In 1961, Colorado kids had to wait until they were 16 to drive, but you could get a scooter license at 14 1/2. So, some of us bought a scooter. There were Vespas and Lambrettas and one lowly Cushman That wasn't too nice to look at. It was ugly and homemade looking next to the other scooters. Our school parking lot was surfaced with gravel, and we would do doughnuts on our scooters. The Vespas and Lambrettas would do 2 or 3 circles and no more, but the Cushman would do doughnuts forever it seemed.
In 1961, I learned to ride on my best friends Cushman Eagle in Boulder Colorado, we rode it up over Trail Ridge Road that year, my first motorcycle trip. He hated it because everyone else had real motorcycles, Honda 50s and such, so he let me ride it when ever I wanted as I was saving for a car (57 Ford). I have many great memories on that thing, It was a great time and place to be a kid...What part of Colorado were you in?
Fifty years ago we woke up to one of these on Christmas morning. My brothers and sisters rode that thing through rocky terrain in the Western Pennsylvania mountains for years and it performed amazingly.
Thank you so much . I just got my first from that kind man . I appreciate you sharing our story if you care too. There are several more like It on the TH-cam channel
1955 Cushman Eagle! My first motorized ride. My Father bought it for me in 1956. I was 11 years old and became a well-known junior-high student in the county-seat of a rural Oklahoma town. Jeez, what a blast! A license? No such thing then. That was 69 years ago. A '05 Sportster sits in my garage now.
I visited Carpenter industries and Charlotte, North Carolina Gary Carpenter has probably the largest if not want if not the largest Cushman motor scooter collection. He also makes replacement parts for all the Cushman motor scooters that’s Carpenter industries Charlotte, North Carolina.
Woooow. Takes me back when my great uncle had one in his shed while we grew up. He'd make 20 loops around the neighborhood taking each kid, one at a time. He LOVED that scooter and so did all us kids. RIP Uncle Homer!
My brother and I had several Cushmans .Alexander’s Bicycle Shop had a big collection of them in Paris Texas and my brother learned how to get them running when he worked there so we found the old scooters and used them a lot. We never did care much about brakes but wanted to get on the road ASAP. The Eagle would go pretty fast so you could get in trouble on bumpy roads. I’ve quit riding motorcycles now but I’m sure I would not have lasted this long on Cushmans.
The first engine I took apart and reassembled was a Cushman Husky. On a trip to Florida back in 64 a friend and I bought a Highlander for $30 and went all over the place on it. Fun scooter and good times.
I love these old scooters. When I was younger, I used to see people riding Honda and Yamaha scooters, but now days I hardly ever see people riding motor scooters on the road
I remember a guy down our street had a Cushman scooter. He would buzz up and down a trail he had made in the field next to our street. Cushman scooters are a true American classic. Downright crude and shoddy looking next to a Vespa or Lambretta, but a lot of folks in the USA got their start to motorbiking on a Cushman scooter or any of the minibikes back 'in the day'.
My dad owned a Highlander back in the late 50’s into the 60’s and would drive it to work. Sometimes my dad would take me and my brother for rides on the front! What wonderful memories so much fun! Would love to have one of those!
In 1951 dad bought me a Allstate scooter from Sears. We live in the country and farmed so had plenty of roads and turn rows too ride on. Live on Gulf coast of Texas in ab little Danish community of Danevang😁🇺🇸🇺🇸🇺🇸
In these days of electric vehicles, I have a neat Cushman 3 wheel scooter cart. It's much smaller than a golf cart and only about 2 ft. wide and uses 3 six volt batteries. Really unique and fun to drive around my quiet community. Don't know when it was made but has self battery charger✌️👍
@@GaryMetivier , the original color was some faded shade of red. I paid $75 for it. I immediately painted it dark blue. I painted the frame black. I put new piston rings and a new rod bearing in it. It ran great. I rode it all over the place for two years and sold it for $90. It had that long chrome colored exhaust pipe that ran along the right side all the way to the back. They had no mufflers on them and they were loud. I would get it out on Route 67 and let her rip. Top speed was 52 mph, according to a man who followed me to Five Way Market, which was four miles north of the city limits. The scooter still looked good when I sold it. One of my neighbors had a light blue one like it, but his was a little newer model. I’m not sure what year model mine was, probably a 1957 or 58 model. My headlight never did work. Back then scooters did not have to have license tags. nor insurance. We did not wear helmets or any protective gear back then. The Cushman Eagle Scooters are really rare these days. Back in the early sixties, they were popular and finding a used one was not that difficult. I’m surprised more of them did not survive. The last one I saw like the one I had was many years ago at a Bikes, Blues, and Barbecue motorcycle rally. A guy was riding a completely restored one in the parade of bikes. It looked brand new. I recognized the sound, before I saw him. Seeing that scooter brought back a lot memories. I really wanted to talk to him, but never got the chance, as there were thousands of people at that rally and hundreds of bikes in the parade.
