Villiers beach cruiser

[harry76]

Been watching the responses to your problem and all I can say is "Man that sucks, it sucks big time!!!" After building a nice bike like that, only to find out you're not allowed to ride it....I wouldn't suggest you do anything illegal, but if I were in your shoes (and I have been with one of my motorcycles) I would be trying to find some way to make it road legal, even if it did include lights and fenders.

Goldy, i forgot to comment on your other comments reguarding putting guards and lights on it to try and make it legal, but unfortuately me being over 6ft and the bike being small, along with the Villiers probably being just slower then a chinagirl means taking off from a deadstop on this bike can be a little slow. And because of this i dont think it would be worth the big hassle of trying to get this legal, maybe if this bike had multiple gears it would be alright?????

 

[Goldy]

I suppose gearing might help, or even one of those variable ratio transmissions...but I think it might take away from the overall 'rightness' of the machine. Anyhow like you said you can still fiddle around at auto shows and display it in your 'man room'. Build something electric that'll go 100kph and climb up the side of a house! That'll fix 'em!

 

[harry76]

I suppose gearing might help, or even one of those variable ratio transmissions...but I think it might take away from the overall 'rightness' of the machine. Anyhow like you said you can still fiddle around at auto shows and display it in your 'man room'. Build something electric that'll go 100kph and climb up the side of a house! That'll fix 'em!

Hopefully that'll fix em..... That's the plan, I'll keep my petrol builds for display/ car shows and occasional rides around the block and hopefully have an electric for daily rides..... I'll be rapt if it does 100kmh and climbs walls ...... Now I just need that book "electric motorized bikes for dummies" and I'm away....... Once I save some money that is :-(

 

[harry76]

I was scanning EBay as i usually do and came across this interesting vegicle for sale with a Villiers engine, i cant imagine it being very fast but its still pretty cool

classic tippen delta convertible trike wheel chair villiers engine restored cool | eBay

 

[rustycase]

Gosh, and they're asking 24.5 au????
WoW !
rc

 

[silverbear]

Pretty cool, kinda pricey.
SB

 

[harry76]

WHOA!!!!! I didnt even look at the price..... OUCH

 

[wilrod]

Much to pricey for me to play with and i have checked with rego it cant be used on public roads or highways any way i hope everyone had a great christmas and the new year brings a better outlook for everyone , for all the aussies that are going to the Kustom nats at Phillip Island come and say hello i will be around helping Knocking the top off a rare 1941 lincon conternental they are so ugly and rare it just has to be done ken

 

[harry76]

Wish i could go to Kustom Nats, ive always wanted to go, but a big drive from QLD... hopefully one year.

Are you making the Lincoln a convertible or chopping the top? Are you doing it at the show?..... And are you taking your bike?

 

[wilrod]

harry a good car is like a good woman TOPLESS and thats my quote for the week,, so the roof will come off as will the windscreen and boot lid,, (thats the correct term for the pannel that so many call a trunklid ie a port,trunk or case go inside the boot ....some early cars had a trunk rack fixed to the back bumper because they had no boot) depending on how much time i have i may do a Carson style top for it not sure yet if i will be taking one of my bikes , and if you leave now we should have time for a drink at the San Remo pub before the Beach party on friday night , i have to leave wed night to get there and get organised ken

 

[wilrod]

yes cutting at the natts outside in the heat for all to see ken

 

[silverbear]

Harry, I have a couple of questions for you. I've been thinking about your build a good deal lately, ever since I ran across a vintage 1930's bike I'm bidding on through ebay. If I win, I'll talk about the actual bike, but the point is that in spite of all the great bikes built by members of this forum, yours remains one of my favorites. As I've been thinking about this "new" build (at least a year away if not more), I keep seeing in my mind's eye your Villiars engine and belt drive... the sheave on the rear wheel and hand clutch... incorporated into this wonderful 1930's piece of rolling history I have my eye on.

So, I will be re-reading and studying all over again this epic thread of yours. Thank you in advance for the guidance you have given and for answering questions which are sure to come. Here is the first and maybe not an easy one to answer. If you were to do this bike again, what would you do differently this time (having nothing to do with legalities and electric vs. gas). Let's say you were going to build this same bike all over again. What would you do differently, if anything?

For any of our forum members, I'm looking for a 98cc Villiars midget engine. If you hear of something, please PM me. Many thanks.
SB

 

[harry76]

Thanks Silverbear, im more then happy to help. But i must thank you in return. You, Fasteddy, MSRFAN, CamNZ and others all helped me along the way. Im sure i couldnt have done it, or at least as well without everyones help on here.

If i were to do it again, and funny you should say because i have actually considered doing another. Mainly because id like a pretty bike and like the raw look of mine and cant bring myself to paint it. I do have another motor and had considered either putting it in my Kroon bike, or start another build with a similar frame to mine which i would stretch and have a different tank, much like the dixie flyer build.

I would change things just for the sake of changing them just to be different to my current build. But thats not what you really asking, what would i change? Not much at all.

If i were to change anything it and planned to ride it, which im guessing you are, would be riding position.... it was actually quite comfortable while in motion...... The Villiers is what it is, but it aint no rocketship, so it requires a little pedalling to get moving. This low bike, the hand clutch and me being 6"3 meant starts werent fun, unless going downhill LOL.... This could be remedied a few ways: by lowering the gearing, which i didnt want to do as i like the top speed (a little shy of 60kmh or 37mph), or by a taller frame for better, easier pedalling. Or by having the clutch actuated by a bar lever, which i didnt want to do because the handclutch is just coooool, or i could just get a different handlebar for a more upright position (similar to a MX handlebar).

Everything else has worked flawlessly for a few months of daily rides (which i miss dearly) before the police warned me not to ride it. Hope that helps, anything else dont hesitate to ask. And because some pictures are missing if theres anything you really wanna see ill repost the picture.

 

[harry76]

And i really wish sometimes i had drum brakes, but i used these wheels as i got them cheap so i live with them, but sometimes i look and just wish i didnt see that disc. Maybe i should cover it with a race number plate or something.

 

[harry76]

I think ill dust off the old girl on my next days off and go for a ride around the block. I might make another video and post.

 

[harry76]

Do you guys ever see things on EBay with minutes left in the auction, and have to decide if you want it, or need it or it is even usable..... Well that happened to me and I bought a vintage BSA engine...... Looks like I'm building a board track with some balls now, if it goes......... What have I done??????? Lol

 

[harry76]

I think the engine i bought is out of one of these bikes, i will post pics when i get it.....if all goes well ill make a boardtracker with it and i sure hope i havent bought a dud.... otherwise it will be on diplay in my manroom. LOL

1952 BSA ZM20 - JUST Bikes

 

[silverbear]

Wow. How many CC's is it? Kick start? Gears? Any way to end up registering it as a motorcycle with insurance, etc?
SB

 

[harry76]

From what i can gather it could be between 500 and 650cc, these engines had a seperate gearbox with kickstarter, and didnt come with one but there is one on EBay ATM...... if i was to use this for a boardtrack i wouldnt need the gearbox, I wonder how hard it would be to start without the gearbox.

Not 100% sure yet what ill do with it, boardtracker or build a registerable bike. At this stage i have more questions then answers..... thats what happens when i go tired shopping on EBay after a night shift

 

[harry76]

The motor does have a sprocket and pulley on the drive side... if i wanted that clean singlespeed look i could always rope start it (or could i?), and if so i wonder if any centrifugal clutch would be up for the job?... as i said lots of questions..... ill know more and post pics when i get it.