Many early motorcycles were really motorized bicycles, a normal bicycle with some small engine either adapted or specifically designed to attach to the bike for power. This particular bit of engineering is the Bugatti T72, a 12.66cc single cylinder, twin cam supercharged engine. Think about that.
The bicycle the engine is attached to in the above photo is a 1937 Peugeot. The engine appears to be specifically built for bicycle use with mounting points designed as part of the engine case. The T72 was a little screamer that would rev to 10,000 rpm! It had gear driven overhead cams and a supercharger. If you like neat early engineering, this is a great example.
These photos and information come from The Bugatti Revue, a web site put together by Jaap Horst of the Netherlands and there are a lot more photos you might want to check out. This site was pointed out to me by Sean, one of our readers from New Zealand. Thanks, Sean!
Link: The Bugatti Revue
Bryce says
That is one of the most awesome things I’ve ever seen.
taxman says
it looks like you could strap that on to about any normal framed bicycle. does anyone make anything like that now?
todd says
Beautiful. Though, it could be a lot simpler and probably weigh less if it was a normally aspirated 50cc single…
-todd
Sean says
Sure, you could do it like that, but then again, a blower on a bicycle? That HAS to tickle something somewhere.
jim reed says
Way cool! What type supercharger! For those of us of more modest means pick up a Honda 50 or one of the Chinese clones, find a good Ford smog pump (in reality a mini vane supercharger) with the inlet and outlet spigots as opposed to the inlet fan type, attach, fit 26 mm Kehin carb correctly jetted and go like stink. I’ve got less than $50 in mine.
jim
b00mslang says
Jim you have any photos posted? We were using smog pumps on Briggs powered gokarts when I was a kid. They’re like a little Judson.
rusnan says
interesting
Leo Keoshian, M.D. says
Paul,
The engine shown on the bicycle is serial number 1 (prototype) and was the only compete unit put together to my knowledge. It was made in the early 40’s and was run briefly at the factory in Paris. The factory rating was: 13.5 cc and @5000 rpm generated 1 hp. Possibly, five or six engines were assembled.