Mini Bike History and the 1967 TACO44

A little early Mini Bike History and a all original TACO44

[@davekat4680]

…..just popped up in my feed 😊 … oh the memories. 10 year old video made me smile on 8/5/2023 🙌🏼

[@minibikeaction4266]

Hi there, great vid. I too had a 44 back in the early 70s at around 11 or 12. I got it in peaces and soon had it running. Upgrading to a 5hp Briggs (from a rototiller that had hardly been used) that thing would do power wheelies and at times would leave a series of chirps on take off. I have many fond memorys on that one and It and earlier mini bikes started a life time of building ,riding and modifying motorcycles. Thanks for binging mini bikes to UA-cam.

[@johnoliver7134]

I got one when I was 12 for Xmas. We took it camping, and it out performed the Honda 50cc trail bikes I saw.
I sold it to a guy, 40 years later for more than the original price of $175.

[@moto238]

I had a TACO44 like this one.When I was 11 yrs old I put a small deposit down on it and my parents suprised me with it on Christmas morning! I felt the same about that bike as I do now with my Harleys and drove the hell out of it. I sure wish they were still around to witness my everlasting love for bikes!! I thought TACO mini-bikes were extinct by now.
This video really brings back memories and thankyou for sharing the knowledge,,,CHEERS!

[@twoweeledsoto6072]

+jeff brown Lucky you, to have parents like that. I had one too. Took quite a bit to get one. Those from forks, didn't do crap. the Tacos looked good then, and they still look good with that purple color.

[@twoweeledsoto6072]

A friend of mine who's father was a dentist, also received a Taco 22. I think it was the one that started it all in our school. They used to ride them back in forth on grass, right behind our school. Lucky kids!

[@moto238]

My friends father was also a dentist so Larry got a Benelli! We also rode our mini's behind our school. I once got an ovation from practicing football team for flipping my Taco 44 over a shop class ramp. I had scars on my knees for years from coming off that damn little bike so often.

[@twoweeledsoto6072]

Wow, what a coinki dinki. My friends name was David Carnow. Spelling could be off. He had a 22. Brand new! I remember the Benelli's also. Looked like a real motorcycle. Had a big engine in it too, I think.

[@herbiesnerd]

Xmas 1969, 6th Grade. I got a Honda Mini Trail 50 and my buddy got a Taco 44. The purple was epic.

[@douglasnicholson2934]

Enjoyed my mini bike, great fun.
Had a Bonaza. Some kids had mini bikes with Jack shaft. Your expo is great about Taco! Remember seeing a popular store having the front isle lined up with mini bikes.
Please do an expo on Bonaza.
Also exposed on jack shaft, history and purpose. ( Lot of power multipler with a jack shaft) climb straight up a wall. So much torque. Thanks for history of the taco! Fun bike fun times!

[@skypirate1161]

I had the original Taco mini bike with the tubular swing arms that pivoted on the jackshaft. I don't remember it giving me any problems. However my friend bought one that had the swing arms that pivoted from the frame, and he had problems with the chain falling off when doing heavy off-roading. If you look at the swing arm geometry, the chain loosens up as the rear wheel moves upward. We both agreed that it was that geometry that was the cause of his problems. That was a VERY long time ago, but good memories stick with you. Even the two tickets I got for driving on the street. LOL

[@NEARME27]

awesome video
thanks for sharing

[@Bigmike3406E]

I had a taco 44 also in the 5th grade 1968 and used to ride it to school every day.

[@Bigmike3406E]

I loved my 2 stroke Taco 66 when I was a kid . I’m looking for another one .

[@robertdavis5714]

Born in 1961 so I remember these very well, especially a friend with rich parents got a brand new Taco22 for his birthday, I thought the Taco44 got a 5 HP motor.

[@sailawaybob]

Cool collection as a kid i drooled over the Plum Purple Taco 44 i saw at a minibike shop in Miami.

[@dougiequick1]

they were POS actually ...the chain would come off every time you hit a bump ...the cheaper 22 was better ride

[@dougiequick1]

THIS is a later model! The brakes on MY brand new taco 44 were scrub brakes ...just a lever operated steel plate that contacted the back tire! THAT was IT ....this model is way advanced! Mine brand new also did not have the fancy clutch cover either...the really cool model was the taco 66 2 stroke IMHO ...btw these things were pretty pricey! I want to say mine was like $180? out the door...the 22 was like 50 cheaper

[@dougiequick1]

All my friends had minibikes .. my next door neighbors found a used one that was the fastest in our whole gang ....it was made of angle iron ,,,looked like bed frame ...it had 5 horse power engine and hauled ASS!

