BGF Hongdu/Solex
- Thread starter cannonball2
- Start date
Well I would say we have the original that the Bike Bug immitated, but I guess I cant say that since ours are Chinese. Any way its good to see the Bike Bugs are back. I am a little confused as to what exactly is being sold. Looks like refurb originals. NOS, and a completely new version? I recently bought a 4stroke rear mount. I remember it was shipped from TX. but the seller was elsewhere. From what I can see in the small pics on the site, looks like my unit. If it is I was well impressed with the quality.
Killer build. I have an original Velosolex that I am slowly restoring, its a neat and kinda historic piece, but what you have is better in the bike end of things. Looks like it would last forever!
Hey All,
I just received my kit today. I am putting it onto a beach cruiser that I am fixing up. MB Dave,I really like your Solex clone too.
I am keeping an eye on ebay and will pick up a step through and do the same with it.
I will probably have some questions on the install LOL.
Adam
I just received my kit today. I am putting it onto a beach cruiser that I am fixing up. MB Dave,I really like your Solex clone too.
I am keeping an eye on ebay and will pick up a step through and do the same with it.
I will probably have some questions on the install LOL.
Adam
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Hello Adam F. Welcome to the club. These things are soooo slooowwww.
Had a fella on a bicycle riding alongside me asking me how fast they go, I was going full throttle flat out and he was peddling alongside holding a conversation.
Best advice I can give for a trouble free install, is to use the older style forks.
The clamps will fit perfect. The newer round style forks with the rounded shoulder at the top may prove to be quite a challenge.
Here is some more pics with new stickers, panniers and small fuel can (aluminum water bottle).
Also a pic of a hook I had to manufacture, to hold the engine in the up position when peddling.
Had a fella on a bicycle riding alongside me asking me how fast they go, I was going full throttle flat out and he was peddling alongside holding a conversation.
Best advice I can give for a trouble free install, is to use the older style forks.
The clamps will fit perfect. The newer round style forks with the rounded shoulder at the top may prove to be quite a challenge.
Here is some more pics with new stickers, panniers and small fuel can (aluminum water bottle).
Also a pic of a hook I had to manufacture, to hold the engine in the up position when peddling.
Attachments
Cool.
I hate the color though, so it's gonna be stripped and painted black or white.
Dunno. Still bi-polar on the color.
I hate the color though, so it's gonna be stripped and painted black or white.
Dunno. Still bi-polar on the color.
Slow hey? How many k's have you done? I hear that they do get faster 
I actually don't mind if it is reasonably slow. I only go 5 k's each way - I actually enjoy the time to un-wind.
I am interested to hear your thoughts about how loud it is? Obviously this is subjective but i'd be interested in your overall impression.
The decals look fantastic. Which ebay did they come from -
ebay France?
Adam
I actually don't mind if it is reasonably slow. I only go 5 k's each way - I actually enjoy the time to un-wind.
I am interested to hear your thoughts about how loud it is? Obviously this is subjective but i'd be interested in your overall impression.
The decals look fantastic. Which ebay did they come from -
ebay France?
Adam
Adam. I've traveled one tankful, so at a guess about 60-80km.
Yes it does get a bit faster. I started with a 16/1 oil ratio(castor based oil)
now at 25/1 semi synthetic. Cyclists can keep up with me and possibly go faster. Will take accurate measurement with GPS and report back.
Noise is very quiet. I'd say a lawn mower makes more noise.
Yes decals are from Ebay France. No problems. Arrived a week after ordering.
A lot of stuff on Ebay for Velosolex.
By the way, just ordered a genuine solex carby from Ebay with attached manifold. Will report back on how it goes once installed.
Yes it does get a bit faster. I started with a 16/1 oil ratio(castor based oil)
now at 25/1 semi synthetic. Cyclists can keep up with me and possibly go faster. Will take accurate measurement with GPS and report back.
Noise is very quiet. I'd say a lawn mower makes more noise.
Yes decals are from Ebay France. No problems. Arrived a week after ordering.
A lot of stuff on Ebay for Velosolex.
By the way, just ordered a genuine solex carby from Ebay with attached manifold. Will report back on how it goes once installed.
