BGF Hongdu/Solex

[Greybeard]

Yesterday, the sun came out. I got the bike out. First time since last fall. As I was pushing it out I let go of the compression release and it came to life instantly. I didn't even have the enrichment lever over. Not only did it start but the clutch released and it just sat there at idle tugging slightly as to say "let's go". I climbed aboard, let go the throttle lever and out the drive we went, stuttering a bit until I threw the enrichment lever over. I only rode around the hood for 15 mins or so. Not fast, but willing.
I've other bikes. Much faster bikes. This little bugger is just as much fun, if not more, as those that can go 2-3 times as fast, and no pulling my arm out of its socket getting it stated after sitting for a long time.
The only issue I had was the fuel pump and dirt in the beginning. I anticipate the auto clutch may fail as it worked from day one, contrary to the experience of some others that have these things.
It seems anytime I throw a leg over this thing, it a Woo Hoo. And my neighbors like it too, maybe because its slow and quiet compared to my other bikes.

Happy riding!!

 

[Willy79]

It is good to hear about the Solex motorbikes. I too have had a great time with mine before switching to four cycle engines. I just wanted to remind everyone that I still have four solex engines to give away. If anyone is travenling to Salt Lake City I would be happy to give them to anyone that can pick them up.

 

[Otero]

I was planning a ride down to canyonlands, sounds really tempting
but I don't know where I'd put one on my tourer. My front wheel is
pretty heavily spoken for with basket & panniers. I'd love to have one
though for the wife's bike. How'd ya end up with so many. This is my
ride, not fully loaded. there's also an in-frame pannier, a rear one, and
some other stuff ties on the trailer. The seeming pannier by the trailer
wheel is actually a sound deadening stealth cowling that fits over the
engine.

 

[Ludwig II]

I'd love one of those engines, but I'm in the UK,.

 

[d_gizzle]

Ship to Oklahoma?

 

[Ludwig II]

Don't be silly, even I know Oklahoma's inland and you can't sail there.

 

[d_gizzle]

Ludwig,that aint even funny!



Yes,yes it was.

 

[Willy79]

I purchased the Solex engines from a vendor in Canada. At the time he was only selling in lots of three and I ended up with more than I should have purchased. I have had three of them mounted on bicycles and used for short periods. I wanted engines that were more reliable and have replaces each with four cycle Hondas. I really don't want to ship them, but they are free to anyone that will pick them up in Salt Lake.

 

[Otero]

Of course you can sail there, ya just need a small boat and a lake.
Oh.. and Willy, it'll likely take a couple weeks to ride down there
from Washington state, but if there are any left I'll try to get in
touch.

 

[Greybeard]

It's been awhile since I rode the HD Solex out. Was out uncovering things to get to another bike frame and decided to pull it out. Shook the tank, pushed the enrichment lever to the left and pushed it outside with the compression relief on. I stopped, moved the enrichment lever to the center and just pushed off. It popped off within 3 ft and off we went. I rode it around for nearly an hour. I know that in reality I've only a few hundred miles on it, about 3 gallons of fuel. Other than some dirt in the fuel pump, it just runs. I run around the neighborhood with the throttle pulled off, about jogging speed, and its so smooth and quiet. Then move out onto the county road, let go the throttle and it picks up nicely.
It's hard to believe how good it is for something designed 70 or so years ago.
Happy 4th!!!

 

[Otero]

I've sent you a p.m.

 

[Intrepid Wheelwoman]

First off please forgive the poor quality pictures. I'm not so well at the moment and I didn't realise my hands were shaking due to muscle tremor. I managed to salvage some of the photos I took so at least you can see what I'm up to.

