Motor kit

[Slinginrods]

Im thinking about building a board tracker ,since I can't afford the real thing I'm thinking motorized bike.ive seen alot of the bikes on here,they look awesome.i have a pressure washer Honda motor.or what smaller motor kits do you guys recommend? Ive heard that the kits available are pretty junky.should I just make my own? Thanks,Chris

 

[davidberg]

If it's your first build, you should go for a chinese two-stroke kit, like the Grubee Skyhawk. It's great for learning how to motorize a bike and how an engine acts inside a bike frame and propels it. It won't last for decades - due to poor manufacturing quality - but it's for learning. I had to work very hard to make mine reliable (I bought 2 other engine for parts).

Please read this: http://www.ratrodbikes.com/forum/viewtopic.php?f=54&t=69084

If you're looking for an engine beyond the entry level, I suggest a 4-stroke one, that's a complete other world. Can go faster, more reliable, more hassle-free, etc. BUT! If you use a 4-stroke quality engine (Honda, Morini, etc.) please build your bike with HIGH QUALITY parts! No aluminium frame, just heavy-duty steel, use rims, spokes, forks designed to withstand excessive wear (the best for you are the ones designed for downhill or trial MTB-s). I built my bikes out of tubes of delivery bicycles. Also please mind dampering the engine, and use high quality hub brakes!

Have fun!

 

[wheelbender6]

Concur. As a first time builder, you will be riding sooner and learning faster with a kit build, like a two stroke China girl motor.
The 50cc Honda 4 strokes can be fitted to a bicycle with a kit. The larger Honda motors, like the GX 160, are not an easy
install. The GX160 will require you to solve far more problems, like gear reduction.

 

[Slinginrods]

I'm fine with the fabrication aspects.i have built many traditional styled hot rods from scratch,as well as a full tube chassis funny car chassis.i just don't have the experience with available power trains.are the vintage schwinn cruiser frames strong enough? I don't think they are welded ,but brazed.any problems with the 4strokes hurting these frames? Its not beyond me to make a frame from scratch,but I'd like the rake and trail to be correct if I'm going 40 + mph.do these bikes handle good out the box or do they require head tube mods to get them right? I already have a 1952 straight bar schwinn I can use,but I'm worried about the non welded aspects,any thoughts?

 

[curtisfox]

Go ahead and use the old Schwinn they are plenty strong,there is a lot of guys use them ( check on http://motorbicycling.com/forumdisplay.php?f=38 this and the DIY section ) All the old bike and i think motorcycles were Brazed. Right here on the fourm 58 Schwinn build. ..........Curt