Strengenthing my new cruiser

GoldenMotor.com

GearNut

Active Member
Aug 19, 2009
5,104
11
38
San Diego, Kaliforgnia
Just reading through this thread, I would be surprised if the OP of this thread even came back to this site, considering that he/she only has 2 posts here.
This is like watching a grade school fight on the playground.
Way to represent guys, I hope that you feel proud of yourselves.

FWIW, this is a cruiser or cantilever frame section of this forum.
Someone came in to this thread virtually shouting cantilevers suck and here's why.
Am I the only one that sees something wrong here?
 

robbdaman

New Member
May 5, 2010
44
0
0
SLO
I've read this through as well and it's really a give and take no matter what kind of frame you are using. I'm a big guy, 250lbs or so and my biggest problems tend to be breaking spokes, a frame isn't a real problem, if it can't take the stresses of riding then it isn't a good one to begin with. Typically its the wheels, brakes and gears that give me the most problems.
 

BADBOOH

New Member
Apr 3, 2010
273
0
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San Diego CA,
Moutain bikes are cool, but as far as motorizing them, will they ever do mountain bike things with motors on? I ddont think so. Most importantly good cruisers make great MBs, and have gob loads more style than any plain looking Mountain bike. Does VMB's use mountain bikes? no, cause they just arent that cool looking. Almost every cool looking build that makes most of use drowl are based on cruisers. I have seen some beautiful custom motorized moutain bikes, but you can tell they have alot into them, and are not built on a 20 year old straight line bike.
 

DudeZXT

New Member
Jun 20, 2010
115
0
0
Lexington, KY
Wow. What happened to this thread?

I motorized this exact same model for my mother-in-law. Had to use the u-bolt adapter for the front tube mount and had to raise the back mount with another block.

Seems like a good frame to motorize, but it killed me to have to cut and fold part of the rear fender (to accommodate the chain) and have the creme colored paint crack and break off. It's an ideal frame for not using a tensioner and seems like a strong enough frame to handle the added pressure, though. My brother-in-law weighs 300 and he had it going about 22MPH with the ZB 66/80 slant-head, stock 44t rear sprocket.

Only other thing I didn't much like about it is the lack of gears and the engine makes it difficult to pedal to the extent that she'll probably get it started and have to use the engine all of the time.
 

ChopperDave

New Member
Jul 10, 2010
173
8
0
Washington State
Hi there.

New to this forum and motorized bicycling.

Just bought a Huffy beach cruiser from walmart (see pic below) and ordered a 49cc 4 stroke 4g t belt engine kit.

Wondering if any of you have any advice to whether I need to strengthen my bike in anyway to handle the motor?

It has a steel frame and steel wheels.

The gentleman I ordered the engine kit from said he has the same exact set up on his bike and has never had a problem....but just wanted to make sure with you guys.

I don't plan to ride this everyday. I live in Seattle, unfortunately, the weather doesn't allow it :/
But I would like to once a week....just go putt around town and do an errand or two.

Also, it only has one brake in the rear. Does anyone recommend an easy front brake set up...like a disc, drum, U shape etc....

I would like to keep it as ol school looking as possible so a disc brake setup would probably be my least favorite.

Any help would be greatly appreciated...

<a href="http://s132.photobucket.com/albums/q18/JGerlitz/?action=view&current=SAM_0239.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i132.photobucket.com/albums/q18/JGerlitz/SAM_0239.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket"></a>
Hi and WELCOME brnot While I am a newbie too, IMHO your cranbrook will be fine. Just remember to keep current with maintenence and do a safety check every time...
 

Eric2.0

New Member
Sep 22, 2010
242
6
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NY
Sorry to bring back this old thread, but I have a point about frame strength.


These bikes were NEVER meant to have gas engines on them lol They were not even built with any inking of thought that people would do this.
I looked at a Delmar last night and the rear wheel holder looks so thin and brittle... I believe dad and I are going with the Ocean Pacific.... It has a beefier rear wheel holder and thicker forks.

So whatever the geometry is, it is good for the purpose intended as a cruiser pedlaing along the sidewalk at 5 MPH rather than 22 MPH with a vibrating motor on it.
I told my dad he should take it easy on it, because after all, it's still just a little bicycle.
 

Lance Portnoff

New Member
Mar 22, 2010
351
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pennsylvania
every body likes motor bicycles here, everybody here has there preference for style of bike, great, I have USA made frames designed for the staton transmission, choice of a honda or subaru 4 stroke engine, complete and new $2,695, all to do is add gas and go.
30mph 150mpg
designlogicbikes.com
 

fishguts

New Member
Sep 7, 2010
313
0
0
southeastern MA
Oh, and cruiser bikes just look so much cooler.


