Good ole mini bikes, an evolution from the go cart, have been a form of recreation and fun for many decades now. Mini Bikes are a great way to put some additional fun and entertainment into those outdoor and camping vacations. Being relatively small and not very heavy, mini bikes are pretty easy to find a spot for to take along no matter where you may be heading. Adults and kids alike can have a lot of fun taking a spin on one of these classics.

Still today, these two wheeled wonders are doing their part to take outdoor recreation to the next level. Popular manufacturers of past like Rupp and Fox took advantage of this excitement in the 50′s, 60′s and even into the 70′s as these small machines were a huge craze to the masses. Manco still to this day makes various versions of this old time favorite. There are still plans available that one can purchase and use to make their own homemade frame. Even kits can still be found that one can build and assemble themselves which saves a few dollars on a minibike purchase. The original mini bike was a solid steel frame welded together, but as time went on they started adding springs in the forks and to the rear of the frame as shock absorbers, making it a much smoother to ride. Some of the latest versions do have shock absorbers just like motorcycles.

Originally they were powered mainly by four cycle Briggs & Stratton and Tecumseh engines. These were very popular choices of days past. Occasionally you might find a Kohler engine here or there. Today these old favorites are still in use along with some of the new manufacturers like, Honda, Suzuki and Kawasaki. Most of the original mini bikes were designed with a centrifugal clutch, chain and sprocket assemblies to drive them. As the newer two cycle engines came into the picture, these smaller cc engines were much like their counterpart, larger motorcycles. They included a gearbox and shift lever that changes ratios and gives a variety of ranges to use depending on the terrain or need of the driver.

The first brake systems were simply a steel pad that was mounted in front of the rear tire and actuated with a metal rod attached that was pushed by the drivers foot to make the steel pad rub on the tire creating friction to stop the bike. It then evolved to drum brakes that were located inside of a steel hub attached to the main drive sprocket on the rear tire. A cable was connected to an actuating lever of the brake shoes and usually ran up to the handle bars and hooked to a lever much like regular bikes use today. When the lever is squeezed by the driver on the handle bars, a cable pulls the brake actuator and applies the brake shoes to the drum. Finally instead of a brake drum system, a rotor was used and a caliper which holds disk brake pads. The pads squeeze the rotor when a lever on the handle bars is applied by the driver through a cable. Some of the more sophisticated and expensive mini bikes actually have hydraulically applied drum or disk brakes much like that on an automobile.

Mini bikes have withstood the test of time and still play a big part in creating excitement and fun for many families. It doesn’t matter if it’s summer or winter, the mini bike can give everyone something to do outside year around and have a real blast.

If you’re a minibike enthusiast or would simply like to find out more about mini bikes, where to buy them, purchase parts or kits etc, simply go to the “Mini Bike Site”: =>http://recreation.cash2burn.com/minibike.html

Paul has been on the internet for a few years now and likes to share his stories and information on different topics that he enjoys. If you like, you can visit his main website at: http://www.cash2burn.com

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Many expensive branded things turn out to be disappointing. When it comes to high-risk recreational vehicles like mountain bikes, falling short of expectations may not only be “disappointing,” but possibly even life-threatening! Thankfully, consumers help each other decide which brands are good and which are not and avoid fatal pitfalls, by placing certain labels higher than others in terms of purchase priority. Giant mountain bikes sell a lot, and are considered top of the line. Are they worth the hype?

Well, if the many satisfied online reviewers are to be believed, they certainly are. There are currently hundreds of reviews for Giant mountain bikes on the popular bike review site, MTB Review (Mtbr.com). The Giant NRS line, in particular, has merited the “Freeride Choice Award,” after getting close to a perfect 5 rating from an adequate number of reviewers. Talk about satisfying its costumers! Giant models are built to please, and they deliver.

Giant has developed models for different body sizes, so that women and kids may not feel excluded from its clientele. Another big thing (pun intended) about the Giant bike is that it places priority on manageable weight and speed. Ironically, given the brand name, a lot of the top-rated Giant bikes are lightweight and aerodynamic – all but streamlined to fly. The Giant NRS 2, for example, is considered light for a full-suspension machine. The slight weight difference between this model and its competitors makes all the difference for racing cyclists with a discriminating eye, and a drive to win.

Not to be pigeonholed, however, Giant is also recently branching out into making notable “muscle” bikes. The Trance line of bikes, fortified with the new “Maestro” rear suspension, is taking the place of the VT line. Before the Trance line came into the fore, the VT line received considerable praise from many users. Like the NRS, it received the “Freeride Choice Award.” Some users may complain of excessive weight, but compared to the other features, it may prove to be an excellent deal. We have yet to hear from other Trance users on this.

Price may be a problem for the bargain hunter, but with brand names like Trek, Intense, Ellsworth and yes, the Giant, you get what you pay for – which is quality. You can surf the Web and see for yourself that various Giant mountain bikes are highly rated by a great many users, and for good reason.

About the Author

Mt-bikes.com provides you with info on Mountain bikes, giant mountain bikes and much more, come take a look at http://www.mt-bikes.com/
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