Dusting off my MTD project

cfh

Well-Known Member
#21
again i've converted many trail flites to 12" front wheel and the stock center stand works fine. so you have something else that increases bike height. i can see it in your pictures, your bike is taller than stock. personally i would stick with Sebec shocks. they have a better vintage "look". and that one you pictured looks awesome. with about 10 minutes of work, that shock could look brand new.
 

minibikefever

Well-Known Member
#22
Being that the OP is not going for exact restoration of original specs, he indeed does have the correct shocks. Ones that work better!
I have seen people weld two small pipe sections to outward edges of the center stand and this fixes the length problem.
I was going to weld some pencil rod to the outside corners to lift it but came up with the idea of the rubber and really am pleased with the outcome.
 

minibikefever

Well-Known Member
#23
again i've converted many trail flites to 12" front wheel and the stock center stand works fine. so you have something else that increases bike height. i can see it in your pictures, your bike is taller than stock. personally i would stick with Sebec shocks. they have a better vintage "look". and that one you pictured looks awesome. with about 10 minutes of work, that shock could look brand new.
That's because it's the special BLACK model Columbia/Mtd,very rare and sought after, That's why someone stole the correct kickstand and sold it on eBay for 10,000
 

minibikefever

Well-Known Member
#24
All in all it's just my personal rider for around my place, If the chrome on the wheels would of been good I would of went a little farther with it but any update I could do for my own personal comfort and reliability is really what I wanted in the end, On to the next project in a box soon, Thanks for the comments from everyone.
 

kayde

Well-Known Member
#27
Congratulations on a absolutely sweet bike.

I'm not a fan of the center stand but it does come in handy sometimes, amazingly I've never had it drop down unexpectedly.

Lacking spring damping the original sebacs can make the bike feel alot like one of these old bouncey horses.
Kind of a odd feeling until you get used to it.
Besides the new tires, im betting the new shocks are probably the best improvement on ride quality.
 

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minibikefever

Well-Known Member
#28
again i've converted many trail flites to 12" front wheel and the stock center stand works fine. so you have something else that increases bike height. i can see it in your pictures, your bike is taller than stock. personally i would stick with Sebec shocks. they have a better vintage "look". and that one you pictured looks awesome. with about 10 minutes of work, that shock could look brand new.
The 12" front wheel models had a longer kickstand, I just couldn't locate one so I made the 10" one ( repop) from BWM that was a 1/2" longer work,If you go to minidoodle.com and look at the Black Mtd badged as a Western Flyer SS500, The only other black one I can find by the way, you can see the design for the 12" stand was taller with the bottom cupped more to give room for tire clearence, just passing on what I've learned over the last 5 years, Mtd was my first minibike and rebuild 5 years ago, and this will be my 5th one and still learning, and having a freaking blast doing it, I figure the more we can share the easier it will be for anyone else looking for info and ideas.
 

minibikefever

Well-Known Member
#30
I see no difference? Mine and the one on mini doodle are the only black one's I've ever seen? This is my first one with the 12' front wheel and motocross type handlebars, everyone I've had and still have two of them have 10" wheels and the awkward type handlebars and orange, but I don't get out much, that's what I see? color is probably who ever branded it besides Mtd??? like lawnmowers now??? different color and decals
 
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