Why I haven't contributed lately...

[Big-E]

Hi all,

Recently i haven't posted around here much; I've been quite busy with several projects unrelated to spudding. Mostly I've been helping My Brother out with his latest drag car project in the hopes that i can get back to work on mine...

Of course, Idle hands and all, I've been keeping busy. Here's one of my latest side projects: A motorized bicycle...



It's a 7-speed, 26" Schwinn Point Beach cruiser. It's been modified quite a bit, not the least of which includes a 48cc Grubee Starfire 2-stroke engine.



I would say I've invested around $200 into this project.

I definitely wanted the feel of a boardtrack motorcycle, I love this thing, And I get thumbs up everywhere I go. I've since helped build about four other motorized bicycles. Here are some more pics:






Removed the front fender, added a bobbed rear fender, laid-back seat post, new seat, whitewall tires, 2-into-1 brake lever, etc... lotta work involved, but the end product is a blast!

I even got my brother to build one, but his ended up being a clone of a 1914 Indian boardtrack motorcycle, and has a 66cc engine instead. Puts my bike to shame, but it rides like a dream.

I fully intend to submit a new launcher soon, but as for the contest this year, well, it's safe to say I wasn't going to have an entry ready.

If you're looking for a spare time project, motorized bicycles are fairly easy to build, inexpensive, and they get 150 miles per gallon! they are street legal in most of the 50 states too!

[Davidvaini]

looks a lot like spooky tooth cycles...

http://www.spookytoothcycles.com/content/view/165/153/

[Big-E]

Yes, I know Spooky tooth; I buy parts from them. The seat Post and brake lever are among their wares. I also bought a Monark springer fork for my brother's project from them. Spooky tooth is a great shop.

The engines I use are usually sourced through gasbike.net, though. they tend to cost me a little less money that way.

[Davidvaini]

cool cool, thought some of that looked familiar.

looks like a great project though.

[dewey-1]

Very nice work on all the little details!
I am sure you enjoyed doing that project.

I wanted to do something similar using an adult version of the Schwinn Sting Ray bicycle.

[Big-E]

Stingrays are popular for these engines, but an adult version isn't required, you can just barely fit one of these engines into a vintage kids stingray; I've seen it before.

Now, the more modern stingray, you have to get creative to mount the engine on the fat tube; I believe sickbikeparts makes a frame adapter for the newer stingray bikes. it'll just bolt in on an older one with skinnier tubes, though. I had a fat downtube on my bike, and had to get creative for the front motor mount (I didn't want to drill through the tube, as it's an aluminum frame)

[Gippeto]

Nice work Big E. You captured the essence of "board tracker" rather well I think.

Love the pin striping too!

:thumbup: :thumbup:

[jonnyboy]

I've tried something like this before it involved a leaf blower engine mounted to the front forks. Didn't work well...

Might have to give it another try though.

[skyjive]

VERY nicely done! Since you are into spudding and bike modification, maybe have a go at a project I've been toying with, making a compressed-gas motor capable of powering a bike? Admittedly not very efficient but it would be awesome.

[TurboSuper]

Heh, awesome, I just finished one of those myself:

http://www.theopia.com/viewtopic.php?t=2084&

[jrrdw]

Yeaaaaaa! Are you a member of www.theopia.com yet? There's one a lot like his posted there, you can find it.