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1970's Italjet Mini Bike Restoration

meltedcheese Part of things Please, Don't Sqeeze the Volvo! Posts: 403	1970's Italjet Mini Bike Restoration meltedcheese @meltedcheese
	Feb 17, 2011 23:02:52 GMT Select Post Deselect Post Link to Post Back to Top
	Hey y'all, Got this mini bike off ebay from Wigan a few months back, all the parts were there the whole thing had just been spayed silver to protect all the bikes parts. Ended up going for around £150, hadn't seen much around as retro as this so decided to make the purchase That weekend I collected the bike, was pretty impressive condition for the age and the amount of owners and us the bike has had over the years. Here are the ebay pics - As you can see its a pretty cool little ride, took it back to mine and got it fired up straight away. Just to check everything was working of course Will get the photo's of the stripdown sorted tomorrow, currently getting stuck into the painting process ;D
	Lipsmackin' Thirstquenchin' Acetastin' Motivatin' Goodbuzzin' Cooltalkin' Highwalkin' Fastlivin' Evergivin' Coolfizzin' Volvo. retrorides.proboards.com/index.cgi?board=readersrides&action=display&thread=128102

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dungbug Posted a lot 'Ooligan! Posts: 2,852	1970's Italjet Mini Bike Restoration dungbug @dungbug
	Feb 17, 2011 23:08:33 GMT Select Post Deselect Post Link to Post Back to Top
	Looks like a nice tidy bike, bookmarking this thread. ;D
	Past: 13 VW Beetles from 1967 - 1974 Bay Window Campers (1973 & 1974) Mini's (1992 Cooper lookalike & 1984 '25 Anniversary) MK2 Polo Coupe S (1984 & 1986) MK2 Polo Breadvan (1981 & 1984) MK4 Escort (1989) MK2 Granada Based Hearse (seriously) Fiat Uno 60S (1986) Punto 60S (1998) Cinq (1997) 1998 Yamaha YZF600R Thundercat 2003 Ford KA Current: 2004 Ford Focus (barely alive)

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retrowagen1234 Guest	1970's Italjet Mini Bike Restorationretrowagen1234 @GUEST
	Feb 17, 2011 23:12:22 GMT Select Post Deselect Post Link to Post Back to Top
	Does it wheelie??? HAHA... i like that alot. Road legal?


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meltedcheese Part of things Please, Don't Sqeeze the Volvo! Posts: 403	1970's Italjet Mini Bike Restoration meltedcheese @meltedcheese
	Feb 18, 2011 8:12:53 GMT Select Post Deselect Post Link to Post Back to Top
	Ha ha, cheers guys! I think when the little gem is re-built i'll have trouble keeping that front wheel down can't wait to get it sorted!
	Lipsmackin' Thirstquenchin' Acetastin' Motivatin' Goodbuzzin' Cooltalkin' Highwalkin' Fastlivin' Evergivin' Coolfizzin' Volvo. retrorides.proboards.com/index.cgi?board=readersrides&action=display&thread=128102

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Rusted Pistons Posted a lot Posts: 3,726	1970's Italjet Mini Bike Restoration Rusted Pistons @daveyboy20
	Feb 18, 2011 8:17:30 GMT Select Post Deselect Post Link to Post Back to Top
	Wahey! Can't wait to see it running
	The artist formerly known as Daveyboy20 ****RUSTED PISTONS**** www.youtube.com/c/RustedPistons?sub_confirmation=1 + 2

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meltedcheese Part of things Please, Don't Sqeeze the Volvo! Posts: 403	1970's Italjet Mini Bike Restoration meltedcheese @meltedcheese
	Feb 18, 2011 8:40:59 GMT Select Post Deselect Post Link to Post Back to Top
	Right, got some more pics sorted When I purchased the bike I have no idea what it was, ended up trawling mini-bike forums hunting for the answer. Ended up with some clever soul knowing what it was on moped army ;D Here is the pic he sent me - Couldn't believe me feckin luck, soon as I found that out I got straight onto stripping the bike! (After a victory brew of course) Was chatting to a guy on a forum about the wheels, aparently they are pretty rare. Think Grimeca has quite a bit of pedigree as far as motorcycle wheels go and stripped! Took just under 2 hours if I remember rightly, just what you need when your eager
	Lipsmackin' Thirstquenchin' Acetastin' Motivatin' Goodbuzzin' Cooltalkin' Highwalkin' Fastlivin' Evergivin' Coolfizzin' Volvo. retrorides.proboards.com/index.cgi?board=readersrides&action=display&thread=128102

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grizz Probably posted too much REZIN ROCKIT......🚀 Posts: 28,504	1970's Italjet Mini Bike Restoration grizz @grizz
	Feb 18, 2011 9:49:46 GMT Select Post Deselect Post Link to Post Back to Top
	Perfect project, alll in a box. Those were real cool and good bikes in the day. Keep us updated.
	1966 Chevy C10 V8 REDNECK EXPRESS. (Restoration now) GRIZZ-POD Build Thread grizzmakes.blogspot.com/2022/12/the-birth-of-grizzmakes.html IF YOU CAN'T FIX IT WITH A HAMMER, YOU'VE GOT AN ELECTRICAL PROBLEM MATE. .

