knowing that there are many people here who have a couple of bikes or know other guys who collect & sell these bikes...I would like to ask, if anyone here knows of a nice Honda Z/50, Monkey, or Mini Trail that's available to buy, please let me know? Ideally, I'd like to find a yellow one but would consider any color. Anything from the early 1968-1971 models, or the later designs between 1972-1978. Thanks :)

https://i.ibb.co/wzDXDrb/1280px-Honda-Mini-Trail-yellow.jpg

https://i.ibb.co/rQ2YQjQ/Z50.jpg

[x44d80]

In the early 1990's I was at a 2nd hand store and was looking at the bicycles when I came across a 1974 Z50. It was really, really beat up. The previous owner had removed the carb, fenders, side cover etc. Looks like they were trying to get it running and gave up. The price was all of $5.00. It has followed me for 3 moves with nothing done to it. My son saw it and asked me what the deal was with it. We decided to just get it running. No resto. I purchased a repop carb and carefully re-spliced the wiring etc... and what do you know, it fired right up. Now with the popularity of these awesome little bike we just might go ahead and restore it right.

[JRSully]

The early Z 50's are showing up at auctions now and bringing some decent $$

[juliosz]

Always wanted a 4 speed version of the CT70 (H model). Was at the Pure Stock races a few years ago and Mean Dean put me on to this 1500 mile example. Runs great, gets up to almost 40 mph. Nice pit bike.

[wheelhop]

Here's my next project which is a 1969 Honda CT70

[1972convss454]

Here are some of me and my brothers other toys.....

[wheelhop]

Wow, those are some crazy cool 3-wheelers!

[wheelhop]

Maybe not a mini bike but I am about finished restoring my 1978 KZ1000 (1973 paint scheme).

[Too Many Projects]

Maybe not a mini bike but I am about finished restoring my 1978 KZ1000 (1973 paint scheme).


NICE !! I bought a '75 KZ900 new. Wicked fast bike. I sold it in 1982 to buy a KZ1100D Now that I think about it, I've owned more new motorcycles than cars.

[big gear head]

My Rural King Coleman pit bike. I don't get to ride it much, but it's pretty fun when I do. There are a lot of performance parts available for these things.

[1967Z28]

Also not a mini bike but I picked up this resto project a couple of weeks ago. 1965 Bultaco Sherpa S 200cc scrambler. Original ad attached.

[wheelhop]

Added a 1976 KZ900 to my stable in January. Interesting story was I was looking a BBennys thread on his "House" 1969 L78 Camaro and I saw some motorcycles in the original owners garage. I called Benny and he put me in contact with Jim House and a deal was worked out. Benny even helped me go and pick it up!

[wheelhop]

Here is what it looked like when I picked it up.

[Too Many Projects]

Nice !!
I had a Burgundy 1975 that I bought new.

[TimG]

I had a KZ900 back in the day, what a great bike.

[wheelhop]

Just found a 1974 Z1 900 Project bike that will be next.

[67since67]

My last street bike was a '77 KZ1000, put those same cast wheels and a similar pipe on it.

[wheelhop]

My last street bike was a '77 KZ1000, put those same cast wheels and a similar pipe on it.

I have one of those too!

[L16pilot]

Bought this 1970 QA50 project back in December and just finished it. I drooled over these at Honda City in Glen Burnie, MD when I was 6 or 7 years old and only had to wait 52 years to get one!

[67since67]

My good friend and LT-1 Vette owner Brian got this "Pit Bike" from the estate of a close friend and fellow NHRA Stock drag racer. It was pretty rough, but Brian has it looking good now! - Bill W

[Too Many Projects]

Just found a 1974 Z1 900 Project bike that will be next.
Mine must have been a '74 also, as that is the color it was. First one lasted 3 days before it was stolen from a busy Burger King parking lot at 12:15 in the afternoon. Locked steering and key in my pocket. I was only in the store about 6 minutes. It HAD to have been picked up and loaded in a truck but nobody saw anything...:rolleyes2: Hope that's not the one...:laugh:

Took six months for the insurance company to write it off and pay for a new one. By then, it was late October and all I did was ride it home and put it away for the winter.

