I recently finished this mini bike (more has been done since the picture). It was found in the garbage all rusted in 1993, and we grabbed it. It sat in another storage unit for years until we discovered this year that it was still there. I forgot all about it. We cleaned it up and painted it, put some new hardware and a 79cc Predator engine on it. Don't mind the bolts through the front forks, as one of the shocks broke and I just wanted to get it done and ride it. I thought the 79cc would be enough to get us around, but keep the kids from killing themselves, as opposed to the 212cc.
It is fairly heavy, but it seems like I am either having a gear ratio or clutch issue to the extent that it won't even take off with me or my 15 year old son on it. With my 9 year old, it does okay. I am wondering if it just isn't getting enough RPM to engage the clutch, or what the deal is. Going down hills is a lot of fun, but the fun ends as soon as you hit flat ground.
Is it that the 79cc Predator is just plain not powerful enough, or do I have another issue? Governor, etc.?
I'll take any advice I can get. I am really close to just buying the larger engine, but don't want to if I don't really need to.
Thanks for your advice.

It is fairly heavy, but it seems like I am either having a gear ratio or clutch issue to the extent that it won't even take off with me or my 15 year old son on it. With my 9 year old, it does okay. I am wondering if it just isn't getting enough RPM to engage the clutch, or what the deal is. Going down hills is a lot of fun, but the fun ends as soon as you hit flat ground.
Is it that the 79cc Predator is just plain not powerful enough, or do I have another issue? Governor, etc.?
I'll take any advice I can get. I am really close to just buying the larger engine, but don't want to if I don't really need to.
Thanks for your advice.
