Planet Minis

ducatilover · 07-31-2008, 10:50 PM

Hello to everyone. This is my first of many posts to come.

After much browsing on the forum and reading about your minis, Im ready to take the plunge. Im looking at a 75 softail or a 69 or 70 hardtail and dont know which to choose. They both need work and thats expected. Here is what I want to accomplish and then you can give a new guy some pointers.

I want to restore and mildly mod the bike but I also want to make it street legal. I would also like to put in a 12v powerplant at some point but havent decided. I know there are many parts available for both so I dont know which to pick.

As far as prices, both cost the same. What input can you provide? Which would you buy? I might be able to buy both but then that would take a bite out of my mod money.

Here are some pics.

Thanks for the input.

Marco

BAJAZBR · 07-31-2008, 11:27 PM

The softail is more comfortable and parts are more plentiful.If you plan to ride alot you will appreciate the suspension.

RAZZO · 08-01-2008, 06:33 AM

Much easier to make the hardtail street legal. Has brake light switches in cables. Also old enough to get antique tags. Self-inspection! I rock two hardtails on the street. One with a 90cc and the other an 88 RH. Go hardtail! Much cooler.

reynolds_brad · 08-01-2008, 07:54 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by RAZZO

Much easier to make the hardtail street legal. Has brake light switches in cables. Also old enough to get antique tags. Self-inspection! I rock two hardtails on the street. One with a 90cc and the other an 88 RH. Go hardtail! Much cooler.

Not to mention you can pick up a hardtail frame for about the cost of a nice 12 pack of beer.

panic357 · 08-01-2008, 08:20 AM

Go with the soft tail- chrome gas tank-very niice

shw911 · 08-01-2008, 09:19 AM

The chrome tank is worth at least $150 if in very good condition.
+1 on the soft-tail.

Z · 08-01-2008, 09:26 AM

If you want to be stuck with 8" wheels and speeds under 50mph safely, the hardtail is for you.

If you want to build a bike with good suspension and want to go fast safely, the softtail is for you.

It's a matter of preference, but I wouldn't build a hardtail for high speeds on 8" wheels and ride it in traffic. Hardtails are for cruising around neighborhoods siteseeing, not navigating through traffic and going fast.

shw911 · 08-01-2008, 09:43 AM

The hard tail doesn't look like it has the stock motor.

tt-r420 · 08-01-2008, 09:46 AM

Both look to be in pretty good condition. Just listen to your heart

Does the soft tail have ct70 forks? or are those stock for that year?

RAZZO · 08-01-2008, 10:14 AM

Real men ride hardtails! LOL! With forty year old drum brakes too!

tt-r420 · 08-01-2008, 10:30 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by RAZZO

Real men ride hardtails! LOL! With forty year old drum brakes too!

Damn that is gangsta! lol

EddieNewYork · 08-01-2008, 11:22 AM

Never rode a hardtail before... all I know is my behind hurts on long rides when crusing on my crf50 with the comfy RB seat. So for comfort and a little more safety... I'd lean towards the softail.

supernes550 · 08-01-2008, 11:25 AM

they're both cool. pick what you like better.
but there are a lot of options with a softtail.

ducatilover · 08-01-2008, 12:27 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by RAZZO

Much easier to make the hardtail street legal. Has brake light switches in cables. Also old enough to get antique tags. Self-inspection! I rock two hardtails on the street. One with a 90cc and the other an 88 RH. Go hardtail! Much cooler.

I was thinking it would be easier to make the softtail street legal since there are plenty of Lifan frames with titles?

One thing I didnt like about the hardtail was that it has the front and rear brakes on the handlebars as opposed to having a rear foot brake. I would really like to make it a manual clutch motor at some point and dont think that setup would work.

My heart says softail but I really like the tank and badges on the hardtail. I just think the softail would be the best choice.

Thanks for the input guys.

Z · 08-01-2008, 12:29 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ducatilover

I was thinking it would be easier to make the softtail street legal since there are plenty of Lifan frames with titles?

One thing I didnt like about the hardtail was that it has the front and rear brakes on the handlebars as opposed to having a rear foot brake. I would really like to make it a manual clutch motor at some point and dont think that setup would work.

My heart says softail but I really like the tank and badges on the hardtail. I just think the softail would be the best choice.

Thanks for the input guys.

You can purchase hardtail tanks that fit on 1979-1986 frames along with retro seats and have a hardtail look with suspension. Tanks aren't cheap, but building a quality bike never is.

ducatilover · 08-01-2008, 12:48 PM

I have decided that the softail is the way to go. This brings me to another question. Has anyone put HID lights on a 12v z50 or do the 6v healights provide enough light output? How about runing LED lights?

Thanks again for the input

50minikid · 08-01-2008, 12:52 PM

Hardtail! It also has a rear brake pedal, and it looks like it has motor mods. I can hook you up with a headlight if you want also. Just curious, how much are they asking for them?

ducatilover · 08-01-2008, 12:58 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 50minikid

Hardtail! It also has a rear brake pedal, and it looks like it has motor mods. I can hook you up with a headlight if you want also. Just curious, how much are they asking for them?

I didnt see a rear brake pedal on the hardtail. I saw two brake lines but they were cut. I originaly thought one was a clutch lever but I dont recall the hardtail being a manual clutch. Am I wrong?

$450 for the soft and $500 for the hard. Sounds decent to me.

50minikid · 08-01-2008, 01:05 PM

I thought that the ct90 was the only bike with the dual hand brakes. My 69 z only has one handbrake and one foot brake. It would be pretty easy to swith back to stock if someone changed it. Do any of the bikes have titles? It is your choice but I think a hardtail would look sweet rolling down the road.