I had a couple friends, who had these, they went everywhere. We were all envious... One later got an Eagle & someone got a Mustang.... we were real GREEN with envy... '54-'60 & on...
I had a Cushman Highlander (?) My dad bought it for me and fixed it up. The accelerator was down on the floor and you had to push it down with your heel to accelerate.
In Texas in the fifties you could get a scooter license at 14 yo. I knew for certain that I would get a Cushman for Christmas. Woke up Christmas morning to a new Schwinn Bicycle.
Bob, I’m going to start rebuilding my Cushman. I’ve owned it for 60 years. It has been in the barn all this time. Do you sell parts mine is an Eagle. Not sure of the year. My guess is a 57. I know I can get parts from Dennis Carpenter. Thanks . Love your collection.
Jim- unfortunately Bob passed away. He did have lots and lots of spare parts - but they all have found a new home. Good luck with your rebuild and thanks for watching and telling people about our channel
Back in the 60s my family owned a Cushman ,and the rest of the family would argue about who gets to ride it and for how long ,has was about 20 cents a gallon we could ride for hours !
I had a Cushman Highlander, when I was 16. 1956, it was red, I painted it a light blue Ford color. 1965. I bought it for 25 bucks, sold it to a brother for 25, he had it a month and sold it to someone for 75 bucks. I was sick about it. LOL. Those were the days.
@@GaryMetivier he was being nice.. I know how I would have felt I've had somebody do that to me almost... You just got to make sure that the person that you let you use your equipment as a brain in their head
He ended up gifting me a cushman. We have been good friends for years . If you get chance check out other stories on him and Donna in my playlist Bob and Donna’s garage
I had a Cushman motor scooter at 13 and nearly killed myself on it. Looking back, it was a death trap. The small wheels were unstable on the road and this little 5 horsepower could go over 50 miles per hour. The slick vinyl seat had no edges to keep one seated and a shifter (two speed low and high)was located on the right side just to the rear of the driver. They don’t make these anymore because they will not pass the safety standards. Somehow many of us from my generation survived and grew up tougher and far more adventurous than today’s generation playing video games and laser tag!
It's because of the Cushman paratrooper scooters left behind in Italy after the war that the vespa and lambretta scooters came about. Great looking scooters. Cheers🛵🛵🛵🛵
Anyone who says they were unsafe is full of it. The Cushmans were safe and reliable and sold for a bargain price. They were wonderful and that Husky engine ran forever!
In 1961, Colorado kids had to wait until they were 16 to drive, but you could get a scooter license at 14 1/2. So, some of us bought a scooter. There were Vespas and Lambrettas and one lowly Cushman That wasn't too nice to look at. It was ugly and homemade looking next to the other scooters. Our school parking lot was surfaced with gravel, and we would do doughnuts on our scooters. The Vespas and Lambrettas would do 2 or 3 circles and no more, but the Cushman would do doughnuts forever it seemed.
The beast instead of the beauty:) they are so tough !
In 1961, I learned to ride on my best friends Cushman Eagle in Boulder Colorado, we rode it up over Trail Ridge Road that year, my first motorcycle trip. He hated it because everyone else had real motorcycles, Honda 50s and such, so he let me ride it when ever I wanted as I was saving for a car (57 Ford). I have many great memories on that thing, It was a great time and place to be a kid...What part of Colorado were you in?
@@markmark2080 Akron, Colorado
@@oldtrikerider I have a friend who lives in Akon in the old school house, 'Old School Repair'...
@@markmark2080I attended high school in that building. The last year was 1965. My senior prom was in the gym.
Fifty years ago we woke up to one of these on Christmas morning. My brothers and sisters rode that thing through rocky terrain in the Western Pennsylvania mountains for years and it performed amazingly.
Must have been so hard controlling It on rocks for sure ! Great find memories tho huh?
I wish so much that the Cushman Scooters would come back. They were wonderful.
An outstanding story! I had a model 721 Highlander bought it new in 53. Rode it for years
Thank you so much . I just got my first from that kind man . I appreciate you sharing our story if you care too. There are several more like It on the TH-cam channel
1955 Cushman Eagle! My first motorized ride. My Father bought it for me in 1956. I was 11 years old and became a well-known junior-high student in the county-seat of a rural Oklahoma town. Jeez, what a blast! A license? No such thing then. That was 69 years ago. A '05 Sportster sits in my garage now.
Awesome. Thanks for sharing your memory. !
I visited Carpenter industries and Charlotte, North Carolina Gary Carpenter has probably the largest if not want if not the largest Cushman motor scooter collection. He also makes replacement parts for all the Cushman motor scooters that’s Carpenter industries Charlotte, North Carolina.
