Cycle News - Archive Issues - 1960's

Concessionaire Nee"e" for Mini-Biie Pari By Gael Buchanan There are undeveloped park lands in Anaheim which could be used tor minibike riding areas it a concess1ooaire is tound 10 undertake the project. Rich Gagnebin, Assistant Recreation Supervisor tor the Anaheim Parks and Recreation Department, says he would like 10 see someone put the lands to good use while they stand waiting 10 be turned into parks. The sites are scheduled tor development within the next ten years. However, until that time, the areas could provide a place where people could ride· minibikes (and possibly bikes up to 100cc's) without getting a ticket. Also, safety would be stressed to keep injuries to a minimum. Signs, helmet requirements, and hopefully aid trom the city police are some precautions that would be taken. So tar, Gagnebin has only considered the owners ot Saddleback as prospects tor the job. He is still open to suggestions from anyone interested in leasing or paying a percent to the city to run a minibike park. He added that private parties investing in the land would get better liability rates than the city. The kind and quality ot course to be created would depend on what the concessionaire is willing and able to do. The open fields where kids now ride unsupervised, would probably be graded and marked with signs~ Whether a race would be established is up to the develoPer and the supPOrt he receives. Since the lands, in manY cases, are close to homes, riding hours causing the least possible disturbance to residents would be worked out. Another possibility toram1n1bikepark Is fifteen acres ot undeveloped land adjacent to Anaheim, away trom homes. However, Gagnegin said, the land is owned by the county. He teels that he would almost have to have someone present a plan that he could submit to the county before he could get anything going. As yet, he has made no contacts concerning th1s site. Rich Gagnebin would· appreclate a response trom anyone interested in developing a minibike park in either the city or county owned lands. He said he Is "looking tor someone who Is willing to give It a try and see what happens." HELMET FOR LITTLE PEOPLE Not just a padded-out adult size helmet shell, the Yoder Helmet is made espec1ally tor children. The fiberglass shell comes In .small, medium and large kids sizes. It Is a tull coverage style, designed tor maximum protection. Not a toy, It retails tor $24.95 in metaltlake colors and wh1te trom Sam Tanner Dist., 510 W. Anaheim St., Wilmington, CaUt. MINIBIKES AND THE ·PEPSI GENERATIONAccording to Industry reports a $38 mUllon market that is st1ll sky-rocketing bas bas appeared tor min1-bikes, those half-Size, half-cost motorcycles that can be ridden by almost anyone, almost anywhere, thus t1lllng a place between riding in two-ton cars or walking. With a sales growth of 2500% In 21 months, Bonanza Industries, Inc. San Jose, California, reports U.S. urn t sales figures already larger than for 8 out of 10 motor- Drawing tor starting numbers in the CaUt. Enduro Riders Assn. enduro will be held December 23 at the Family Hotbrau, 6161 Lincoln Ave. in Buena Park. Calif. The 100 mUe "easy type" enduro will be the first ot a series of tour progressively more ditt1cult enduros designed by C.E.R.A. to turn southern CaUtornia motorcycle enthusiasts on to th1s groovy torm of ott-road riding. Classes tor experienced, slightly experienced and brand new type riders are oftered and no spec1al equipment tor the motorcycle is required. Entries tor th1s first run of the series, wh1ch takes place near Barstow, Calif. Jan. 4 should be in to the CERA no later than Dec. 20. Post entries will be available tor $7. But it you send in $6 now, you'll be all signed uP and ready to w1n a starting number. Address entries to CERA, Box 2102, Cypress, Ca. 90630. first NEW fnlm Aragon! -groovy little pitbike :<: Co:) G ,"-psl·Cola dlscoYered a "bonanza" of contest response and Increased cola luzzllnl when the, ottered minibikes as premiums. CyCle brands. They expect to sell $10 mUllon in 1969. Other min1-bike manufacturers