Hi!
I wanted to share my build of a real old school motored bike!
I'm currently rebuilding an antique VAP.4 from 1948! 64 years old engine, 40 years older than me
!
This kind of engine was common after WorldWar2 in France, it was the cheapest way to go to work without pedaling or walking.
VAP was one for the 50+ builders of the time, but one of the biggest, and one of the oldest! The VAP4 started in 1948 (I have the #662) and have been one of the best selling engine. It was used in an improved version in mopeds and the VeloVap concurenced the VeloSolex a short while after.
But enough history, what about this particular engine!
It's a 48cc, 2 stroke, 40mm bore / 38mm stroke, 1.2 HP engine, with a manual clutch (made of cork i belive!) and a chain final drive.
The engine is mounted on the rear wheel with a custom nut, so it hangs on the side of the bike.
Here is an old ad:
Mine was missing the tank, the chain and sprocket, the special clutch handle.
I brought an old bike of the 50's to mount it on, and I had a fantastic new project for the winter!
For the fuel tank, I found a bike with a "Mosquito" tank (another engine kit from the 50's). To make the sprocket I used an old Crankset, and adapted it on the brake drum.
Here it is after a bit of work :
After a complete engine cleanup, a lot of spare parts, and a lot of evening work, it runs and drives!
It does about 40km/h at full throttle, it has no power at low RPM, a slippy clutch, and a faulty carburetor, but its is great and I'm really happy with it!
I ordered another carburetor to fix the major issue: it is too lean, and I can't find a bigger jet... So I will change the whole carburetor...
If it doesn't fix the problem, I will probably build an adjustable jet...
A bit of explanation on my motivations to build this bike, and the problems I'm facing!
I've got about 6 other motored bikes at home, all great, but this one will rise above all others: it will be street legal!
Here in France, despite the great history of mopeds and other motorized bikes as the VeloSolex you might have heard about, there is no way to be street legal on a bike/motorbike/car/whatsoever you build or modify yourself. The law is stupid, and more frustrating, even if you stick to the law, there is now way of being inspected to have papers... So all my bikes are just used on small roads, hopping I will not meet the police, and won't have an accident.
But the VAP4 was a registered bicycle engine! So I can have papers for it, an insurance, and I will be able to use it to go to work! My dream for years now!
More important, it is a custom built bike, not a "standard" moped (witch you can't legally modify...) and it will still be legal!
The problems I'm facing are quite complex!
First the papers, even if it is legal, archives from 1948 have burnt in the past, and having papers is a bit more complex than my expectations... I'm working hard on this point!
Second problem, insurance! When I tell them I'm only 24 years old, and I'm riding a 1948 bike, they just don't want to see me... But once I will have papers, it will be easier!
And third problem: stupid people! I don't know why but here, custom built stuff is not always seen as a good stuff. So I'm facing people telling me I don't understand anything, that putting a new speedo is a nonsense, that drilling a hole in an old bike is a crime, and that I may just go back to chainsaw engines... This is not a big problem in first place, because I just don't listen to stupid people, but if I ever got an accident, I will have to be credible with the policemen and the insurance experts on my 1948 bike...
I will make a full video in English showing you how this engine is built and how it works and drives!
Bye.
I wanted to share my build of a real old school motored bike!
I'm currently rebuilding an antique VAP.4 from 1948! 64 years old engine, 40 years older than me
!
This kind of engine was common after WorldWar2 in France, it was the cheapest way to go to work without pedaling or walking.
VAP was one for the 50+ builders of the time, but one of the biggest, and one of the oldest! The VAP4 started in 1948 (I have the #662) and have been one of the best selling engine. It was used in an improved version in mopeds and the VeloVap concurenced the VeloSolex a short while after.
But enough history, what about this particular engine!
It's a 48cc, 2 stroke, 40mm bore / 38mm stroke, 1.2 HP engine, with a manual clutch (made of cork i belive!) and a chain final drive.
The engine is mounted on the rear wheel with a custom nut, so it hangs on the side of the bike.
Here is an old ad:
Mine was missing the tank, the chain and sprocket, the special clutch handle.
I brought an old bike of the 50's to mount it on, and I had a fantastic new project for the winter!
For the fuel tank, I found a bike with a "Mosquito" tank (another engine kit from the 50's). To make the sprocket I used an old Crankset, and adapted it on the brake drum.
Here it is after a bit of work :
After a complete engine cleanup, a lot of spare parts, and a lot of evening work, it runs and drives!
It does about 40km/h at full throttle, it has no power at low RPM, a slippy clutch, and a faulty carburetor, but its is great and I'm really happy with it!
I ordered another carburetor to fix the major issue: it is too lean, and I can't find a bigger jet... So I will change the whole carburetor...
If it doesn't fix the problem, I will probably build an adjustable jet...
A bit of explanation on my motivations to build this bike, and the problems I'm facing!
I've got about 6 other motored bikes at home, all great, but this one will rise above all others: it will be street legal!
Here in France, despite the great history of mopeds and other motorized bikes as the VeloSolex you might have heard about, there is no way to be street legal on a bike/motorbike/car/whatsoever you build or modify yourself. The law is stupid, and more frustrating, even if you stick to the law, there is now way of being inspected to have papers... So all my bikes are just used on small roads, hopping I will not meet the police, and won't have an accident.
But the VAP4 was a registered bicycle engine! So I can have papers for it, an insurance, and I will be able to use it to go to work! My dream for years now!
More important, it is a custom built bike, not a "standard" moped (witch you can't legally modify...) and it will still be legal!
The problems I'm facing are quite complex!
First the papers, even if it is legal, archives from 1948 have burnt in the past, and having papers is a bit more complex than my expectations... I'm working hard on this point!
Second problem, insurance! When I tell them I'm only 24 years old, and I'm riding a 1948 bike, they just don't want to see me... But once I will have papers, it will be easier!
And third problem: stupid people! I don't know why but here, custom built stuff is not always seen as a good stuff. So I'm facing people telling me I don't understand anything, that putting a new speedo is a nonsense, that drilling a hole in an old bike is a crime, and that I may just go back to chainsaw engines... This is not a big problem in first place, because I just don't listen to stupid people, but if I ever got an accident, I will have to be credible with the policemen and the insurance experts on my 1948 bike...
I will make a full video in English showing you how this engine is built and how it works and drives!
Bye.
