All original SURVIVORS
I have two all-original unmolested "survivor" minibikes. The first is a 1976 Kawasaki KV75. This has to be one of the nicest examples on the planet. I just kind of stumbled upon it on eBay a few years ago. The seller listed improperly with some misspelled words which caused it to not show-up in the normal MT1/KV75 searches. There was only one other bidder on it besides me and I ended-up getting it for a real good price.
The guy selling it was a retired police officer and he got it from an elderly friend who bought it brand-new in '76 and used to take it with him when he used his motorhome. He gave it to the retired cop because he said that there weren't any campgrounds that would let him ride it anymore. When I got it the tank and carb were varnished. All I did was clean them both out and installed a new spark plug. It is like brand-new with very low hours.
Here's my latest Kawasaki score. A 1972 MT1 mint survivor. The story goes that a guy in PA bought this for his wife brand-new in '72 and she rode it around the yard a few times until one day she dumped it and never rode it again. It supposedly sat in a garage under a tarp for 42 years (which explains why the paint is like brand-new with no fade).
All-original except I replaced the shock with more adult-friendly units. I still have the original shocks too though to be put back on for show.
What's funny about both of these bikes is I had a 1971 MT1 back in the 70s when I was a kid and now 40+ years later I have two that are a lot nicer than the one I had back then. They are both like-new with all-original everything except for the spark plugs.
The guy selling it was a retired police officer and he got it from an elderly friend who bought it brand-new in '76 and used to take it with him when he used his motorhome. He gave it to the retired cop because he said that there weren't any campgrounds that would let him ride it anymore. When I got it the tank and carb were varnished. All I did was clean them both out and installed a new spark plug. It is like brand-new with very low hours.
Here's my latest Kawasaki score. A 1972 MT1 mint survivor. The story goes that a guy in PA bought this for his wife brand-new in '72 and she rode it around the yard a few times until one day she dumped it and never rode it again. It supposedly sat in a garage under a tarp for 42 years (which explains why the paint is like brand-new with no fade).
All-original except I replaced the shock with more adult-friendly units. I still have the original shocks too though to be put back on for show.
What's funny about both of these bikes is I had a 1971 MT1 back in the 70s when I was a kid and now 40+ years later I have two that are a lot nicer than the one I had back then. They are both like-new with all-original everything except for the spark plugs.
Attachments
Not my bike...not my story.
From the web:
Vintage Lil Indian mini bike - All Original Barn Find
This was a barn find and the bike is in the condition I found it in. In all original condition and looks to only be missing left grip front fender.
I took this bike up to Allied Leisure corp. and talked to Ray Michrina who is one of the brothers that founded Lil Indian mini bikes and was told this was a kit his brother Regis put together with some spare parts when he branched off on his own with the mini bike business.
Ray pointed out that it has the original rare 4" mag rims that are out of production because the die was lost a long time back !
From the web:
Vintage Lil Indian mini bike - All Original Barn Find
This was a barn find and the bike is in the condition I found it in. In all original condition and looks to only be missing left grip front fender.
I took this bike up to Allied Leisure corp. and talked to Ray Michrina who is one of the brothers that founded Lil Indian mini bikes and was told this was a kit his brother Regis put together with some spare parts when he branched off on his own with the mini bike business.
Ray pointed out that it has the original rare 4" mag rims that are out of production because the die was lost a long time back !
