Does anyone have any of these 60s-70s minibikes or had any. I have two. One running one that needs restored. The one to restore has a factory kickstart on the Tecumseh 5hp. Kind of a regional thing. Micky Rupp was a drag racer and in the 60's they started making these and other models,.. for pit bikes.
CHILIDRIFT,I myself don't own one of these,but they look pretty cool.
Comet Torque converters, which gave them a wide range in the transmission.. They would go about 37mph.... pretty fun to tool around on. PC if you run into any of these in a barn somehwere. It might be worth your while to pick.
I saw one a few years back, but thats the only one I've seen in person. Pretty cool though.
Quote from: ChilliDrift on January 09, 2013, 07:51:22 AM
Micky Rupp was a drag racer and in the 70's they started making these for pit bikes because the typical minibike wasn't to their liking.
Chilli, They made typical minis... Wish I still had mine, All I have now is fond memories and a photo. (I know how much you guys LOVE photos)
They made several models.. that looks like a Chopper or a Continental. Was that your first bike there Bake? A cool pic BTW.
My first was a typical "Taco" minibike then it was a Suzuki RV90 my uncle got somewhere. I ended up with it. I road that thing a heck of a bunch of laps around the yard over the years.
Chilli, Yes it was the Chopper version, That was my first bike not powered by brute force and ignorance. lol There were three or four guys in the neighborhood that had them, We rode our minis all over town... Down by the Delaware River... Anywhere we went, We didn't get much hassle back then it was a simpler time, We even rode in the snow.
WOW! Minibikes! Only the rich kids had them in my neighborhood. I remember the next step up around here was a Honda 50.
(https://www.vulcandrifterriders.com/forum/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.motorstown.com%2Fimages%2Fhonda-50-s-05.jpg&hash=5e49a829caead5feae531de0bfaed493e8191dda)
One of my buddies has a pair of those in his garage. We had unmaintained township roads we road on once I was a teenager that got us to power line trails. And some old logging roads that all in all made for about a 50 trail run with an old country store in the middle to get gas at. There are still a few of those old roads left. But I don't have anything with two wheels that will get me there. I need a dual purpose bike. ::)
AH what a cute little fella, tiedye shirt and the heair do...wow flash backs....lol.....glad I don't remember them days......
I had one of these when I was 15. cost about 600 bucks. I worked at he grocery store bagging groceries and playing music as a DJ at school dances to pay for it. I guess it was the first new vehicle purchase I ever made. I rode that thing pretty much every chance I got. Thousands of miles 35mph... LOL damn two wheeled contraptions. I just can't stay off of them.
One of my first two wheelers was a RUPP Roadster. My Dad sold Rupp and Skidoo snowmobiles so selling the bikes made sense for the summer. We had thirteen acres of cow pasture that we turned into an enduro track. They were not the best dirt bikes so we quickly graduated to bigger stuff. Next up was a Honda CT70 which I still have. This Christmas we passed it on to my grandson. Happy tails again!
Dc, the Honda Super cub you pictured is still being made today in many parts of the world.
It has been the longest running production series of motorcycles (and the most made also) since 1958.
My older Brothers owned late 60's Sonda s50's and a s65, and i grew up riding them
(https://www.vulcandrifterriders.com/forum/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.midamericaauctions.com%2Fwp-content%2Fuploads%2F2011%2F11%2Fhonda-s65-3-2-5542.jpg&hash=ac223ee26f72fdbc453e4679335e7ec423ceaa87)
(https://www.vulcandrifterriders.com/forum/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fi249.photobucket.com%2Falbums%2Fgg229%2Fhungirf%2FS65_1.jpg&hash=555bbea68ab43fe19badec792326f105fbcd506e)
Then in 73(i was 9 years old) i got my own Honda mini trail
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i was in heaven.
By the time i was 10, My brother had a honda 305 dream.
I could not reach the pegs, but it did not stop me from riding it.
Grab the clutch, hit the starter, lean left, kick it in first, ease out the clutch, and ride it off the center stand, Grab the clutch, lean left, catch second and so on. when i wanted to stop, i would ease up to the driveway, and stop it by a tree and let it lean against it until i was ready to go again.
I have never been off a bike since.
You mentioned the Puch cost about $600, back then.
Fast forward to today, Lifan corp. Makes a 200cc on/off road bike that can be had for $1000 or so delivered..
That is not a bad price increase.
Oh Lifan now makes the Honda engines we all grew up with and loved for Honda.
Lifan also makes and imports the Super Cub 100 to the UK now.
Of all the Chinese and Korean Bike manufacturers, they are the one Honda Chose to make their line.
I have read many haters of the chinese bikes, but for the price point, it is tough to beat (for a back woods beater).
Oh well, my 4 cents worth.
Oh, my 1973 z50? i drove it in the ground, my oldest brother repaired it, his kids learned to ride on it, and the other brothers kids did too. now my next oldest brother has it and he is getting it ready for his grand kids.
45 Bravo
Quote from: CDNRatMan on January 09, 2013, 12:49:48 PM
AH what a cute little fella, tiedye shirt and the heair do...wow flash backs....lol.....glad I don't remember them days......
Ratman... You missed a golden opportunity... I had "Justin Bieber Hair" before it was popular... Shame I didn't have an Agent! lol... He's from Canada eh! lol
My very first two wheel ride was a Bridgestone 90. I drove that little sucker everywhere. It was my first motor vehicle. Has a circular 4 speed trasmition. In otherwords you pushed down for first, second, third, fourth and then neutral and all over again. Certainly was bizzare. I don't have a picture but it was red and black..
Dan
Chilli, After the Mini Bike (which by the way was bought used for fifty bucks... lawn mowing money... wasn't rich growing up) I traded up, adding a few more Pesos to a '73 Yamaha 250... Yeee! Hawww! lol
We don't talk about him around here.......
Here ya go Dan.. pretty sweet ride. Make Bake ..Yamaha could make a heck of a dirt bike. I think most of us had the two wheel bug long ago and early on ;D
Chili if you were posting a picture of a Bridgestone 90 it did not attach.
Dan
Bad link,,.. here ya go.
Thats the one!! What a great little ride it was!!
Dan
I think I found a common bond between all Bikers.... they were all cool.
when I was little.. I doubt I saw a minibike I didn't want to ride.
Can you imagine, I'm not riding that Sears bike. I only ride Rupps.... 8)
Chilli, You're definitely right there... Every bike was cool... Just riding for the pure pleasure of it! I remember going to the local Mall parking lot for the "Yamaha Learn to Ride" program (kinda' like the present day MSP provided by the State) There wasn't any branding going on back then. Or any of the "If you ain't ridin' blah, blah, blah... Then you ain't..." Can you Imagine if Ben Franklin got his way and the National bird was the Turkey... How many guys do you think you'd see sportin' "Turkey Tattoos?" lmao
I also agree that it made no difference. I had the bridgestone 90 and my two best friends had a BSA lightning and the other a Royal Enfield Indian Chief. We all traveled together and never once did they ever make fun of my little ride. But when I purchased my 1959 Triumph Bonneville ( pre unit ) they liked the fact that I could finally keep up with them.
Dan