bludshifta
09-11-2013, 11:43 AM
Last one didn’t post so here goes again.
I’m a British expat, grew up in rural England, 10 miles to the nearest town. We had miles of mountains, fields and moor land to ride on as kids and me and my brothers first bike was an ATC 110 84’ or 85’. We rode it everynight after school, had many minor accidents, tips and a whole bunch of fun. The old red Honda was so dependable and the only thing that ever broke on it was the starter which my dad fixed up.
Fast forward 15 years and I’m no living here in beautiful Texas with my Texan wife. I’ve taken up hunting and needed something to get around the 1sq mile deer lease on. My budget was small ($500) – So I checked craigslist, looked at one of those crappy Tao Tao Chinese ATV’s and consigned myself to saving up atleast $1500 for a very used ATV. Then as fate would have it this little blue monster popped up on my local CL. At $300 it was bang in my price range, it instantly evoked very fond memories of my childhood and I had to have it. So, within 2 hours I’d made the 35 minute drive, and stumped up the cash. I've no idea if i got a good deal or a bad deal but $300 for a running machine seemed like peanuts to me!
So here she is!
http://i1336.photobucket.com/albums/o659/greygooser/IMG_3237_zps0bdcbc4d.jpg (http://s1336.photobucket.com/user/greygooser/media/IMG_3237_zps0bdcbc4d.jpg.html)
http://i1336.photobucket.com/albums/o659/greygooser/IMG_3233_zps89894ee1.jpg (http://s1336.photobucket.com/user/greygooser/media/IMG_3233_zps89894ee1.jpg.html)
I’m no mechanic so my pre purchase check involved checking for any serious corrosion and then seeing it run. It started first time and has started first time every time since yesterday and seems to idle relatively well. The oil will be changed tonight for some Rotella or Valvoline motorcycle oil.
So the engine appears to be ok. Unfortunately, it’s got a couple of cosmetic issues which are somewhat fundamental to my needs.
Plastics
As you can see the right rear fender is shot. This is an issue for me, riding too and from the stand in the dead of winter could get me very wet/muddy indeed and therefor cold. Aside from stumping up $140-$200 for an entire new fender, has anyone got any suggestions on a semi permanent fix. It doesn’t need to look good right now, just get me through the winter.
Rack
I’d love to be able to haul a bag of corn or two without having to sit on it. My research tells me that a rack on these was originally optional, though not that common. I’ve had a really good look around and can’t find much at all. I’d probably spend up to $100 on sorting a back rack out as it would be really useful. Has anyone got any suggestions at all on what I could look into? Are there other model racks that would fit? 3rd party new racks?
So, I already love this little thing and at the end of this deer season I might just haul it home and give it a serious overhaul (this site is inspiring!). Until then I need some help getting it through this season.
Any help would be really appreciated! Thanks.
http://i1336.photobucket.com/albums/o659/greygooser/IMG_3232_zps533b2e29.jpg (http://s1336.photobucket.com/user/greygooser/media/IMG_3232_zps533b2e29.jpg.html)
http://i1336.photobucket.com/albums/o659/greygooser/IMG_3234_zps127fd8de.jpg (http://s1336.photobucket.com/user/greygooser/media/IMG_3234_zps127fd8de.jpg.html)
http://i1336.photobucket.com/albums/o659/greygooser/IMG_3228_zps1b192158.jpg (http://s1336.photobucket.com/user/greygooser/media/IMG_3228_zps1b192158.jpg.html)
http://i1336.photobucket.com/albums/o659/greygooser/IMG_3235_zpsca956231.jpg (http://s1336.photobucket.com/user/greygooser/media/IMG_3235_zpsca956231.jpg.html)
http://i1336.photobucket.com/albums/o659/greygooser/IMG_3229_zps7ac17cf9.jpg (http://s1336.photobucket.com/user/greygooser/media/IMG_3229_zps7ac17cf9.jpg.html)
I’m a British expat, grew up in rural England, 10 miles to the nearest town. We had miles of mountains, fields and moor land to ride on as kids and me and my brothers first bike was an ATC 110 84’ or 85’. We rode it everynight after school, had many minor accidents, tips and a whole bunch of fun. The old red Honda was so dependable and the only thing that ever broke on it was the starter which my dad fixed up.
Fast forward 15 years and I’m no living here in beautiful Texas with my Texan wife. I’ve taken up hunting and needed something to get around the 1sq mile deer lease on. My budget was small ($500) – So I checked craigslist, looked at one of those crappy Tao Tao Chinese ATV’s and consigned myself to saving up atleast $1500 for a very used ATV. Then as fate would have it this little blue monster popped up on my local CL. At $300 it was bang in my price range, it instantly evoked very fond memories of my childhood and I had to have it. So, within 2 hours I’d made the 35 minute drive, and stumped up the cash. I've no idea if i got a good deal or a bad deal but $300 for a running machine seemed like peanuts to me!
So here she is!
http://i1336.photobucket.com/albums/o659/greygooser/IMG_3237_zps0bdcbc4d.jpg (http://s1336.photobucket.com/user/greygooser/media/IMG_3237_zps0bdcbc4d.jpg.html)
http://i1336.photobucket.com/albums/o659/greygooser/IMG_3233_zps89894ee1.jpg (http://s1336.photobucket.com/user/greygooser/media/IMG_3233_zps89894ee1.jpg.html)
I’m no mechanic so my pre purchase check involved checking for any serious corrosion and then seeing it run. It started first time and has started first time every time since yesterday and seems to idle relatively well. The oil will be changed tonight for some Rotella or Valvoline motorcycle oil.
So the engine appears to be ok. Unfortunately, it’s got a couple of cosmetic issues which are somewhat fundamental to my needs.
Plastics
As you can see the right rear fender is shot. This is an issue for me, riding too and from the stand in the dead of winter could get me very wet/muddy indeed and therefor cold. Aside from stumping up $140-$200 for an entire new fender, has anyone got any suggestions on a semi permanent fix. It doesn’t need to look good right now, just get me through the winter.
Rack
I’d love to be able to haul a bag of corn or two without having to sit on it. My research tells me that a rack on these was originally optional, though not that common. I’ve had a really good look around and can’t find much at all. I’d probably spend up to $100 on sorting a back rack out as it would be really useful. Has anyone got any suggestions at all on what I could look into? Are there other model racks that would fit? 3rd party new racks?
So, I already love this little thing and at the end of this deer season I might just haul it home and give it a serious overhaul (this site is inspiring!). Until then I need some help getting it through this season.
Any help would be really appreciated! Thanks.
http://i1336.photobucket.com/albums/o659/greygooser/IMG_3232_zps533b2e29.jpg (http://s1336.photobucket.com/user/greygooser/media/IMG_3232_zps533b2e29.jpg.html)
http://i1336.photobucket.com/albums/o659/greygooser/IMG_3234_zps127fd8de.jpg (http://s1336.photobucket.com/user/greygooser/media/IMG_3234_zps127fd8de.jpg.html)
http://i1336.photobucket.com/albums/o659/greygooser/IMG_3228_zps1b192158.jpg (http://s1336.photobucket.com/user/greygooser/media/IMG_3228_zps1b192158.jpg.html)
http://i1336.photobucket.com/albums/o659/greygooser/IMG_3235_zpsca956231.jpg (http://s1336.photobucket.com/user/greygooser/media/IMG_3235_zpsca956231.jpg.html)
http://i1336.photobucket.com/albums/o659/greygooser/IMG_3229_zps7ac17cf9.jpg (http://s1336.photobucket.com/user/greygooser/media/IMG_3229_zps7ac17cf9.jpg.html)