New vintage mini projects: '71 Bombardier + '71 Fox

[typeone]

a few winter projects just landed ... will post more info later but quick snaps after unloading. haven't had a vintage mini around in a long time and i've been jonesin'. there is a bunch of great history with both of these bikes (personal as well), pumped to get them back into service with my boys. super-super clean examples that just need some love (hopefully).

i'll get some better pics after cleaning them up over the weekend.

1971 Bombardier Bantam (designed/manufactured by Agrati-Garelli of Italy), 4 speed gearbox



~1971 Fox AM Scrambler with 5HP Tecumseh and (i hope) an original Comet torque converter

[csmutty]

That bombardier is sick! So unique! Everything from the pipe to the shape of the seat. Soooo wild!

[01xj]

The bombardier looks like someone made a bike out parts that were leftover from 10 different bikes

[csmutty]

The bombardier looks like someone made a bike out parts that were leftover from 10 different bikes

Kind of, but I think it looks a little too methodical in it's mayhem!

[JettaJayGLS]

So sweet!!!!

[typeone]

The bombardier looks like someone made a bike out parts that were leftover from 10 different bikes

you're kinda right! still reading history but the orig Bombardier mini was made from a bunch of random Garelli moped and scooter parts. they built it, sent a few over to the Americans to romp and then provide feedback. coming from the moped and scooter bins, the motor, clutches and various parts didn't have the power, drive or durability Bombardier was looking for so they kept refining. they were competing against Rupp at the time who was doing something similar with various parts chucked together to make a fun bike every kid wanted. always bums me out that families don't enjoy mini bikes like the old days.

you can see i have the Bantam Cross model below. i’ll find a Garelli Broncco ad as well which i think was the same bike in Italy.

[RandyO]

small bikes are a hoot, my K-Pipe is nearly identical size as the Junior Cross, be careful with more powerful motors, I went from 8hp to 17hp with my 65cc bump but can't use it all due to the spaghetti frame

[RandyO]

That bombardier is sick! So unique! Everything from the pipe to the shape of the seat. Soooo wild!

USD fork in 1971

[mikeb]

Love to get ahold a project like this.

[dontpanic]

Love to get ahold a project like this.

As if on cue....

https://www.facebook.com/marketplace...0404287231099/

[typeone]

small bikes are a hoot, my K-Pipe is nearly identical size as the Junior Cross, be careful with more powerful motors, I went from 8hp to 17hp with my 65cc bump but can't use it all due to the spaghetti frame

yes, minis are stupid fun, especially the old skool ones. hear you on being careful with power, not only HP but with governors removed + OEM flywheels you can create a not so great day for your crotch at full tilt

here's a few minis i built a while back that you may remember. i miss the Lil Indian so much. friend of mine bought it, should see if he still has it.

http://www.nestreetriders.com/forum/...ml#post1423106

[typeone]

update after a few hours inspecting the bikes. no pics, maybe tomorrow, we were rushing at dusk.

unfortunately, the Bombardier is seized solid so we'll need to dig into that. i bet someone ran it without premix not knowing it was a 2T. blah. the good thing is the bike is extremely clean throughout. we'll tear into the motor but for now we popped the plug and soaked piston/cyl with some PB overnight. if no movement, we'll keep soaking throughout the week. outside of that, it needs a seat cover, found one for ~$70, but i'll prob try a different shaped seat, more normal, and some different bars and grips. the seat mounts real basic so should be an easy swap. also think the wheels would look rad blacked out.

for the Fox, we had a classic introduction...

biggest bummer to find so far is how rusty the tank is inside, the cap was seized on so i didn't take a look last night but we got that freed pretty easy. i'll pop the tank off and throw some washers and small nuts in, give it a swirl and see how it looks. seems real solid otherwise so fingers x'd i can just clean it a little then figure out a proper restore or coat the inside like my '80 Champ scooter.

i tried the pull start when i brought it home yesterday so i knew it wasn't frozen or crunchy and it had oil in it. tonight we shot a little starter fluid in the intake and gave it a pull, fired instantly and sounded great, cool ... someone had previously worked on hooking up the throttle, the cable was frozen but we lubed that and got it working smooth. i haven't rigged up a moto throttle to a snowblower-type motor in a while so i'm looking over the brackets and linkage, just seemed like they didn't finish the cable to carb and spring to hold the throttle plate shut.

it got pretty cold in the garage so my son went in but i was determined to ride this thing. got it all linked up, shot some more starter fluid and gave it a yank ... bike goes WFO and i whiskey it right into my wifes car. bwahahaa! THE classic whiskey, i couldn't turn the throttle back. man i have funny stories of doing the same thing as a kid. shitting my pants frantically using some Novus on the wifes bumper to get the scuffs out and she's at the window of the garage coming out to hit Walgreens.

sooooo, whoever was rigging up that throttle was on a path to backwardsville and i was the dumbfuk to come along and finish the job rushing in the dark. hilarious.

now i'm pumped to rework it tomorrow and RIDE. i think it's gonna haul. the orig owner of this bike, not the previous, has some very fast Fox minis for ice racing. which is what this bike was supposed to become. gearing must be perfect and the torque converter hooked right up. belt looks good, too.