With some running and tweeking 21mph is possible wound on the flats. Criuse is 16-18. I checked these speeds on GPS. As delivered 18 was about it, with criuse 12-14. Running in will improve it some. Carb jets are all over on size. The Hongdu carb is good. I have 2 original carbs. The only advantage I can see is the throttle barrel is made to idle higher to kick the clutch out. The original Solexes were designated to run 50:1 which is what I run mine on(synthetic), you might consider this after break in, they seem to run better on less oil. I know this is a long thread, but the info is all there if you will take the time to read it(if you havent already).
Top speed on the flats is a whopping 25km. as measured with GPS.
There is a bit of 4 stroking going on. So can probably lean out the mixture a bit more from the 25/1 and achieve a bit more speed as suggested by Cannonball.
Compare this with 58km for my HT powered bike and it seems slow.
It's all relative I suppose.
There is a bit of 4 stroking going on. So can probably lean out the mixture a bit more from the 25/1 and achieve a bit more speed as suggested by Cannonball.
Compare this with 58km for my HT powered bike and it seems slow.
It's all relative I suppose.
I think 20 MPH is all the faster these things were designed to go.
Nah, these are not about speed, these are about nostalgia -
Nah, these are not about speed, these are about nostalgia -
Hey Dave, 4 stroking is controlled mainly by leaning out the fuel mix, not oil. The oil ratio has very little effect on 4 stroking. BTW I break all types 2 strokes in at 32 to 1 foe 1 tank and switch to 50to1 after.
Those 16-24 to 1 ect is very old tech from when motoroil was used in the mix. Now we have high tech 2 stroke oils and I know of no 2 strokes that that won't run fine and long on 50to1 mix.
I had lotta 4 stroking going on with both my Hongdu's even after soldering the jets and re-drilling them to the right size .019".
Both my engines had the deck heght of the cylinder head wrong, at .100" and the compression was only 75 lbs, normal should be around 100 lbs. I had to shave .060" off the heads to get the compression up to 95 lbs .
Now they run WAY better. No 4 stroking and the top speeds went up from about 12 mph to about 20mph.
You can also drill a 1/4" hole in the bottom of the muffler and cut the muffler's outlet pipe to about 3/4" long, and drill out the 2 air cleaner holes some, to improve performance a tad, after the compresson is raised to normal.
Have you taken the time to read this entire thread? A wealth of info on these engines here.
Those 16-24 to 1 ect is very old tech from when motoroil was used in the mix. Now we have high tech 2 stroke oils and I know of no 2 strokes that that won't run fine and long on 50to1 mix.
I had lotta 4 stroking going on with both my Hongdu's even after soldering the jets and re-drilling them to the right size .019".
Both my engines had the deck heght of the cylinder head wrong, at .100" and the compression was only 75 lbs, normal should be around 100 lbs. I had to shave .060" off the heads to get the compression up to 95 lbs .
Now they run WAY better. No 4 stroking and the top speeds went up from about 12 mph to about 20mph.
You can also drill a 1/4" hole in the bottom of the muffler and cut the muffler's outlet pipe to about 3/4" long, and drill out the 2 air cleaner holes some, to improve performance a tad, after the compresson is raised to normal.
Have you taken the time to read this entire thread? A wealth of info on these engines here.
Checked the head gasket for leaks. Lo and Behold there are TWO head gaskets.
Tried to pry apart the two gaskets. No luck. Ruined both of them.
While the head was off, shaved a bit off with sandpaper on a flat piece of glass. Don't own a lathe, nor have the knowledge to operate one.
Applied some Ultra Copper Gasket maker and assembled.
Will wait 24h to cure and then test. If it doesn't work will try the silver aluminum paint trick.
By the way have read the entire post but probably can't remember half of it.
Will have to re-read it me thinks.
Tried to pry apart the two gaskets. No luck. Ruined both of them.
While the head was off, shaved a bit off with sandpaper on a flat piece of glass. Don't own a lathe, nor have the knowledge to operate one.
Applied some Ultra Copper Gasket maker and assembled.
Will wait 24h to cure and then test. If it doesn't work will try the silver aluminum paint trick.
By the way have read the entire post but probably can't remember half of it.
Will have to re-read it me thinks.