I live in a rural sub division (I know, doesn't make much sense) but I guess that's how they do it here in Ohio. It's literally about 5 miles north of "town" surrounded by fields. Anyways between my location and going to events like mid ohio, I decided that I needed a pit bike to cruise the side streets and around events. I started looking around craigslist, but being a cheapy, nothing fit the bill.
I then remembered an old rupp mini bike frame that used to be out at dad's place. Sure enough it was still there and I snagged it today. It used to belong to a buddy of my dad's back when he was a kid, and by the looks of it, it was treated like a kid treats a mini bike. There isn't much left, pretty much just the frame and wheels, even less the front brakes. Between the overall rough shape of the bike and the relative lack of value of it in this shape (comparable specimens on eBay for less than $200) I don't feel bad about doing a bit of customization. Rupps were actually made about a half hour from here in mansfield ohio, so there are quite a few around.
The plan is some different wheels and non nobby tires, maybe a little custom suspension work, and a 6.5hp harbor freight special engine. And of course some clubman bars and a "cafe seat" lol I'm really gonna try to tick off the purists on this one =)
Here's the obligatory "barn fresh" pic
And after a quick spray off, which may have actually made it look worse haha
And here is why I'm not gonna be using these wheels
I then remembered an old rupp mini bike frame that used to be out at dad's place. Sure enough it was still there and I snagged it today. It used to belong to a buddy of my dad's back when he was a kid, and by the looks of it, it was treated like a kid treats a mini bike. There isn't much left, pretty much just the frame and wheels, even less the front brakes. Between the overall rough shape of the bike and the relative lack of value of it in this shape (comparable specimens on eBay for less than $200) I don't feel bad about doing a bit of customization. Rupps were actually made about a half hour from here in mansfield ohio, so there are quite a few around.
The plan is some different wheels and non nobby tires, maybe a little custom suspension work, and a 6.5hp harbor freight special engine. And of course some clubman bars and a "cafe seat" lol I'm really gonna try to tick off the purists on this one =)
Here's the obligatory "barn fresh" pic
And after a quick spray off, which may have actually made it look worse haha
And here is why I'm not gonna be using these wheels