50ryder420 · 08-01-2008, 01:06 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 50minikid

I thought that the ct90 was the only bike with the dual hand brakes. My 69 z only has one handbrake and one foot brake. It would be pretty easy to swith back to stock if someone changed it. Do any of the bikes have titles? It is your choice but I think a hardtail would look sweet rolling down the road.

I have a 69 hardtail with 2 hand brakes.

I think the 70 hardtail had a rear foot brake

07-31-2008, 10:50 PM	#1 (permalink)
ducatilover PM Newbie Join Date: May 2008 Location: Peoria, AZ Posts: 82	Soft tail or hard tail? Need advice Hello to everyone. This is my first of many posts to come. After much browsing on the forum and reading about your minis, Im ready to take the plunge. Im looking at a 75 softail or a 69 or 70 hardtail and dont know which to choose. They both need work and thats expected. Here is what I want to accomplish and then you can give a new guy some pointers. I want to restore and mildly mod the bike but I also want to make it street legal. I would also like to put in a 12v powerplant at some point but havent decided. I know there are many parts available for both so I dont know which to pick. As far as prices, both cost the same. What input can you provide? Which would you buy? I might be able to buy both but then that would take a bite out of my mod money. Here are some pics. Thanks for the input. Marco

07-31-2008, 11:27 PM	#2 (permalink)
BAJAZBR "Minibikedike" Join Date: Jun 2006 Location: san diego Posts: 209	Re: Soft tail or hard tail? Need advice The softail is more comfortable and parts are more plentiful.If you plan to ride alot you will appreciate the suspension.

08-01-2008, 06:33 AM	#3 (permalink)
RAZZO Old School Z50s Join Date: Jun 2005 Location: NEW JERSEY PINELANDS Posts: 1,400	Re: Soft tail or hard tail? Need advice Much easier to make the hardtail street legal. Has brake light switches in cables. Also old enough to get antique tags. Self-inspection! I rock two hardtails on the street. One with a 90cc and the other an 88 RH. Go hardtail! Much cooler.

08-01-2008, 08:20 AM	#5 (permalink)
panic357 PM Newbie Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: TEXAS Posts: 22	Re: Soft tail or hard tail? Need advice Go with the soft tail- chrome gas tank-very niice

08-01-2008, 09:19 AM	#6 (permalink)
shw911 3rd Gear Member Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: Los Angeles, CA Posts: 1,148	Re: Soft tail or hard tail? Need advice The chrome tank is worth at least $150 if in very good condition. +1 on the soft-tail.

08-01-2008, 09:26 AM	#7 (permalink)
Z 5th Gear Member Join Date: Sep 2003 Location: KANSAS Posts: 6,966	Re: Soft tail or hard tail? Need advice If you want to be stuck with 8" wheels and speeds under 50mph safely, the hardtail is for you. If you want to build a bike with good suspension and want to go fast safely, the softtail is for you. It's a matter of preference, but I wouldn't build a hardtail for high speeds on 8" wheels and ride it in traffic. Hardtails are for cruising around neighborhoods siteseeing, not navigating through traffic and going fast.

08-01-2008, 09:43 AM	#8 (permalink)
shw911 3rd Gear Member Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: Los Angeles, CA Posts: 1,148	Re: Soft tail or hard tail? Need advice The hard tail doesn't look like it has the stock motor.

08-01-2008, 09:46 AM	#9 (permalink)
tt-r420 2nd Gear Member Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: Santa Barbara, CA Posts: 489	Re: Soft tail or hard tail? Need advice Both look to be in pretty good condition. Just listen to your heart Does the soft tail have ct70 forks? or are those stock for that year?

08-01-2008, 10:14 AM	#10 (permalink)
RAZZO Old School Z50s Join Date: Jun 2005 Location: NEW JERSEY PINELANDS Posts: 1,400	Re: Soft tail or hard tail? Need advice Real men ride hardtails! LOL! With forty year old drum brakes too!

08-01-2008, 11:22 AM	#12 (permalink)
EddieNewYork 3rd Gear Member Join Date: Oct 2007 Location: Los Angeles, CA Posts: 1,229	Re: Soft tail or hard tail? Need advice Never rode a hardtail before... all I know is my behind hurts on long rides when crusing on my crf50 with the comfy RB seat. So for comfort and a little more safety... I'd lean towards the softail.

08-01-2008, 11:25 AM	#13 (permalink)
supernes550 The Golden Ticket Join Date: May 2006 Location: 5outh 5an 0iego Posts: 2,990	Re: Soft tail or hard tail? Need advice they're both cool. pick what you like better. but there are a lot of options with a softtail.

08-01-2008, 12:48 PM	#16 (permalink)
ducatilover PM Newbie Join Date: May 2008 Location: Peoria, AZ Posts: 82	Re: Soft tail or hard tail? Need advice I have decided that the softail is the way to go. This brings me to another question. Has anyone put HID lights on a 12v z50 or do the 6v healights provide enough light output? How about runing LED lights? Thanks again for the input

08-01-2008, 12:52 PM	#17 (permalink)
50minikid 2nd Gear Member Join Date: Oct 2007 Location: Bothell, WA Posts: 666	Re: Soft tail or hard tail? Need advice Hardtail! It also has a rear brake pedal, and it looks like it has motor mods. I can hook you up with a headlight if you want also. Just curious, how much are they asking for them?

08-01-2008, 01:05 PM	#19 (permalink)
50minikid 2nd Gear Member Join Date: Oct 2007 Location: Bothell, WA Posts: 666	Re: Soft tail or hard tail? Need advice I thought that the ct90 was the only bike with the dual hand brakes. My 69 z only has one handbrake and one foot brake. It would be pretty easy to swith back to stock if someone changed it. Do any of the bikes have titles? It is your choice but I think a hardtail would look sweet rolling down the road.

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