Well I made home it home with my second bearkat twister

[Greg36]

5hr round trip and 3 bills later I finally have my second bearkat twister with an 8hp Briggs and it came with an extra 8hp Briggs. It's definitely different and smaller than my first bearkat twister ( the red one) still wish I new the story about that one. Now I just need to restore these bad boys but not until my super bronc is done first. What do you guys think?

 

[Greg36]

A few more pics with seats off

 

[MB165]

:drool: wow a kohler engine......

my next purchase..........
maybe ill take a trip out west and hunt one down.

 

[kc57]

Nice Score ! Bearkats are nice bikes. Your blue one looks like it is a single jackshaft model . They were built more for racing, Most of the ones I have seen use 12' wheels. Here is a pic of one ,That was built for the owner of Bearkat. It is built from solid rod aluminum. I have been told that there were two built . One for the owner and one for his brother. Good Luck with yours !

 

[Greg36]

Thanks kc! Yeah I really like 12in wheel ones. Wow solid alminum that's a cool bike! Correction looking at mine more it actually has a 6hp Briggs in it. Starts and runs but its missing linkage for the governor arm and i cant seem to find a pic of how there set up. If anyone has a pic of how all the throttle linkage is supposed to be setup it would be greatly appreciated

 

[capguncowboy]

Are these BearKats the same company that made this version? I had always assumed they were, but this one has San Diego, CA on the tag. The handlebars are definitely the same style. I wasn't able to come up with a year of manufacture because Briggs' records don't go back that far :shrug:

 

[kc57]

I think they are from the same company ? The forks, engine mounts and footrest's look alike. I guess when they moved to Phoenix they changed to the twister.

Are these BearKats the same company that made this version? I had always assumed they were, but this one has San Diego, CA on the tag. The handlebars are definitely the same style. I wasn't able to come up with a year of manufacture because Briggs' records don't go back that far :shrug:

 

[bikebudy]

Kool stuff Greg :thumbsup:

 

[Outlaw Ace]

I'll be riding mine again soon now that I got another 8hp to replace the cracked block on it. Maybe next year I'll get it done, I have too many other unfinished projects to go back to one that was done.

 

[Richard Trotter]

I have heard the Twisters with 12" wheels were called 'Cheetahs'. These pics were the best evidence.

 

[Richard Trotter]

I need to thank Tim for these pics. This is his cheetah. I think he can tell us a little more about them.

 

[Havasu Dave]

Richard, that is a beautiful photo! Greg, that is a nice bike(s) you have there. To my eye, that Cheetah looks a bit like a smaller Gote 750, although I am sure the experts will point out the many differences.

 

[george3]

5hr round trip and 3 bills later I finally have my second bearkat twister with an 8hp Briggs and it came with an extra 8hp Briggs. It's definitely different and smaller than my first bearkat twister ( the red one) still wish I new the story about that one. Now I just need to restore these bad boys but not until my super bronc is done first. What do you guys think? View attachment 79074 View attachment 79075 View attachment 79076 View attachment 79077 View attachment 79078 View attachment 79079 View attachment 79080 View attachment 79081 View attachment 79082 View attachment 79083 View attachment 79084 View attachment 79085 View attachment 79086 View attachment 79087 View attachment 79088

I seen that posted on CL. wasent it Nevada?

 

[Greg36]

Thanks for nice comments guys. And thank you Richard for the pics of çheetahs! My bike definitely resembles that more like how the jackshaft is !mounted hired. The only thing is how the back of the frame where the top of the shock mount and fender are different. George I got the bike from Merced, Cali. I'm in bakersfield

 

[Greg36]

Oh and the piping around the clutch is different along with how the frame attaches to the fork neck and mine has that little engine skid plate under the pull starter

 

[Tim Wilson]

Glad to see you still have the red bike Greg36. I didn't realize it was that much bigger than a twister! That machine is a mystery to me, but I know from the fork plate sticker on the white Cheetah that they were made in Mesa California. The Bearkats were made in San Diego California, then were bought by Tod Sales and moved to Phoenix Arizona where they started producing twisters. The Cheetah and the Kohler bike have obvious similarities to the twister but If anyone knows how they are related, I haven't heard of it.
This is my single jackshaft twister with 12" wheels.

 

[Greg36]

Wow Tim that bike is amazing I love those big wheels I bet that's a blast on the trails. Tim here is a link to one of your old threads with a twister that you had put ATV tires on. I was wanting to buy big tires like those for mine. Could you please tell the make and size

 

[Greg36]

http://www.oldminibikes.com/forum/project-logs/66535-bearkat-twister-2.html

 

[Tim Wilson]

The tires are duro thrasher 277 atv tires, 20x7-8. With the rear axle all the way to the back of the chain adjustment there is minimal clearance at the swingarm. I was planning on extending the slider blocks to ensure proper chain tension. You scored with the rear fender, most of the time they are missing.

 

[Greg36]

Thanks Tim for the info on the tires. If it's to much to mount them on the twister I might just use them on my Terra torque. They look great on your twister though. Did you ever put an engine in that twister?