I bought an Aurenthetic mini bike today. It has only 201 miles on the odometer. It just needs a little cleaning. There is a badge on the fake tank that says Aurenthetic, and a sticker on the battery cover that says "Mini-Energy Systems" with an address in Eugene, Oregon. I collect a few mini bikes and was attracted to this one because it implies it was made in Oregon where I live. Can anyone tell me anything about Mini-Energy Systems? I think they are not in business today. Thanks
Electric Mini Bike, Aurenthetic, and Mini-Energy Systems
- Thread starter fullchoke
- Start date
- Tags auranthentic auranthetic
I looked up the address for Mini-Energy Systems and today it is a parking lot for a Hotel and a couple restaurants. I can't find anything on this company yet. I'm guessing they sold these bikes as a sideline, maybe along with batteries, generators, and similar equipment. Their name implies backup electrical systems, but that again is only a guess. I did see where someone mentioned a relative owning one of these Aurenthetic mini's that lived in a nearby town further implying there was a dealer in the area, and I doubt there would have been more than one. I like the Oregon connection even if they were only a dealer since I understand the parent company was in Burbank CA. Does anyone know how these bikes were produced? Were they a kit, or a bike sold complete. Hodaka also was a brand that was designed, and assembled in Oregon with the major components made in Japan. I like that Oregon connection, and own a few Hodaka's. I wonder if this Mini-Energy Systems was anything different than a Kawasaki seller. I remember back in 1972 you could buy a 125 Kawasaki in the crate for $175 off the dock in Longview WA. I almost got one, but opted for a new SL125 Honda instead being you would get a warranty and assembly from a dealer, and no worries about title implications.
Welcome the Almighty OldMiniBikes!
Where to start.
Please forgive me if this sounds harsh.
They were yet another attempt in the 1970's to use golf cart technology to power vehicles, whether they be cars (Like the Citicar) or minibikes, mopeds, 3 wheel machines etc.
There was a dealer of these Citicar's close to where I grew up, they had 3 of these cars in different colors. They never sold even one and the red one sat there for a good 10 years after that company went south. Scary little monsters.
Citicar here;
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Citicar
Dangerous, all of them, as you are sitting on or near lead acid batteries that can and will get destroyed in a crash and blast you with the acid.
Or maybe explode.
The original companies will never still be in business as they closed as quickly as they appeared on the market.
For your minibike, when found today they pretty much all have this in common. They will all be low miles and not have their batteries and if stored properly be in good shape.
That said, I happen to think they look very cool and love the extra large size of the frame from the standpoint you can jam a really large engine in there. Just strip out the electric motor and assoc. garbage and have at it. Nice big wheels, long wheelbase, great platform for making it your dream layout.
Here is one one of our OldMiniBikes members did up;
https://www.oldminibikes.com/forum/index.php?threads/vintage-auranthetic-w-new-tav-30.25956/
Search of images of bike;
https://duckduckgo.com/?hps=1&q=Aurenthetic+mini+bike&atb=v437-1&iax=images&ia=images
Hope you can do something unique with it.
Best of luck.
Where to start.
Please forgive me if this sounds harsh.
They were yet another attempt in the 1970's to use golf cart technology to power vehicles, whether they be cars (Like the Citicar) or minibikes, mopeds, 3 wheel machines etc.
There was a dealer of these Citicar's close to where I grew up, they had 3 of these cars in different colors. They never sold even one and the red one sat there for a good 10 years after that company went south. Scary little monsters.
Citicar here;
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Citicar
Dangerous, all of them, as you are sitting on or near lead acid batteries that can and will get destroyed in a crash and blast you with the acid.
Or maybe explode.
The original companies will never still be in business as they closed as quickly as they appeared on the market.
For your minibike, when found today they pretty much all have this in common. They will all be low miles and not have their batteries and if stored properly be in good shape.
That said, I happen to think they look very cool and love the extra large size of the frame from the standpoint you can jam a really large engine in there. Just strip out the electric motor and assoc. garbage and have at it. Nice big wheels, long wheelbase, great platform for making it your dream layout.
Here is one one of our OldMiniBikes members did up;
https://www.oldminibikes.com/forum/index.php?threads/vintage-auranthetic-w-new-tav-30.25956/
Search of images of bike;
https://duckduckgo.com/?hps=1&q=Aurenthetic+mini+bike&atb=v437-1&iax=images&ia=images
Hope you can do something unique with it.
