“Curiosity and innovation” were the two words that Herbert Rupp (known as Mick or Mickey) credits for his success in the go-kart, mini-bike, and snowmobile business in the 1960s through the 1970s. This 1971 Rupp Hustler mini-bike is listed here on Facebook Marketplace in Milwaukee, Wisconsin and they’re asking $2,500. Here is the original listing, and thanks to Lothar… of the Hill People for the tip!
Mickey Rupp was a tinkerer and an out-of-work construction worker when he noticed the go-kart craze in California in the 1950s. He was “curious”, so he ordered two go-kart kits, and being “innovative”, he improved them, and ended up selling them. Word got around and he was soon making them full-time. Fast forward a decade later to 1970, Rupp Industries of Mansfield, Ohio had 400 workers and was making go-karts, mini-bikes, and snowmobiles. We’ve seen a few here on Barn Finds over the last decade or so, a couple of mini bikes, and a few go-karts. No snowmobiles, though, I’ll have to work on that.
This photo is a screenshot from the seller’s video on their listing as they didn’t provide a photo showing the back of this mini-bike. It’s running as you can see, very cool. The seller says it was restored some time ago and it looks great in most of the photos. The one with the serial number looks a bit rugged, but it’s nice that they kept the original tag on there and taped around it. Mini-bikes are rarely restored to Pebble Beach quality, so seeing some imperfections under the paint is normal, and was even when they were new. By 1972, Rupp was reportedly employing 850 people, but two years later, due to a couple of bad winters, they were forced to declare bankruptcy, were bought out, and their last year of production was 1978, not quite two decades after they started selling go-karts.
The company’s first mini-bike, the Dart Cycle, came out in 1962, and by 1971, they offered seven models. Most of them had a 4-hp engine but the three smaller bikes had a 3.5-hp or a 2.5-hp engine. The big model was the Roadster/2, an on/off (Dual-Sport!) bike with street-legal lighting. We saw one here on Barn Finds a few years ago. There was also a Black Widow that was often used for motorsports or other racing events, then the Enduro (no lighting!), and finally The Hustler, which was available in blue, green, and red. It is one of three models to have 10″ mag wheels rather than 12″ spokes, or 6″ solid wheels.
Here’s the clean-looking Tecumseh HS40, a 172-cc single with 4-hp and it seems to run great in the seller’s video. It uses a torque converter clutch as you can see by the decal on the cover in the photo above, so no shifting. This is a great transition “motorcycle” between a basic mini-bike and a regular motorcycle. Have any of you owned a Rupp mini-bike?
I remember Rupp minibikes – there were a couple in the neighborhood I grew up in. Some parents never said “No” to their kids, so they all had Schwinns, Raleigh Choppers, and these.
This one is so super restored that it is now a living room piece.
Nice bike and excellent write-up. I had a Heathkit minibike and a Cushman scooter. Lots of fun. My kids loved and rode them on our street and in the woods. They also had a Honda CT70 and rode it for years.
I had a Roadster. You couldn’t kill it, but you never won a drag race against a small bike with a “real” transmission. It was a decent trail bike, and got me away from the local cops, a couple times, when they saw me riding on the back streets!
We had a Roadster 2 back in early 70s. Have fond memories of riding it everywhere as a kid in the Poconos
Boy the price is pretty high on this I would think 1500 or around somewhere! I’ve seen the trail 70s for 5k and more but that’s ridisculous too!
It’s great to have a guy like Scotty here to dig up these seemingly lost memories. A good friend had a Rupp Roadster, and while it did have lights, horn and a speedo( I think to be street legal) it was far from a street bike. It was a neat little bike, more mini-bike really, and had a unique 2 speed with 2 clutches, and under full throttle, would pull the front wheel up when it shifted. I remember he oiled the secondary clutch for a smoother engagement. The Tecumseh had plenty of power with the gubnor wired open. Dusted my Honda 50, up to about 35, then the awesome Honda 50 power took over,,,up to 40. I don’t remember the Rupp going much faster, and didn’t handle all that well either. I read, JC Penny sold Rupp products, and why they were so popular. Seems an average price for mini bikes then were around $159 to close to $300. These were on the top end, but for $300 bucks, the fun and knowledge of motorcycling began right here. Can’t put a price on that. Great find, as usual.
Howard 🏍 👍
I second that thumbs up.
What a great recap on Mickey Rupp and all the products he built. He WAS an innovator in seemingly everything he did.
Living in the snowbelt and into vintage and modern snowmobiling its clear anything built by Rupp probably has some collector value and its very true with vintage sleds. Rupp was big in snowmobiles in the 1970 era but lean, no snow years clobbered them like all manufacturers. Performance models like GTX, Nitro and Magnums can be very sought after and commanding serious money depending upon condition. Similar of course to the car market. Shelby Mustangs are more valuable than 6-cylinder Mustangs.
The Mini-bike market is strong with the vintage sled guys, and they can be all over the place price wise again depending upon model and condition. I have always heard the Black Widow is kind of the Shelby of the Rupps. Don’t forget Rupp also sold a lot of the Mini-Cycles.
I have become very aware the last couple of years on how the Kart market is getting hotter all the time. I have had the pleasure of talking to Mickey a few times years ago and I think the Kart business he was most proud of. His snowmobile memorys were not so good as he did not want to exit that business the way it played out. Mr. Gasket Company was who got it.
Mickey Rupp shockingly is not in the Snowmobile Hall of Fame and that is a shame. He absolutely belongs there. Maybe someday, but it would have been nice if he was inducted before he passed.
Love the Rupp snowmobiled fast,light and good looking.one problem,the belly pans were made of thick plastic.not so good in rough stuff,broke a few.same with Chapperal .miss those days.
These are such great comments, thanks!
“LIVE IT rUPp,” was the motto,,,
I had a Rupp TT 500 and it was an awesome little Mini-bike! Pretty much indestructible!
My friends was just like this,,
https://www.oldrupps.com/SledsForSale/RuppsForSale/1969RuppRoadster-Mark.gif
Does anyone know if Rupp came up with this design originally?
If so, it became the subject of hundreds of imitations.