The FIRST ....and "LAST" Bonanza
- Thread starter KustomKartKid
- Start date
- Tags bonanza
I have a few "fun facts" I picked up from Mike in our last conversation. These are off the top of my head I hope I remember them correctly so he doesn't have to keep correcting me...
* The first series of 50 bikes were not considered "BC" series. That began later with the BC1200
* At least 1/2 of that first series of 50 bikes were sold as rollers...no engines.
* Between 12-15 of the first 50 bikes were powered by Clinton A400 Panther motors.
* The rest were powered by Power Products engines like the AH58 or the "61"
* His brother Dan built the only bike (#1) powered by an AH82...well.... just because he wanted to.
* The MB series of bikes without the fork plates were intentionally made NOT to look like a Bonanza and were initially intended as offerings by JC Penny and Sears but never were.
* Bonanza at the time was running a lot of promotional ads in Boys Life Magazine, the official publication of the Boy Scouts of America. Bonanza also worked directly with the Boy Scouts helping to promote the mini bike hobby with America's youth . This is where the Bonanza "SCOUT" Models got their name.
* Many of the early bikes were Briggs powered. They were delivered by tractor trailer, each load contained 96 engines to a pallet. The integral carb/fuel tank setup on these engines proved to be troublesome.
* As production numbers dramatically increased, Tecumseh was the only engine supplier who could meet the demand.
* Mike admired the quality of the early Fox mini bikes.
** The original "Bonanza Blue" paint color has nothing to do with Corvette Blue or Chevelle Blue or Marina Blue or any other automobile manufacturer color for that matter. Mike had a graduation ring (Freemason ) which had a "Masonic Blue" setting in it that he thought was unique and he greatly admired it. That is the color which became Bonanza Blue. (That's for you Ed :wink
There is a lot more...I need to learn to write things down because I think everything he says would be considered interesting to the OldMiniBikes faithful.
* The first series of 50 bikes were not considered "BC" series. That began later with the BC1200
* At least 1/2 of that first series of 50 bikes were sold as rollers...no engines.
* Between 12-15 of the first 50 bikes were powered by Clinton A400 Panther motors.
* The rest were powered by Power Products engines like the AH58 or the "61"
* His brother Dan built the only bike (#1) powered by an AH82...well.... just because he wanted to.
* The MB series of bikes without the fork plates were intentionally made NOT to look like a Bonanza and were initially intended as offerings by JC Penny and Sears but never were.
* Bonanza at the time was running a lot of promotional ads in Boys Life Magazine, the official publication of the Boy Scouts of America. Bonanza also worked directly with the Boy Scouts helping to promote the mini bike hobby with America's youth . This is where the Bonanza "SCOUT" Models got their name.
* Many of the early bikes were Briggs powered. They were delivered by tractor trailer, each load contained 96 engines to a pallet. The integral carb/fuel tank setup on these engines proved to be troublesome.
* As production numbers dramatically increased, Tecumseh was the only engine supplier who could meet the demand.
* Mike admired the quality of the early Fox mini bikes.
** The original "Bonanza Blue" paint color has nothing to do with Corvette Blue or Chevelle Blue or Marina Blue or any other automobile manufacturer color for that matter. Mike had a graduation ring (Freemason ) which had a "Masonic Blue" setting in it that he thought was unique and he greatly admired it. That is the color which became Bonanza Blue. (That's for you Ed :wink
There is a lot more...I need to learn to write things down because I think everything he says would be considered interesting to the OldMiniBikes faithful.
Everything he said is interesting! I purchased an early 1300/1400 not long ago that I will be rebuilding. Forward peg...
Hearing(reading) and seeing the history makes me all the more interested.
Keep it up!
Any chance we could get production numbers? Some idea of if the badge numbers actually are inline with manufacturing years?
And as far as the color, so mote it be.
Hearing(reading) and seeing the history makes me all the more interested.
Keep it up!
Any chance we could get production numbers? Some idea of if the badge numbers actually are inline with manufacturing years?
And as far as the color, so mote it be.
I have a few "fun facts" I picked up from Mike in our last conversation. These are off the top of my head I hope I remember them correctly so he doesn't have to keep correcting me...
* The first series of 50 bikes were not considered "BC" series. That began later with the BC1200
* At least 1/2 of that first series of 50 bikes were sold as rollers...no engines.
* Between 12-15 of the first 50 bikes were powered by Clinton A400 Panther motors.
* The rest were powered by Power Products engines like the AH58 or the "61"
* His brother Dan built the only bike (#1) powered by an AH82...well.... just because he wanted to.
* The MB series of bikes without the fork plates were intentionally made NOT to look like a Bonanza and were initially intended as offerings by JC Penny and Sears but never were.
