Felt Cruiser Build......not for cruising

[scotto-]

Hi scotto
what do you think?????
between your serious offer-an occassional interested person-
and what ccc is trying to figure out???
do you think there is a sustainable business with these bikes --yours, cccs, pats, crazy horse, silver state and other concept designs

I am trying to investigate for Europe where legal restrictions are lorded over by the polite aka popo which are very stict - but still- with the proper procedures-money- manufacture could be accomplished?? or would interested persons rather buy a new or older motorcycle or moped and go from there ---retro mentality

Ya know Bob, that's a pretty good question that I'm sure no one has the answer to. I'm pretty sure Phoenix Cycleworks, Silverstate, Sportsman, crazy horse, Taylar and a few others are doing OK with it, but I have not seen the motorized bicycle "thing" take off as you might have expected it to.

Guys like Jeff (ccc), Andy (headtrama), Richard (Joker Machine), Norm (Venice Motor Bikes), Brian (Nashmoto), Timm & Roland (BigBoy Cycles) to name a few build some of the most unique bikes you can imagine as you know.....I think things will continue to grow enough to make it happen eventually. Time will tell if the clocks keep running......

 

[buba]

scotto

thanks for the feedback I realize in southern cal and some of the more temperate climates in the usa we are most lucky to do the motor bicycle thing

As well for most of europe other than portugal which has a long history of moped transportation and the climate for it --bicycles with engines have been around for over 100 years so not so seemingly new, exciting and special/fun

the weather/rain/cold and road surfaces in most parts does not suit motorbicycles-- therefore the hearty ride motorcycles for transportation and scooters with smaller wider and safer braking for the wet conditions

all in all my california activity does not really carry over/translate to being in Belgium
when I think to do things the clouds gather the rain falls and I just loose my incentive

as for a business here-i guess the above points to my findings/conclusion-

thanks
ride safe

 

[scotto-]

One year ago today I crashed my race bike and rebuilt it to what it is now. This is the rear hub that was sheared in half during the the crash.....the power of a 212cc Pred fully built!







The rear drive sprocket was attached to the six hole disc-brake flange.........and half of the 48 spokes were ripped out or snapped

Don't let a sticking throttle cable ruin your day in a Costco parking lot!

 

[GearNut]

It does not seem like it was a whole year ago...
How time flies!
Thank you again for letting me ride it that one time. It was very impressive to say the least.
I am glad that a year later you are still riding that bike, or some of it anyways.
I still remember the photos of the mangled mess it was after the accident.

Happy new years!

 

[Tang]

Nice bike. Love the thread. Going to build a racer one day. Was thinking of a CVT, but guess not anymore. Soon I'll have pics of my first bike after I get a new tran. Had it run for a about 10 days before it crapped out.


Tang
A trail life for me.

 

[scotto-]

Thanks GearNut and Tang.....Happy New Year to you both! Took the Green Hulk out for a nice cruise yesterday......the bike still amazes me with unreal power and speed that just exhilarates you to just no end. Every time I ride this bike I just have a blast, whether it's on the race track or blazing around the town......too much fun and ya just want to keep on riding

I love this bike and don't regret building it for even one second!

 

[scotto-]

Recent pics.......

 

[Tang]

I see the frame held up good with no problems?



Tang

The trail life for me.

 

[scotto-]

I see the frame held up good with no problems?



Tang

The trail life for me.

No problems what so ever! Felt makes some very nice frames.

 

[scotto-]

Prepping for the upcoming race next month at Willow Springs........some pics will follow....

#3

 

[scotto-]

Alrighty then, I pulled the engine apart to see how things looked inside and see if I could get rid of the slight leak in the head gasket. I also took the carb apart to see how things were looking inside and all looks good.

Here are some pics I took while working on it taken with my Galaxy S4 phone











I got it back together late last night......went to start it today and it fired right up! Now for the drive train to get all that power back to the rear wheel again......

 

[Davezilla]

Awesome bike!
Did you paint this one that green color or did you buy the frame already painted?

 

[scotto-]

Awesome bike!
Did you paint this one that green color or did you buy the frame already painted?

Thanks Davezilla, that is the stock color Felt frame they sent me, it's called "sour apple green" and is a mix of that slime green and gold metalflake. To think I was gonna paint it black to match it's predecessor......really glad I didn't as it's an outstanding color green!







I think I forgot too mention this engine was turning a whopping 9,600RPM before I tore it down.....and the head gasket was leaking. The engine was not running lean either.....look out

 

[Davezilla]

Wow... that's an awesome color for a factory paint job... I wouldn't have been able to paint over that either...

9600 rpm is really impressive for a Predator engine too... Are you running a billet rod to prevent breaking it? or are the factory internals that good?

I remember back in the 80's I threw the rod in my 5hp tecumseh when I had it set up with no governor and was using a small 21mm motorcycle carb, it was fun and I was hitting about 70mph in a baja go cart running thru a comet cvt, final drive ratio was 6.6:1 with 18" tall tires so I'll have to figure out the rpm. I just remember going up the hill just fine and when I went for top speed on the flat it was hauling @$$ then... BANG!!! and rolled to a stop, went to pull start it and I knew exactly what the loud bang was. Opened the case after pushing it home and sure enough thr rod was in 2 pieces.

Have you put yours on a dyno to check horsepower? I've read in the earlier posts that top speed is really impressive too so I'm guessing it has a bit more than the stock 7hp.

Very Nice build and I'm really impressed with that engine.

 

[scotto-]

Wow... that's an awesome color for a factory paint job... I wouldn't have been able to paint over that either...

9600 rpm is really impressive for a Predator engine too... Are you running a billet rod to prevent breaking it? or are the factory internals that good?

I remember back in the 80's I threw the rod in my 5hp tecumseh when I had it set up with no governor and was using a small 21mm motorcycle carb, it was fun and I was hitting about 70mph in a baja go cart running thru a comet cvt, final drive ratio was 6.6:1 with 18" tall tires so I'll have to figure out the rpm. I just remember going up the hill just fine and when I went for top speed on the flat it was hauling @$$ then... BANG!!! and rolled to a stop, went to pull start it and I knew exactly what the loud bang was. Opened the case after pushing it home and sure enough thr rod was in 2 pieces.

Have you put yours on a dyno to check horsepower? I've read in the earlier posts that top speed is really impressive too so I'm guessing it has a bit more than the stock 7hp.

Very Nice build and I'm really impressed with that engine.

Thanks again Dave....yeah it's got billet everything inside and outside the engine. It's been dyno'd but not recently, I can assure you it put's out over 20hp. It's got at least $1,000 in that original 1st gen. $99 predator engine.

Crazy......just crazy!

 

[mech_engineer]

max speed posible? nice color!!!

 

[Davezilla]

Wow... 20+ hp is awesome coming from a $100 HF engine, I was lucky to get abuot half that with my Tecumseh back in the day... Now you got me wanting to build one ...

 

[Goat Herder]

You will have more than $100 dollers in your Harbor Freight engine for that kind of power.

 

[scotto-]

max speed posible? nice color!!!

Max speed is as fast as you want to gear it to go..........it can do 85mph if you want it to, I've had near 70mph with 9.5:1 gear ratio.

The color grew on me quickly when I started this build, I like it much better than the old black "Slant". I really do like the looks of black bikes however.......

 

[Davezilla]

You will have more than $100 dollers in your Harbor Freight engine for that kind of power.

Um... I'm pretty sure we all already know that... Now, can we all say "spell check"?