Briggs and Stratton Bike

S

stewart

New Member
I have included a picture of the motor bicycle that I built using an old ten speed road bike. The front mount engine required no modification to the existing frame, just a new fork. All the parts from this are common hardware or off of a go-kart. It handles real well and is geared for a speed of 35mph. It could easily go faster, I just didn't trust riding that fast to work every day...it was scary enough blowing a tire at 30mph. The height of the handlebars is comfortable and I dont smell the exhaust when I ride. Any comments or questions welcome.
 

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now that's a different approach! nice looking work, too. is that a 20" front wheel?

there was a very early motorcycle that had a front wheel arrangement like that; wish i could remember the name of it.
 
Welcome to the forum. I've never seen a motorized bicycle set up like that before. I bet that will get up and go if you really wanted it to. Glad you joined us..........................
 
Now that's a bike. Welcome to the madness.

that's what I want to do next on a much smaller scale of course.
 
7-21-08
Hi, Stewart
That looks great! Very Nice Work!!!
May I ask, how did you attach the drive pulley to the front wheel?
Also, I think that's a BS 3.5HP engine, right? Do you know how much it weighs?
I'm using a Ryobi 31cc 2 stroke and it weighs 3.75 pounds with no fuel.
Finally, I'm guessing there's a centrifugal clutch on the crank end, right? Are you happy with that approach? That would be a very nice feature for stop and go stuff...
That is one of the coolest looking builds I've ever seen. If you have any more pictures, videos, etc. I'd sure love to see them.

Thanks for sharing!
Steve G.
Grants Pass, Oregon
 
Yes the front wheel is a 20" wheel that is normally used on carts. I used this type for the stronger spokes over a bicycle wheel. I opted for a smaller radius wheel because it let me get away with a single stage reduction off the engine crankshaft. The bearings were welded shut and welded to the axle to create a live axle. From there I welded a go-kart sprocket to a universial hub to drive the axle. The sproket is pretty close, but not perfect since I didn't have the hub turned to match the id of the sproket.

The engine is quite heavy, probabally 20-25lbs. It has a beefy flywheel and has i think 160cc of displacement. The clutch is a centrifugal clutch straight off of a go kart and works great. Since I have the bike geared for a modest 35mph, with a 3.5hp I hardly even have to pedal before the engine works. For stop and go the clutch works, but will wear rather quickly because unless the engine as at high rpm the pads slip and wear. It is excellent however because I can idle the engine at stop lights just like a car.

I went for the front mount for a couple of reasons. First, I had to do no welding or any modifications to my bike frame. Secondly, I needed a strong place to mount the engine. The geometry of the existing frame made it difficult to mount such a heavy motor because the frame only has one layer of tubes running lengthwise. The fork I built has 2 layers, which ensures the motor doesn't twist at high throttle. I hope that makes sense, if not I can try to explain more.

I sure I could gear this motor to go crazy fast, but geared it low to keep my crusing speed near the legal limit of 30mph with the engine at full rpms. Crusing with the motor at too low rpms for a long time would fry my clutch. When on a level surface at 35mph my throttle is hardly even open
 
am i the only one who shook his head and laughed when he saw this? both at the ingenuity, and the downright madness of motorized bicyclists.
 
I remember when I was a kid my father used to have an evil petrol mower with an engine that was the very devil to start... but once it got going..

Imagine my amazement when I see on youtube a bike with a similar design to yours running the identical engine as that battered and recalcitrant lawnmower.

In the case of that bike the builder had put in layshafts to take the drive but it brought back alot of memories.

I like the chain drive idea.. but that engine is pretty substantial. I do know of one front fork design with twin cylinders and the roller drive between them, but I dont think more than one survives..

Jemma xx
 
Heres a little update on the bike. It has been working great for a while now and just recently encountered a problem. When connecting the drive sprocket to the wheel, I welded the bearings shut on the wheel. Well, those welds failed so the wheel just began to freewheel like a bike and not get power from the engine. As a result I will be designing a custom shaft that connects "properly" to the wheel be removing the bearings and welding in a hub. From there I will machine another hub for mounting the drive sprocket. This should really smooth out the drive train as well as increase longevity1
 
This is pure poetry:

"That things got all the grace and handling of a filing cabinet on top of a wayward supermarket trolley..." Anon
 
BRAVO!! Can we look at that front wheel a bit? I need to see how you got that sprocket on there to drive your wheel with the fork in between.
 
Sorry, I currently dont have any access to a camera or the bike because it is 15 hours away in Wisconsin (im in college in ny). I will however attach a drawing I made on paint to try to illusrtate the concept. Let me know if it makes sense.
 

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I was in Utah a few years ago, and there was this couple that was trying to ride across America on bicycles. we were resting in Zion notional park with our 400cc Enduro's cooling off. At that spot you have to be escorted through the tunnels and so the bicycles were waiting for the escort. As this women came huffing and puffing to a stop, I turned and said "You know you don't have to do that any more, they did invent the internal combustion engine" at that point I got the look that would kill. I just wish I had the bike you have made I think I could have made a better point. LOL. Have fun, Dave

PS: I think you should call it Yankee Ingenuity, good job.
 
why dont you put a disc brake wheel onto the front and drill the 6 bolt pcs to your sprocket? I cant really see if your currently running the chaijn on the inside or outside of the forks but that would be a sure way of mounting the sprocket!!
 
damonjackson_spl said:
why dont you put a disc brake wheel onto the front and drill the 6 bolt pcs to your sprocket? I cant really see if your currently running the chaijn on the inside or outside of the forks but that would be a sure way of mounting the sprocket!!
Click to expand...

This jackshaft allows the builder to center the heavy engine for better stability. It also allows for less chain clearance issues..bld.
 
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