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.
Happy anniversary Scotty. I always enjoy your write ups and your personal touch and sense of humor that you always bring to the table. I also appreciate all the time you spend researching everything as well. Thank you!!!
Outstanding, Scotty-10 years bringing us great writeups and terrific stories to make them all the more interesting-while juggling a full time career with a family.
Willing to bet that every one of us say a huge thank you and job well done, sir.
Happy anniversary Scotty.
Happy Anniversary Scotty!!
Happy Anniversary Scotty. 10 years goes by pretty fast doesn’t it. Keep up the good work.
I have a vintage snowmobile buddy who has put together a collection of mini-bikes made by the snowmobile manufacturers, and there are quite a few.
@John Zeglin…
Any pictures of the mini bikes??
Thanks, folks, that’s darn nice of you. A solid decade of breaking the no-cheesy-mustaches company policy is enough, but mini bikes, snowmobiles, weirdo little Japanese vehicles?! Jesse and Josh have the patience of saints to have kept me around this long. Jeff Lavery is the senior member, with Jamie Palmer next in line.
Scotty, let me be the 9th person to wish you a happy 10th!
I’m glad you are up and running… I actually checked w/ “the boss” to make sure you were ok given that I’d sent some cycles which I THOUGHT were right up your alley, pun intended, but I didn’t see them posted. That’s ok and I am glad we don’t need to start a “Save Scotty” campaign. :)
As usual, great write up on these bikes. Keep up the good work, buddy!
~Lothar
Ha, thanks, Lothar! Sometimes, as with these Colemans, by the time I get to them they’re already gone. Thanks for sending in so many unusual two-wheelers!
Happy 10 Scotty! I guess I am a 10%er and maybe a weirdo too because I love these things. Keep em coming!!
Time flies when you are having fun! And fun for 10 years! Time doesn’t fly when not having fun. (Just completed building my new house today.) Back to the two wheeled versions Scotty brought us here today. Is the only criteria for a labeling of mini bike a pull start? I always thought a mini bike had no suspension. Since these do have suspension, would these be classified as a “mini dirt bike”? I never had any kind of 2 wheeled gas driven vehicle growing up. I did get my own car at 12 to drive around on the fire roads behind the house. Never owned a “dirt bike” until I bought one for my kids. MINI DIRT BIKE?
Nice analogy Wayne…
Have to agree now that you stated that!!
These were wishful thinking for me.
Add me to the list of never having a min-bike.There were 3 of us boys and pop worked in a feed mill after the war,even had chickens on the side and without mom working there wasn’t any extra money.No work of any kind for us boys in a hamlet of 800 in rural S.Jersey in the late 50’s,but it was all good and wouldn’t trade that life for anything.
If I had a “dirt l/mini bike when I was a kid. I probably l would have never reached puberty. The car I got when I was 12 was a freebie with a problem I fixed so I could drive it. I rolled it twice. Both times into a 12′ high thicket.itvhad a very rounded top (Renault 4CV). So I was able to push it back on its wheels both times. I finally learned how to corner a swing axle car with experience. About a year later Dad happened to be looking at the roof of the car and noticed some damage. (Minor dent and tons of scratches). He never said anything word about my roof customization. But shortly thereafter the car was gone. I then graduated to a 1953 Chevy 1/2 ton panel delivery truck that I used for hay storage for my agricultural Holsteins. Dad didn’t even know that I got it running for over a year when I accidentally parked it in a different spot. Learned double clutch on that beast.
Congrats Scotty! And looming forward to the next 10, and the 10 after that, and so on.
I am always happy to read your well researched articles and personal experiences with the subject matter. Oh, and don’t forget about those awesome Scotty Photoshop Renderings – what a talent!
Yep, I did a double take when seeing Coleman mini bikes displayed outside of Tractor Supply not too long ago. I always wanted one as a kid – I want to get one for my nephew, but my brother and sister in law would kill me!
ATF ? of course it’s going to leak…..
Thanks for all of the great comments, everyone! Sadly, I missed this one as the seller has it listed as sold now. Not that I needed another one.