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Post by oldchopperguy on Sept 7, 2016 10:45:42 GMT -5
I have not seen it, but plan to tune in. -I wasn't really interested in vintage motorcycles until installed an engine kit on a beach cruiser bicycle. It wasn't long before I wanted to build a vintage Harley replica, circa 1907, as many of them were pedal start (with bicycle pedals and chain). -I never built that Harley replica, but I built a few different versions of springer seats and such for my motorbike. -I know that watching Harley and the Davidsons will make me want to start on that 1907 replica.
Absolutely! Powered bicycle conversions are a modern-day recreation of the early bikes.  Most early bikes like the first Harleys used a wide, flat leather belt connecting a small pulley on the crankshaft to a huge pulley (sheave) on the rear wheel. A big lever tightened an idler-pulley against the belt to turn the engine over for pedal-starting, and to engage the running engine to ride. The very same setup can still be found today, but using a V-belt, on the original and repro Whizzer motorbikes. As for the new motorized bicycles, I saw on You-Tube a truly marvelous innovation some fellow cobbled up... He took a 10-speed mountain-bike with a 2-sprocket derailer on the pedal crank, and connected the engine (centrifugal clutch) via bicycle-chain to the inside pedal-sprocket, or "chainwheel"... Now, he had a fully-functional 5-speed BICYCLE to pedal if desired, AND a fully-functional 5-speed MOTORBIKE with shift-on-the-fly clutchless shifting. Whew! Did that thing GO! Three horsepower little 2-stroke weed-whacker motor would hit near 50-mph in 5th gear, with plenty of low-end climbing power in the lower gears... Modern bicycle chains seem to easily handle the little engine's power, and by powering the PEDAL CRANK you get to keep the rear derailer gears!
Interestingly, non-suspension older mountain-bike frames resemble the early motorcycles. Put a repro bicycle springer-fork on one and you have a pretty credible replica vintage cycle!Pretty sweet!  Have a bone, and do build a turn-of-the-century motorbike if you can! Ride safe!Leo in Texas |
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Post by oldchopperguy on Sept 7, 2016 0:24:38 GMT -5
Well, boyz n' gurlz...
Have we all been watching "Harley and the Davidsons"?
It's really dramatic, and entertaining. Lots of old (very old) school bike action. Who said "mopeds" can't be macho...? There are a lot of early 1900's bikes in action. I assume they must mostly be replicas, but what a major accomplishment to make that many running bikes which look so authentic. Only the helmets look out of character. They appear to be modern half-shell "skid-lids" covered with vintage leather. They do look like something from the 1940's, but I'm sure pre-WWI riders had no helmets at all, or at best, leather aviation skull-caps.
But they work, and are acceptable for the protection of the actors, often riding pretty dangerously.
I'd like to think the original Indian people were not quite the evil horse's butts portrayed in the drama. Who knows, but I can't help but notice this portrayal of Harley Davidson as the totally innocent, Boy Scout-pure, hopelessly honest bunch of underdogs... savagely mistreated by the self-serving, amoral and totally evil crew at Indian has interesting timing.
This year, the new Indian firm unleashed their truly fabulous big twins, aimed squarely at the Harley big cruisers... Then, the new Indian Scout, aimed at the Harley Sportster rider. Then, Indian had the audacity to launch a flat-track bike...
So... Harley countered with their new "Milwaukee Eight" 8-valve upgrade to the big twin, AND a new flat-track racer...
With the original Indian marque being of no significance for decades, it seems it's back with a vengeance under the Victory banner.
Who could guess that bitter rivalry between Harley Davidson and Indian would re-emerge after most of a century of time?
Whatever the case, the timing of this docu-drama, "Harley and the Davidsons" is most interesting. I'll bet Harley Davidson is involved it its production up to their eyeballs...
Both marques are now offering the sweetest big V-twins around, right now! So buyers of either make will probably be pretty pleased with their purchases.
I'd encourage anyone interested in the Harley Davidson history to watch this series. It's worthwhile just for the authentic bikes, apparel and atmosphere.
Ride safe!
Leo in Texas
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Post by oldchopperguy on Sept 3, 2016 1:07:47 GMT -5
Motor? We don't need no stinking MOTOR! That guy must have legs like Popeye... One FAST bicycle!
