2014 Baja Warrior

[nightgrider]

Just picked this 2014 Baja Warrior 200 up from a coworker. Trying to resist my natural urges to start modifying it. Got more projects than I can finish right now. Just need to enjoy it as good factory runner... for now. It runs great and really lightly used. Been wanting a fatter tire mini bike for awhile. If I do anything, maybe build some luggage rackes for it.

 

[Charles S]

Wow! Near-new condition. I think 2014 was when Baja Motorsports went belly-up...

https://www.bajamotorsports.com/categories/minibikes

 

[nightgrider]

Wow! Near-new condition. I think 2014 was when Baja Motorsports went belly-up...

https://www.bajamotorsports.com/categories/minibikes

Yeah he got it for his son new. Said he didn't even run a full tank of gas out of it. He just wanted it out of his barn. Been sitting for a long time. Came with all the factory stuff, manual, certificate of origin, and original tool kit.

 

[nightgrider]

Took the Baja for a quick rip around at night. Wanted to see how well the headlamp worked. It was bright enough for the small amount of night riding I'll do. Was honestly one of the most comfortable mini bikes I've ridden. Definitely for not having any rear suspension. Them fatter tires help smooth out the bumps. I'll have to figure out how I want to make and mount a rear rack. Would like to make a rack for the front too. I'll have to study it a bit.

 

[nightgrider]

Was in my favorite store the other day, Salvation Army, you never know what you'll find. Came across the what was left of a outdoor side table. Had some nice 90 degrees bends and a couple of V bends. Snagged it up with the thought the 90s would make a good start to a back rack. But after studying on it all a bit I'm taking more of a shining to the V bends. Trouble is I'm having a hard time deciding if I want to use them to make a front rack or a back rack.

 

[sparkwizard]

I like both.
Can you bend the 90 degree angles to match the others without kinking them?

 

[nightgrider]

I like both.
Can you bend the 90 degree angles to match the others without kinking them?

Unfortunately the only bender I have is the harbor freight pipe kinker. I can't get that tight enough radius without kinking the tube.

I think for now I'm leaning towards using the V bends on the rear. I'll figure something else out for the front rack.

 

[DaddyJohn]

I’d lean towards a rack on the rear as well. A front fork-mounted rack adds inertia to the steering and can affect handling somewhat. Might help prevent wheelies in quick starts though, lol.

 

[nightgrider]

I’d lean towards a rack on the rear as well. A front fork-mounted rack adds inertia to the steering and can affect handling somewhat. Might help prevent wheelies in quick starts though, lol.

I'd still like a small rack up front. Just for the extra carrying capacity. But definitely for only light weight. Like you said not the ideal location for additional weight, for handling.

 

[Kyminibiker]

Unfortunately the only bender I have is the harbor freight pipe kinker. I can't get that tight enough radius without kinking the tube.

I think for now I'm leaning towards using the V bends on the rear. I'll figure something else out for the front rack.

fill the pipe with play sand and heat as you go and you might be able to do those tighter bends without kinkin the pipe.

 

[nightgrider]

fill the pipe with play sand and heat as you go and you might be able to do those tighter bends without kinkin the pipe.

I've played around with filling the tubes with sand. Got pretty good results, once I removed the rollers. From what I can see the hydraulic jack is slightly off center to the rollers, which causes a bit of binding. But the main issue is the dies are too loose, even for schedule 40 pipe, what is supposed to bend. I've got some other ideas on how to bend some tube, utilizing heat like you mentioned. But haven't had time to play around with them yet. The bottom bend was the best I've got so far in a test piece. Filled with sand, no rollers. Got to about 85 degs before it popped out of the bender. My fault. I cut the length a little too short, in an attempt to not waste too much material on test pieces. It's a pretty good bend only slight kinking.

 

[nightgrider]

I need to get myself a plasma cutter and make my own dies like @Kmanator did.

https://oldminibikes.com/forum/index.php?threads/home-build-tiny-mini.168405/post-1230764

 

[RobertC]

I like both also, but really like the looks of the lines it creates on the front.

Maybe build a front rack and keep your very perceptive eyes looking out for another pre bent treasure for the rear rack.

Just my opinion.

 

[sparkwizard]

Draw what you need on cardboard and take it to a welding shop.
Much cheaper than a plasma cutter.
Put the rack on the back and get a bicycle basket for the handlebars?
OR make a square rack for the rear and put the angled one on the front.

 

[nightgrider]

Draw what you need on cardboard and take it to a welding shop.
Much cheaper than a plasma cutter.
Put the rack on the back and get a bicycle basket for the handlebars?
OR make a square rack for the rear and put the angled one on the front.

But who doesn't love getting new toys, I mean tools to play with. Haha

Square on the back and angled up front was my original plan. Nothing is cut or tacked yet, so could go either way.

 

[sparkwizard]

Stacked, curved plywood might work with your hydro-kinker.

 

[nightgrider]

Stacked, curved plywood might work with your hydro-kinker.

I tried that, but the was too much pressure, it wanted to split the plywood. I haven't tried a quality hard wood yet though.

 

[Triley41395]

I tried that, but the was too much pressure, it wanted to split the plywood. I haven't tried a quality hard wood yet though.

When you tried sand,did you wet it wit water? That would probably help. I bent pipe at a factory for about 3 months years ago and we filled the pipe with steel shot about the size of a #8 shotgun shell.

 

[nightgrider]

When you tried sand,did you wet it wit water? That would probably help. I bent pipe at a factory for about 3 months years ago and we filled the pipe with steel shot about the size of a #8 shotgun shell.

I haven't tried wet sand. I've seen a video where a guy got good results with it. Wet sand does compact more densely than dry.

 

[sparkwizard]

Cap one end with something, tape will work...and tamp it on the floor. Keep spooning soggy sand in the open end until it is full.
Be patient removing the sand. Goggles and a garden hose will come in handy.