was a rupp roadster, now i dont know what to call it

Hurco550

Keep er' Between the Ditches
DTT SUPPORTER
DTT BOTM WINNER
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
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And after a quick spray off, which may have actually made it look worse haha
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And here is why I'm not gonna be using these wheels
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Re: Rupp Roadster. I think I'm to big for this

Went to Glens surplus in Shelby and picked up some wheels. Need to make some axles up as the stock ones are 1/2" and the bearings in the new wheels are 5/8". Also stuck on some old clubman which will get narrowed up and some old shocks I had around, which lower the rear about 2"

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Re: Rupp Roadster. I think I'm to big for this

Got tired of the old turd falling over, so I used my mad wood working skills to make a sweet kick stand.
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I had an old briggs 2 horse motor laying around that I stuck on it.
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After some tinkering I realized that I don't have spark. I looked up what a coil, condenser and points would cost. It was gonna be around 30-40 bux to my door. I then started cruising craigslist and found this running 3 horse briggs fir $40 about 10 minutes from home, so I snagged it tonight.
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Re: Rupp Roadster. I think I'm to big for this

BALLS. Just realized i bought a tecumseh.... on ebay she goes. Might end up with a harbor freight motor after all....
 
Re: Rupp Roadster. I think I'm to big for this

So I picked up a harbor freight motor. With the coupons, I got er for just over a bill. 212 cc 6.5 hp. should be enough to motivate this little booger
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Re: Rupp Roadster. I think I'm to big for this

I like those wheels hurco;what are you going to use for brakes ?
 
Re: Rupp Roadster. I think I'm to big for this

Thanks gentlemen. Debating on brakes right now. Either drums or mechanical caliper discs. Probably gonna stay away from juice
 
Re: Rupp Roadster. I think I'm to big for this


hurco550 said:
Thanks gentlemen. Debating on brakes right now. Either drums or mechanical caliper discs. Probably gonna stay away from juice

Wise.
 
Re: Rupp Roadster. I think I'm to big for this

Well.. we all know how projects go. . The frame ended up being rusted, bent, threads stripped, bearing surfaces wallowed ect. So I snagged another frame up in Shelby off the bay for $30
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Got my torque converter in the mail today. It's a much cheaper copy of the popular comet tav2.
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But then when mounting it up, it shows just how bad it really is out of square even my "new" frame is. That on top of clearance issues it making me somewhat re think the ol rupp frame
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So, I started drawing. I am kinda diggin this. The frame would be water jet cut from .187" steel and be two identical pieces that sandwich tabbed gussets all around the outside. The wheelbase is about the same as the rupp and the wheels are 17.5" fir a bit of scale.
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Re: Rupp Roadster. I think I'm to big for this

Dude, I'm in. Looks like an awesome project.
 
Re: Rupp Roadster. I think I'm to big for this

Looking good man...If I am not mistaken if thats a "predator" engine they make a ton of hop up goodies for it... I was looking into one for my drift trike I never finished...lol
 
Re: Rupp Roadster. I think I'm to big for this

Thanks gentlemen! The 212 is a pretty much direct copy or clone of a Honda. China jumped on it when Hondas patents ran out I guess. There is a huge aftermarket for them, billet con rod, billet fly wheel, billet piston, slide carb ect. My goal though is to leave it stock (at this point) to keep it as "dependable" as a Chinese engine can be. I think even stock, it will motivate this little booger along fast enough to be stupid for what it is lol I too had the "start" to a drift trike at one point. I gave up on that before I even started doing any fab work though lol
 
Re: Rupp Roadster. I think I'm to big for this

all i really need to finish my trike is tires and the pvc pieces to go over them and assemble the front wheel...just lost interest..lol
 
Re: Rupp Roadster. I think I'm to big for this

Signing on....I've got a son, and a second kid on the way. I think law dictates that I must build at least ONE for them, and several for me correct? This looks awesome. Great work so far!
 
Re: Rupp Roadster. I think I'm to big for this

Bruno, I'm pretty sure that it is a requirement =) if this thing actually gets completed, I'll send the flat cut files to ya. If you found a waterjet or laser shop, you would be a weld shop, a harbor freight engine and some wheels (more or less) away from a neat little ride haha.

I got the design finished up. I'm gonna have my water jet guy (dad) cut my first attempt out of 3/16" thick ply wood and just arc weld it together with wet dowel rods. Then I will make changes as necessary before committing to steel lol

I drew up the wheels to get a bit better idea of the finished look, and I think I can dig it. I am already guessing that this thing will be painful to ride, but it will look cool and that's all that matters in any bike (or at least that's what I heard from xb33bsa) lol

Wheels n parts drawn up
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All the "slots" between the speed holes are where my gussets will go. The way I have stuff tabbed, this thing should be largely self fixturing
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Here are what the gussets will look like that will space the frame halves apart
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And here is what it should look like more or less one welded and ground
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I left room for the stock gas tank, airbox and muffler, but eventually I will hopefully make all those things and get rid of the plastic stuff
 
Re: Rupp Roadster. I think I'm to big for this

Yep, have to build one if you have a kid. Tis law. If they are anything like me they will still have it at 24.

Good looking frame design. Are you going to stick a rear shock in there or just run hard tail?

Also, beware big engines in small bikes. Nothing to get the heart pumping like hitting a pot hole at 70mph with 8 inch tyres.

Sent from my ASUS_Z00AD using Tapatalk
 
Re: Rupp Roadster. I think I'm to big for this

Ha, no plans for a suspension at this point, just the jelly between the vertibrae in my back =)

I am hoping that my math is right and I end up with a max speed of around 40 mph with a 72 tooth rear sprocket. That will be plenty fast for this booger
 
Re: Rupp Roadster. I think I'm to big for this

hurco550 said:
Bruno, I'm pretty sure that it is a requirement =) if this thing actually gets completed, I'll send the flat cut files to ya. If you found a waterjet or laser shop, you would be a weld shop, a harbor freight engine and some wheels (more or less) away from a neat little ride haha.

Awesome. Maybe I'd even throw ya some paypal money for your efforts :) My dad knows a waterjet guy, I can weld fairly well now and there's a harbor freight 10 miles from me! Sounds like this will have to happen. Now I may have to sell a bike to fund the project...the second rule is one bike out = one bike in without any naysaying from the wife. (she rides so this rule works quite well)

I'm planning on a fleet for the kids though...so maybe the rule will change to 1 large bike out, 3 mini bikes in? We'll see ;)

I may modify mine with cheap chinese scooter suspension though...I feel old at 30 already...

Keep at it!
 
Re: Rupp Roadster. I think I'm to big for this

My dad got the wood mock up cut
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I started assembling the pieces and gluing them together
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Gotta love my "custom" brick wood clamps
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Kinda assembled
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I am glad I did it in wood, as I have a few changes to make, but they are minute. I an going to go a bit different on the rear end to make it a bit less bulky looking. All in all, I'm pretty happy with it
 
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