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Post by oldchopperguy on Aug 29, 2016 17:50:26 GMT -5
The MyRoad had to go or get a complete redesign. The seating position put the rider too close to the front faring so that your knees even if you were of medium height would bump there and get hooked by the handlebars. Looked great till you sat on it and got ready for a test ride. They could not give them away around here and despite price cuts and promotions they just lingered on the lots. Get ready for Lance and Syms Labor Day event. They are offering dealers incentives to move bikes with special bulk pricing. I did notice that! I have fairly short legs, so the design doesn't bug me as much as some, but the rider's nose over the front wheel "Kymco crouch" seems to be a part of their design philosophy. It's about the only gripe I have about the Kymcos. I don't like sitting all the way forward on a bike, and in my old age, even find it affects my balance. As a matter of fact, my 1970 Harley Electra Glide's beautiful leather buddy-seat was the same. It put the rider right over the gas-tank, and made reaching the ground a real chore on the over 1,000 pound bike. I replaced it with a seat from the Harley "factory chopper wannabe" which looked great on the dresser and made it sit like a chopper.
The first owner of "Minnie Mouse" did some fairly involved work on the "lumbar support" to move it a full inch rearward, and that makes a lot of difference. Many Kymco riders remove the support so they can move back a half a foot or so on the seat. Not a bad idea, but I actually LIKE the support, so I've learned to "live with it"... LOL! That "My Road" was a real behemoth, and felt to me as heavy and cumbersome as a big Harley or a 6-cylinder Honda... a WHOLE lot cheaper though! A LOT of "twist n' go" scoot for the bucks... There surely are a BUNCH of choices out there! Ride safe, Leo in Texas |
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Post by oldchopperguy on Aug 27, 2016 23:21:17 GMT -5
There is no kit made for building one of these.  Now, THAT is TOTALLY old-school, bare-bonz, maliciously completely BAD AZZ!
Must be a featherweight BONE-SHAKER but you'd KNOW you're aboard a hard-whackin', stump-pullin' REAL BIKE!
Love it!
Leo in Texas
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Post by oldchopperguy on Aug 27, 2016 23:12:12 GMT -5
I've been riding on and off for 50 years and I still like small bikes with pretty big motors. I've never had a crotch rocket, but I rode dirt bikes with my sons for a couple of decades, then switched to road bikes when they graduated college. My one big trip was 5,500 miles (solo) on my Sportster out to the Grand Canyon from the east coast and then back home. Loved every minute of it and wish I was healthy enough to do it again!  My two cents...there's no such thing as a perfect bike, but every ride can be nearly perfect. Before this SC250 my last bike was a Suzuki Boulevard S50 (800 cc) and I really liked it. Only 450 lbs, shaft drive so no chain to worry about, and it felt very nimble and quick. And with my short inseam the low seat height suited me fine. And for long hauls, I found that an Air Hawk cushion can make hours in the saddle much more comfortable.
From one old coot to another, I've got to agree with you!
I too have a short inseam, and back in the sixties, a Harley chopper seemed to fit just right... You'd have loved my "Old Blue"... '57 pan-head chopped to nothing but the motor, frame, tank and wheels.
The old Hog weighed less than 300 pounds, and had over 250hp... And enough torque to dump the clutch at 600 rpm and still smoke the tire. WooHOO! THAT was FUN!
That was 57 years ago, and I still remember the thrill of cranking out quarter-mile times in the low 11's at more than 130... Not crotch-rocket times, but back then, MIGHTY quick!
Have a bone on the old chopper guy, and...
Ride safe!
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Post by oldchopperguy on Aug 26, 2016 23:17:14 GMT -5
Getting back to Leo's original subject, seems the most plentiful donor bike is the good ole Chinese DS (dual sport). To make the Chinese DS into a bobber, the plastic fenders, tank and other panels must be replaced with tins from classic bikes (or refinished). If you base your bobber on a Zongshen RX3, you could have yourself an 80mph machine.
Sounds like a plan, bro! Have a bone!
I'd love to see more Chinese bobbers on the road! They are modern-day equivalents to the good old Harley 45 and 74 flatheads, and Indian Scouts and Chiefs. Probably as much performance as the 45's, too. I truly love my "modern" (sorta) Kymco, but deep down inside, I'm still a chopper guy!
