Micro Rebel

MICRO REBEL

Mini-Bike Test

WE'VE known for some time that the ultimate sophistication of the mini-bike was inevitable, but nonetheless we were still quite surprised to see the Rebel Micro Cycle emerge from the sturdy shipping crate in CYCLE WORLD's shipping room. What greeted our eyes was in every sense of the word, a mini-bike, or a miniature motorcycle if you please.

The Rebel is in all meanings a miniature cycle, right down to such fascinating details as the neat little swinging arms, beautiful Go-Power magnesium kart wheels and rubber-sleeved front fork tubes. The prime point of separation, though, is the powerful little Sachs 6 HP lOOcc two-stroke with its built in 3-speed gear box that, incidentally, fired off on the first kick every time. In fact, starting the engine is so easy it is straining things to call it a kick, more like simply putting your foot down describes it better.

The Rebel is one of the first mini-bikes we have tested that can truly be called a motorcycle on grounds other than appearance. The instant you are aboard you realize there is something here that doesn’t meet the eye; the hidden virtue lies in its obvious and (when riding) amazing degree of stability. The reason, of course, is simple. The Rebel has been properly engineered and its suspension is properly laid out though it cannot escape the natural instability of its small wheels and high weight imbalance. It is nevertheless almost uncanny how well it tracks and steers.

Truthfully, the Rebel was the first mini-bike with which we have dared venture out onto the streets, and we did so with as much confidence as we would have had on many larger machines.

A feature that can be argued to extremes is the use of the motorcycle engine and gear box. Though it adds considerably to the cost we would say it is well worth it, if you can afford it.

Though we did not have the opportunity to test the Micro Rebel that is available equipped with the 8.2 cubic inch Power Products kart engine and centrifugal clutch, we plan on doing so in a future issue. It is obvious that the use of the simpler, less expensive kart engine minus the gear gox would lower the cost considerably, but a large part of the fun was changing gears (as it is on any cycle).

When we took the Rebel off of the road the gears added a heretofore unknown facet of fun to mini-bike riding, and an additional degree of respect for its handling abilities as well. We’ve grown accustomed to occasionally running out of power in the middle of some pretty steep ones, and having a lower gear to drop into proved to be just the ticket. The Rebel went up some hills we never would have thought possible on a bike so small. A bit of a thrill pretty well describes the sensation when, after pooping out in second gear half-way up a steep one, a drop to first gear sends the tiny mill screaming and the rear wheel spinning fiercely.

The Rebel weighed in at 92 lbs., a trifle heavy for bikes of this category and most of the extra pounds can be traced to the rather heavy engine and gear box unit. The weight never proved to be a hindrance at any time other than when picking it up to roll it into the back of the CYCLE WORLD station wagon.

The Rebel is manufactured by the Micro Mfg. Co., 208 South Norfolk, Tulsa 20, Oklahoma, and is available in several models ranging from 3 to 6 hp. A price for the Sachs-powered model had not been determined at this writing. •