Rupp Minibikes - Page 2

Bagspacked · 11-26-2008, 06:30 AM

Don't have a picture right now, but still have my brothers 1971 Rupp Hustler. my first Rupp was similar to yours. Sure wish I still had that. I also have a '71 Honda Trail 70, a Steen 90, and a '77 honda XR 75. Hey I'm right up the road from you. I have 5 acres up here if you wanna go mini bikin in the spring!

Yellow Iron · 11-26-2008, 07:08 AM

Rupp is where I got my start

WOW seeing these pics brings back the good ol days

mullman · 11-26-2008, 10:30 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Yellow Iron

Rupp is where I got my start

WOW seeing these pics brings back the good ol days

+1

Mine was a rusty green color and it would fly.

I rode that until I got a Honda XR80, I was really cool then.

little_a_o · 11-26-2008, 04:02 PM

I think this was one, but I'm not sure. I am pretty sure it had a front fork suspension. It started with a pull, but I definitely remember adding the kick starter shortly after. Yes it was a Tecumseh, but I thought it was 5hp. Well anyway thats me sometime ago circa 1973 in the avatar.

I spent many hours dodging chuck holes at the Oxbow Campsite in Harvard NY -thats not to fer from the Troat capital of Roscoe NY

* SHAG * · 11-26-2008, 05:30 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Earthshake

Yep, don't remember the model. But it had a 5hp motor, a belt from the engine to swingarm pivot, and a chain from there on back. With a tight belt and light 12 year old it would wheelie...woohoo!!!!

My brother and I had a "Digger" with a jackshaft. I don't remember a belt

. I thought it had 2 chains.
We had a blast on the thing until the twatwaffle down the street got the 2 speed roadster.

It was a lot faster.

TAS · 11-26-2008, 08:11 PM

My first "bike" was a Rupp; I literally rode it to pieces. The gentleman who built the Rupp line lives in Stuart, FL., the next town over from where I live today. He is actually more popular here for his Rupp Outriggers than his mini-bikes. He still collects examples of his bikes and go carts and restores them in his shop for old times sake. Nice guy, very talented.

Edit: 5HP Tecumseh, pull start, centrifical cluth, front and rear suspension. I can't remember the model name.
My next bike was an Alsport Steen as well, it was powered by a 100cc Hodaka engine.

little_a_o · 11-27-2008, 07:05 AM

A stronger Centrifigal Clutch was another add-on I remember installing. If I remember correctly they may have claimed that it climbed Pikes Peak!

cogitate · 11-27-2008, 08:47 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by TAS

My first "bike" was a Rupp; I literally rode it to pieces. The gentleman who built the Rupp line lives in Stuart, FL., the next town over from where I live today. He is actually more popular here for his Rupp Outriggers than his mini-bikes. He still collects examples of his bikes and go carts and restores them in his shop for old times sake. Nice guy, very talented.

Edit: 5HP Tecumseh, pull start, centrifical cluth, front and rear suspension. I can't remember the model name.
My next bike was an Alsport Steen as well, it was powered by a 100cc Hodaka engine.

Very cool. It that one yours? Any pics of your Steen? I remember them being very high end for a mini, but what was I, ten at the time?

TAS · 11-27-2008, 10:08 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by motonomus

Very cool. It that one yours? Any pics of your Steen? I remember them being very high end for a mini, but what was I, ten at the time?

Not mine but the exact model and color. My Dad bought the Rupp for me when I was around 9. I loved that thing and rode it every day, rain or shine for 4 1/2 years.
The only photo I can find of an Alsport Steen is this old ad.

My Dad wasn't much for family photos but certainly made up for it with cool gifts! The Steen was bought as a surprize for Xmas; I nearly fainted. He bought it from one of his friends at work (his son had outgrown it). I kept the Steen well into my late 20's and passed it on to a friend whos son was ready for a bike that size. By then I was well into my KTM phase (1981 KTM 495 and a 1986 125MX). My street ride was a 1981 Honda XL600R. I was quite the kick starter back then.