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AtomicRooster Posted a lot Posts: 2,107	1970's Italjet Mini Bike Restoration AtomicRooster @downandout
	Feb 18, 2011 12:19:31 GMT Select Post Deselect Post Link to Post Back to Top
	This is prime material for a tiny cafe racer
	1986 Mini Chelsea

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Camp Davy Posted a lot Posts: 1,441 Member is Online	1970's Italjet Mini Bike Restoration Camp Davy @davidastramk2
	Feb 18, 2011 15:56:31 GMT Select Post Deselect Post Link to Post Back to Top
	looks good a bit like the puch mini bike
	www.mind.org.uk/ www.samaritans.org/ 08457 90 90 90

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meltedcheese Part of things Please, Don't Sqeeze the Volvo! Posts: 403	1970's Italjet Mini Bike Restoration meltedcheese @meltedcheese
	Feb 19, 2011 18:33:47 GMT Select Post Deselect Post Link to Post Back to Top
	Thanks for the replies guys, did think about making it into cafe racer style. Because all the bits are original I think am gonna keep it all together and just get it looking real nice I started rubbing down the frame with acetone to slowly remove the layers of paint, the previous owner did tell me that the guy before him had resprayed the bike emerald green. To my surprise chap who reprayed the bike before had not touched the original paint job Nice baby blue frame Darker metalic blue paintjob on the other components Next, stripping the paint! Decided to strip the paint right back to the bare metal and start fresh, so out came the nitromors! Note to self - don't cover platic parts in nitromors nearly ruined the plastic side panels, luckily caught them before they melted! Bit wire brushing, some spit and polish and we have the frame, tackle that then sort the other parts at a later date! ;D
	Lipsmackin' Thirstquenchin' Acetastin' Motivatin' Goodbuzzin' Cooltalkin' Highwalkin' Fastlivin' Evergivin' Coolfizzin' Volvo. retrorides.proboards.com/index.cgi?board=readersrides&action=display&thread=128102

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dungbug Posted a lot 'Ooligan! Posts: 2,852	1970's Italjet Mini Bike Restoration dungbug @dungbug
	Feb 19, 2011 20:20:39 GMT Select Post Deselect Post Link to Post Back to Top
	Blimey this is coming on at a rate of knots! Top marks fella, are you sticking to the original colours when it's repainted?
	Past: 13 VW Beetles from 1967 - 1974 Bay Window Campers (1973 & 1974) Mini's (1992 Cooper lookalike & 1984 '25 Anniversary) MK2 Polo Coupe S (1984 & 1986) MK2 Polo Breadvan (1981 & 1984) MK4 Escort (1989) MK2 Granada Based Hearse (seriously) Fiat Uno 60S (1986) Punto 60S (1998) Cinq (1997) 1998 Yamaha YZF600R Thundercat 2003 Ford KA Current: 2004 Ford Focus (barely alive)

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meltedcheese Part of things Please, Don't Sqeeze the Volvo! Posts: 403	1970's Italjet Mini Bike Restoration meltedcheese @meltedcheese
	Feb 20, 2011 16:49:44 GMT Select Post Deselect Post Link to Post Back to Top
	Ha ha, cheers! Gave myself a bit of a headstart before starting the thread to give you guys some good material, got a few more posts before up to speed! Going for the same style, the paint won't be identicle but will certainly be similar
	Lipsmackin' Thirstquenchin' Acetastin' Motivatin' Goodbuzzin' Cooltalkin' Highwalkin' Fastlivin' Evergivin' Coolfizzin' Volvo. retrorides.proboards.com/index.cgi?board=readersrides&action=display&thread=128102

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Camp Davy Posted a lot Posts: 1,441 Member is Online	1970's Italjet Mini Bike Restoration Camp Davy @davidastramk2
	Feb 22, 2011 16:28:52 GMT Select Post Deselect Post Link to Post Back to Top
	that's a lovely little bike you have there i had the puch version www.retrobikes.proboards.com/index.cgi
	www.mind.org.uk/ www.samaritans.org/ 08457 90 90 90

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bonesy619 Part of things Always Keep the shiny side up Posts: 31	1970's Italjet Mini Bike Restoration bonesy619 @bonesy619
	Feb 23, 2011 8:02:01 GMT Select Post Deselect Post Link to Post Back to Top
	Awesome little bike! I'm looking forward to seeing the progress on this!
	Retro through and through!! Cars, Scooters, Musclebikes and BMX float my boat Ohh and hot tattoed burlesque ladies!!

