YouTube is a treasure trove of wild motorcycle and powersport creations, but the builds that truly captivate are the ones born from readily available, budget-friendly parts. Forget about sourcing exotic Hayabusa engines for kei trucks; the real magic happens when creators demonstrate ingenuity with everyday components.
In a recent video that caught our attention, the masterminds at BUM exemplified this approach perfectly. They embarked on a project that screams accessibility and affordability: turbocharging a minibike using parts largely sourced from Amazon. Starting with a bare minibike frame was a stroke of genius, sidestepping the unnecessary expense of dismantling a perfectly good bike. The rolling chassis kit they opted for, priced at a reasonable $677, provided everything needed except the engine itself. This smart choice immediately set the tone for a budget-conscious build focused on maximizing bang for your buck with a minibike.
The heart of this project became a 196cc diesel engine, an unassuming powerplant plucked directly from the digital shelves of Amazon for a mere $110. This air-cooled engine isn’t exactly synonymous with high-octane performance, and initial results confirmed this. After some clever jerry-rigging to mount it onto the minibike frame, the team clocked a top speed of a rather pedestrian 6 mph. Clearly, more was needed to inject some excitement into this mini machine.
Crazy Builds
In pursuit of a more exhilarating top speed, BUM turned to another Amazon bargain: their cheapest turbocharger, priced at a jaw-dropping $129.99. The ambitious target was to hit 20 mph, a significant leap of over 300% from the initial snail’s pace. Skepticism might creep in at such a low price point – could a turbocharger this cheap actually deliver any meaningful boost to the minibike?
Take a moment to guess the top speed achieved after the turbo installation, before diving into the video reveal.
The result is nothing short of astonishing. That $129.99 turbocharger didn’t just nudge the speed; it unleashed a staggering 400% increase! This budget-friendly bolt-on propelled the minibike to speeds previously unimaginable. The total cost of the entire build clocked in at a mere $916.99. Considering the dramatic performance transformation and the minibike’s surprising agility showcased in the off-road section of their video, this project redefines “value for money.” This isn’t just a cheap build; it’s a testament to creative problem-solving and the potential hidden within affordable, readily accessible parts to create a fun and capable minibike.
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