Here are a few photos of my first motor bike. Friction drive Schwinn Suburban With friction drive kit from bikemotorparts.com. The engine is from a gasoline powered auger sold by Harbor Freight. Easy kit to assemble. Took me about an hour to do it all. No mods. Just sweet and simple. Hopefuly it'll give me many miles of good dependable fun.
Porkchop's First Build...Scwhinn Suburban
- Thread starter Porkchop
- Start date
crazeehorse
Member
Thats Cool, Clean, & Neat. I've thought of buying that engine for a build, plus you could always remove the engine, & dig a few post holes. multi-tasking. how do you like the engine ? speed, pulling, etc.
Porkchop
Member
I like the engine O.K. I've had it for almost 2 years. It was a replcaement for an auger that got stollen. Never fired it up until I put it on the bike. I was afraid it was going to be loud, but surprisingly it's pretty quiet. I've put only about 3-4 miles on my bike so far. This is my first build, so I don't have another one to compare to. I've had the bike up to 24mph on a flat, which is fast enough for me. And then again, the engine is not broken in yet. Where I live and the type of riding I'll be doing, I think the engine is adequate. If you're interested in that engine, go to bikemotorparts.com and check their engine info link. They list a few sites where you can purchase several different small engines. There's an engine there that looks identical to this one from Harbor Freight, different name, but probably the same thing for around $110.00 give or take a few dollars. Not advertising for BMP, just trying to help fellow bikers.
Porkchop,
Nice build on that Schwinn.
I just put a friction drive on a folding Dahon.
I had previously built the two stroke in-frame engine kit.
By way of comparison, for every hour riding the China 2 stroke, I spent probably 2 hours fixing broken stuff or adjusting one thing or another versus 1 hour of riding my friction drive four stroke, I spend the time it takes to put gas in it...that's it.
I hope you will be as happy with yours as I am with mine.
Sure, it's got a few drawbacks compared to the China Girl but for my use, the benefits far outweigh the disadvantages.
Good Riding!
Nice build on that Schwinn.
I just put a friction drive on a folding Dahon.
I had previously built the two stroke in-frame engine kit.
By way of comparison, for every hour riding the China 2 stroke, I spent probably 2 hours fixing broken stuff or adjusting one thing or another versus 1 hour of riding my friction drive four stroke, I spend the time it takes to put gas in it...that's it.
I hope you will be as happy with yours as I am with mine.
Sure, it's got a few drawbacks compared to the China Girl but for my use, the benefits far outweigh the disadvantages.
Good Riding!
PC, nice job! I really like that set up with the rack, so clean an simple. My first motorized bike was an MX5 friction driven frame mount. I almost went with that same type kit you have but I was afraid being only 5'7'' I might have trouble mounting and dismounting. I saw vidio clips on u-tube (Bicycle engine kit-install & test ride 1&2) But they never showed anybody mounting or dismounting the bike, thought that was kinda funny. I would still like to build one. Let me know if you think I would have a problem or not with clearing the engine with my leg while getting on or off. Again nice bike!
ENO
Member
Hey Porkchop..ENO (Oz)..Checked out your pics..Does the weight of the motor on the right hand side offset the balance of the bike ?..or do you throw sparks off your left kneecap to compensate on corners...Nice clean looking ride..and the build time..nothing like playing with your present on the day you get it.
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vegaspaddy
Member
congrats there porkchop nice and clean thats one of the plus+ with the friction drive.
crackers the unit is sitting over the back wheel so it does not effect your ability to get on and off your bike any differently with or without the engine just make sure you have a bike that fits your size. I do recommend a good quality bike stand for you though, help with the extra weight issues, there are a couple of threads around here to read up on.
crackers the unit is sitting over the back wheel so it does not effect your ability to get on and off your bike any differently with or without the engine just make sure you have a bike that fits your size. I do recommend a good quality bike stand for you though, help with the extra weight issues, there are a couple of threads around here to read up on.
Vegaspaddy unless at 59 I don't no the correct way to get on and off a bicycle the engine is going to be in the way of my leg as I swing it over the rear tire to get on! Unless of course I'm getting on a women's bicycle with a step through frame.
vegaspaddy
Member
Holly smolly, we have had alot of grumpy newbies show up lately, no punt intended on your knowledge of getting on a bike !!!!!!!
Ok i understand you problem now, the engine kit does put on some extra height there, and yes you might have an issue if mount swinging your leg over
http://www.motoredbikes.com/attachment.php?attachmentid=12190&d=1224795581
This is a pic of my friction setup and as you can see its comes up to the bottom of my seat, which is low for me anyway as this is my cruising bike....
If i were you i would get a cardboard box cut to size, from pics you see of mounts on here) temp stick it there and see if you can swing your leg over, this will tell you straight away if this setup will work for you.
Ok i understand you problem now, the engine kit does put on some extra height there, and yes you might have an issue if mount swinging your leg over
http://www.motoredbikes.com/attachment.php?attachmentid=12190&d=1224795581
This is a pic of my friction setup and as you can see its comes up to the bottom of my seat, which is low for me anyway as this is my cruising bike....
If i were you i would get a cardboard box cut to size, from pics you see of mounts on here) temp stick it there and see if you can swing your leg over, this will tell you straight away if this setup will work for you.
Sorry if I sounded grumpy but I was looking for clearance info! I like your idea of using a box for a mock up. My problem is going to be with the width not the height. How wide should the box be, and if measuring from the center of the tire how far to the right and how far to the left? Thanks Crackers
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