How about a Spitfire 5?

I recently found a bike languishing in my fathers garage that I thought might be a good platform for me to finally jump into motorized biking.
The tires are dry-rotted and need to be replaced, and it needs a good thorough cleaning, but other than that it's not too bad. There's very little surface rust, and everything works, and check out those fenders, they're nearly pristine.
This thing is about 30 years old, and built like a tank.

Problem is, I'm having trouble deciding on a kit.
None of the 4-strokes seem to come with a drive sprocket that will work on the Drum Brake rear wheel.
I like the looks of Pablo's/Ghost0's jackshaft design, but it seems to just be for the 2-strokers.

Am I just out of luck? :|

Here's the bike, sorry I haven't had time to clean it up yet.





And here's the rear wheel that's giving me so much trouble trying to find a sprocket that'll fit it.

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Universal Truth: Follow the "Fat Guys", we know where to find all the best food

You will have to custom fit a sprocket, or go witha belt drive/sheath that clips on the outer part of the rim.

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If it ain't broke, and you mess with it long enough, it will be.

Or...save that wheel and get another.

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If it ain't broke, and you mess with it long enough, it will be.

That's what I was afraid of.

Being as I'm such a cheap barstard though, I'll probably just either settle for a rackmount, or try to work some kind of jackshaft.
Besides, I really like the drum brake, it stops really well, and smoothly. ;-)

I wonder though, if I could fit a belt drive onto a Skyhawk primary drive...

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Universal Truth: Follow the "Fat Guys", we know where to find all the best food

Nice bike, I had a very similar Cruiser 5 a few years back, they are awsome riders. These bikes have industrial wheels on them that work great for motorized bikes but with the drum brake, I don't think you can run a sprocket. I like Joe's idea of running a belt drive swapping out the rear wheel is also an option but will be hard to match the wheels....Kelly

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I'm racin' Spitfire, turnin', poppin' wheelies, burnin' evil chasin' pop,pop, pop,pop,pop.... (The Pixies-Tony's theme)

Now thats a sweet bike.I bet who ever last road it was nicknamed "Daddy long legs"I'd need a ladder to get in that saddle.Can't blame you for looking at the 4 cycles,No doubt they're more reliable and smoother.It just that you look like your coming back from the store with a new bread maker strapped on your rear rack.These old cruiser frames really lend themselves to a frame mounted 2 stroke from an aesthetic point of view.But thats just me.Ron

LOL, the previous rider would be my Dad. Yep, we're both 6'4" with 38" inseam. ;-)

I agree, I wouldn't want to put a rackmount on this baby, I'll have to figure out a way to get a 4-stroker like the SkyhawkII into the frame, but the kicker is that drum brake on the rear.
I'm not willing to give the drum up just yet, in fact I'd probably want to try to add a Sturmy-Archer Drum/Generator hub up front to match it.
That way I could run a light package for night time riding.

I just need to meditate more, the answer will be revealed to me in due time.
I'd rather take my time and do it right, than rush it and have to re-do it all later.

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Universal Truth: Follow the "Fat Guys", we know where to find all the best food

I was doing a Google shopping search and sprockets from go-carts and minibikes seem to have very large center holes which might clear your drum.

That's a very good idea cityvader, I hadn't thought about using go-kart parts.
Thanks.


Now I have another issue. I did some minor cleanup and adjustment (i.e. no-disassembly) to try to get the 'ol Spitfire rideable, and now I'm torn.
It cleaned up so nicely, that now I'm almost loathe to alter it.

It still needs new tires, and a new set of cables would be a good idea too, but now I'm thinking It's in such nice condition, I might leave it stock original and ride it around as is, unpowered.
Now I'm considering powering my GT Ricochet instead, which gives me some more options as far as engines and mounts go, disc brakes become an option as well.

Anyway, here's the Spitfire all cleaned up, what are your thoughts/opinions?
Should I motorize it anyway, or leave it original and motorize the GT?

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Universal Truth: Follow the "Fat Guys", we know where to find all the best food

Here's the GT Ricochet.

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Universal Truth: Follow the "Fat Guys", we know where to find all the best food