YouTube is overflowing with incredible motorcycle and powersport creations, making it tough to keep up. However, the builds that truly capture attention are those where creators utilize readily available and affordable parts to construct something extraordinary. We’re not talking about dropping a Hayabusa engine into a kei truck, but rather clever, budget-friendly projects that anyone can appreciate.
In a recent video, the team at BUM exemplified this approach perfectly by taking a simple, cost-effective route to boost the performance of a mini bike. Smartly, they began with a rolling mini bike frame, saving money by avoiding the need to dismantle a perfectly good engine from another bike. This frame kit, priced at $677, conveniently included everything needed except the engine itself. The next step was finding a suitable powerplant.
For the engine, they chose a 196cc diesel engine from Amazon, a steal at just $110. While this air-cooled engine isn’t exactly synonymous with high performance, its affordability was the key. After some DIY ingenuity to fit it into the mini bike’s chassis, initial tests yielded a rather disappointing top speed of 6 mph. Clearly, more power was needed.
Image alt text: Rolling mini bike chassis frame kit ready for engine installation, representing a budget-friendly start to a DIY project.
To drastically improve the mini bike’s speed, BUM opted for Amazon’s cheapest turbocharger, priced at a mere $129.99. Their target was a modest 20 mph, a 300% increase from the original speed. However, given the turbocharger’s rock-bottom price, expectations were understandably low. Would such a cheap turbo even make a difference?
Take a moment to guess the top speed achieved after the turbo installation before watching the video reveal.
The surprising result? This $129.99 turbocharger boosted the mini bike’s top speed by an astounding 400%! Now that’s serious bang for your buck. The entire build, remarkably, cost only $916.99. Considering its improved performance, especially showcased in the off-road section at the end of their video, this turbo mini bike build represents incredible value and a whole lot of fun for a minimal investment.
Image alt text: A 196cc diesel engine paired with an affordable turbocharger, components used for a budget-friendly mini bike performance upgrade.
