Vintage trail minibike enduros (of your youth)

[sugarwood]

https://www.hagerty.com/media/valuation/5-limited-edition-jdm-minibikes-up-for-grabs-now/?



These photos bring back some memories.

I was LUCKY enough to live next to friend A who had an older brother who was a mechanic. Because of elder influence, Friend A got a small Honda 50. As as result of Friend A, friend B bought an Enduro Yamaha TT bike from his older brother's friend. B let me ride his bike in the woods, and I learned to drive a clutch at age 14. (The first time I drove a car with a clutch, I already knew how to clutch, and I didn't buck or stall even once, LOL)

Without friend A, NONE of the following steps would ever occur.

Because of A & B, I purchased a 100cc Enduro motorcycle at age 14 or 15.

Luckily, by then, my father had shown me how to use his screwdrivers and ratchet set. Most unlucky people literally have no idea which way to turn a bolt. Why would they? So, it was not a crazy leap. Friend A was my gateway to DIY.

Now owning a moto, I learned what an ICE was and learned to tighten the chain, change fouled spark plugs, adjust the idle, replace a worn sprocket, and change the oil.

Then at 16, I bought my first car for $150. I used my moto DIY exposure and applied it to the car. I learned to change the carb thermostat, air filter, PCV valve, change hoses, change oil and filter, tighten fan belt, alternator, replace a fender, use Bondo, remove bumpers, replace bulbs, etc. I stripped the car of all trim and drove it to Maaco. Still using dad's tools. Lucky me.

Did not touch anything mechanical for decades, as I was immersed in my career and many different serious hobbies.

Decades later, fed up with overpriced and overhyped Japanese cars, I started buying cheap depreciated enthusiast cars and dove in deeper than ever. Forums, books, and Youtube were my teachers.

Learned everything by myself, and not one person ever showed me jack. BUT, without friend A, and that Honda 50, I would never have known that I could learn this stuff.

As a fitting addendum, many dormant decades after our trail riding escapades, friend A saw that I was engaging with cars again, DE days, DIY, tools, and that inspired him to get a few vintage cars in the last 2 years. Full circle of life.

[fastfredracing]

All my friends were 3-4 years older than me . My good buddies, Ron, and Brian, ( brothers), and another friend, Rich all had dirt bikes. One was Honda trail 70, a suzuki ts 100, and a suzuki ts 250.
I idolized, and looked up to these guys, so by the time I was 11, I was dreaming about getting my own 2 wheels. It consumed my thoughts .
I started out with a Rupp mini bike, then moved on to a yz 80, and never looked back.
Some of my friends found their way on the football field, baseball diamond, or hockey rink.,
I found my way on 2 wheels, out screaming through the woods every chance I got ,
I learned so much about life, mechanics , how to push myself, and also , a work ethic ( I had to pay for my hobby ) .
Like you, I had to maintain everything by myself. Cleaned out carbs, replaced clutches, chains, and sprockets, Did an upper end , stripped out my shift linkage, so I had to replace the shaft that went from case to case. All on my own, with zero help , and that little paper manual that came with the bike
Great thread. Wonder how many of us started here .

[ckcarr]

There's a market for these type bikes again.

Honda released the Monkey, and now has announced the Trail 125...
Question is, are they worth $4,000 or so.

Yamaha TW200's have always been popular around here. Every RV seems to have one strapped to the back.

[ckelly78z]

The bike I always idolized was a friend who got a new Honda XL-75, it was so cool, AND street legal, but all I had at the time was a no suspension mini bike with an old 5 hp Briggs. Another friend had a Honda CT-70 (bet he wishes he kept that one).

I never started getting bigger faster dirt bikes until my son was old enough to ride them, we started him out at 5 on a small electric bike, and then a doodlebug with a 3.5 hp. I jumped on an opportunity to get him an XR-80, and then an XR-100, and finally an XR-200. The whole time I had been running a nice XR-200, but finally traded up for a mint Kawasaki KLR-250 that I currently ride 3-4 times a week.

[sugarwood]

I can't believe you can buy a 50cc trail bike for $300
https://www.amazon.com/SYX-MOTO-2-Stroke-Motorcycle-Holeshot/dp/B087PG834N/




a 50cc bike from Honda costs $1500 or more.
https://powersports.honda.com/off-road/trail/crf50f

[Zeke]

Being older, we didn't have manufactured mini bikes other than a Doodle Bug which came out about the same time karts did, or just before the 60's.

I bought a used West Bend 2-stroke and made a mounting plate to weld into the frame of a 20" bike. Replaced the crank set with a jack shaft that in turn, drove the rear wheel via the sprocket. I jammed up the coaster feature, and the motor had a centrifugal clutch. Went to the local Harley shop close by in that same period of 1959 or so and bought a twist grip for the throttle.

You'd have loved to been there with a 14 YO middle class kid in there with the leather jacket guys. They all looked like Marlon Brando.

Actually Brando was too cleaned up and rode a Trumpet. They would have kicked his ass out. They were just curious about me. Later on I found a hill climb site on an oil field and spent hours out there when the oil companies didn't care. And it was the weekends anyway, so oil field employees were off.

