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-   -   Taco minibikes are back! (http://forums.pelicanparts.com/off-topic-discussions/577260-taco-minibikes-back.html)

cameron.arnott 11-26-2010 03:06 PM

Taco minibikes are back!
 
Taco Mini Bikes - The Ultimate Mini Bike of the 1960's is back

Anyone else digging these!

Taco polo anyone!!??:D

DARISC 11-26-2010 03:52 PM

Back in the early '70s I was kicking around in San Blas and almost bought a well used one, really cheap, from a young Mexican local who was always buzzing around the village on it. I thought it was really cool and fun to ride, but I couldn't fit it into my old VW bus.

At least I'm pretty sure it was a Taco. Were there similar looking scooters back then?

JJ 911SC 11-26-2010 03:58 PM

Look like fun...

Zeke 11-26-2010 04:20 PM

The originals were called Doddlebugs. They can be had cheap still, but the collectors have had them in their sights for a few years.

A930Rocket 11-26-2010 04:29 PM

Never heard of a Taco, but saw similar hardtail minibikes with a gas rank on the engine. Very cheap and basic.

Always wanted one. :crying:

DARISC 11-26-2010 04:39 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by milt (Post 5694654)
The originals were called Doddlebugs....

Yeah! Now I remember the name; it was definitely a Doodlebug.

dan88911 11-26-2010 04:46 PM

Will likely be banded in california.

DARISC 11-26-2010 04:53 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by dan88911 (Post 5694690)
Will likely be banded in california.

Like birds, right?

Probably 'cause they don't float and the state don't want nobody to get drownded.

What a silly state. :rolleyes:

MikeD930 11-26-2010 06:17 PM

Just took a look at a Taco website...noticed that this minibike has a Honda engine? It's so wrong (except for reliability). Seems it would be more proper to have a Briggs & Stratton engine. Am I right??? That's what my older brother's minibikes had back in the early 70's.

porsche4life 11-26-2010 06:19 PM

Taco Polo?! I'm game..... Never had one growing up, moved straight to small derty bikes. A mini bike looks fun tho!

dan88911 11-26-2010 06:35 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by DARISC (Post 5694700)
Like birds, right?

Probably 'cause they don't float and the state don't want nobody to get drownded.

What a silly state. :rolleyes:

I should have said prohibited. Due to emissions standards.

DARISC 11-26-2010 06:40 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by dan88911 (Post 5694839)
I should have said prohibited. Due to emissions standards.

You're probably right. :(

Jeff Higgins 11-26-2010 06:44 PM

I don't remember ever riding one with a swingarm frame. How cool is that? Gotta love the leading link fork, too.

944Larry 11-26-2010 06:48 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by A930Rocket (Post 5694667)
Never heard of a Taco, but saw similar hardtail minibikes with a gas rank on the engine. Very cheap and basic.

Always wanted one. :crying:

I had a Rupp. I can't remember it having any suspension on it at all. A bunch of us rode them to school. Had to hide them in the field behind the school so as not to get caught with them. They'd probably be stolen nowadays!

DARISC 11-26-2010 06:50 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by MikeD94 (Post 5694817)
...Seems it would be more proper to have a Briggs & Stratton engine...

Some early ones had Clinton engines.

Doodle Bug Scooters - AACA Forums

http://forums.pelicanparts.com/uploa...1290829628.jpg

http://forums.pelicanparts.com/uploa...1290829784.jpg

M.D. Holloway 11-26-2010 07:16 PM

How much $$$ fo da Taco Paco?

DARISC 11-26-2010 07:44 PM

http://forums.pelicanparts.com/uploa...1290833026.jpg

LWJ 11-26-2010 07:47 PM

I had one. I stared at my neighbors neglected bike through the fence for a couple of years until I offered to buy it. He gave it to me instead! Rusty. Missing cables. You know the drill. I fixed it as far as my 12 year old self could but ran out of technical ability. I think my Dad did this purposely as he didn't want me to kill myself. Eventually, the kid down the street got it and had it running. Damn! I always wanted to ride that.

Jared at Pelican Parts 11-26-2010 08:35 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 944Larry (Post 5694853)
I had a Rupp. I can't remember it having any suspension on it at all. A bunch of us rode them to school. Had to hide them in the field behind the school so as not to get caught with them. They'd probably be stolen nowadays!



I had a Rupp too. No suspension and a piece of steel that pressed up against the rear wheel as a brake.

I learned to weld because of that bike. I had a habit of breaking the downtube of the frame driving it off curbs and such. Eventually, my dad got tired of doing it and showed me how.

I think it originally had a 2HP Husky motor we blew up, then I put a 5HP Briggs in it.
Anybody else ever rebuild one of those recoil spring pull starts? Chewed up a few fingers doing that..

Green 912 11-27-2010 09:16 AM

Brings back memories. I had one in the mid 70s that looked about the same but hard frame. I bought it for $5 with bad motor. I bent the frame open with a bumper jack and crammed in an 8 HP Briggs and Stratton motor off a busted water pump. Used a centrifugal clutch that was not meant for a mini bike as it locked up into 0 slip at 900 RPM or so. The bike would go into warp speed and well past critical wobble stage unless you were careful. The motor stuck so far out to one side that it would fall over unless you were holding it and the spark plug was right next to your leg I zapped myself a few times before I added a block of wood to rest my leg on. I sometimes wonder why I am still alive.


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