Azusa bike

[Battalion31]

I have the opportunity to buy a completely restored 1970;Azusa mini bike with the original Briggs 3 hp motor
Asking price is 500.00, Is this a fair price?

 

[sparkwizard]

yes.

 

[creia]

I have the opportunity to buy a completely restored 1970;Azusa mini bike with the original Briggs 3 hp motor
Asking price is 500.00, Is this a fair price?

Let's see some good photos of this "completely restored" bike and (especially) the "original" 3HP engine.
Michael

 

[Battalion31]

Let's see some good photos of this "completely restored" bike and (especially) the "original" 3HP engine.
Michael

I’ll try to get some photos
It’s a 3 hp Briggs 1970 engine and frame, with band brake system, is it worth 500 in your opinion?
Frame has been completely stripped, and repainted, good welds, very clean

 

[Battalion31]

I’ll try to get some photos
It’s a 3 hp Briggs 1970 engine and frame, with band brake system, is it worth 500 in your opinion?
Frame has been completely stripped, and repainted, good welds, very clean

Nothing fancy, just very clean,

 

[sparkwizard]

PIcs?
Good deals rarely last more than a few days.

 

[minibikefever]

screw the pics , get the bike before it's gone.

 

[Johnnydarkgt350]

My friend Terry Nash would get the Azusa mini to build for clients years ago and sold every one for 1200

 

[Battalion31]

Let's see some good photos of this "completely restored" bike and (especially) the "original" 3HP engine.
Michael

 

[Battalion31]

Didn’t realize it was stretched 12” by a professional motorcycle builder but everything else is beautiful, like new
Motor runs like a top . The bike builder restored the entire bike . I understood that these motors in this shape are very desirable?

Any info I could get from you would be great appreciated, Tom

 

[creia]

I see very little on that bike that is original Azusa Engineering. It is much more of a "restoMOD" than a "complete restoration". If the recoil shroud, fuel tank and carb are any indication, no way that engine is from 1970- looks more like mid to late 1990s. I am sure others will chime in with their observations...
Michael

 

[Battalion31]

Thanks for the info!

 

[Charles S]

"Restored" means returned to original specifications and condition. I question how a kit bike could be restored, take it apart and strip the paint to return it to 'kit' form? The rear axle has been relocated, footpeg tube added... Not long ago, the Azusa frame and fork could be bought new for $135, I see the price has increased to $224. Being that the Azusa is quite common and still available new, I don't think the modifications hurt the value at all in this case, there's relatively little monetary value in an unmodified one. I think the modifications actually increase the value in this case. It's a cool bike for around the same price as an uncool new Coleman CC100X...

https://azusaparts.com/product-category/kits/minibike-kits/

 

[Harquebus]

I see very little on that bike that is original Azusa Engineering. It is much more of a "restoMOD" than a "complete restoration". If the recoil shroud, fuel tank and carb are any indication, no way that engine is from 1970- looks more like mid to late 1990s....

I am necro-posting here but I second the motion. It appears the engine was "visually backdated" to look antique but it is a late 1980s to 1990s engine around the time that Briggs freshened up the engine tins (across the lineup) to a more blocky modern look. The recessed area in the shroud for the newer rectangular decal is the dead giveaway. The fuel tank is another visual clue as it has an angled plastic push-turn "V-8 valve cover style" cap instead of the older (and better) threaded metal cap. The dimple in the fuel tank was made to accommodate the #490648 "panel, control kit" that held the choke and on/off or throttle controls. The side controls work with the newer carburetor that has a normal rotary choke as the slide choke carburetor was discontinued. There were more changes but the below photo shows what it should look like. It is an original 3 HP in proper "fun vehicle" configuration with the choke and on/off controls at the engine, but the throttle was controlled remotely by the pedal. From a Manco Valvoline "Al Unser Jr." Indy Car:



If an "engine restorer" is going to all that trouble, why didn't they add the rest of the vintage decals to include the "Easy-Spin Starting" decal on the recoil starter?

"Restored" means returned to original specifications and condition. I question how a kit bike could be restored, take it apart and strip the paint to return it to 'kit' form? The rear axle has been relocated, footpeg tube added... Not long ago, the Azusa frame and fork could be bought new for $135, I see the price has increased to $224. Being that the Azusa is quite common and still available new, I don't think the modifications hurt the value at all in this case, there's relatively little monetary value in an unmodified one. I think the modifications actually increase the value in this case. It's a cool bike for around the same price as an uncool new Coleman CC100X...

https://azusaparts.com/product-category/kits/minibike-kits/

Azusa never offered a "turn key" complete minibike? Always a kit from its very inception?

 

[Charles S]

Azusa never offered a "turn key" complete minibike? Always a kit from its very inception?

I'm no minibike database but I've never heard of them having been available as complete pre-built bikes. As I understand it, early Azusas had straight fork/handlebar tubes, lacking the forward bend of later ones, but I have no idea as to when this design change was made.

https://oldminibikes.com/forum/index.php?media/categories/asuza.1494/