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meltedcheese Part of things Please, Don't Sqeeze the Volvo! Posts: 403	1970's Italjet Mini Bike Restoration meltedcheese @meltedcheese
	Feb 24, 2011 0:13:57 GMT Select Post Deselect Post Link to Post Back to Top
	Cheers for the top comments guys, hope to keep ploughing through it! Right! Setup a line in the garage to hang the frame and other parts while I spray them, decided to tackle the frame first as that is the most complex and awkward to get through. New those old wire coat hangers would come in handy sooner or later With limited funds available I decided to go for a rattle can paint job, going through the pain of a costly respray that could be curse word was to hard to stomach. Decided to bite the bullet and go for it, sanded up the frame with some 600 grit, acetoned it then went over the frame with a tack cloth. Mask on, applied 4 coats of primer and 15min gaps between coats After giving the the frame a few days to go off I did a single pass of 600 grit while washing the frame, then applied 4 coats of the colour coat same method as primer. Left the frame for a further few days before a single pass of 1000 grit, I then moved on to apply the clear coat. Been pretty impressed with results! Was thinking a darker metalic blue would look sweet on all the other components, very similar to what the bike was originally
	Lipsmackin' Thirstquenchin' Acetastin' Motivatin' Goodbuzzin' Cooltalkin' Highwalkin' Fastlivin' Evergivin' Coolfizzin' Volvo. retrorides.proboards.com/index.cgi?board=readersrides&action=display&thread=128102

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devilishdesigner Australia Gleaner of possibilities Posts: 2,977	1970's Italjet Mini Bike Restoration devilishdesigner @devilishdesigner
	Feb 24, 2011 1:56:32 GMT Select Post Deselect Post Link to Post Back to Top
	What an amazing little machine! you don;t see too many mini-bikes that are proper scaled-down versions of real bikes in suspension and frame design
	Remade In Australia thereimaginarium.com.au

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trike21 Part of things Posts: 28	1970's Italjet Mini Bike Restoration trike21 @trike21
	Feb 28, 2011 16:12:34 GMT Select Post Deselect Post Link to Post Back to Top
	coooooool ;D
	Last Edit: Feb 28, 2011 16:13:01 GMT by trike21 <a target="_top" href="http://element.searchpw.com/refer/trike21"><img alt="Search + Win" title="Search + Win" border="0" src="http://prodegebanners.sitegrip.com/images/element-468x60.jpg"></a>

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meltedcheese Part of things Please, Don't Sqeeze the Volvo! Posts: 403	1970's Italjet Mini Bike Restoration meltedcheese @meltedcheese
	Mar 4, 2011 8:29:56 GMT Select Post Deselect Post Link to Post Back to Top
	Thanks again for the positive comments chaps, really can't wait to get this little bike finished. Should be a monster hopefully! Right, after the clear coat on the frame I set about grinding all the paint off the rest of the components. Nearly killed myself doing is mind Had a slip with the angle grinder, as luck has it my overalls caught it. A 30sec wrestle with the grinder was a small price to pay. Anyway here are the finished components I got the rest of the parts hung ready to spray, going to use the same process as I used on the frame. The following parts will end up being a different shade of blue, similar to the original however the I think the colours I have chosen will give good contrast on the bike! Just need to leave it a few days before applying the colour coat now
	Lipsmackin' Thirstquenchin' Acetastin' Motivatin' Goodbuzzin' Cooltalkin' Highwalkin' Fastlivin' Evergivin' Coolfizzin' Volvo. retrorides.proboards.com/index.cgi?board=readersrides&action=display&thread=128102

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meltedcheese Part of things Please, Don't Sqeeze the Volvo! Posts: 403	1970's Italjet Mini Bike Restoration meltedcheese @meltedcheese
	Mar 6, 2011 21:15:25 GMT Select Post Deselect Post Link to Post Back to Top
	Hello all, Got a colour coat on the other parts over the weekend pretty happy with it. Going to get some of the parts bolted together at some point this week, feel like I need to start seeing some real progress.
	Lipsmackin' Thirstquenchin' Acetastin' Motivatin' Goodbuzzin' Cooltalkin' Highwalkin' Fastlivin' Evergivin' Coolfizzin' Volvo. retrorides.proboards.com/index.cgi?board=readersrides&action=display&thread=128102

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dungbug Posted a lot 'Ooligan! Posts: 2,852	1970's Italjet Mini Bike Restoration dungbug @dungbug
	Mar 7, 2011 8:24:33 GMT Select Post Deselect Post Link to Post Back to Top
	This is moving along very nicely. btw is this a road bike or to be used off the road?
	Past: 13 VW Beetles from 1967 - 1974 Bay Window Campers (1973 & 1974) Mini's (1992 Cooper lookalike & 1984 '25 Anniversary) MK2 Polo Coupe S (1984 & 1986) MK2 Polo Breadvan (1981 & 1984) MK4 Escort (1989) MK2 Granada Based Hearse (seriously) Fiat Uno 60S (1986) Punto 60S (1998) Cinq (1997) 1998 Yamaha YZF600R Thundercat 2003 Ford KA Current: 2004 Ford Focus (barely alive)

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