Hey guys, I just recently got into the mini bike hobby and with the help of this site I was inspired and got a lot of ideas for my build, so I decided to finally make a profile and share my build. The bike is I believe a mid 90’s era manco thunderbird that I bought from offer up. Bike was in ok shape except for the seat and handle bars and of course didn’t have the original engine, so I bought a new non hemi predator 212 and went to work. Mods are the following:
engine: predator non hemi-212
-billet +0.20 longer rod
-flat top piston
-Billet fly wheel
- governor completely removed and holes plugged
- mild port and polish on head
- stamped 1.3 ratio rockers
-hot .265 cam
- clear valve cover
-crankcase vented into valve cover
- vm26 carburetor
- “drag pipe” style exhaust
- max torque 3,000 rpm engagement clutch
- new chain (off brand from gps)
frame:
-pro taper style handle bars (Amazon Chinese copy lol)
-handle bar risers
- brass bushing added into steering stem for stiffness
- steering dampener
- new throttle and controls w/kill switch
- gps seat
- new shocks from Amazon, I believe 12 in
- Michelin s83 tires, 3.50-8
- new tubes
-nylon bushing added to seat pivot point at frame
took the bike out for the first test ride and it is SKETCHY, definitely needs more than the scrub brake it has and that factory 72 tooth sprocket really is wild with this engine. I’ve read it would wanna wheely everywhere but I figured with me being about 230lbs it won’t be too bad and boy was I wrong!
Just ordered a 60 tooth sprocket and a clutch brake, sprocket should come today and I’ll keep testing to see if I find a happy medium, I’ve been also toying going with the gps telescoping front suspension to be able to add their front brake kit only bad part is I’d be going down to a 6in wheel with that kit. I only have a few pics so I’ll try and get more.
sorry for the pics being in my apartment, I don’t have a garage of any kind so it’s been built all inside of my living room haha, I have to thank my girlfriend for allowing me to turn the living room into a part time garage
engine: predator non hemi-212
-billet +0.20 longer rod
-flat top piston
-Billet fly wheel
- governor completely removed and holes plugged
- mild port and polish on head
- stamped 1.3 ratio rockers
-hot .265 cam
- clear valve cover
-crankcase vented into valve cover
- vm26 carburetor
- “drag pipe” style exhaust
- max torque 3,000 rpm engagement clutch
- new chain (off brand from gps)
frame:
-pro taper style handle bars (Amazon Chinese copy lol)
-handle bar risers
- brass bushing added into steering stem for stiffness
- steering dampener
- new throttle and controls w/kill switch
- gps seat
- new shocks from Amazon, I believe 12 in
- Michelin s83 tires, 3.50-8
- new tubes
-nylon bushing added to seat pivot point at frame
took the bike out for the first test ride and it is SKETCHY, definitely needs more than the scrub brake it has and that factory 72 tooth sprocket really is wild with this engine. I’ve read it would wanna wheely everywhere but I figured with me being about 230lbs it won’t be too bad and boy was I wrong!
Just ordered a 60 tooth sprocket and a clutch brake, sprocket should come today and I’ll keep testing to see if I find a happy medium, I’ve been also toying going with the gps telescoping front suspension to be able to add their front brake kit only bad part is I’d be going down to a 6in wheel with that kit. I only have a few pics so I’ll try and get more.
sorry for the pics being in my apartment, I don’t have a garage of any kind so it’s been built all inside of my living room haha, I have to thank my girlfriend for allowing me to turn the living room into a part time garage