The adventures I had on the Rupp and Alsport Steen are my most cherished childhood memories. On the weekends I would leave the house right after b'fast and not return until I needed gas. More often than not, pushing the bike with an empty tank. I would gas up and be off again. I would bring my scout knife and canteen and stop deep in the woods to sit a whittle, have a drink and just hang out; it was the greatest.

Have a great holiday,

TAS

Jim Z · 11-29-2008, 04:31 PM

Here are my Dad's rides from when he was a kid. That's a Bonanza with gas tank. Fuel gauge filler cap. The original Tecumseh died long ago, so it has a '90s model now. The bike is in mint condition, he has been anal about his stuff since he was 10. He still has the original engine with scrambler style exhaust - I have thought about rebuilding it as a present for him but haven't gotten around to it yet. It's got the weird 2 chain setup. He was the envy of the neighborhood until a couple guys got Honda Trail 70s.

haha notice the drag tire and drag T-handle brake on the blue bike. The flat profile makes for interesting cornering behavior. The blue bike originally came with a steering wheel and was called "The Wheel" he took that off and put those ape hangers on with sweet metallic blue grips.

Brtp4 · 02-08-2009, 10:20 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by TAS

My first "bike" was a Rupp; I literally rode it to pieces. The gentleman who built the Rupp line lives in Stuart, FL., the next town over from where I live today. He is actually more popular here for his Rupp Outriggers than his mini-bikes. He still collects examples of his bikes and go carts and restores them in his shop for old times sake. Nice guy, very talented.

Are you kidding? You live near Mick Rupp? Do you have his contact info? Can you arrange an interview with him or get photos of his stuff? It'd be a dream of mine to hear the guys tale. I am pretty sure that at least one of the magazines would publish a story on the guy.

Few people know how innovative Rupp was. I heard that they reached almost $40m in sales, which was quite a bit back then.

Drooling over Black Widows and Scramblers at the local Firestone led me to a life of motorcycles and a career in the industry. Holy smokes, I wanna interview the guy. Pls PM me about this if you can.

BP

One Eye Mike · 02-08-2009, 06:59 PM

My Father had a Rupp realership of sorts in Northern wisconsin in the late 60's /early 70's. I can't post photo's right now, but can show some snowmobile /mini bike photos once I set up my smug mug account.

Brtp4 · 02-08-2009, 07:28 PM

You can email them to me and I will post them.

BP

ColinDoyle · 02-08-2009, 07:51 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by BubbaZanetti

what's the point of minibikes

are they for short people?

They're for screwing around in your mile-long dirt driveway out in the country. Looks like you're from NYC - bummer, dude. You're missing out on fun minibike shenanigans.

LoFlow · 02-08-2009, 09:50 PM

I started out on a Rupp. Then my dad bought a Chris cycle, made in Italy. It had a 50cc (Zundapp I think) motor with a 3 speed and a rotating shift grip. Next was a Chris cycle 100cc, 4 speed Moto Beta motor. I remember hitting 65 mph indicated on that mini bike.

I didn't know how lucky I was in those days. Where I lived you could ride on country roads and hardly see anyone. If a Sheriff saw you he would just tell you to go home or even better yet to be careful. Now days you would be turned over to the child protection agency and your parents would be arrested for child endangerment.

Years ago I tried to find those Chris cycles because I knew the area they were sold in, but no luck. If one could only see the future. I would love to have those back as keep sakes.

11-27-2008, 07:05 AM	#22
little_a_o n00b Joined: Dec 2005 Oddometer: 9	A stronger Centrifigal Clutch was another add-on I remember installing. If I remember correctly they may have claimed that it climbed Pikes Peak! little_a_o screwed with this post 11-27-2008 at 07:44 AM

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11-26-2008, 06:30 AM	#16
Bagspacked Chasing the Sun... Joined: Feb 2006 Location: Hilltown,PA ETC... Oddometer: 91	Don't have a picture right now, but still have my brothers 1971 Rupp Hustler. my first Rupp was similar to yours. Sure wish I still had that. I also have a '71 Honda Trail 70, a Steen 90, and a '77 honda XR 75. Hey I'm right up the road from you. I have 5 acres up here if you wanna go mini bikin in the spring!

