this will be an intro and build thread
name is chris, live in culpeper va, 25 yrs old...was introduced to minibikes at a jeep show in York PA by some friends i meet with up there. 3 of them had minis (doodlebug style) as soon as i got back i started looking. picked up a Baja Heat on CL for $200, guy couldnt get it started and didnt have the headlight because it rear ended a 4 wheeler, fake tank was also dented. since i was planning on modding it, it wasnt too worried. i got it home, cleaned the carb and replaced the spark plug, first pull it fired up. i was in business.
the plans i have for this bike is to make it a mini modern bobber, springer seat, peanut tank, drag bars, swapped front forks for a narrower front tire/wheel combo. all flat black, havent decided if i want to white wall the tires and/or paint the wheels red or just leave it all black
heres some inspiration for my bike
heres when i got it home, sitting on a 360 engine block coffee table im making (no top yet)...it makes a good bike stand if i say so myself
heres where i started the springer seat, made a seat pan out of 16ga steel and welded a reinforcement strip of 1/8" steel to the bottom, then drilled holes on the outside edge
heres the seat wrapped in marine vinyl, used 1/8" leather strap to attach the vinyl to the seat pan, there is 1/4" foam padding under the vinyl to provide a little padding in addition to the springs
heres how it sits now, i had to cut off the stock seat support, i cut it shorter and welded it back on lower in the frame, the springs are mounted to that, i made some tabs for the front pivot point of the seat, they're welded to the frame, made a bracket thats on the bottom of the seat, the springs are a little too soft for me so ill need to add 1, maybe 2 more...they're 2" springs so not a lot of travel. in this picture it also shows the drag bars i got, and obviously i tood the fake tank off
i've heard they're almost exactly the same as a kx60 front but cheaper so i have a complete front end from a 1980 kdx80 on its way (forks, trees, tire, wheel, axle, brake, brake lever)that ill be putting on...hoping its just bolt on but we'll see...anybody have anything i should prepare myself for if its not bolt on (i've never messed with bikes and forks and stuff) heres a picture of the fork and tire, this way i should have front brakes now too to help with the TAV once funds allow me to get it
looks like the peanut tank is being more of a challenge than i had thought, cant find one for a decent price.
please let me know what you guys think so far, words of advice, things i should do/shouldnt do. thanks, ill try to keep this updated as i go along and make progress.
name is chris, live in culpeper va, 25 yrs old...was introduced to minibikes at a jeep show in York PA by some friends i meet with up there. 3 of them had minis (doodlebug style) as soon as i got back i started looking. picked up a Baja Heat on CL for $200, guy couldnt get it started and didnt have the headlight because it rear ended a 4 wheeler, fake tank was also dented. since i was planning on modding it, it wasnt too worried. i got it home, cleaned the carb and replaced the spark plug, first pull it fired up. i was in business.
the plans i have for this bike is to make it a mini modern bobber, springer seat, peanut tank, drag bars, swapped front forks for a narrower front tire/wheel combo. all flat black, havent decided if i want to white wall the tires and/or paint the wheels red or just leave it all black
heres some inspiration for my bike
heres when i got it home, sitting on a 360 engine block coffee table im making (no top yet)...it makes a good bike stand if i say so myself
heres where i started the springer seat, made a seat pan out of 16ga steel and welded a reinforcement strip of 1/8" steel to the bottom, then drilled holes on the outside edge
heres the seat wrapped in marine vinyl, used 1/8" leather strap to attach the vinyl to the seat pan, there is 1/4" foam padding under the vinyl to provide a little padding in addition to the springs
heres how it sits now, i had to cut off the stock seat support, i cut it shorter and welded it back on lower in the frame, the springs are mounted to that, i made some tabs for the front pivot point of the seat, they're welded to the frame, made a bracket thats on the bottom of the seat, the springs are a little too soft for me so ill need to add 1, maybe 2 more...they're 2" springs so not a lot of travel. in this picture it also shows the drag bars i got, and obviously i tood the fake tank off
i've heard they're almost exactly the same as a kx60 front but cheaper so i have a complete front end from a 1980 kdx80 on its way (forks, trees, tire, wheel, axle, brake, brake lever)that ill be putting on...hoping its just bolt on but we'll see...anybody have anything i should prepare myself for if its not bolt on (i've never messed with bikes and forks and stuff) heres a picture of the fork and tire, this way i should have front brakes now too to help with the TAV once funds allow me to get it
looks like the peanut tank is being more of a challenge than i had thought, cant find one for a decent price.
please let me know what you guys think so far, words of advice, things i should do/shouldnt do. thanks, ill try to keep this updated as i go along and make progress.
