Minibike Mania Strikes Again!
My first motorized two-wheeled memories date back to an era before my age hit double-digits. They involve a friend's spacious backyard, a Gemini minibike, and a fascination with the concept of not having to pedal in order to achieve velocity.
The thing was loud-- its tiny lawnmower engine sputtering, spitting, and revving like nothing I had heard before-- and it was also unbelievably fun. After feeling the sensation of effortless speed and mobility, I had to have one... but my parents absolutely refused, so the thrill of minibiking was allowed only at my friend's house.
Flash forward roughly a third of a century.
While browsing the motorcycles section of Craigslist on my Treo, I found a 1970s Benelli minibike for sale. I happened to be borrowing a 2007 Toyota Highlander Hybrid I was reviewing for Jason Fogelson's excellent SUVs site, so I called up the seller, stopped at an ATM, and stuffed the bike and a spare chassis into the Highlander for less than the cost of four tanks of gas.
As though I didn't need another project to take on, the Benelli needs a few tweaks to run perfectly... OK, it needs a few tweaks to run. But just seeing its funny shape reminds me of that Gemini I rode so many years ago, and the discovery of the thrill of riding.
Photo © Basem Wasef
Comments
Is that minibike belt drive? Hard to tell from the picture. Your minibike in the back of your Highlander reminds me of stuffing my F650CS into the back of my Mazda minivan to bring it home from Toronto. Should have seen the looks of people on the highway. I could see people mouth, ‘He’s got a motorcycle in there!’. My van doesn’t have tinted windows - it becomes a rolling showroom for my bike. Taking out the front passenger seat - the bike fits in perfectly. Just make sure to strap that bike down with heavy duty moving straps. Don’t want that thing coming loose on you.
It’s a regular (rusty) chain drive coming from a Tecumseh 174cc.
The experience made me want to own an SUV or a truck… ahh, the things I could move!
Must be cool to show off a bike that way. I photographed the Burt Munro Indian Scout (”The Worlds Fastest Indian”), and the owner moved it in a 1970s van… talk about going lo-profile! If people on the freeway could only see the priceless piece of history hiding underneath the furniture padding…
Basem
I love people having some Mania …
Nice bike, dream come true ……
http://www.supersportsracing.com
Ah, memories. Nothing quite like riding a hard tail mini bike with a 3 HP B&S engine over a rutted dirt trail. What helmet?
I saw the same mini bike advertised.. Thought the same thing.. Remembering those days of riding up and down the street watching out for cops. (lots lived on my street those days) and having a blast.
My first was a Lil Indian. 3hp and bad to the bone. It was a blast. I had a buddy that had a 5hp and it flew.
Thanks for bringing me back 4+ decades… A waaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaay back to the old “BAT DRIVE” bikes. This was before we could afford the mini’s. We would “U” bracket a strip of angle iron to a stingray bicycle (with banana seat, sissy-bar and pad, if lucky). Anyway, we would then bolt on a old Briggs & Stratton lawn mower engine just so the blade shaft would sit right in front of the rear wheel. Then drill out a short section of the top of an old wood baseball bat and hammer it on the the shaft. Pull the motor back so the bat rubbed on the back tire and you were done! Throttle was a string attached to the carbs butterfly or just reach under and “finger it”. Watch out for the spark plug!!! ZAP!!! What a blast to the past!!!! THANKS! MADE MY DAY!!!