ten dollar mini bike frame

[robbie]

I picked up a mini bike frame last month at the scrap yard for $10. It looks like some kind of chopper thing, with a lot of sweep-back in the front fork. It's Chinese, with a disc brake on the front. It doesn't have any of the plastic trim, and it came with no back wheel.

I kept telling myself that I should take a photo of it, but I never did. Sorry.

I cut off about a million little metal brackets, put new axle forks on the back, and installed a wheel, axle, sprocket and drum from mfg supply. Then I put on a 2.5hp Harbor Freight engine and a jackshaft. I happened to have a 4" tire that was left here by the former owner of my land, so I needed only a rim and a tube to make that work. It's a turf saver, which isn't my preference, but it's brand new and free. Actually I'd rather have something with a 5" rim, but I'm not complaining.

I had to build a custom exhaust out of pipe and a lawnmower muffler because there wasn't enough room under the seat for the stock muffler. I bought a gas tank off a little motorcycle at the scrap yard. I made a new air cleaner from a Frito Lay cheese dip can. (I hate that stuff, but some guests left it here. They were dipping Oreos in it.)

All it needs now is brake and throttle controls and keys for the jackshaft. I also need to clean out the valve on the bottom of the fuel tank. Then it's ready to go! I'll post a photo in a little while.

This will be fun. It will be my kids' first mini bike, so I made sure it wouldn't go more than about 12 miles per hour. Next one will go around 25.

 

[robbie]

Here are the photos. I forgot to mention that I welded on footrests made from the pipes on the back end of a Snapper riding mower.

 

[KieranM]

Nice work, if those are the wheels (front) you got with the frame, your bike was a mini Harley, with a 47cc engine originally. But dont let the name fool you they had nothing to do with Harley Davidson, just the look. They have a side fairing of a fake twin cylinder engine..which is kinda gay in all fairness. You have done a great thing here, cant wait to see it finished.

 

[robbie]

Right, it was some harley-chopper-looking thing. I've seen those, and you're correct, they're pretty gay. Sort of like those bicycles you get for 5 year olds, with the fake plastic motorcycle cylinders.

I found out that the valve on the bottom of my gas tank is pretty much destroyed. It's full of crud, and the lugs are broken off on the inside so there's no way to turn the valve. I need to go to the hardware store and find something else to stick in there.

My son says he wants to paint the bike several different colors. That could be fun. It's just supposed to be something to putt-putt around on, but if he wants to paint it then I won't stop him.

 

[MacfarlaneRacers]

Nice pick up!

 

[robbie]

I found a piece of fuel line in the shed, and it screwed right into the gas tank! Now I just need to put a peg on the top bar for the tank to hang onto, and screw it down in the front with a sheet metal screw. Then I need brake and throttle controls.

I've been riding it today using the factory governor-throttle lever and Fred Flintstone brakes, to break the engine in. It goes about as fast as I calculated, and it has great acceleration.

 

[Bluethunder3320]

most certainly home made

nice find!

ill take two myself.

 

[robbie]

I keep thinking I should post some photos of the motorcycle/lawnmower/3wheeler section of the local scrap yard. You guys would be impressed. They have a lot of stuff over there. The same day I got the mini bike frame I also picked up a 4 wheeler frame for $30. It has brakes, sprocket, etc. Just no engine, seat or wiring. The back end of that one is going to turn into a go kart with a 5 hp briggs and Comet torque converter.

 

[Blazkowiez]

most certainly home made

nice find!

ill take two myself.

The bike was not homemade, it was made in China and then slightly modified.

 

[robbie]

I was riding around on the bike today, and I realized that it really needed a bigger tire in the back. The one in the photo isn't much bigger than the sprocket, and the chain was getting beaten up on the driveway gravel.

I traded it with one of the tires on the front of the go-kart. So now it has a 5 inch rim and an extra inch in diameter on the tire. Much better.....

Believe it or not, this thing is a lot of fun. It has great acceleration.