Minibikes most likely don’t appeal to 90% of Barn Finds readers, so this little article is more of a 10th anniversary present to myself for being at Barn Finds since March of 2016. No, I didn’t buy them (yet), but I would if I could. This very rare pair of 1971 Coleman 2.40 Sport Trail bikes can be found here on Facebook Marketplace in Plymouth, Wisconsin, and the seller is asking $1,200. Here is the original listing, and thanks to Lothar… of the Hill People for the tip!
I know, 10 years and I’m still addicted to weirdo little motorcycles and minibikes. We never had these things when my brother and I were kids, so maybe that’s why I like them so much now. If we hadn’t gotten sacked by a wicked huge tax bill for 2025 (even though I made less! How does that work?!) that basically drained my entire savings account, I’d be all over these things. I hate letting them go; I’ll never find another one. Plus, there’s an almost-complete parts bike included. Coleman is famous for camping gear, and these minibikes are from the 1970s. They still offer minibikes today.
The seller only included two photos, so I just zoomed in on the partially-restored working bike. It’s the one with the engine, so that’s hard to miss (How has Jesse kept me around for so long?!). These things are rarer than politicians actually reaching across the aisle like they all (A L L) say they will when they’re trying to get elected, but then never do. Politicians would be much more fun if they rode 1970s minibikes to the office. Actually, everyone would be. They’re different from other small motorcycles, but the genre is generally hard to define. I define minibikes as small motorcycles having an engine without a kick-starter; you pull a “rope” like you would on a push lawnmower. My Chrysler Sno Runner has a pull-start, as does the Rokon, but the Rokon also has a kickstart. I have never owned a minibike, but I know a lot of you have.
These 100-pound bikes are both “2.40” versions, and Coleman also made a 5.30 version with a much bigger engine and a red frame. This blue 2.40 model has a 2.4-horsepower 47-cc Saxonette engine, sometimes known as a Sachs. It’s a two-stroke single-cylinder with a pull-start, and here’s another one on YouTube so you can hear it running. These are said to be one or two-pull bikes pretty consistently. The two-speed “automatic” clutch transmission sends power to the rear wheel, and the seller says the running one has a restored frame and NOS fenders, but there’s an oil leak that should be addressed. I hope I’m not the only one who has an interest in these little minibikes?
“And then one day you find, 10 years had got behind you”,,,let me be the 1st to say, happy anniversary, dude, it wouldn’t be fair to single him out, all the writers do a great job, but Scotty adds a special touch to the site, and awful glad he’s on board. I could never upstage this guy, but I think I predated him here, but was not a member. We always look forward to your posts.
For a while, “monkey” bikes had a special purpose, wheels for the gimpy, swap meets, pit bikes, just a step saver. Then the kids got a hold of them, and every manufacturer seemed to jump on the bandwagon. Quick, before the parents outlaw them. We took many a lump on these, but didn’t go fast enough to get killed. Chicks loved “injuries”, and we wore those arm casts as a badge of honor. Wow, must have been doing something cool to break an arm.
That throttle cable looks scary, anyone taking these through the brush knows what I mean, they catch on branches and it was full throttle at the worst time. Be that as it may, many got their 1st taste of motorcycling with these, and became a lifelong passion. I miss it dearly. Cool find. “Plymouth, Wis”. ring a bell? Home of Road America and Sargento Cheese.
SG, congratulations on your ten years with Barn Finds. I think I can speak for all of us: we thoroughly enjoy your fine work.
Posted a day ago, and now marked pending.