[SPEEDYB]

My little beater for the last 20 years

[wheelhop]

Finished (for now) with the 1976 KZ900 (it's actually a 1198 CC motor)
We got her fired up for first time in over 20 years about a month ago.

[Lynn]

My little beater for the last 20 years

Would like to see more pics of that 55 Nomad.

Whose car?

[SPEEDYB]

Lynn,My Nomad, chased this car for years, original paint and interior,
driven till 1974, than put away till 2016 born with everything.

[dykstra]

Super Cool!!!!

[SPEEDYB]

One more

[Lynn]

I am SOOOOOO jealous.

[Too Many Projects]

I am SOOOOOO jealous.
No kidding. That car had to have been stored in perfect conditions for it to still look like new ...:ooo:

[Too Many Projects]

Finished (for now) with the 1976 KZ900 (it's actually a 1198 CC motor)
We got her fired up for first time in over 20 years about a month ago.
Dang, that is a nice bike. You seem to find these regularly.

If you come across a 1982 KZ1100D in nice condition, I'd be interested. I bought one new and in 1995 sold it dirt cheap to a "friend" so he had a bike to ride while saving up for a Harley. He agreed to the condition it ONLY came back to me, when he was ready. Found out a few months later he sold it for nearly 4 times what I got from him....:mad: Friggen dirt bag people.


https://i.pinimg.com/originals/57/ba/bf/57babf4c11d85dc07098178a628f0bd7.jpg

[SPEEDYB]

Sorry for hijacking with the Nomad photos,
In LA there is still a huge mini bike culture, here are
Some customs

[drdave69]

Bought this 1970 QA50 project back in December and just finished it. I drooled over these at Honda City in Glen Burnie, MD when I was 6 or 7 years old and only had to wait 52 years to get one!

My brother and I had QA50s in the early seventies. He had a red one like yours and I had a yellow one with a "sissy" bar on it. I wonder if we have any pics of ours. I'll check into it.

[Z282NV]

I had a Kawasaki KV75 like this one in 1975. Had lots of fun on that mini-bike. Unfortunately I don't have any pictures of me riding it. Thinking about getting another one like it.


https://encrypted-tbn0.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn:ANd9GcRynVSxzKFurwlLkNTVG4O26Qkm1fwio K2ekg&usqp=CAU
]

[wheelhop]

Posted earlier in the thread but here is my KV75 again.

[muscle_collector]

heres my parnelli jones 75

[olredalert]

----This thread makes me want to get back my Doodlebug!.....Bill S

[66BoxNova]

Here’s my 1974 Kawasaki MC1 90

[markinnaples]

Love all of these Mini's including my favorite, the CT/Trail 70 Hondas. And, I'm a fan of the 70's Kaw KZ's as well.

[Derek69SS]

I built this one a few years ago. I realized I had the ugliest bike in my group at the vintage races at Road America, so I had to do something about that.

Next thing you know, the bike ended up being 69 Chevelle themed, with the clutch cover made to look like the front profile of the Chevelle fender, a Chevelle stripe, 69 patterned Parchment seat, and painted to match my race car.

My only regret is starting with a newer Chinese bike instead of building off a vintage frame.

[JRSully]

Nice Work!

[dykstra]

Way cool!!

[TimG]

I love it.

[Steve Shauger]

Frigging Awesome!

[JBALL]

I didn't know this thread existed.

Here's my 1973 Suzuki Trailhopper that I restored in my basement. It took about two years working on it here and there. It sat for 20 years and was locked up when I picked it up. Tried to use all Suzuki parts when possible. The paint and chrome work were done professionally. I just started on a 1971 this weekend. I'm going to tackle the paint this go around.