These 50 Mojave 360s were intended to satisfy the AMA so that the bikes could compete in enduro competition in the United States. Moto Benelli was also building 250cc and 350cc road bikes for Montgomery Ward at the time. These 1968s were supposedly a pilot for a planned regular production run that never materialized. The Mojave 360 is exceedingly rare with only 50 ever making it to production. Of all Wards/Riverside bikes, the Mojave 360 is the most interesting.
The available internet forums, rallies, and parts businesses specializing in these bikes is amazing. Today these Wards Riverside models have developed quite a cult following. The most popular were the small 2 strokes but the larger 250 and 350 models started doing well in the later part of the decade. In the 60s Wards partnered up with Benelli to sell small displacement motorcycles here in the US and for a while it was a fairly lucrative project for both. Yes, boys and girls, back in the good old days you could walk in to a Montgomery Wards store and walk out with a refrigerator, a new couch, a new toilet and a new motorcycle. The prestigious Grolier Club, America’s oldest society of bibliophiles, named the Montgomery Ward catalog as one of only one hundred books that had most influenced the life and culture of American people.1968 Benelli 360 Scrambler, Hey man, where d ya get your Bike? Monkey Wards. The company ultimately made the decision to close the catalog division and cease publication with the last catalog being issued in December 1985. Sadly catalog sales would continue a slow and steady decline. Within 4 years of opening their first retail store Montgomery Ward started to see the retail sales overtake the catalog sales. In 1975 the catalog division of Montgomery Ward was operating catalog order desks in all 433 retail stores in addition to 555 catalog stores and 1,288 catalog sales agencies. Montgomery Ward would remain a leader in the catalog industry for the next 113 years. Or more lovingly called the “Wish Book”.Īaron Montgomery Ward started the nation’s first mail-order business in 1872 when he issued his first catalog, a single sheet price list of 163 items.
MONTGOMERY WARD MINI BIKE KIT MANUAL
Most of you remember Montgomery Ward not only for their department store, but also for their catalog. Reprint owners manual Montgomery Ward Aggie series mini bikes manufactured King-O-Lawn Includes exploded views with parts list This manual available printed. I am looking for a Montgomery Wards mini bike. I am not sure on the model, but the one I once had was light blue in color and it did not have any shoc.
Department Store Catalog Department: Montgomery Ward I am looking for a Montgomery Wards mini bike. Just a few years later in 1976 the craze was over and mini bikes fell out of favor with kids who now wanted dirt bikes.
MONTGOMERY WARD MINI BIKE KIT FULL
There was even a new sport “ Mini-Bike Soccer” which had racers from both teams merging at center field at full speed for the opening kick-off (I hope they were wearing helmets). In 1973 mini bike sales peaked at 140,000 units from over a hundred different manufacturers. The complete Sears mini-bike lineup featuring “The Puncher”. Though as a kid I would have been absolutely delighted beyond belief to have woken up on Christmas to find myself a new owner of a Puncher, it’s also quite obviously the least cool of the bunch. JCPenney had a solid selection of mini bikes.Īnd Sears? Yeah well, Sears was Sears. Penney’s offered similar bikes, but with slightly cooler names like Big Blue, El Tigre, Swinger, and the super cool chopper inspired Duster with its high-rise handlebars and backrest. Montgomery Ward’s offerings into the market included the “sassy” 323 which at only 3hp was no speed demon but certainly still looks like a lot of fun, the “lively” 424 which came with shocks and a 4hp engine, and the “swingin” 525 which packed a full 5hp, 2 speeds, and racing wheels. Advertisement showcasing the 1970 line of Montgomery Ward Mini Bikes. Other brands would soon follow, Taco, Bonanza, Arctic Cat, and Rupp, just to name a few, and soon the major department stores would be selling their own mini bikes as well. These first prototypes were known as “Lil Indians” and they would spark the craze that had little kids begging their parents for a mini-bike. In 1959 the Michrina Brothers would deliver their first mini-bike prototypes to former Indianapolis 500 winner Troy Ruttman to sell at his car dealership.
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