Coleman CT200U
 

Just picked up a brand new Coleman CT200U adult mini bike off eBay for $460. I've been wanting one for awhile. The rebuild has already started. New Predator 212cc Hemi engine, TAV30 cvt, new Carlisle Trail Wolf atv tires, new handlebars and brakes. My plan is to use it on my property as a utility bike. I may stretch the frame to make it more stable on steep hills and move the new engine forward. The Hemi has been rubber mounted to help with vibration. It's also getting new red paint in a darker shade.

SamM

Very cool. I have been seeing the Coleman bikes on the beach a lot lately. They work good in the sand.

Thanks, it's a great little bike. I just bought a small Kohler 6.5hp engine and mounted the TAV30 cvt on it. This engine will be used until I finish building the Hemi engine. The horsepower of the Hemi should be around 15 to 18hp and more if I use a Mikuni carb. The brake parts came in today. The handlebar reservoirs have locks for use as parking brakes. Very cool. The brake parts that I ordered will all work but steel will need to be purchase and mounts fabbed. Looking forward to riding it soon. The frame may get lengthened 6 to 8". I'm at the point of cutting the frame now. We'll see how it goes.

SamM

Here is the Hemi engine in a possible mounting position. Note the red valve cover to denote a high-performance engine. LOL! I want the engine as far forward as I can get it. Lengthening the frame will make it possible to mount a place for my service dog to sit also. He loves riding.

SamM

I'm following you along this path. Have you been posting in the CT200 group on www.oldminibikes.com forum?

https://www.oldminibikes.com/forum/g...00u-bikes.html

Thanks ben2go. I have not posted in that forum yet. I do believe that I am a member there. The CT200U will make a great utility bike. It's actually big enough to be worthwhile for adults. Most mini bikes aren't.

I did cut the frame and remove the handlebars. New handlebar mounts and handlebars are on the way. I got fully adjustable bars and clamps off eBay. Currently, my thought is toward designing a front suspension. Looking at ideas for that. The plan is to have this ready to ride in early September. Almost everything is here and ready to go. The Hemi engine needs about $400 worth of parts still.

SamM

Nice project. Been a long time since you posted about any of the other projects.

Allen

The rest of them sort of went away. I'm retired now and had some pretty bad stuff happen to me. It was basically too many projects, too little money. The Stealth Fighter is still here. I've been riding it. The battery is almost completely shot and I'm looking for a replacement. The Diesel KLR had too many issues to overcome and my health became a factor. Still working on the trailer. The frame and suspension turned out really nice. Life sometimes gets in the way of good intentions and even the best laid plans. I do still have the Lotus Seven but have not been working on it. She's tucked into the garage.

It has been a long time! I love this site and the great people here. The Coleman is a chinabike and I thought of this, as the best place to show the build. It will be finished, unlike some of the others.

I hope you and the rest of the guys are doing well, Allen.

SamM

Def gonna keep tabs on this project! Been kicking around the idea of picking up a bike similar to this ever since i seen the Dirt Every Day episode that they had them on.

That was a great episode. I saw it too.

The steel needs to be ordered this week to extend the frame. The frame will be triangulated at the neck and at the rear rack. Steel for the new brake mounts will be included in that order. I'm thinking about making a guard for the header. It will be wrapped with heat wrap but a little extra insurance would be nice to have. I have no desire to burn myself on it. Some steel mesh that I have would look great on it too. Sort of like the old Tote Gotes. I'm fiddled with the idea of adding a jackshaft, to gear the bike down for climbing hills. That can wait, along with the front suspension and suspension seat. The most important thing is getting it ready to ride. I need it for hunting season.

SamM

Sounds like it could end up being quite the rig when it is finished. One thing i have been looking into is rebuilding an old Honda Trike into basically a larger version of a mini bike. Either that or getting an old trike rolling chassis and extend it to be a utility vehicle similar to the old John Deere AMTs (Predecessor to the Gator). Would not be difficult at all to make a spare trike axle into a floating tag axle.

Sounds like a great plan, Darkrider. I really loved riding mini bikes as a kid. This is sort of a way back to that beginning. My riding is only off-road now. No more street bikes for me. My doctor recently told me again, that a trike was the only way for me to get back into street riding. Not sure about that. May as well buy a convertible and take the wife.

The CT200U is also my way to get back into building again. I have a lot of time on my hands now. My next project will be my Stealth electric bike over the Winter. The next may be something like this. I'm really liking this utility bike that I came across. A very simple rugged design. This would be perfect for a Honda clone engine with a semi-auto transmission. Maybe even a Piranha 150cc pit bike engine.

SamM

That utility bike is def an interesting unit. Especially since it has a two part frame that pivots in the center. Kicked around the thought of something like it based around a cheap single cyl Diesel engine. Kicked around the idea for the same type of engine for the Utility vehicle as well. One idea that may be interesting with the Coleman (or similar minibike) would be an electric conversion.

I've thought about that as well but the batteries don't like the cold much here. Keeping the battery alive here as been a challenge.

SamM

Hmmm that does present a challenge...