Tote Gote

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The Tote Gote is an off-road motorcycle manufactured from 1958 to 1970. It was developed by Ralph Bonham.

Video Tote Gote

History

Bonham created the Tote Gote to ease weariness walking across the Utah mountains while hunting. First called the "Mechanical Goat", his name was replaced by his ability to "snatch" (carry) deer out of the woods while climbing a climb with mountain goat skills.

The first Gotes Tote can reach speeds of only 5 mph (8 km/h), too slow for functional usage, and the front wheel rises from the ground when too much throttle is applied. The design was finally refined in November 1957. The first Tote Gote was sold on June 1, 1958. After entering mass production, 3,700 Tote Gotes were sold in 1960. The second version of Tote Gote entered the market in 1959, called Model A or "Scamp".

Ralph Bonham's father, Bond Bonham, became president of Bonham Corporation while Ralph focused on research and development. Improvements are introduced, such as rear and side screens to protect wild games and drivers, and lighting systems. New variants are also made, such as Loadstar III, Tote Gote three wheels for use in warehouse and plant nurseries; a street-based model called Collegiate for use on campuses; a minibike called Mini Gote; and the shaft driven series is calling NOVA.

After producing Tote Gotes for thirteen years, the Bonham Company closed in 1970 and sold the rest of its spare parts. The Tote Gote fan community is still active.

Maps Tote Gote

Producing

Tote Gotes are painted with low pressure paint flow. The frame is placed over a large tub of paint with a hose on either side. Paint is pumped through the hose while the worker directs the flow of paint over the frame. Excessive paint flows from the bottom and returns to the tub. The frame is rotated while it dries to minimize running. Mostly red, yellow, and partly green (mostly for the Forest Service). Novas is aquamarine. The paint used is Sherwin-Williams-based lead.

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Model

• B : Drive chain. The original model, also called model A, "Scamp," and "Skeeter Trail". The Skeeter Trail includes louvered side metal sheets instead of side screens and 3 horsepower (2.2 kW) Briggs & amp; Stratton Machine. The first model uses a "Duster" clutch and a continuously variable transmission made by Deepco, originally for snowmobiles. Then the model uses the same clutch, by Salisbury.
• P : Drive chain. As for Model B later, except with larger frame, 5 horsepower machine (3.7 kW), and curved design on top of clutch.

Bonham made several one-off and rare prototypes, such as four-wheeled vehicles for military purposes and some prototype Tote Gote Trail Bikes. (The most recent Trail Bike auctioned on eBay in November 2005.)

Trailer

• 101 (trailer): Light trailer, two-wheeled with sheet metal side that can carry four Tote Gotes.
• 102 (trailer): Medium duty, three wheeled trailer (two wheels at the back, one at the front) with metal side sheets that can carry four Tote Gotes, with folding storage beds.
• 103 (trailer): Heavy duty trailer (500-lb rated) with metal sheet side that can carry four Tote Gotes, or two Chargers

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Ads

Among some photo ads there is a picture of Ralph Bonham in a Tote Gote that fires a shotgun, a man who jumps Model B through a small sand dune, two Collegiate Tote Gotes parked in the yard with picnic people in the background, and several other photos of people who picnic.

Advertising illustrations include families on the Skeeter Trail, and a man riding a Spartan Tote Gote snowmobile into a mountain cabin.

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Accessories

• The metal box in front for the tin of fuel or other goods
• "St. Grab Bag" saddle bag
• Six volt Delta headlights, or General Electric sealed lights
• Folding rear rack "Pak Rack"
• Snub Downs, later called Snubber Rubbers, or Rubber Snubber
• Chain front and rear tires for snow
• Snow plow
• Buddy front or back seat with hind leg
• Back light (standard on Collegiate)
• Rubber footstool
• Sidecar
• Front brake (for nonstandard models)

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See also

• Rokon motorcycle
• Go kart

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External links

• Tote Gote Land - Information and message boards Tote Gote
• Arnim Zimmer's Tote Gote site - stories, manuals and registry

York: Motorbikes were introduced in 1958

Source of the article : Wikipedia