[@rolorock4586]

, Wish could find a Taco, Mini bike as a kid always wanted one , now I own a few unrestored as found I just get them running ride them, drain gas park. On to my next Mini bike

[@bkali77]

I have an old Steens catalog with the Taco Mini bikes and parts. I bought a used Taco in 1968 and rode the wheels off it

[@gregsteele9002]

$149 and $169 was expensive as HECK back then! Shoot I got a Baja Warrior 200cc brand new on sale at Pep Boys in San Diego county in 2008 for $250 ! And those are very nice with
real front suspension, headlight

[@gitlittoo2161]

Im 49. And had 2 tacos.

[@kristenxb00]

Honda mini trail z50 4 LIFE 🤘🏼😎🤘🏼

[@cynthiaayers7696]

Nothing about Tule Trooper..? It was made in the early sixties in Issaquah Washington. It was set up with a max Matic clutch and a 2 speed gearbox. You had to choose high or low depending upon the grade you were approaching/ doing. High-gear was good for up to approximately 50 and low was great for crawling, you could pull a stump out. 18mph.
No shifting on the Fly, you had to stop and sealect,.. there was a neutral also.

[@dougiequick1]

I had this same bike ...it was plagued with chain problems ....they screwed up fram geometry so that even with the jack shaft the chain would easily derail ...if only my dad had been better mechanic we could have simply bolted struts in place of the rear shocks and by passed the jack shaft ...which it would have been equiv of cheaper taco 22 then ...man i wished I had bought the 22 instead!

[@ronaldcrawford637]

I m going to try to paint my three wheel miny bike camo that way I hope it covers some of the improfections.I just don't no if I should clear coat it.

[@markmazur2775]

what about Rupp continental custom "64-66 ? i have one

[@clicks59]

They were the cat’s meow until the Honda Z50 Mini Trail hit the US market in 1968. Although the Z50 didn’t have any real suspension to speak of, the 49cc, automatic clutch, three speed made history. The design is still copied today. Hard to believe Honda started out as a piston ring manufacturer.

[@paulpo999]

I’d love to buy one now. But there is no place to ride them. Pennsylvania law hates mini-bikes.

[@nigelwolfe6150]

I had a brand new Taco44 and I was the only one of my several friends that had back shocks....I thought that was cool .....well for a few days until the chain started coming off regularly! NONE of my friends rigid frame mini bikes did that....JUST MINE....it SUCKED....very poor engineering on Taco's part....something about the jackshaft I think. I was too dumb and my dad was not mechanical or I would have just got rid of the jack shaft and made some rigid struts to replace the shocks. Probably the problem was we rode a lot in the dirt....had it stayed on the street if might have been alright but we lived in north rim of San Fernando Valley (los angeles) so had miles of hills and fireroads

[@nabman5619]

240p video? When was this in 1967?

[@bsto5000]

Memories for sure! I just found an original Scat Cat! Can you lead me in the direction of a parts source??

[@robertpronovost3839]

Mine had front suspension that was higher up the forks and rear shocks were beefier. It was also a bigger engine cuz it did around 35. This was in 1974 I don’t know what year it was made. Would you be able to figure it out?

[@lukecarlin9946]

Can you ride these on the road with no liscence

[@donaldsmith8177]

I'm a Mini by guy I have not a taco many bike but I have a bunch of other ones . When you start collecting them it's hard to break down and figure out what they are or who made them I have a lot of problem with that. But thank you I know what I'm looking at now for a taco Mini bike

[@kennethlang5669]

I had a 69 trail 100 taco.
Where can I get those 14 " x 6"carlisle knobby tires ?

[@anthonyquinones1465]

Great video can you give me any facts on Arco Alexander Reynolds mini bike out of New Jersey

[@deltadigger2833]

How do you determine the make and model. In the process a mini scoot folding mini bike it was actually street legal in 1965. Where can I find pictures and info. Thanks

[@davechavis4275]

the Bonanza with a koler 5hp

[@jessecastro8453]

Do you sell these

[@ChrisBusy]

How about sharing the accurate paint formula? Isn't this all abut having fun and helping each other? give it up buddy...

[@Jaythegatekeeper]

I have a real taco 22 numbers on frame etc if interested lmk

[@macerton1]

i have front and back shocks ok condition for sale ..hmu if your interested I will trade for other mini bike parts.