For those who were too small or too young to grip
the handles of a motorcycle, minibikes were a
suitable alternative. Minibikes were about 4 feet tall,
weighed as little as 65 pounds, and had wheels about
10 inches in diameter. With a frame like that, they
didn't go very fast - but no one seemed to care.
As
minibikes progressed, they soon came available with
engines, brakes, suspension and headlights. They became
more popular for off-roading than to race. Minibikes
managed well in rough terrain and were not damaged with
a fall.
Because
of the small size of the bikes and the young age of
the drivers, minibikes were outlawed on main roads.
Children began seriously injuring themselves by driving
on streets where cars could not see them. By 1973, with
the law was much stricter with minibikes and with the
first generation of enthusiasts graduating to real motorcycles,
minibikes purchases slowly started to fade.  |