1900s Vintage Style Build

Im thinking along the costume line with this bike for a 4th parade that has a lot of antique cars, would be fun, but not sure the bike will be parade friendly.
Heres a link to the saw release. It a push down/pop up when it starts. One advantge it has is its shallow. Remember the anti-foulers that screw under a spark plug? was thinking of adding a release to one of them. Would be a simple drill and tap, leaving the head alone. Position would have to be found with the fouler screwed tight, then after drill and tap and reinstalled the release screwed in. not a big deal.http://www.ebay.com/itm/Husqvarna-H...900?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item4ab634ca64

Yet another PVC tank. Have been wanting to do this a while, and this engine was perfect since the front oil filler was unmachined. I have had forever a really neat small solder in valve, was perfect for this. Once the front filler is opened and a plug is made to seal the line, then instead of fighting a funnel and spills trying to add oil to the hidden rear filler, simply remove the rear filler cap, crack the valve and watch her fill up. No muss no fuss. Guessing 6-8oz oil capacity. Besides I needed to fill up some space in front of the engine.

More progress in fact mechanically its nearly done. I rarely back myself into a corner any more but I sure did miss this one. Was proud of the fact that the center stand would fold all the way over to the seat post for riding, took a bit of geometry juggling. Also was liking the extended exhaust with the spring loaded mount using one of the rear V brake mounts and the Whizzer diffuser tip. Guess what the stand wont do now. Gotta now figure which one I want to mod. The little rear brake was a PITA POS. When adjusted so it would stop it dragged, I canned it. Having painted rims and no money for drum brakes at the moment. I reverted back to a truly period(probably before actually, like stagecoach era) scrub brake. My kids had a mini bike with a similar brake. Even with me on it at WOT you could lock the rear wheel. This one stops equally as well. Have it on a hand lever, the rear one, both pull back to avoid confusion, something I am entirely familar with. I figured since I really wanted an antique inspired bike it might as well be hard to ride like some of the originals. I now have the elusive early twin stick model. Its not as bad as I expected, but you do learn your left hand from your right real fast! Came up with a neat throttle cable trick. I had to make a 90 degree in the cable to make it all work. Turns out a bike cable slides with force into 1/4" copper tube. Once in place bend the tube to shape and the cable doesnt move inside. Made configuring the cable much easier. When viewed from the left it is beginning to have the simplistic mechanical complexity that makes Joe Public scratch his head at fuel stops, love it!

Thanks SB! This one has been fun because it just doesnt matter, I guess it is what it is. I stand in constant awe of the builds you guys constantly put up on this forum-just amazing. This thing is built out of what is left laying around the shop, the knobs were removed from a 100yr old house we restored for instance. Hands on the past for sure. Not the prettiest thing, but in the spirit of the first MBs/MCs. I have not finished the throttle system, but was itching for a test run. Cracked the fuel valve open for a few seconds, put a rubber band around the carbs butterfly to idle, and screwed the idle stop screw in a bit(too much as it turns out). Didnt know what to expect, the old Robin hasnt been run in atleast 10 yrs. Pedaled like crazy, pulled the clutch lever and blam off it went. Must have had at least 1/3 throttle. With the higher ratio it has it took right off! Was kinda brutal! All I could do was hang on until the fuel ran out. Bottom line, even though it has a PVC tank and the engine is from the 70s I was for a time transported to the past where primitive backyard engineering with simple mechanics started the whole thing rolling we today call motorcycles. What a hoot!

Thanks Wayne! I know you are/were a flier. Each build and in patricular a scratch build has the excitement of the first flight in something you have built, maybe to a lesser extent, but still cool! I flew for years and was basically forced out over cost. I find the MBs to be a good replacement. Allows one to use their skills and imagination just about as much, with a much shorter build time. There is a great group of guys here on the forum of all ages, I really enjoy seeing all the creativity in one place. Glad I got into it!

Yeah, I like that-"junkies". I doubt these things will go away when we are gone. Should be a great barn find in 20-30 years. Imagine the head scratchin going on over what they are. Especially the nicely vintaged/weathered builds like the Excaliber. They will super look legit then. Another cool aspect of these builds as we have built almost all the mechanics, so they would be easily repair/rebuildable almost indefinately. Great hobby!

Well basically finished the build except for a kick stand latch off the seat post, been using a bungee. Got the carb cleaned a the Robin is running great. Had to abandon the pedal start, at least for now due to the fact the lock collar and half a tube of red Loctite couldnt hold the sprocket from loosening on starting. Made a rope pulley from a flat idler and it starts easily, just have to remember to take the rope. Had to pedal half a mile home from my neighbors! Any way it has worked out better than I thought. The clutch system is smooth, even with the flipped idler. A coulpe of pedal strokes, throw in the clutch, and you are going. Will pull from stop, but its awkward juggling the clutch and throttle while guiding the bike one handed. The whole bike is smooth, no vibes even in the pedals. Have a throttle stop at about 2/3. I rode it quite a bit and I bet it never saw over 2500 rpms. So nice to putt-putt along at about 20 I think it tops around 25 as set. It has got to be really similar to a comparable original bike, pleasant to ride in a crude way. Not hard to ride but does require a bit of expertise. You really have to anticipate stops and kick the clutch out. The Robin has a massive amount of power even at idle. Theres not a hill it wont climb even with the throttle stop, it is a 5hp though(200ccs I think). Brake works great for the speed range. For some reason I found myself using my right hand when coming to a complete stop!? Any way its sum total of parts have come together to make what I think is a close to authentic(riding wise) bike that is very interesting and fun to ride! Now the real fun starts with the painting and vintage touches. BTW the lock collars on the jackshaft have held position through all the riding with out the rear halfs welded. Looks like a great way to attatch stuff to bike frames.

Thanks Guys! Yeah, gonna have to get in the habit of putting the rope some where. Quite a bummer when you try to get going and theres no rope. Thats one reason I was so all about the pedal starting, will probably build another rear wheel for a Sportsman adapter when I get the $$.

Cool brake RC, couldnt tell by the pic, is it a scrub brake? Would be nice to be able to legally ride a slow bigger bike like this unrestrained. What on earth is the liability? I think I will be able to come in under the radar just because its slow and fairly quiet.

Yeah, yeah paint, the part I hate the most. I have no trouble painting, I just hate taking a build apart I just finished putting together. Fortunately this one comes apart fast. Gotta make the stand latch today, get a few more rides in then its paint time.

Ok RC, What I meant was what is the liabilty to the governing powers to allow a certain freedom to folks that want to exercise a right to contrive a means of transportation that actually benefits the collective population. I mean if I take a bicycle and put a 5hp engine on it, and it gets 75mpg its fuel in the tanks of the 4 wheel driving public. Why not encourage this? No they want to live in the gray areas. If I tried to register this piece of my creativity, my local tag office will say we dont register bicycles with motors, end of story. Its a moped, see the laws concerning them. Ok, Im over 49ccs but comply in every other way, but I cant register it as a M/C because its a bicycle. So Im left to fend for myself with the Locals. I guess it depends on where you are, how strict they are and how much revenue they need. I know what is right and ok, so do most of the Locals in my area. I takes my chances, If I am pressed to the letter of the law, they will impound what I am riding because of no registration and insurance, and I will pay what ever the fines are. This is assuming they can prove I am in disobedience of the law. Not professing mis-truth(the Feds handle that for me), but as I have said I takes my chances, and I do it well. Dont mind paying my due honestly if I am nailed.