The Harley guys were there too. And there I was on this little mosquito amongst a couple dozen hogs. I don't remember ever talking to any of them.

[gwmac]

Had one as a kid, like the saying goes never underestimate the power of a wheelie!

[Seahawk]

I had a Penton 125cc Six Day I bought used from an older guy on the ranch a few over from us. He wanted the bigger cc bikes Penton was making at the time.

I bought it because, I know, I worked and wanted it. No insurance required.

I rode the Penton everywhere. California, in the early 70's, was just a different place than it is today. I could leave our little ranch and cycle for hours without hitting a paved road...gas, not access, was the issue.

Mine did not look like the below, before or after. My Dad had a Norton Commander in those days, and, against his love of all things British and other than German European Cars (Jags, Lotus Europa, Double Bubble coup, Super 7's, some wacky Fiats, etc.) he helped me keep the thing on the dirt. I was, in turn, the Lucas wiring continuity check Monkey.

Fair trade.



I sold it when we moved to SC. I used the money to buy a Honda XL 175 Street Trail. Another great little bike.

[Zeke]

Originally Posted by Seahawk

I rode the Penton everywhere. California, in the early 70's, was just a different place than it is today. I could leave our little ranch and cycle for hours without hitting a paved road...gas, not access, was the issue.
.

Never heard of a Penton. I moved on to Bultaco's, CZ's and Suzuki's.

But you are sure right about CA. I could actually find an oil patch within city limits here in Long Beach and ride on weekends, by that time with other similar bikes and riders. We didn't need to load up and travel to the desert. There were even some places in Palos Verdes peninsula (some of the most expensive real estate in CA) back then.

I can't imagine what the cops would do to you now over there.

[ckelly78z]

Originally Posted by sugarwood

I can't believe you can buy a 50cc trail bike for $300
https://www.amazon.com/SYX-MOTO-2-Stroke-Motorcycle-Holeshot/dp/B087PG834N/




a 50cc bike from Honda costs $1500 or more.
https://powersports.honda.com/off-road/trail/crf50f

A Honda is worth that much more than the junk Chinese POS that random pieces break off of with light use. My son had a 4 wheeler that shucked parts daily, and only ran about 3 months before developing a death knock, broken brakes, and bad clutch.

Our used Hondas never had a lick of problems with the same riders.

[Reg]

I learned to ride on a 77 Kawi kv75. If I still had it I am sure it would be close to worth what the Honda’s go for. The Honda’s - if you buy a good used one you will always get your money back when maintained.

[A930Rocket]

A kid from Texas moved to our neighborhood. He had one of those little Honda 90 trail bikes. i wanted one so bad, but never got one.

At 13-14, I bought a kart frame and installed a 2 cycle engine. A 4 cycle would have been better. Sold it and bought a used Hadoka Wombat 125. A guy across the street and a few years older than me, was my introduction to mechanical things and taught me a lot about cars and bikes. He had a Honda 125 or 250 Elsinore I was jelly of.

[Bill Douglas]

Suzuki fat wheels RV 90. It lived at the beach house so got used from anything from hauling lobster pots to naked motorcycle riding.

[Nostril Cheese]

I inherited my dad's minibike, then put a 5HP Briggs in it.

Its how I learned to weld. I'd jump it off curbs and snap the front downstem. My dad got sick of welding it back together. So he taught me at like 8 years old.

60's Rupp Rascal. Looked just like this. Lots of fun.

[Nostril Cheese]

Originally Posted by Seahawk

I had a Penton 125cc Six Day I bought used from an older guy on the ranch a few over from us. He wanted the bigger cc bikes Penton was making at the time.

Wow. My dad was sponsored by Penton and had the exact same bike. Competed at Indian Dunes all the time. Then he stepped up to a Suzuki TM400 thru Van Nuys Suzuki. I still have the Suzuki in storage. You're right. CA was essentially a giant motocross course.

[fastfredracing]

I got to tour a Penton Dealership tonight

[Seahawk]

Originally Posted by fastfredracing

I got to tour a Penton Dealership tonight

Very cool. I missed that thread the first time around - thanks for posting!

Mine was very used when I bought it but after some TLC it ran like a champ fir the years I owned it. Never walked home.

[Seahawk]

Not a mini, but I bought the XR250 below new in 1984 when I was stationed in San Diego.

Sold it five years ago after my hip was replaced and the doc recommended I not dirt bike anymore. What he really said was I'd be a f#$@!ing idiot if I didn't stop riding.

Sad day.

Love the Rupp!

[cstreit]

Bupp bupp bupp ting ting ting. Those Briggs engined bikes with the centrifugal clutch. Always wanted one.

[ckelly78z]

Originally Posted by cstreit

Bupp bupp bupp ting ting ting. Those Briggs engined bikes with the centrifugal clutch. Always wanted one.

Coming across a field at about 20 mph with a friend on the back, my little minibike got a light front end, and wheelied out from underneath us. Bumps and bruises on me, and 5 stitches in my friend's chin later, we vowed to each get bigger bikes.....we did !