Ran into the local Tractor Supply store here in Galax, VA looking for snow boots for my daughters (and another snow shovel for the driveway). While there we noticed the little yellow Baja Dirt Bug mini bikes on display. They were on sale for $255 each and I mentioned to my wife we should buy a couple so we could ride them around our property and have a little fun with the minibikes and the kids. I had a mini bike when I was a kid (I think it was a Fox, but I'm not sure), and my wife said she had a Honda Trail 50. Anyhow, there were so many people there due to a snow storm we were having at the time (16 inches, unusual for southwestern Virginia at this time of year) we past on the mini bike idea and left.
Christmas Eve day my wife and I drove over the the Tractor supply store and bought the only Baja Dirt Bike they had left. It was already assembled, so I checked the oil, added gas and hauled it over to a large parking lot near our home (there was still about a foot of snow in our yard, so we had to find a place to try out the minibike.
Well, it didn't take too long to figure out that this little minibike wasn't anything like the ones from back in my youth (early-to-mid 70s). It was (as all you other Baja Doodle Bug owners know) pretty disappointing in the speed and climbing department. It was okay (not really though) with our 12 year old daughter riding it, but still pretty weak. And yes, we had noticed the 150 lbs limit before we bought it.
After some internet research, I learned how to back-off the screw to allow more speed (Haven't really noticed that much of an improvement), and through this website I learned of the jackshaft conversion and have ordered one (I guess I'm on the waiting list), and plan on drilling out the muffler.
At the Tractor Supply store, I also noticed they had the larger Baja Heat Mini Bike (6.5 hp). What's the story on these mini bikes? My wife and I would like to ride along with our daughters (taking turns, of course). I'm 6 ft 2 in and around 198 lbs, my wife is shorter (5 ft 6 in and who knows how much she weighs, but she's over the 150 lbs weight limit for the Dirt Bug for dang sure).
Would the Baja Heat Mini Bike hold up to my size and weight, or would there have to be extensive modifications made like the Dirt Bug?
Thanks for any advice!
Jimmy S.
Christmas Eve day my wife and I drove over the the Tractor supply store and bought the only Baja Dirt Bike they had left. It was already assembled, so I checked the oil, added gas and hauled it over to a large parking lot near our home (there was still about a foot of snow in our yard, so we had to find a place to try out the minibike.
Well, it didn't take too long to figure out that this little minibike wasn't anything like the ones from back in my youth (early-to-mid 70s). It was (as all you other Baja Doodle Bug owners know) pretty disappointing in the speed and climbing department. It was okay (not really though) with our 12 year old daughter riding it, but still pretty weak. And yes, we had noticed the 150 lbs limit before we bought it.
After some internet research, I learned how to back-off the screw to allow more speed (Haven't really noticed that much of an improvement), and through this website I learned of the jackshaft conversion and have ordered one (I guess I'm on the waiting list), and plan on drilling out the muffler.
At the Tractor Supply store, I also noticed they had the larger Baja Heat Mini Bike (6.5 hp). What's the story on these mini bikes? My wife and I would like to ride along with our daughters (taking turns, of course). I'm 6 ft 2 in and around 198 lbs, my wife is shorter (5 ft 6 in and who knows how much she weighs, but she's over the 150 lbs weight limit for the Dirt Bug for dang sure).
Would the Baja Heat Mini Bike hold up to my size and weight, or would there have to be extensive modifications made like the Dirt Bug?
Thanks for any advice!
Jimmy S.
.
