Here's an interesting project that takes little money, isn't too hard to do and actually has a practical side, it's a Huffy bicycle found at a flea market, a couple of vintage looking pieces found on eBay, a new Honda 50cc engine and a few other modifications to make it look like an early grey Harley Davidson.
According to the builder it gets about 120 mpg and cruises at a comfortable 25 to 30 mph with a top speed approaching 40 mph.
Looks like a cool project to get the kids involved in a little "hands on" activity or something to get your own hands into the building process. Neat.
Link: Vintage Bike via Make
{ 30 comments… add yours below ... }
Looks vintage enough really nice job.
Definitely an “A-” grade for effort and creativity. These kind of projects are fun!
pretty dang cool. This is how a majority of motorcycle companies actually started.
-todd
Tried this once. now i got what was a running weed wacker motor on a shelf. and what was a working ten speed now just a rolling frame with bars and a seat. It would help to have a welder and all other crap needed befor you begin a project. even if it is a little one.
Is that a coffee can used to make the headlight? It’s not my style, but kudos to him for completing his vision. It takes imagination to be able to pull something like this off without breaking the bank.
From a casual glance, it looks like something that was made a hundred years ago. However, a little further looking shows that it’s a very cleverly crafted homage. This bike looks really fun.
This is how a majority of motorcycle companies actually started.
Honda certainly did. 1947 Honda A-type
Well done, nice touches.
Awesome! Looks like you can pedal it if it runs out of gas also.
That looks great, the white tires finish it off perfectly. Is that centre stand made from 2 bike kick stands welded together? Very creative!
40mph! I hope it doesn’t have vintage brakes too!
gorgeous !!
That’s pretty neat . Maybe a new craze build you own custom moped . Neat ! Have fun .
Does anyone know from what vehicle that Honda engine came from? It looks very compact.
That’s awesome. I love it. I think I’d go with some heftier brakes if I made one, though. Looks like the original bicycle brakes on there. Pretty cool.
forrest – according to this link:
http://www.britishcarforum.com/bcforum/ubbthreads.php/topics/505537/1,
the engine is a brand new Honda GXH50 (49.4cc) with 2.5hp.
The owner of the bike has other details there as well.
Great link. Thanks for the info.
Well, I’m the guy with too much time on my hands. Thanks for the kudos. It’s been great fun to build. The headlight is actually an old railroad lantern and it cannot be seen in these pics, but it houses the speedometer as well. I doubt this will be my last such project.
Hey looks really nice and it has modivated me so much but I have got to know what exactly is attached(type of clutch) and how you attached the rear sprocket to the rear hub. Also love the handlebars, nice touch.
Nice board track racer!! I helped grubee develop the kit and have one little auction up if anyone wants to try it themselves. http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&rd=1&item=320324700632&ih=011&sspagename=STRK%3AMESE%3AIT&viewitem=
I don’t make but $35 if one sells and i offer very good tech support. The bike in the pictures went 48+ mph and could be called the fist, elbow, knee, hip slider but i just called her Schwanda. -=B
Way to cool,you can tell that it talent and time to do that,my hat’s off to you. It kinda remind’s me of of the early Harley’s.
I’be built a few using the 80cc two stroke kit. Used the Huffy Cambridge as the base, with one built around a Diamonback Delacruiser (aluminum frame). They are very reliable, and the top speed on the Diamondback was 38 mph.
Some motors are a lot faster than others, Chinese quality control being what it is. The motor looks like an early Fuji/Hodaka motor sans the gearbox. Modifying the exhaust with a expansion chamber made for a Mini-Indian gave the motor real powerband, along with a new less restrictive air fliter.Cleaning up the ports helps a lot too.
Being a purist I kept the stock coaster-brake on all the ones I built and sold, makes you look far far ahead, because you put the brake on here, and you stop way down there somewhere. Anyone want a pic email me.
Oh , I love it . It’s my dream ! I want but i can’t…
I am adding a robust lighting system that looks period correct including a more powerful headlight (same housing), front and rear turn signals, and a stop/tail light. I will post a link to pics when it is finished. This is a rider, not for sitting still, so I wanted some safety, but with the right look. The 7ah battery is housed in a leather saddle bag (actually a vintage Polaroid leather case), with a matching leather case on the other side.
[quote]
QrazyQat 10.14.08 at 8:11 pm
This is how a majority of motorcycle companies actually started.
Honda certainly did. 1947 Honda A-type
[/quote]
1947 was just two years after the two atom bombs and the end of WW2. One way or another Japan was pretty much bombed flat, so old Mr Honda did pretty well to make any sort of bike.
I was wondering if anyone knows about the company that is actually producing motorcycles that look like this one or board track racers from the 20s I am interested in buying one. I saw the article I think Easy Rider Bike show their is a company that is making them for around 3,000.00 . Please contact me Thanks Johnnyboy
Very nice. Not an easy thing to build that’s for sure. My personal preffernce would be to let it age a bit so it looks really old.
The headlamp is a regular battery powered lantern. I have one like it. They used this to recreate the headlamps on vintage bikes from the teens. It’s not a coffee can.
I love the idea. I have an electric bike that has been broke down most of the time but it looks retro and I was thinking about something like this.
I have an 08 Kawasaki Versy’s that is a fantastic and fun bike, would love to see what you would do with it.
I’m just medically retired at age 53 and will be moving to a house with a big shop out back and I will be watching you for ideas and maybe things to buy.
Thanks
RoadRash
I don’t sell anything…except my legal services and here’s hoping you don’t need those.
The Versys is a nice bike…and I would personally start by stripping all the plastic parts off and looking to see what style of classic bike it most reminds me of…then let the bike be my guide…to an extent.
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