First project bike

[Frank Angerano]

Not sure how many of you will remember this or give a crap about it but back in 2016 I picked up my first old atv to rebuild. Yamaha bear tracker 250. I picked it up in NJ while I was out looking for a quad for my little guy since he started this atv thing after seeing a few old pictures of me in my hay day riding. 
 

The person I was getting the 50cc quad had this one laying around and asked if I was interested in it.  It was beat up and hadn’t ran in a few years.  No spark the guy said and he left it to sit.  I wound up taking both bikes. 
I wish I had pics but I deleted the original post on Quadcrazy and lost the old ones on my phone when I upgraded. 
This was the atv that caused me to stumble upon Quadcrazy since I needed a little help with the spark issue.  So needless to say I fixed it, did some cosmetic work and she was good to go. I took it upstate and used the sh** out of it for just about everything under the sun. This atv made it through some deep snow, mud etc. I decided to leave it up there and use it as a back up since it’s been about 50 atv’s later and I have newer machines now. But unfortunately it sat for some time and it’s a little beat up so I brought it back home and going to clean it up. Amazing how one year sitting has done so much damage. 
This was the first atv that I owned in over 30 years! It’s the atv that brought me here to Quadcrazy where now I endlessly check the site to see what’s going on, who’s talking about what and who can we help with there problem or can help me with mine as well as the on slot of what I do today as a hobby with atv’s. It’s been a great pass time for me and my son with the projects we have gotten and get into. He’s learned how to ride so well it scares me a little watching him. He’s learned how to fix, maintain and upgrade atv’s. He’s insanely good with carburetors as well. 
It’s a good thing when a kid wants to play in the garage over his X Box!!

The funny thing about this bike is that when we finished it we thought it was the best thing! We were missing a rack on the front and didn’t care since it looked ok, had no clue where to get parts or how to fix plastics. I was so new to this again since I was staring all over again and now had to remember things and also teach my son!  

So we will be tearing into the bear tracker to get her up and running again as well as maybe a few new cosmetic changes and hang on to her for a while since I love this bike.  The last two pics are the bike the day we finished putting it all back together and when it was upstate for the first week. 
 
Had no intention of this post going so long. 🤷🏻‍♂️

[Ajmboy]

@Frank Angerano great topic! Glad you found quadcrazy, you have helped so many people here. Every day I look you are answering and helping people.  You are the best bro!

quad looks great!!!

[Frank Angerano]

Thank you @Ajmboy I appreciate that !
 

Just rebuilt the carb she fired right up! Going to wash it down and pressure wash the engine and check all fluids.  
Thanks again brother.

[mikeexplorer]

The "first" for anything always seems to hold some meaning. I still remember buying my first quad. Had it for 10 years and put a pile of miles on it. Sold it and it was reborn as a different machine now. Even other "firsts" for my other hobbies I still remember.

Mike

 

[Frank Angerano]

True story mike! Seems like a long time but it’s only been 3 plus years or so.  
Come a long way since this bike. I have vendors, search documents that make life easier for my electrical work and parts guys all over now. Even some cool paint, vinyl graphics and hydro dipping equipment to play with.   

[mikeexplorer]

Oh yeah ive seen from your posts your really into restoring machines. Probably make a few bucks from it too. I have only gone as far as doing most of my own maintenance work on our machines. Some things I do take it to the dealer for as I don't have a ton of tools and for the rare occasion of something I can't deal with I just let them fix it. I get good deals from him since I bought three machines from him and I buy most of my parts from him.

 

Mike

 

[Frank Angerano]

I remember you telling me what he charges you and I can’t argue with them prices.  That dealer you use is very fair.  
 

I do make money on the bikes I’ve rebuilt some of the profit is great and some are ok but rebuilding them is the fun part.   Especially for my son he loves when I give him the look that I found a bike we are going to go pull out of someplace.  Once we ran out at 9 pm on a Sunday night  after I seen a post for a honda fourtrax that was just posted.  The post said call and make me an offer. I was joking and said $100 ?? He said can I do $125!!!!! Lol I said only if I can come get it right now and he said yes lol.  Needless to say it was a great bike which I redid had to throw in a cdi and sold for $2200.  
As far as tools go I have just about everything now including my lift which saves my back !!!!

Edited November 9, 2019 by Frank Angerano

[Ajmboy]

1 hour ago, mikeexplorer said:

Oh yeah ive seen from your posts your really into restoring machines. Probably make a few bucks from it too. I have only gone as far as doing most of my own maintenance work on our machines. Some things I do take it to the dealer for as I don't have a ton of tools and for the rare occasion of something I can't deal with I just let them fix it. I get good deals from him since I bought three machines from him and I buy most of my parts from him.

 

Mike

 

I'd really like to do what @Frank Angerano  does and buy atvs cheap and fix them up. This is not the year because I have so much work on my house, but its my plan. I look at uses ads once in a while already!

[Frank Angerano]

@Ajmboy there is nothing better then rolling up and pulling a bike out of a garage, barn or the weeds and the anticipation of tearing it down and bringOmg it back to life. It’s like solving a mystery finding out what’s wrong. 
Especially knowing what you can sell it for once it’s back to good.  

[06kfx440]

I agree frank. I’ve done that a lot too. I also drive around and look for things in the woods or in abandon places that are ran to the ground. I once found an Indian 50 from the 60s which was free. Restored everything and it sold for 7000. Talk about a vintage score.


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[Frank Angerano]

I can’t help but to look as a drive now. I see sh** all the time.
 
I actually pressure washed the bear tracker and fired it up. She runs good, took it out for a spin last night. 
I think I’m going to bring her up to the new property and leave it up there for the hunting season. Time to install the lift kits and bigger rims and tires on the ranchers so I need a little room. 

[06kfx440]

Yeah me too man. You find all kids of crap as you drive, lol.

I too have ran out of places to keep my toys. My wife wants to murder me. She said last night, why do you need 4 quads and 2 dirt bikes? Your one guy. I said that’s the fun of it all. I won’t buy anything till I get rid of 2.


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[Frank Angerano]

I was there at one point. Right now I have four atv’s and one dirt bike.  Going to get rid of at least one quad and the dirt bike.