11-26-2008, 07:08 AM	#17
Yellow Iron Beastly Adventurer Joined: Feb 2008 Location: Mountain Corners North Jersey Oddometer: 2,453	Rupp is where I got my start WOW seeing these pics brings back the good ol days

11-26-2008, 04:02 PM	#19
little_a_o n00b Joined: Dec 2005 Oddometer: 9	I think this was one, but I'm not sure. I am pretty sure it had a front fork suspension. It started with a pull, but I definitely remember adding the kick starter shortly after. Yes it was a Tecumseh, but I thought it was 5hp. Well anyway thats me sometime ago circa 1973 in the avatar. I spent many hours dodging chuck holes at the Oxbow Campsite in Harvard NY -thats not to fer from the Troat capital of Roscoe NY

11-26-2008, 08:11 PM	#21
TAS Gnarly Adventurer Joined: Apr 2005 Location: Port Saint Lucie, FL Oddometer: 482	My first "bike" was a Rupp; I literally rode it to pieces. The gentleman who built the Rupp line lives in Stuart, FL., the next town over from where I live today. He is actually more popular here for his Rupp Outriggers than his mini-bikes. He still collects examples of his bikes and go carts and restores them in his shop for old times sake. Nice guy, very talented. Edit: 5HP Tecumseh, pull start, centrifical cluth, front and rear suspension. I can't remember the model name. My next bike was an Alsport Steen as well, it was powered by a 100cc Hodaka engine.

11-29-2008, 04:31 PM	#25
Jim Z Huge n00b Joined: Jan 2008 Location: Winona Lake Oddometer: 134	Here are my Dad's rides from when he was a kid. That's a Bonanza with gas tank. Fuel gauge filler cap. The original Tecumseh died long ago, so it has a '90s model now. The bike is in mint condition, he has been anal about his stuff since he was 10. He still has the original engine with scrambler style exhaust - I have thought about rebuilding it as a present for him but haven't gotten around to it yet. It's got the weird 2 chain setup. He was the envy of the neighborhood until a couple guys got Honda Trail 70s. haha notice the drag tire and drag T-handle brake on the blue bike. The flat profile makes for interesting cornering behavior. The blue bike originally came with a steering wheel and was called "The Wheel" he took that off and put those ape hangers on with sweet metallic blue grips.

02-08-2009, 06:59 PM	#27
One Eye Mike Studly Adventurer Joined: Feb 2007 Location: Anchorage, Alaska Oddometer: 653	My Father had a Rupp realership of sorts in Northern wisconsin in the late 60's /early 70's. I can't post photo's right now, but can show some snowmobile /mini bike photos once I set up my smug mug account.

02-08-2009, 07:28 PM	#28
Brtp4 Yea, its a friggin L Joined: Sep 2006 Location: Bend, OR Oddometer: 1,759	You can email them to me and I will post them. BP

02-08-2009, 09:50 PM	#30
LoFlow Studly Adventurer Joined: Feb 2005 Location: pnw Oddometer: 902	I started out on a Rupp. Then my dad bought a Chris cycle, made in Italy. It had a 50cc (Zundapp I think) motor with a 3 speed and a rotating shift grip. Next was a Chris cycle 100cc, 4 speed Moto Beta motor. I remember hitting 65 mph indicated on that mini bike. I didn't know how lucky I was in those days. Where I lived you could ride on country roads and hardly see anyone. If a Sheriff saw you he would just tell you to go home or even better yet to be careful. Now days you would be turned over to the child protection agency and your parents would be arrested for child endangerment. Years ago I tried to find those Chris cycles because I knew the area they were sold in, but no luck. If one could only see the future. I would love to have those back as keep sakes.