Motorized bicycles... I build em.
Motorized bicycles... I build em.I like to build motorized bicycles.
I never had the money for a Whizzer or a Whizzer kit so I discovered the Chinese 2 stroke engine kits about 3 years ago. I have built 3 different motor bikes. The first was a 1955 Schwinn 24" frame modified to accept 26" wheels, built up as a bobber chopper style. Next was a 1905 inspired "clip on" kit style with a brass fuel tank and steam bent oak fenders. The last was a 1920's Mead "Motorbike" style bicycle with a Russian moped engine. Each bike had lots of custom and vintage touches. I had to sell them all to pay the rent, (starving artist syndrome) Here are the pictures of each bike. Rusty
I too can only see one picture, but I'm anxious to see the others. This is right up the alley of my next little project. I've got a 1952 Honda Cub F bicycle engine, and would like to attach it to a period correct Japanese bike (do you know where I could locate one perhaps?).
It would look like this when restored/assembled:
Don't know whats up with the pictures.
They all show up when I look. Honda Cub engine looks like a fun restoration. The bike is probabily a 28" wheel bike that has been built the same since the industrial revolution like the "Flying pigeon" is still produced today. They all seem to be based on the Sturmey Archer design from that period. You could haunt ebay for one. If you could be content to have a vintage looking bike retrofitted to the project you may consider Rideable bicycle replicas english road bike. http://www.hiwheel.com/antique_replicas ... adster.htm They seem to be out of stock since last summer on this bike. I'm sure Japan was crawling with english and dutch road bikes in that time period. Look for a Dutch Batavus 28" they usually have drumb brakes front and rear with lights and everything, or tha Raligh is a great bike but more pricey.
I really like what you've done with those bikes. Did you use them? I can only imagine the looks one would get riding one of those.
As for Raligh bikes. I've seen dozens of them around here in Newfoundland. Up until the mid 40's we were part of the British empire and all you would see was the Raligh bicycle around here. I still see them from time to time in the local papers. I had one here that I put in the garden for a decoration. I remember the quaility of the braking system. There were no cables just rods and a good solid bike. Great bit of work you've done there!
Thanks for all the info. I've been spending the past few days looking at old 1950's style bikes. I really like this one, and think I might get it:
http://cgi.ebay.com/J-C-Higgins-bicycle ... dZViewItem The only thing I'm concerned about is, is there anyway to know if this bike will "free wheel" (sorry, I don't know the exact term if there is one) when you're not pedaling it?
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