Best of luck.
Thanks, I appreciate your input. I agree that the room available would give many options for fitting an engine in there. That said, I'm more of a purist, and the bike is more of a novelty in my collection than anything else. I'm interested in the history. I can see why they never took off, but there was quite a bit of thought trying to make this a quality product. The technology back then just wasn't there above the experimental level. Even lead-acid battery tech had a long way to go back then. The danger aspect doesn't exist past the level of any mini-bike involved in a car accident. Exploding batteries can happen in cars and trucks if charged incorrectly too. Any accident bad enough to crush those batteries is going to be very bad for the rider before leaking batteries are too much of a concern in my opinion. Looking at it from a danger aspect...putting a large engine in there while fun could easily become a bigger danger.
As far as electric car tech has come today, I'll bet in 20 years we'll look back and say how dangerous and mis-understood these cars we have today really are.
This bike tried to fill a niche during the gas crisis of the early 70's era. People back then could buy only 5 gal at a time with lines that would burn a gallon waiting in line. Then drive to the back of the line and wait another half hour, then when you got back to the pump find out they had run out of gas. The gas guzzling cars were not very popular, even my 6cyl would hardly get 15 mpg on the open road. I remember thinking that asking 36 cents a gallon was crazy expensive too.
As far as electric car tech has come today, I'll bet in 20 years we'll look back and say how dangerous and mis-understood these cars we have today really are.
This bike tried to fill a niche during the gas crisis of the early 70's era. People back then could buy only 5 gal at a time with lines that would burn a gallon waiting in line. Then drive to the back of the line and wait another half hour, then when you got back to the pump find out they had run out of gas. The gas guzzling cars were not very popular, even my 6cyl would hardly get 15 mpg on the open road. I remember thinking that asking 36 cents a gallon was crazy expensive too.
I just realized I mis-spelled Auranthetic as in the title of this thread. Once I spelled it correctly I found more info (duh). Plus I see 2 Auranthetic's for sale on Ebay, but no parts, which is surprising. Is anyone keeping a registry, or have any idea how many of these machines are left, especially the number still electric, and original. I read online that they were made from 1972-79 which if true would indicate quite a few were made.
Thanks
Thanks
I've been looking for parts. I know finding anything Auranthetic is unlikely, but I understand this mini is based on something else, and was converted to be a Auranthetic. Does anyone know what bike that was? 1st thing I'd like to get would be a mirror, and possibly the same one was used on what they started with. Thanks
This one looks like NOS;
https://i38.photobucket.com/albums/e114/heathermae3/Snapbucket/8B5BF44C.jpg
Would love to find something that big and that clean. V-twin here we come.
https://i38.photobucket.com/albums/e114/heathermae3/Snapbucket/8B5BF44C.jpg
Would love to find something that big and that clean. V-twin here we come.
There are certain bikes that are just not often found on the East Coast and if they are it is normally because someone bought them out west and brought them here when they moved.
Mainly Taco's and Powell's come to mind as west coast dominate.
There are others as well.
Personally never saw an Auranthetic in person.
The Gemini's I have had.
Anyway good luck in the search and resto.
Mainly Taco's and Powell's come to mind as west coast dominate.
There are others as well.
Personally never saw an Auranthetic in person.
The Gemini's I have had.
Anyway good luck in the search and resto.
I've seen those for sale out here in SoCal, ranging from parts bike to complete running bikes. I see more Rupps for sale compared to Powells though. You can't throw a stone without hitting a Taco bike out here! Lots of Cat and Bonanza mini bikes too! I see it all out here! Almost all..!!
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From what I understand these bikes were street legal and came with turn signals, brake light, headlight, and horn. This one looks to have signals on the front although it doesn't look original. They had a few accessory options, and this one has the luggage rack, and crash bars. Other options were a speedo/odo, windscreen, and a deluxe battery life gauge. I wonder how many got ordered with a windscreen when the top speed was 30? This one is missing the tank label, battery cover, and rear turn signals. I think those reflectors on the side were added. This does look pretty nice, and when compared to a couple I've seen on Ebay it's priced reasonable if it has a title. You'll need that to take it out on the highway. lol. They do have a spot to mount a plate tho.