The Vintage Mini Bike Family Photo Scrapbook

" One day the Eaton’s Spring and Summer catalogue arrived. As I was casually thumbing through it looking at toys, stereos, etc., I turned the page and I stopped and stared. I couldn’t move, my breath held as I my eyes locked on this awesome bike. It was a minibike, made by Keystone. The frame was yellow and the gas tank and seat were black. Striking! It was a beautiful creation of motorhead technology. I had to have it. The price? $149.95. I could get half that! I already had some saved from my paper route. This was the bike for me… or was it? I better take it over to show Jack and get his valuable and experienced opinion. He mulled it over and seemed a bit envious that I may be getting a newer and better bike. He informed me that it has a 2 stroke engine, just like the big street bikes! Remember, this is the ‘70s when Kawasaki triples, Suzuki and Yamaha 2 strokes ruled the streets (along with a few Honda 4 strokes). I was sold!

When I finally came up with my half of the bike money, my parents put in the order. This was so exciting. My first bike was actually new too. I’m not sure how long it took before it arrived, but I’m sure it seemed like a full season had passed. It was early Spring when the box finally showed up at our door. We put it together on the carpet of the rec room. I read the manual over (I still have it) and my dad explained to me about mixing gas and oil, what a choke was, etc.

Was I ready to ride? Yes! Was the weather cooperating? No! Spring fever was another disease I had to learn to deal with. There was still snow on the ground and I had to wait. The weather was warming up, but not enough to melt all that fun-zapping snow. I curbed my desire to ride it by sitting on it while watching TV and paddling it around the rec room. Sigh.

When the weather finally cooperated, we fired up the mighty 50cc 2 stroke. It was loud and sounded much different than Jack’s bike. But it sounded cool! Off I went with the Cheshire cat grin permafrosted into my face"





My Keystone and Dad's CT70 (blue-plated that he rode to work!)
 
Fom Autobahn, Northern Kentucky:



"At about 12 or 13 years old on my orange Speedway Shrike in the small-town Iowa backyard. Paid for by a paper route. It was soon followed by a Suzuki TS100 (sadly, no pics). I must have had the most patient neighbors in the world...I would ride for hours and hours and they never complained. Even when their sidewalks began to crumble.

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USPO52202-5/22/72- CORPUS CRISTIE, TEX: A knee-high cast doesn't stop Tech. Sgt. Gerald Patterson, Seattle, stationed at Randolph Air Force Base, San Antonio, from enjoying an outing on the beach here. Patterson zips along the Padre Island National Seashore on a minibike, his leg cushioned on a pillow. The cast results from correctibe surgery. UPI btbt
 
Ahhh to be 15 years old again.....

And have a pretty girl with long straight hair and bellbottom jeans....:girl:



That can rip start her own Trailhorse mini bike....:drool:







And a "hip" mom that drives a '73 Torino.....:pimp:




"Please Clarence...I want to go back..."....if only for a little while......:sad:

 
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