mini harlee

[Nahullo]

So, I’m roll’n through SC last weekend and my GF and I see a small bike that looks interesting. We've seen them before, but never stopped to get a closer look. The only thing she’s ridden on two wheels is a moped. She likes the size and says it’s more comfortable than the Kaw 250.

Has anyone looked at these as a started bike? Johnny (owner) said he could put a 250cc (instead of the 49cc) for an additional $500.

"Mini Harlee (by Johnny Pag) is powered by a 50cc single-cylinder four-stroke and sells for $2399. It has four speeds, a manual clutch, electric and kick starting, a warranty and all the necessary equipment (such as lighting, turn signals, mirrors and a horn) to make it fully street legal. It uses drum-type brakes on both the 17-inch front and 12-inch rear wheels, and carries just under two gallons for fuel in the shapely fuel tank. The 185-pound, 51-inch-wheelbase machine has seating for rider and passenger (with a small passenger backrest), can accommodate a combined weight of up to 350 pounds, and claims a top speed of 45 mph."

 

[Butch]

that is pretty cool. for the right person...

 

[Max Smiley]

I guess you could get away with toodling that bike around Santa Cruz streets if it's taller than the XR50. otherwise I'd be worried about getting run over. for $3k you can get a much better starter bike that would be highway legal.

 

[Nahullo]

I guess you could get away with toodling that bike around Santa Cruz streets if it's taller than the XR50. otherwise I'd be worried about getting run over. for $3k you can get a much better starter bike that would be highway legal.

Yeah, at 50cc it is a mini-bike, at 250cc it classifies as a motorcycle. I told her the Honda CMX 250 (Rebel) was about the same size (sans custom pain) and a couple of hundred more.

I doubt she will ever have a desire to ride a sport bike, but she likes mopeds (yep, a Vespa fan). Hey, its not what you ride - its that you ride.

 

[Stanley]

To me it seems kind of pricey, but I'm a used bike kind of guy.

My buddy recently sold his Kawasaki 454LTD for $800. It ran fine and had a similar "cruiser" look to it. It was a belt drive, not too much power for a beginner.
You already mentioned a Honda Rebel. For about twice the cash, you can get a brand new Honda Shadow ACE. I have another buddy who started riding on one of those. I had no idea what kind of bike it was. He told me it was a 750 over the phone and I thought, "oh no - bad choice for a first bike." As it turns out, it is a very low slung V Twin with beginner friendly power. It is a very easy bike to ride and as far as metric cruisers go, it looks pretty nice! Any *Japanese* bike is probably going to be a wee bit more reliable than a Vespa!


-edited by mod, please read the barf TOS.

 

[R6Elmo]

If the guy can really put in a 250cc motor and make the bike roughly the size of a full size motorcycle, then that would be a cool deal. it would then be freeway legal and i'm sure be able to pass 70mph or so.

Danny

 

[Sane_Man]

A Honda Rebel is $2995 MSRP which would be the same price as putting a 250cc engine in that bike, and you could probably get it a lot cheaper. Plus you can ride it on the highway and get a warrenty.

 

[notsofast]

And it's so cute, too!

My friend wants to get a cruiser. I at first tried to interest her in sport bikes but then all she had to say was, "I want a bike that the Fonz would ride." Oh. That's when we shifted the discussion away from the ex500s to the Rebels.

She really likes it. Now, to just get her to actually go to the MSF course...

Take care,
Catherine

 

[eddiemcrider]

You want a cool looking mini Harley check out www.ozbikeusa.com

 

[eddiemcrider]

Off topic... they make a kick ass mini race bike too! ...and no it is not a pocket bike. This bike has 12" wheels and needs to be shifted like a normal bike. A hopped up metrakit makes almost 30HP and weighs in the neigborhood of 120 lbs.