Deciding on a suitable motored bike for myself.

S

Sianelle

Guest
Um.... this is my first post and I feel very nervous about it :???:

I'm not particularly keen on owning a car because it's simply too much vehicle for what I need. Besides a few months ago I sold my much loved 1950s Morris because I couldn't afford to run her anymore,
smileyfaces35tm8.gif
- so it would be downright stupid of me to buy myself another car.
I have my retro dark green Hercules electric tricycle for local shopping trips, 'go-and-get-it' jobs & etc around this small town where I live.......

http://img503.imageshack.us/img503/5498/anniesherculestrike3iy0.jpg

........ and it works great for that. An upright trike with a ladies step-thru frame is brilliant for short stopping and starting type trips and with the high seating position it's easy to see over and past the tin-tops on mainstreet while their drivers are mucking about looking for parking spaces.

I've got no end of interesting elderly English bicycles - so I'm never stuck for a bicycle for quick 'nip-up-the-road' journeys. I've got various 1980's 10 speed roadies too if I'm feeling like I want to whizz about and prove how shallow my energy reserves are with this illness I live with. Sooooo it's not really a big priority for me to build a two wheeled motored bike or motor-bicycle.
What I really need is a trike that can take me further than my electric Hercules, but with a wee bit more seated comfort. Now as it happens I've got most of the makings of one of these hanging up in the garage......

http://img232.imageshack.us/img232/2194/lowridertrikemn0.jpg

............ Mine doesn't have so much chrome and has a lot of gold toned paint instead, but by and large this is what I've got. Wheels are 20 inch. As a conventional custom trike it's waaaay too small for me as I'm just a tad under 6ft tall in my socks, - BUT I'm sure I could rework it into a recumbent type custom. Decent seat at the back over the rear axle; shift the BB to a better position for pedalling; - I'm not lacking for spare bicycle parts so I can do all this without any trouble. Oh and I'm one of those horrible people who has a lathe, a gas welding set and a MIG welder. (Thanks for teaching me how to do all this Dad :D)
Engine would be one of these......

http://img232.imageshack.us/img232/4263/villiers98cchm8.jpg

.......A jolly old English Villiers two stroke engine with a lovely big brass flywheel. I have several of these engines, - they range from 98cc-63cc and nobody in a Police uniform really knows what size they are these days, so most folk who use them just say '50cc' when asked. They aren't revvers, they are stump pullers and I like them, - lots :D
I'm thinking in terms of a steampunk theme, - I'd like to use that Model 'T' steering wheel I've got hanging on the garage wall and drive to the stem through a long shaft and universal joint. Lots of brass and copper detail with rivets. Maybe just a touch of wicker bodywork too so it almost becomes a three wheeled cyclecar. I shall have to get my sketchpad out and firm up some ideas.

(sigh of relief) Well that's my first post all done, - Mr Moderator please be gentle with me.....
 
Well, I'm not a moderator, but as a reader, I found your post well written, and very interesting. It is in General Discussion, so that should be about right. I like your treasures, and admire your ideas. Made me feel like I was reading one of Ian Flemings original James Bond novels. Do any of your bikes toss out nails, or have an ejection seat? :D

Denny
 
The engine reminds me of the couple of Seagull boat motors I have seen... 10/1 and an oily streak on the water.:D

I like your idea for a bent trike, have been thinking of doing one myself, but until your post was going to spend over a grand on a new recumbent. Now I think I'll start checking out the garage sales for a standard trike.
 
:cool:Sianelle, i love your HERCULES trike.

Personally, I would attempt to retrofit a front-mounted setup onto HERCULES, using your Villiers engine. With your skills and equipment, you could pull it off.

An easier solution would be to utilize a GEBE front engine setup. A ROBIN/SUBARU 1.6hp or its lesser counterpart would be more than sufficient.

Your electric hub system could be augmented by the IC engine to provide regenerative power. one member here has successfully done so. It has permitted him to use lighter, less powerful batteries. It has also afforded him UNLIMITED range for his electric hub system.

Nice to meet a woman with mechanical skills.

Myron
 
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Great post! Best of luck Kiwi.

....A jolly old CAST IRON English Villiers. The only Villiers I ever saw was in a BSA Bantam!
 
Hi Sianelle,

Hmm, that engine looks like a 2F or JDL - I seem to know too much about the cyclemotors of the past lol...

If you can find one to fit the expansion box and twin pipes from the rudge cyclemotor would work great with that engine, although they might need a little work...

I had thought about a recumbant too - I didnt think about fitting up a trike as such, but then I dont have the tools to do it and dont know anyone local who does. *sigh*

Sorry to hear you arent well - I did have a thought and that was using deraillier gearing to take drive from the engine to the rear axle...

Front fork mounting is a good idea but I can foresee one problem - fumes. With the engine mounted high on the fork you'd need a flexible exhaust of some sort... to run under the body of the bike.

anyways, good luck with it and welcome again to the madness that is MBc

Jemma xx
 
Thanks for all the encouragement and advice everyone :D
Jemma I love your signature, just to show how true it can be here's the source of several of my Villiers engines......
http://img217.imageshack.us/img217/5900/villierspowermowerzd3.jpg

Some of my collection.....
http://img217.imageshack.us/img217/236/villiersenginesia2.jpg

I was having a look through some of the images I have archived on my hard-drive and I thought this homebuilt conversion might be of interest to the group. (not one of mine btw!)
http://img217.imageshack.us/img217/1218/villiershomebuildtb3.jpg

http://img217.imageshack.us/img217/3153/villiershomebuild2wl9.jpg

http://img217.imageshack.us/img217/4264/villiershomebuild3wl3.jpg

http://img217.imageshack.us/img217/5289/villiershomebuild4lr5.jpg

http://img441.imageshack.us/img441/940/villiershomebuild5dd7.jpg

I shall go and have a lurk in my garage workshop and see what I can find amongst my treasures. Watch this space :D
 
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At least one of those engines is bigger than a 98cc :D. Are they all free turning or is it a case of judicial hammering to free the engine off?

hope you are ok

Jemma xx
 
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