Sorry.





Not really.





OK, the cruiser I'm converting is a Micargi Rover. I chose it because I like the way it looks. I'm adding a front drum brake and truss rods on the triple tree forks. But really, they're mostly just for looks. This is my first motorized bike, but I've built my share of hotrods and custom cars. With anything you just use common sense - know your vehicle, do the maintenance and keep your eye on stuff. The comment about cruisers going 5mph is pretty silly. I don't think I can keep my human-powered beach cruiser vertical at 5mph! I do like flying down a hill at 30mph or so on it and the coaster brake manages to get me stopped just fine. Wouldn't want to do that every day, though. The law doesn't allow over 25mph with a moped here anyway. I figure the extra front drum will be ample. Don't plan to be drag racing this thing. Like anything, it depends on how you plan to use it.
 
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MotorNut123

New Member
Aug 31, 2010
220
0
0
New York
I like the look of cruiser IMO. I have my motor on an mtb right now but a cruiser is more comfortable and that's why I'm swapping the motor this winter to a delmar. I like the look of it and there is enough room for a cns carb and an expansion chamber to fit nicely. I think it will turn out fine and be a sick ride.
 

WildAlaskan

New Member
Sep 30, 2010
578
0
0
alaska
well i have to agree i like the look of cruisers more and maybe my street build i am planning for after my off road build i will use a cruiser frame they are more comfortable and look way cooler with a kit but for someone like me who takes his bike off road well mtn is the frame for me dont get me wrong ive been in some crazy country with a road bike but it wasnt fun im sure a cruiser can handle a little abuse just fine but a mtn bike is well more rigid my balls hurt just thinking about taking a cruiser off road

im not doggin cruisers i want one to but it all is in the aplication and riding style **** if i really had some cash i would go for a stingray they must be way comfy

obviously this chaos has had a bad relationship with the cruisers maybe his girlfriend dumped him for one
 
Nov 23, 2009
189
3
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Lakeland, FL
I was looking at some of the new offerings at Wally world and if I had to do it all over again, I would buy another Cranbrook without hesitation. The one I bought (last year's model) had 14 gauge spokes where the one I was looking at recently now has 12 gauge spokes. I went out and purchased an 11 gauge rear wheel and 12 gauge front wheel (Husky drum brake model) soon after starting my build. IMHO, the wheels are the biggest issue. I do my fair share of keeping sidewalk panels firmly planted and with the 14 gauge spokes, even pedaling the bike, it felt loose. Heavier spokes helped a lot. IF the OP has a newer bike with the heavier spokes, he's further ahead than most of us who bought our bikes last year.

I also had a problem with the rear mount of the factory chain guard. The weld broke soon after I started riding it so I just used a loop mount like what we use on the kit chain guard. Other than that, my bike has held up quite well and I've got over 1700 miles on it this year.
 

yodar

New Member
Jul 26, 2010
147
1
0
Orlando Fl
Your bike should be fine just keep an eye on the seat stays, those are a definite weak point on huffy cruisers.

<snip> Make sure everything is well greased and properly tightened. There are quite a few here that have thousands of miles on those wheels so don't worry about that.

Not everyone likes MTBs, some love the look and ride of a cruiser. Saying that A MTB is the best platform for a motorized bike is like saying dirtbike is the best choice for a motorcycle.
Ah! That RIGHT Kemo Sabe ! Seat stays no good on Huffy.

The stock seat on my huffy didn't even last a week, or wuzzit my BUTT that didn't last a week. Buddy gave me a STRANGE SCHWINN seat with nothing "out front" and it works fine somfort-wise. There are tractor style seats out there for less than $50.

Kevlarr's more than right about the rear bearing adjustment and grease. Mine needed re-adjustment soon after motor install -"re-adjust the combs" is what I was told I was doing. Any wobble you see back there, don't delay fixing it!


Good luck

yodar
 

Don P

Member
Sep 1, 2010
234
0
16
indiana
Hi here is my 2 cents. i got a huffy santa fe same frame as a Cranbrook i got 49cc hs 4g trans and ride the **** out of it, over 2000 miles now. i've hit every pot hole in town, most times because some A hole in a car crowds me in to it. i have had no problems with the frame strong as ****. but i got to confess i have MB wheel on it {shame on me} {:) they are stronger for pot hole jumping (local sport here)
the only thing i can recommend it to put SLIME your tubes and keep you air pressure to max for your tire, unless you like to push you bike home with a flat.