The "Chinese bobber" brings us nostalgically back to that WONDERFUL era of the affordable chopper that was so prevalent when I was a little nipper... OK, so I was a BIG nipper... LOL!
C'mon, you young bucks and does, get out the old cutting torch and make some head-turners!!!
Ride safe, and, ride COOL!
Leo in Texas
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Post by oldchopperguy on Aug 25, 2016 23:18:04 GMT -5
Did you mention something about Chinese bobbers, Leo?   
Wow, amazing that an opposed-twin shaft-drive can look SO cool! I know little about these obscure Chinese 2-cylinder rides except that they apparently are VERY old-timey clones of a WWII era German military bike... Probably a BMW or Zundap. They also look a lot like a similar Harley military ride from that era. And... Like the sidecar rig with travel-trailer the GEICO guy rides. (Looks like one of the original GEICO cave-men) from vintage commercials. Heck, ANY flathead can be cool!
Thanks for posting these UNUSUAL but COOL rides! Have a bone! Leo |
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Post by oldchopperguy on Aug 25, 2016 23:10:37 GMT -5
Wheelbender6,
Don't hold your breath on ANYTHING new from Kikker... Local dealers are listing their products as "discontinued" and their home page only list the little 110 cc versions. I love those bikes and hope Kikker DOES make some kind of "resurrection" but their lineup looks like it's heading for the last roundup. I truly hope I'm wrong...
There ARE other bobber types like the "Heist" which are nice, and not too pricey, but don't have as classic a frame as the Kikker.
Hardknock's designs REALLY had the look down pat and I hope they make a come-back.
Ride safe,
Leo
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Post by oldchopperguy on Aug 25, 2016 23:03:54 GMT -5
My Maggie loves to ride with me. Here she is! And Many decades ago, my beloved cat "Zephyr" loved to ride with me on my Harley... Great memories! Ride safe, Leo in Texas |
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Post by oldchopperguy on Aug 23, 2016 18:47:16 GMT -5
Does Kymco still sell the Movie 150 with the 4 valve head in the US? Can't find any info on it any newer than 2014. I don't think the Movie is still available. I just spent some time at my dealer who handles KYMCO, SYM, GENUINE (Buddy, Stella, Chicago Scooter) and he is only getting newer Kymco models in. Lots has changed. The sweet "MY ROAD" 700cc is gone from the lineup along with several others (including the Movie, and maybe the "Like" I think). Biggest Kymco now is the EXCITING 500. Kymco is concentrating on the "Exciting" and similar road-scooter styles. The new Kymco inventory/brochures are not out yet, and it's not "etched in stone" just what models will be here this year. SYM has some sweet new rides, including a beautiful high-tech fuelly 200 big-wheel scoot, and a sweet 150 single clutch-n'gears motorcycle that looks VERY British. Several new clutch n' gears MOTORCYCLES in the 200-250 class. Very sharp, but sorta pricey! The Genuine line now includes "Chicago Scooter" branded (supposedly) high-end Chinese made small scoots that look like the Tao Tao. And, there's that OBSCENELY ADORABLE Buddy line... They look SO "Italian" and do a magnificent job of mixing old-school yet modern cosmetics. And, they are TINY, and FAST. Probably THE perfect city ride. That Buddy 170 must be THE most addictive ride on 10" whitewalls. Just SHOUTS "scooter"... But EXPENSIVE! Lots of new rides from Taiwan in different displacements and cosmetic styles... Best to check 'em out in person. New stuff is always fun! Leo |
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Post by oldchopperguy on Aug 23, 2016 18:29:14 GMT -5
I don't know if you can still buy a new kikker bobber, but the ones with the Lifan V engine were pretty cool.  Oh, yeah! I fell in love with the Kikker years ago, and got really excited when Hardknock advertised the new frame with the Lifan 250 V-twin. Unfortunately, I've never heard ANYTHING good about them. Nothing at all wrong with the BIKES. Just the availability, service and such. I've yet to see a V-twin from the factory. If they ever DID make them, they were certainly not common. And ANYONE wanting a scaled-down bobber/chopper would want one! Kikker does indeed have the classic bobber look down pat. If the one pictured only had drag-bars on those Harley-style risers (or old-school ape hangers) it would be perfect! Even the seat, fender, springer-fork and headlight placement is spot-on. I only wish we'd see more posts on the net saying they're available, with good service, fast shipping, etc. but I've only seen the opposite. Maybe HAPPY buyers just don't post. Hope that is the case. There are a few Kikkers around here, but only the single-cylinder versions. I talked with one rider who finally gave up on trying to get the V-twin kit. If some enterprising dealer would hold Hardknock's nose to the fire and actually GET a dozen or so of the V-twin kits on their floor, they'd sell faster than they could replace them. Even if they're made from genuine "unobtainium" (LOL!) one of those twins would be a FABULOUS ride for anybody! Ride safe! Leo |