* Bonanza at the time was running a lot of promotional ads in Boys Life Magazine, the official publication of the Boy Scouts of America. Bonanza also worked directly with the Boy Scouts helping to promote the mini bike hobby with America's youth . This is where the Bonanza "SCOUT" Models got their name.
* Many of the early bikes were Briggs powered. They were delivered by tractor trailer, each load contained 96 engines to a pallet. The integral carb/fuel tank setup on these engines proved to be troublesome.
* As production numbers dramatically increased, Tecumseh was the only engine supplier who could meet the demand.
* Mike admired the quality of the early Fox mini bikes.
** The original "Bonanza Blue" paint color has nothing to do with Corvette Blue or Chevelle Blue or Marina Blue or any other automobile manufacturer color for that matter. Mike had a graduation ring (Freemason ?) which had a "Masonic Blue" setting in it that he thought was unique and he greatly admired it. That is the color which became Bonanza Blue. (That's for you Ed :wink
There is a lot more...I need to learn to write things down because I think everything he says would be considered interesting to the OldMiniBikes faithful.
* The first series of 50 bikes were not considered "BC" series. That began later with the BC1200
* At least 1/2 of that first series of 50 bikes were sold as rollers...no engines.
* Between 12-15 of the first 50 bikes were powered by Clinton A400 Panther motors.
* The rest were powered by Power Products engines like the AH58 or the "61"
* His brother Dan built the only bike (#1) powered by an AH82...well.... just because he wanted to.
* The MB series of bikes without the fork plates were intentionally made NOT to look like a Bonanza and were initially intended as offerings by JC Penny and Sears but never were.
* Bonanza at the time was running a lot of promotional ads in Boys Life Magazine, the official publication of the Boy Scouts of America. Bonanza also worked directly with the Boy Scouts helping to promote the mini bike hobby with America's youth . This is where the Bonanza "SCOUT" Models got their name.
* Many of the early bikes were Briggs powered. They were delivered by tractor trailer, each load contained 96 engines to a pallet. The integral carb/fuel tank setup on these engines proved to be troublesome.
* As production numbers dramatically increased, Tecumseh was the only engine supplier who could meet the demand.
* Mike admired the quality of the early Fox mini bikes.
** The original "Bonanza Blue" paint color has nothing to do with Corvette Blue or Chevelle Blue or Marina Blue or any other automobile manufacturer color for that matter. Mike had a graduation ring (Freemason ?) which had a "Masonic Blue" setting in it that he thought was unique and he greatly admired it. That is the color which became Bonanza Blue. (That's for you Ed :wink
There is a lot more...I need to learn to write things down because I think everything he says would be considered interesting to the OldMiniBikes faithful.
Thanks Gerry, Now I gotta dig out my Mason's ring and get a color match ! LOL !
WOW , talk about a blast from the past !! In so many ways ;>) My brother and I got our start on mini bikes and go carts We had a Taco first and then graduated to one of these ! Many hours blasting around the orchards and fields
We had a Taco first and then graduated to one of these ! Many hours blasting around the orchards and fields
I've read a lot of positive feedback about this thread. This is the best history thread on mini bikes!
This is one of the best articles on any mini bike or small motorcycle in the fact that it is so well documented that it could be a museum archive ! My hats off to you AND Mr Dan Farrand ! A true history lesson AND a historic bike as well ! I am sure that a lot of us guys reading this turned various shades of green reading this story !
My brother likes to tell the story of how we were having trouble starting it and our Dad was standing in front of it inside the barn and he told my brother to hold the throttle wide open ............... so of course that is when it finally decided to start !!....... and it pinned him to the wall and proceeded to climb him like like a wild mountain goat !! LOL
Then there was the time Dad was "fixing it" for us and the throttle stuck and he went flying through the yard full speed only to wipe-out into the trash fire pit !! Talk about "Crash and Burn" . Not the best place to land with all the charred stuff and broken glass !
Funny how we remember other people crashing but not so much our selves. But I can guarantee there was plenty of them for both of us !
My brother likes to tell the story of how we were having trouble starting it and our Dad was standing in front of it inside the barn and he told my brother to hold the throttle wide open ............... so of course that is when it finally decided to start !!....... and it pinned him to the wall and proceeded to climb him like like a wild mountain goat !! LOL
Then there was the time Dad was "fixing it" for us and the throttle stuck and he went flying through the yard full speed only to wipe-out into the trash fire pit !! Talk about "Crash and Burn" . Not the best place to land with all the charred stuff and broken glass !
Funny how we remember other people crashing but not so much our selves. But I can guarantee there was plenty of them for both of us !
