Question about my mini-bike project.....

I got this today for free. Does anybody know who might have made this thing or how old it might be?

I already have the Schwinn springer fork and Tecumseh engine for a mini-bike project...

Anybody know how the looks/ geometry will pan out if I use a springer lowrider bicycle fork and 20 inch front wheel? Or, should I just scrap it and build a new frame from scratch?

Thanks,
H. Hotrodder

 

sorry, forgot picture

 

No mini bikers left on the HAMB?

 

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Anybody know how the looks/ geometry will pan out if I use a springer lowrider bicycle fork and 20 inch front wheel?

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You'll probably have to change the neck to be able to use bicycle forks.
I'm guessing a 20" front wheel is as tall as the frame.

You will have to mock it up to see how goofy it will look.

 

That looks like a standard "junior" sized mini-bike frame to me...very popular in the late 60s-mid 70s as a rough estimate about it's age.

That frame will only accept the standard little mini-bike rear wheel, so I'd probably go with a 16" front whell/tire combo on your Schwinn springer fork to keep the proportions reasonable...a 20" tire would look WAY wrong, in my opinion.

Tecumseh engines RULE!!! I logged lotsa miles on mine last year, and except for the garbage updraft carb, it worked flawlessly!!!

Of course...I build mine outta old BICYCLES...no chain to toss and wicked top end gearing!

 

I've built about a dozen or so and I used a bycycle neck on one and put a schwin springer on one for a really tall guy. It looks goofy as hell cause it has a stock size mini rear wheel, but he loves it. I can probly get a pick next week. Until then...

 

Sell it on ebay and get an old bmx bike for the neck. Here's my project on hold, using a dyno head tube I found in the trash.

 

If you're gonna start over, don't trash that frame, I'd love to do something with it.

 

james,
You have any more pics of that thing?? Thats a beast, and I LIKE it!

 

here's a shot. Excuse the mess. The rear wheel and what's left of the swingarm were off a cr80 I got at a garage sale for $20. I've got a street tire for the back, just not on yet. The tubing was all bent on my $80 harbor freight pipe bender.

 

H. Hotrodder,

Your frame looks exactly like one I bought last summer on e-bay. Mine was supposed to be complete but I got the shaft on that one. $300 later it got to the stage shown in the first photo. The second photo is at Bonneville last Aug and that's why I bought/built the scooter which I thought was a doodle bug. That's what we called these years ago. A local friend tells me this particular one is known as a TACO and that is the brand name. I had never heard of that brand before. The frame is a little short for a tall person but it got me around the pits at Bonneville just fine.

 

photo two. This was moving at an eye-watering 30 mph.

 

3 by, I think you're right. They look identical.

I have a 3 horse Tecumseh for it. I also have the forks, just not pictured. I imagine all of the wheels and hubs and stuff are going to cost be more than a more complete one would have wound up costing.

My wife rode it when she was a little girl, so it's somewhat sentimental I guess.

After looking at all of the pics, I'm just going to restore it pretty much stock. I can't figure out any way to change much without making it look funny (funnier?)

 

H. Hotrodder,

Since you have it stripped completely I would recommend cutting the 4 main frame tubes and welding in some 4 to 6" pieces to lengthen the frame. It would be a lot more comfortable to ride. Also, don't buy Northern's drum brake. It's a piece of sh*t. The drum is so far out out of round with the sprocket I had to use both mill and lathe to rebuild it. There are better suppliers.

 

Here is I bike I built with fork parts from a bicycle.
I used a nose wheel for a trailer up front. And bought
the rear wheel setup and sentrifugalcluch from this place : Mini bike parts
I was satisfied with prices, parts and their service.

 

Manufacturers Supply is about a mile from my house and I've bought alot of shit from them over the years. Good stuff.

 

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H. Hotrodder,

Since you have it stripped completely I would recommend cutting the 4 main frame tubes and welding in some 4 to 6" pieces to lengthen the frame. It would be a lot more comfortable to ride. Also, don't buy Northern's drum brake. It's a piece of sh*t. The drum is so far out out of round with the sprocket I had to use both mill and lathe to rebuild it. There are better suppliers.

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3 by, do you mean stretch the wheelbase or make the frame taller?

 

H. Hotrodder,

Yes, add to the length. Tall is not the problem. Knees into the handlebars is. The short wheelbase is a little squirrely "at speed" too.

 

Here's mine(freebee), anyone got any info on who built "grand prix" mini bikes?

 

Here's the pic with the springer..