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Post by oldchopperguy on Aug 23, 2016 18:18:04 GMT -5
"Clean and simple was the watchword... Peanut tank, drag-bars on dog-bones, small old-school headlight mounted above the bars... solo-seat on hairpins, bobbed rear fender likely made from a vintage Brit bike..."I like to think of a bobber as "EVERYTHING YOU NEED... AND NOTHIN' YOU DON'T". Where I deviate from tradition is that I must have rear suspension, however slight. The concrete roads around Houston are just too brutal for me on a hard tail. And one of the neat tricks I saw on the one mentioned was the replacement of the rear suspension with shorty coil-overs which I'm sure were made for a mountain bike. A pair, set hard, should have plenty of durability to control a lightweight 250 rear-end, while looking sharp, and lowering the rear a few inches. Pretty cool! |
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Post by oldchopperguy on Aug 23, 2016 18:13:47 GMT -5
Thanks for that great 150 upgrade post, Oldchopperguy! That's some really good stuff there. I have recently fallen in love with my ZNEN 150 again and have been mulling over some upgrade combos. One thing I didn't see mentioned - and has been a consideration of mine - is the clutch. There seems to be a huge range of prices. Any thoughts? With about 4k miles on mine it's starting to feel about time to replace the stock clutch.
Well, NOW you got me... LOL! I've had incredible luck with factory clutches being "just right" and lasting forever... Others on the site have had experience with them, so please do chime in. On my old Xingyue 150, I did cut the entire face off the belt-cover, exposing the whole clutch, and it ran MUCH cooler, which in-turn, probably helped preserve it. Without personal experience, I'd recommend either a stock factory replacement clutch, or, based on advice from those who have done it, a good aftermarket upgrade. Those can be pricey. I've always felt the clutch was one of the most "OK" features on these scoots. Variators and weights can make a MONUMENTAL difference, and a good belt is a must, but I've never had a problem with a stock clutch. Mine have always engaged at a good rpm, held fast climbing hills and gave good performance.
Others with clutch experience, please do give us your opinions.
Ride safe,Leo |
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Post by oldchopperguy on Aug 22, 2016 18:30:58 GMT -5
The 5-speed manual models are similar (and from the factory!). However, they are solid-frame (which IS more "proper" on a bobber) but rides TERRIBLE. Also, the little things like the headlight placement, bars and exhaust need to be "tweaked". Close though...And the one with a springer-fork IS a plus... These ARE nice "factory bobbers" right out of the box, and with only minor touches would make real head-turners. I'm surprised that they only list them at around 16hp with a top-speed of less than 60-mph. VERY conservative, and "refreshing" after all the ads touting 150cc Chinese scoots which can "easily run freeway speeds"... That one I saw was hitting around 70-75 as he shifted into high and I'd expect a top-end of around  -mph or better. My old Kymco Grandvista 250 is an old-school single-cam, carbureted 250 and still has 19.8hp, weighs a hefty 340 pounds and will do better than 75-mph with its inefficient CVT tranny. Same engine with a 5-speed manual in a stripped 250-pound bobber SHOULD hit near 100. Oh well, fast or slow, these affordable little singles still have potential for the rider wanting a cool, bobbed ride on a budget! Ride safe, Leo
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-mph or better. My old Kymco Grandvista 250 is an old-school single-cam, carbureted 250 and still has 19.8hp, weighs a hefty 340 pounds and will do better than 75-mph with its inefficient CVT tranny. Same engine with a 5-speed manual in a stripped 250-pound bobber SHOULD hit near 100.