Mini Bike Mania

For kids, this time of year used to mean dreaming of a Mini Bike for Christmas.

In 1969, I wanted and got a Taco for Xmas but, I had to pay for most of it. It was a 44 like the one in the upper right.

The traditional Mini Bikes of the sixties and early seventies were the original outlaw machines that got a lot of us started on bikes and as gearheads.

Vava-voom! What adolescent male wouldn't get revved up? Former playmate of the year June Cochran (1963), on a Rupp. Later, June joined Linda Vaughn as one of the Hurstettes. June died May 21, 2004. Getting old sucks!

I only like lawnmower engine powered small wheeled minis, not mini motorcycles. I also don't care for most of today's mini choppers. Most are too big, ugly and stupid.

Damn. I use to have this and a few other Mini Bike Guides


Choppers, Trikes, and Minis were big then. What kid in the 60-70's wouldn't go ape for this rig? I did.

I still love'm. Recently, I've collected several Tacos and a couple others that need to be restored.

I'll post more mini bike stuff later.

Space Bikers

I hear there's a strict helmet law on the moon.

Nasa experimented with the idea of using this mini bike on the moon instead of the Lunar Rover. This photo was taken aboard the "Vomit Comet". That's the nickname for the KC-135 aircraft that simulates zero gravity by flying in a roller coaster like manner. Somehow they were also able to simulate the 1/6 earth gravity of the moon. It appears he's jumping a small ramp.

Too bad this never progressed beyond the experimental stage. Imagine how cool it would have been to be the first bikers jamming on the moon.