Lovingly restoring the worst bike I've ever ridden.

[oldxr]

If you know somebody that runs an automotive machine shop that has a hot tank for cleaning engine blocks you could get the frames dipped.That will strip them to bare metal.Those engines look like old yamaha or kawi dual sport motors from the early 1970's.If you wanted a real death machine you could try to find an old air cooled honda cr125 elsinore engine-i had 1 and that bike was fast.I like 2 strokes-looking for an old kawi 500cc triple.

[vander]

Afghan police bike



Your Range Rover is übercool!

[vander]

Originally Posted by oldxr

If you know somebody that runs an automotive machine shop that has a hot tank for cleaning engine blocks you could get the frames dipped.That will strip them to bare metal.Those engines look like old yamaha or kawi dual sport motors from the early 1970's.If you wanted a real death machine you could try to find an old air cooled honda cr125 elsinore engine-i had 1 and that bike was fast.I like 2 strokes-looking for an old kawi 500cc triple.

The problem with Minsks is the frame is like Flubber and the brakes are non-existant.

[YZman]

Originally Posted by oldxr

If you know somebody that runs an automotive machine shop that has a hot tank for cleaning engine blocks you could get the frames dipped.That will strip them to bare metal.

Are you crazy!!! The paint is probably the only thing holding those frames together

[Mullet5]

I totally agree with the two previous posts! I have a sneaking suspicion that the frames are cast solder.
Having a hell of a time getting restarted on this! I came down with the flu, I am out of the house now for the first time in 4 days. Hopefully this week Derek will have some time. We have talked on the phone quite a bit about what we will do next.

The problem with Minsks is the frame is like Flubber and the brakes are non-existant.

you have obviously ridden one of these before. This is insider shit, man.

I love the Afghan Police bike! The seat is upholstered with the finest imported truck inner tube, but instead of french stitching that has become so cliche on modern luxury transportation, they just tied it on with some rope. Refreshing. And the Police sticker that looks as if they just pull it off of one Minsk when it craps out and slap it onto the next one. I think I will need one of these when I am done with the three I have.

[Hughlysses]

Originally Posted by Mullet5

I have a sneaking suspicion that the frames are cast solder.

I believe the marketing paperwork says "cast from the finest Chinese zinc alloy".

[vander]

Originally Posted by Mullet5

you have obviously ridden one of these before. This is insider shit, man.

I loved my Minsk. Sexy red soviet bike.
Mine had longer shocks, higher seat and the traditional non-working tail-light.
I paid 6 or 7.000.000 dongs for her.

She stayed there and is now probably painted in that shity mate-black color with the red star with which they now paint most of the rental Minsks over there.

I sent the saddles home with the riding gear inside when I was done with the MC part of the trip. They work very nice in my Tenere.

http://i1097.photobucket.com/albums/...1/P1120667.jpg
http://i1097.photobucket.com/albums/...1/P1120723.jpg
http://i1097.photobucket.com/albums/...1/P1120765.jpg



Great effort you are doing. I would gladly have the Minsk here, but I fear they are impossible to register in the EU.

[bk brkr baker]

Since the frame seems to be such a problem , let me suggest a solution. Feel free to disreguard this if nesessary as it will not be original anymore.
Ask the esteemed inmate JJ to build a replica Minsk frame from Stainless Steel as he recently did for a HD powered bike he built for a TV program.
He'll likely jump to the challange since he got no respect for the HD powered bike, losing a challange by some NOOYawker who's bike smoked uncontrolably.
Best of luck with your endevour !

[ric678]

Originally Posted by bk brkr baker

Since the frame seems to be such a problem , let me suggest a solution. Feel free to disreguard this if nesessary as it will not be original anymore.
Ask the esteemed inmate JJ to build a replica Minsk frame from Stainless Steel as he recently did for a HD powered bike he built for a TV program.
He'll likely jump to the challange since he got no respect for the HD powered bike, losing a challange by some NOOYawker who's bike smoked uncontrolably.
Best of luck with your endevour !

only if he can replicate the gobs of weld and random nuts tacked on..

[oldbutspry]

Wow. Just found this thread. I've ridden my brother-in-laws Minsk a number of times on visits to Russia. It's a fun little bike and works fine. The front end on the one I ride has about an inch of play. No joke - it just flops around. But it stills drives fine, even with 2 people over rather rough terrain. I know it sounds impossible but heck, the thing only goes about 40 or 45.

[Hughlysses]

Alright Mullet, it's the new year, and you've got at least $20 to burn on restoring that Minsk. How about a progress update?

[Mullet5]

I was supposed to start on it last night, but I had a family dinner that didn't end until almost 11, so that didn't work out. I am determined to put in some time on it this week.


Look, I have proof that I am preparing to work on it!

[Mullet5]

And just in case you are wondering, I bought the Minsk Rebuilding Fluid with my own money, not donation money. Though I did think about it.

[Mr. Fixit]

" Hey Comrade, hold my Tejava and watch this!"

It doesn't get much better than this.

[Hughlysses]

Alright Mullet, we need some new photos of Minsk part restoration, baking soda blasting operations, or Minsk rebuilding fluid soon!