Woooow. Takes me back when my great uncle had one in his shed while we grew up. He'd make 20 loops around the neighborhood taking each kid, one at a time. He LOVED that scooter and so did all us kids. RIP Uncle Homer!
Great memory ! Thanks for sharing It with us
My brother and I had several Cushmans .Alexander’s Bicycle Shop had a big collection of them in Paris Texas and my brother learned how to get them running when he worked there so we found the old scooters and used them a lot. We never did care much about brakes but wanted to get on the road ASAP. The Eagle would go pretty fast so you could get in trouble on bumpy roads. I’ve quit riding motorcycles now but I’m sure I would not have lasted this long on Cushmans.
Fun memories ! Thanks for sharing and for watching .
I had a Cushman Super Eagle, while in High School.
Do you remember what color It was?
The first engine I took apart and reassembled was a Cushman Husky. On a trip to Florida back in 64 a friend and I bought a Highlander for $30 and went all over the place on it. Fun scooter and good times.
Cool!
I had a Highlander Cushman from the 60s, a beautiful ride!
I love these old scooters. When I was younger, I used to see people riding Honda and Yamaha scooters, but now days I hardly ever see people riding motor scooters on the road
Yeah probably
A little
More dangerous these days with distracted
Drivers .
I remember a guy down our street had a Cushman scooter. He would buzz up and down a trail he had made in the field next to our street. Cushman scooters are a true American classic. Downright crude and shoddy looking next to a Vespa or Lambretta, but a lot of folks in the USA got their start to motorbiking on a Cushman scooter or any of the minibikes back 'in the day'.
Fun stuff ! Simplier time
Gary, thanks so much for videos with Bob & Donna; and your riding down the driveway toward the house makes me feel like I am back in 1984 again.
Thanks doc
Thank you for watching ! It is so fun sharing their stories!
My dad owned a Highlander back in the late 50’s into the 60’s and would drive it to work. Sometimes my dad would take me and my brother for rides on the front! What wonderful memories so much fun! Would love to have one of those!
Nice memory for sure
I,m almost 72 and have a 1998 R-1 yamaha but grew up upon a Cushman 3 wheeler ,great vidio and memories, long live all Cushmans !😊 priceless to me😮
I had a 1948 Turtleback almost exactly like that one. Mine had balloon tires. 1962, I was 11. I remember that sound. Still ride today at 73 a Harley.
Did It bounce on those balloon tires ? Cool memory for you . Thanks for commenting !
In 1951 dad bought me a Allstate scooter from Sears. We live in the country and farmed so had plenty of roads and turn rows too ride on. Live on Gulf coast of Texas in ab little Danish community of Danevang😁🇺🇸🇺🇸🇺🇸
In these days of electric vehicles, I have a neat Cushman 3 wheel scooter cart. It's much smaller than a golf cart and only about 2 ft. wide and uses 3 six volt batteries. Really unique and fun to drive around my quiet community. Don't know when it was made but has self battery charger✌️👍
That is cool! Have a photo by chance ?
I sure do miss my old Cushman. This was a real bulletproof scooter!
I had a Cushman Eagle scooter when I was 12 and 13 years old.
Nice - what color was It? Do you still have It?
@@GaryMetivier , the original color was some faded shade of red. I paid $75 for it. I immediately painted it dark blue. I painted the frame black. I put new piston rings and a new rod bearing in it. It ran great. I rode it all over the place for two years and sold it for $90. It had that long chrome colored exhaust pipe that ran along the right side all the way to the back. They had no mufflers on them and they were loud. I would get it out on Route 67 and let her rip. Top speed was 52 mph, according to a man who followed me to Five Way Market, which was four miles north of the city limits. The scooter still looked good when I sold it. One of my neighbors had a light blue one like it, but his was a little newer model. I’m not sure what year model mine was, probably a 1957 or 58 model. My headlight never did work. Back then scooters did not have to have license tags. nor insurance. We did not wear helmets or any protective gear back then.
The Cushman Eagle Scooters are really rare these days. Back in the early sixties, they were popular and finding a used one was not that difficult. I’m surprised more of them did not survive. The last one I saw like the one I had was many years ago at a Bikes, Blues, and Barbecue motorcycle rally. A guy was riding a completely restored one in the parade of bikes. It looked brand new. I recognized the sound, before I saw him. Seeing that scooter brought back a lot memories. I really wanted to talk to him, but never got the chance, as there were thousands of people at that rally and hundreds of bikes in the parade.
Always liked these old Cushman.
I had a couple friends, who had these, they went everywhere. We were all envious... One later got an Eagle & someone got a Mustang.... we were real GREEN with envy... '54-'60 & on...
