The transmission usually was of a crank-mounted centrifugal clutch and chain drive to a rear sprocket. These early minibikes usually had of a power train with a small four-stroke, horizontal crankshaft, flathead engine. Many of the brands, foremost Rupp, have gained a cult-following of enthusiasts and owners. The peak of the minibike/go-kart era was from the late 1960s to the early 1970s in America. Minibike companies include Arctic-Cat, Rupp, Taco, Heath, Gilson, and Fox, many of which also made other power toys such as go-karts, trikes and choppers. A market for minibikes developed and many cottage and major industries developed to meet the demand. As racers brought them home and used them around their neighborhoods, many children liked the idea of having a mini motorcycle and started building their own. They were very useful for this purpose, as they could maneuver very well in the tight pit roads, fit in about the same space as a small bicycle in a trailer or pickup, and they were faster than most previous forms of transportation. They were first popularly used as "pit bikes", for drag racers to travel in the pits during races in the late 1950s. Like go-karts, the first minibikes were made by enthusiasts from spare parts found in their garages.
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