I had never heard of HPE Muskin until I saw this ad, but it turns out I’ve ridden one of their bikes. HPE Muskin was a California-based company that specialized in making swimming pools. But ─ because why not? ─ they also manufactured a range of motorized ‘toys’ in the 1960s and ’70s: minibikes, mini dune buggies, go karts, and mini trail bikes like this one. These were sold via catalog stores like JCPenney, Sears, and Montgomery Ward.
Its minibikes were known as CAT bikes, which is something I would have also told you I’d never heard of until, in researching this bike, I came across the old CAT logo (not to be confused with construction equipment maker Caterpillar). Seeing it brought back memories of childhood in the early 1980s, and a deathtrap minibike that was shared by three brothers who lived across the street from me in Irving, Texas.
The Foster boys were quintessential Texas kids: hearts of gold and hell bent on causing themselves injury. After a great deal of pleading, I was finally allowed to throw a leg over their minibike and promptly rode into their mother’s brick planter. Anyway, the El Tigre mini trail bike was driven by an 80cc Fuji two-stroke engine promising a bone-snapping 6.6 horsepower. It had a four-speed transmission and a weight of just 125 lbs. Seat height was 27 inches, meaning it was small enough for bigger kids and tweenagers but could also be ridden by an adult ─ almost certainly your uncle, with beer in hand.
The seller confirms that this bike was originally sold via JCPenney and assures us that it “starts, runs and shifts as it should.”
This example is in incredibly good shape, thanks in no small part to the list of new parts it’s received. Other bits, like the engine, bodywork, and exhaust, are original and have simply been treated with incredible care. In fact, this bike is in such good condition that I’d personally feel bad buying it because I’d know I wouldn’t be able to allow myself to use it for its original intended purpose (ie, running it into a brick planter).
These things don’t have odometers, but the seller claims just 10 miles. It’s for sale for $2,500 in Williamsburg, Ohio, here on eBay.