[typeone]

That bombardier is sick! So unique! Everything from the pipe to the shape of the seat. Soooo wild!

it totally is. so odd in places, like what's with the tank slant ?? the motor is gorgeous, so classic looking. i'll take some closeups after cleaning.

i think with a flat, ribbed seat, lower bars, and the tail light hacked off or toned down, it will look pretty sweet.

btw, lefty kicker + rear brake, right side shift.

[RandyO]

fwiw, https://www.facebook.com/otomracing has a lot of stuff for pit bikes and such, thru their Aliexpress store https://www.aliexpress.com/store/1101383551

that is where I found my steering damper

[xrocket21]

my vote for worst thread title of the year

Awesome projects! Keep the pics coming!

[breakdirt916]

this is gonna be awesome!!!

totally missed it via thread title

[xrocket21]

this is gonna be awesome!!!

totally missed it via thread title

#metoo

[typeone]

haven't had time to physical-phyddle, as they say, but me fingers be orderin' some loot from the digital undergrounds aimed at deFox ... Bantam still seized solid, Marvel going in the hole next. more pics over wknd.

[typeone]

uhhh, i might not be chopping anything on the Bantam.. .

https://www.ebay.com/itm/224359778916

[FriskyDingo]

Call up Wayne at chasing classic cars, maybe you can get on an episode, cover them with dust & a tarp

[typeone]

spent some time with the Fox over the weekend, no ride yet.

- re-angled and snugged up the exhaust pipe, it's just a screw-in at the moment. will get a proper header
- dismantled the carb, intake, and various throttle brackets



- removed the tank and shook some small nuts and bolts to remove the chunky rust
- did this a few times along with swishing with some gas in it
- freed up the frozen petcock



- took the carb apart, inspected and cleaned. it's pretty banged up and corroded
- ordered a new cab after the main seal expanded during second cleaning, it's all cracked dry rubber, couldn't get fuel to flow into the bowl



- fresh fuel line and filter
- fresh air filter
- came up with a pretty decent throttle linkage setup shown below in mockup form
- small spring connected to the filter housing for more force closing throttle shut. there is a small spring in carb but with a moto throttle more force has a better feel
- choke is shown interfering when engaged but the new carb will have a taller arm, no interference



- opposite side with new throttle cable run on the left, was on right, to a bracket off the case
- i'll pretty up the bracket a bit with some paint, etc but functions great
- i am not using the governor, you can see arm to the lower left. may or may not split motor to fully remove but will add a tach to keep RPM in check
- you can see screw-in header, i'll be going with a Torque Tube form Robertsons



- new throttle and grips, i hate the old school fat minibike grips, prefer standard moto style like these
- bars are super narrow, i'll prob move to universal clamps and pitbike bars in black



- current left side shot



- current right side shot
- fixed the extra droopy pull-start cord so that retracts better
- new plug thrown in as well



the motor sounds great when it runs for a sec off starter fluid, should run smooth once i get the new carb on

[typeone]

minor progress on the Fox ...

new carb worked perfect BUT, i did two laps of the hood, big smiles, then the bike shut down. couldn't get it fired again, bummed me out. wasn't sure if it was rust clogging fuel flow or i just ran out of gas, couldn't see fuel flowing and tank seemed pretty dry. neighbor fueled me up but wouldn't start so he towed me home behind his quad.

while checking everything over i couldn't figure it out. tried for vent issues by removing gas cap but no dice ... friend of mine mentioned venting again so i decided to drill a hole in the gas cap. FIRE. the old shitty cardboard gasket and crap cap was choking off flow. easy fix but took me a while. not sure why cap off didn't work. no biggie now, fueling is great.

the tank is in bad shape though, leaks real bad from multiple spots. enough so that the vapors were entering the house through my den wall from the constant leak into the log i have it leaned on. so potent. drained fuel and took it off for now.

the intake spacers i bought don't fit right, i'll need to modify but hoping i can ditch the wrong intake and tweak the spacer so it's more compact overall. this will require new throttle linkage setup though, not sure how i'll solve that yet.

parts list on order, can't wait to continue the build:

- mini Sportster tank
- ProTaper raw metal bars
- silver bar mounts to match forks
- tan grips
- tan cafe racer seat
- fatter tires
- new tubes
+ need to order a new clutch belt, it's looking real dry but hooks up solid

[OreoGaborio]

not sure why cap off didn't work

Slow flow into the carb & just didn't wait long enough?

I can't imagine those things drink much... probably doesn't need a ton of flow to keep the carb filled up.

[xrocket21]

Lovin it

[typeone]

Slow flow into the carb & just didn't wait long enough?

I can't imagine those things drink much... probably doesn't need a ton of flow to keep the carb filled up.

yeah, not sure, everything is so old and crusty just have to keep cleaning/replacing as needed.

Lovin it

thnx, man!