Womens Bike MB Kit

Hank, it's not mine I just lifetd the pic from here:

Home - Acme Motor Bikes

Give them a call, I'm sure that they can hook you up.

Steve

thanks ... still trying to decide to buy or build

Pictured below are two 1963 Schwinn American Deluxe step through models. Like the Acme in the earlier post the upper cross member sweeps low to the frame giving plenty of engine room. Technically middleweights, these Americans have strong frames of steel with good welds. I have well over a thousand miles on the blue one with no frame problems and I weigh 200 pounds. Someone asked why anybody would want a woman's bike. For one, some of them just plain look cool. Some of us have disabilities with knees, hips (for me partial paralysis) which makes it hard to swing your leg over the seat. Also some women who grew up with step through cruisers find a man's bike hard to get used to. Older riders are more stable mounting the bike if they can put a leg through while mounting. So, those are some of the reasons. Visually, it also helps to emphasize the engine, which is what these bikes are all about... they're motorbicycles. Another consideration is that the same model bike in a step through usually sells for less than the men's version. Also on an older bike the women's usually got better threatment and are less beat up. One of my project bikes this winter is a 1939 Elgin step through which is going to be a real beauty with fender skirts and a really nice frame design... very strong. Tank mounting is pretty much delegated to a rear rack or at least behind the seat and routing cables is more of a hassle if your want them out of the way. I can give more details on this for anyone building a step through who needs foot clearance. So to answer the question of why a ladies bike I say, why not? I read in a post here in another thread that someone felt the women's bikes are not as strong and vibrate more. I haven't noticed this at all. The old ones made of steel are certainly stronger than the men's walmart bikes coming out of China. I would stick with an older model step through and not even consider a new one. Hope this helps.
SB

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Someday when I grow up I will probably lose interest in toys with wheels, but until then...

Helps a lot siverbear, thanks! I dont know if I can do the older steel though because of weight issues... one MB will be on the boat, so that means off the boat, on the dingy, on the dock and then in reverse... LOL... weight will be an issue but not sure of the difference in the two. If the alum. frame would take the motor that might be a better way to go. On the other hand the weight is not an issue if the alum. will crack in two LOL..

Silverbear .. that is a VERY sweet rig

Hmmm. I wonder if an older 24" step through frame would work. It would be a bit smaller overall, less weight, but still strong. I don't know enough about the aluminum women's bikes to venture an opinion. I do know that many of the newer women's bikes have that second upper bar higher up than the old Schwinns. I've seen a couple of 20" bikes with the in frame 2 stroke motors here on this forum, but fitting everything under the upper crossbar is an issue. As I looked at those I was thinking about some of the older 20" folding bikes... well made and an open frame like on a step through. Worksman has a nice one and I've seen others which have a less obtrusive folding point (on a worksman it might get in the way of the engine mounts). If you went this route you would no longer have a folding bike (couldn't very well fold it with the engine mounted), but it would be compact and made for an adult with a substantial seat, long seat post and long gooseneck, high rise handlebars. With the seat and gooseneck lowered it would stow pretty well. You'd have to ask someone else about an appropriate rear wheel sprocket (how many teeth). Most of the older ones had a rear rack where a gas tank could easily fit. You might take a look on eBay at folding bikes, avoiding the newer Chinese ones, but focusing on Worksman, some English ones and also ones made in Europe... they do come up on eBay. That might be an option to consider. It would be different and pretty cool, too.
SB

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Someday when I grow up I will probably lose interest in toys with wheels, but until then...

..Some of us have disabilities with knees, hips (for me partial paralysis) which makes it hard to swing your leg over the seat.... yep, its an gray haired thing

More food for thought .. thanks... yes i can see by the pics of the bikes what your talking about with the bars on some models being higher. I remember that someone said you need 15" clearance with the vertical bar to the seat. Some I can see dont but some will... I'm going to check into it more when I head to SC to winterize the boat in Nov. Thanks...

heres a pic of my girls bike before the motor went on, rear mount is just welded on, if i remember right the motor would of went on as stock, but i wanted it more forward and less canted. it rides great, i see no more vibration or flex than on the boys bikes.
http://motorbicycling.com/attachment...*****-bike.jpg

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Ooooo... I like that!.. That's a Schwinn, correct? Is it an American? Very classy. The paint job is super. Do you have a picture with the motor in place?
SB

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Someday when I grow up I will probably lose interest in toys with wheels, but until then...

the blue girls bike on the first page of this thread is the same bike. it's for sale too. has the grube 49cc skyhawk.

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