also report large sales increases. Bonanza mini-bikes were used in Pepsi-Cola premium tests where they roughly tripled the response expected trom premiums. In the words of Pepsi-Cola World, they "managed to send competition screaming down the road in sheer terror". It's too early to tell whether mini-bikes are a tad or t1ll a place In our way of life. Street use is discouraged by some manufacturers since mini-bikes are small and theretore not as easily seen as motorcycles. But tor beaches, backyardS, empty lots, fields, torest and mountain trails and almost anywhere elese they are a barrel of tun for kids and parents; they stow easUy in car trunks, boats, planes and tra1lers; and Industrial and construction superintendents tInd them handy. Although mini-bikes have been on· the market severaiyears it is hard to find ill; ones tor sale. Apparently mini-bike owners don't tire ot them. NEW HONDA MINI CARB ADAPTER £ Webco otters this newly developed manifold adapter tor the popular Honda z- 50 M1n1 Trail. It will accePt either the CT 90 or the CM-9l HoDda carburetor, adding power and torque to the "mtgbty midget". The conversion uses a standard throttle cable. Made trom castalumtnum, the kit comes with all1nstructions. Webco part number Is #1428 and reta1ls at any Webco parts dealer for $9.95. A companion Item tor the HoDda M1n1 Trail adapter is a new ..sox type" air cleaner made by FUtron to Webca's spec1t1cations. Its Webco part number is #1429 and reta1ls at $4.95. UWASAI' Headquarters BEACH CITIES CYCLES S2S N. EI Camino Real San Clemente, California C1(4) 492-&141 G., Ball.,'s New lIta_lck 6Sec bas b.tedup pelS ..d fork crown. Eyen a Glt Kit Is available! SNAP·R'NG PLIERS lIT $7.95 Includes Internal, external pile,., ••ets I ntllfcbanleable tips. Fits most rl_1 sizes. Send $I for catalol ~ Co:) You might have seen motocr08ser ...:J Gary Bll1ley piloting a nitty Uttle number U around the Inter-Am pits this season. It is a 50cc Yamaha-engined m1n1-traU called the .. Maverick" • In line with modern m1n1 design It Is basically a m1n1ature motorcycle, boasting swing-arm rear suspension, good telescopic torks (with damping) and a 3-speed gearbox. Although It Is tiny enough to fit in any car trunk, or bang trom divots on your 74, even 6-toot-6er Bailey bas no trouble riding it with the seat in Its lower posi·tion. In tact, Bailey generally keeps the tront wheel aloft wh1le making his roundS on his Maverick. The bike Is a good handling mini, without that too-quick steering that makes so many others of its breed twitchy as a mustang with Parkinson'S disease. We nagged it around the bumpy parking lot at Pepperell, Mass. and marvelled at its scrambler handling, Instant horsepower and sudden brakes. Controls are identical to motorcycle controls and very ~ to operate. It weighs under 1001bs. and you mix oU with the gas. Only problems we encountered were a broken ailoy tront brake lever, tor wh1ch we decline the blame, and the tootpeg bar is too soft to withstand our l851bs. crashing down at 30 mph. The tolding pegs bent down, applying the rear brake and we had to lever them back into position to continue. BaUey believes these problems will be corrected by the time you read this. So it you want a good pH bike, look into the Maverick. It sells tor only $279 and you can learn the name of your Dearest dealer by writing to Gary BaUey, 1858 Dlmondale, Compton, Calif. 90744. CERA ENDURO TO LURE NEW RIDERS MAVERICK See ,our du ler or write AralOll Dist. Co., Inc. 323 •. lIaple Aye., IIonroYla, Calif. 91016 (2U) 359-4597 se I DT - Lean 'way back, reach for those chromed riser handlebars, gef l/uIt feel 01 being in . . . . . . That's lIIe lIti_idlopper! e Once again Bonanza This time with chromed extended fork and with a "far out" look. has combined hot performance and handling riser handlebars. contoured seat, si.., bar. iridescent paint, big engine and a lonl wheelbase. _ Send 25' for brochure or $1 (refundable) for packet on entire line. _ Dept ~ 1775 S. first Street. San Jose, California 95112.

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