i just finished my first build with a bike i bought at walmart. i bought a "schwinn delmar". the bike works pretty decent. i did have a little trouble with chain clearence but not much. also i had to mount the engine a little more crooked than i wanted to. it leans forward too much. which in turn makes the carburetor lean forward also. and it is possibly making the engine not run as well as it could. but it runs...
i also bought another bike from walmart. a huffy. i cant remember the name right now, buts its blue and has cream colored fenders. i havent tried to set a kit up on the bike but i think it might work better than the schwinn delmar. also it has WAYYY better rims. the rims on the schwinn are very thin and a magnant wont stick to them. but the rims on the huffy are thick and a magnant does stick. also the huffy was i think $85 and the schwinn was $120. the only thing i dont like about the huffy is the seat. the springs are a little weak for my 245 pounds and it bends back too far when i set on it. also i like the handle bars on the schwinn better. it makes me feel a little safer for some reason. the schwinn is over all a tiny bit bigger seeming than the huffy. and over all i liked the schwinn better. but the rims suck! thats why i switched them with the rims from the huffy. i would say go with the huffy. and the only thing you may need/want is a better seat. unless you weigh less than me, than you might not need it. but if you buy the schwinn you should either have some better rims to put on it, or im sure they will bend up very quickly and you'll be out buying new ones soon anyways.
both these bikes are cruiser style bikes. im not sure if thats what your looking for or not. but they are really the only bikes i see at walmart that will work. all the mountain bikes have suspension set ups that are in the way. and there are 2 "comfort" style bikes that MIGHT work. but i am not sure. but for sure the schwinn delmar and the huffy cruiser bikes will. the only real problem is you will have to drill threw the frame for the bottom motor mount. because the frame is just too thick. you might be able to rig your self up some type of thing and not have to drill. but i was eager to get the thing put together and drilling was the fastest easiest way for me. although i didnt want to really do it because im sure it weakens the whole frame but im not sure how badly...
another good thing about the schwinn delmar is it has a really strong rear rack. almost strong enough where i can set on it. so for someone weighing like, id say 220 pounds or less, it could almost act like a rear seat and you could have another rider if you wanted.
what engine kit to you have? you can send me an e-mail if you want to talk about anything. like i said i just built a bike a couple weeks ago. and it was my first build. and i have been tinkering with it alot and i have learned quite a bit. and had to solve alot of different issues big and small. and im still working on a couple. so if you need help with anything i might be able help. especially if you buy one of the bikes i mentioned. sicne i have the same ones. (p.s. my kit is an SD STINGER) Ron
back2theborstal@yahoo.com
p.p.s also yes you want to look for a 26 inch bike. i guess 24 inch will also work, yet it might be a little tight when trying to mount your engine. and if your big like me 6'2'' 245 you want the biggest bike you can get. i wish they made a 32'' bike or something! also another thing about the 2 cruiser bikes i mentioned. i had a big problem with the brakes on the schwinn. they have rear pedal brakes. which can be used because they are the "free wheel" type. yet they are put together and made crappy (walmart) and the brakes want to lock up or stop working. another reason why i switched the rims from the huffy with the rims that came on the schwinn. besides crappy thin rims, crappy brakes as well! thats way i say you should just buy the huffy cruiser. much better bike id say. and cheaper. you just might need a more sturdy seat, but other than that you should be good to go!