Got a 1962 silver eagle for Christmas one of the best Christmas ever
I bet your smile was sooo big
I owned a 1947 Cushman when I was young .It looked like the 58 almost lots of fun.
Wishing l still had it.
I have one I need to learn how to restore. Should be fun! Great memories.
It was a wonderful tank.😊
For sure!
I had a Cushman Highlander (?) My dad bought it for me and fixed it up. The accelerator was down on the floor and you had to push it down with your heel to accelerate.
And I thought they were hard to figure out without almost crashing :)! Cool story - thanks for sharing !
Love to have one of them only had a frame when I was a kid.
In Texas in the fifties you could get a scooter license at 14 yo. I knew for certain that I would get a Cushman for Christmas. Woke up Christmas morning to a new Schwinn Bicycle.
And you were like - thanks - but…
Another American Scooter, Harley Davidson Topper!
Bob, I’m going to start rebuilding my Cushman. I’ve owned it for 60 years. It has been in the barn all this time. Do you sell parts mine is an Eagle. Not sure of the year. My guess is a 57. I know I can get parts from Dennis Carpenter. Thanks . Love your collection.
Jim- unfortunately Bob passed away. He did have lots and lots of spare parts - but they all have found a new home. Good luck with your rebuild and thanks for watching and telling people about our channel
Back in the 60s my family owned a Cushman ,and the rest of the family would argue about who gets to ride it and for how long ,has was about 20 cents a gallon we could ride for hours !
Sounds like a lot of fun. Bet you slept well after a day in sun ?
I had a Cushman Highlander, when I was 16. 1956, it was red, I painted it a light blue Ford color. 1965. I bought it for 25 bucks, sold it to a brother for 25, he had it a month and sold it to someone for 75 bucks. I was sick about it. LOL. Those were the days.
Priceless memories for sure
Excellent stuff bro
Thank u
how about more info on the mechanics of engine, power transfer , brakes?
Sure. You up for an interview? We lost Bob a few months back.
In Colorado we had a Cushman Eagle, but if you were really cool you had a Super Eagle. Good Times.
Were you one of the lucky “cool” ones :)?
He he almost give that old man a heart attack.. I would have truly regretted letting him on that. 😮
He said he loved every minute of It :)!
@@GaryMetivier he was being nice.. I know how I would have felt I've had somebody do that to me almost... You just got to make sure that the person that you let you use your equipment as a brain in their head
He ended up gifting me a cushman. We have been good friends for years . If you get chance check out other stories on him and Donna in my playlist Bob and Donna’s garage
Great story!
Thank you !
Thanks for watching and commenting !
I had a Cushman motor scooter at 13 and nearly killed myself on it. Looking back, it was a death trap. The small wheels were unstable on the road and this little 5 horsepower could go over 50 miles per hour. The slick vinyl seat had no edges to keep one seated and a shifter (two speed low and high)was located on the right side just to the rear of the driver. They don’t make these anymore because they will not pass the safety standards. Somehow many of us from my generation survived and grew up tougher and far more adventurous than today’s generation playing video games and laser tag!
Lights were dim, just barely enough to see the road at night. Also always hit my shin on the gas tank when starting. Reliable, though.
Totally have done that a dozen times already trying to start one be gave me !!!:) that really hurts !
Jeez buddy I thought for sure you were goin through that garage door must’ve been some pucker factor
For sure !!!! So close
A friend of mine had a Cushman Eagle in 1955 and we rode it all over our town.
Isn't that the guy that helps Robby from American pickers ?
Yes It is .
I bought one in 1965 for ten dollars. It’s was best to death.
Is this gentleman still around I’d love to talk to him
Unfortunately we recently lost Bob
@@GaryMetivier I’m sorry a lot of knowledge lost
@@ajcates9136 for sure . This guy could fix or rebuild anything with a motor .
They don’t make many like that anymore
I'm thinking this guy hasn't ridden any motorcycles...
I’ve ridden a few and had my own for a few years - but haven’t been on one in 20 plus :)
The one I owned was underpowered. The weight of the Scooter was too heavy for the available engine HP.
I had a cushman eagle and they didn't have a suspension. roughest ride you ever had.
For sure! But sure look cool:)
…does american improve handling performance durability speed cornering safety value sentiment…etc…etc…etc…
Must be the ugliest 2 wheeled vehicles made
No wonder they are collector items not many sold not many left
It's because of the Cushman paratrooper scooters left behind in Italy after the war that the vespa and lambretta scooters came about. Great looking scooters. Cheers🛵🛵🛵🛵
Great addition to the story - thank U
Anyone who says they were unsafe is full of it. The Cushmans were safe and reliable and sold for a bargain price. They were wonderful and that Husky engine ran forever!
American engineering at its BEST