I don't usually buy new bicycles, but when I was studying to become a social worker I purchased a brand new Chinese 'Wu Yang' ladies bicycle to be my everyday transport. I love bicycles with 28inch wheels as they ride so beautifully seeming to sweep along in a way that most modern bicycles simply don't anymore.
I have an English heavyweight ladies model Hercules and the Wu Yang is a little smaller than my Hercules, but larger than a 1950's ladies sports model bike. So I think it must be a middleweight. It's certainly a frank copy of a 1950's Raleigh though and even the 'Wu Yang' badge looks like a Raleigh badge at first glance.
As to quality I also have an Indian built Hercules which is a modern copy of my English Hercules and the Chinese bike is much better when it comes to general finish. The fittings on the Indian made bicycle are of a much poorer quality and the bolts and nuts used in its assembly are a random mix of metric and Imperial threads. All bolts and nuts on the Chinese bike are metric and are of a better quality and finish.

Until I was able to buy a car (a Morris Minor) I rode the 'Wu Yang' to work as well and it was always completely reliable. It's always been a bit of a polish queen and for the past few years it's been hanging up in the garage while I've been mostly using my Hercules bikes to get around.
Before I became ill again I'd purchased a Chinese clone VeloSolex engine kit and it's been sitting in the garage too in its box waiting for me to do something with it. Tonight I made the decision that I would fit the Solex engine onto the Wu Yang and I made a start on removing the rod operated front brakes as well as the lamp bracket so I could see how the engine would fit.
Unfortunately I'm going to have to cut back the front mudguard, but I guess I can live with that.

 

[cannonball2]

Wow that's a great combo, a perfect couple so to speak. One of the 2 bikes I kept of the 12 I had was my HD/Macargy(its on pg one of the thread). Will not get rid of it, its just to neat. You may have some teething issues, if you do hang in with it, will be well worth it. Here is mine in its final form. I changed the throttle to wide open all the time with pull in at stop for idle, used to be conventional throttle to go. Its the way they were on the Velosolex, makes sense as that's the way it runs most of the time. Doesn't matter how long it sits if bad fuel is not an issue it will fire right up just as SB said.

I ditched the white walls, bogused on some Autocycle decals and added a bullet tail light with cotton wiring to complete the look. Sadly its dusty from not being ridden, need to change that!!

 

[Intrepid Wheelwoman]

Hello CB I wondered if you kept your HD/Macargi. Your bike is still looking good and the new tyres and other details suit it very well. Don't worry about bogus decals, my HD engine is carrying Solex decals that I purchased specially for it from France, The 'Solexine' can and its carrier bracket is another bit of accessorising that also came from France. Postage costs were a little pricey, but I decided to go ahead anyway just to make my kit install a little different.

I was going to fit the kit onto a 20inch wheeled Raleigh 20 frame, only last night when I saw my 'Wu Yang' hanging up in the garage where it's been for the past few years I changed my mind. As you say it's the perfect combo and as soon as I put the engine in place for a trial fit up and saw how good it looked I knew I'd made the right decision. I have a small collection of bicycle license plates and I could even put a Chinese license plate on the 'Wu Yang' for a finishing touch.

Teething issues are something that I'm expecting CB which is why I decided to post my build in this thread so that all the information about these kits stays together in the same place. As far as I'm aware these kits are still available in China and the local importer here in NZ I purchased my engine from said he could get another kit for me if I wanted one. Having been a very much contented customer of his in the past I have no doubts that the supply of these kits hasn't dried up yet.

 

[Otero]

Hope you're feeling better soon Wheela,
I've been in a wretched bout with the flu here
myself. Can't wait to shake it & get riding again.
That's a lovely bike, so well maintained. Mine
look as if they'd been out in a violent sand storm.

 

[Intrepid Wheelwoman]

Thanks Otero The 'flu is no fun, hope you get over it soon.

Like I said this bicycle has always been a polish queen so even though I've owned it for more than fifteen years now it's always looked like the day i wheeled it out of the bike shop. Hopefully now that I'm motorising it I won't do something dumb like crash and bend it.

Even though the original Chinese sidestand has a locking lever I'm still a little worried that my bike might tip over with the increased weight over the front forks. The solution would be to make some kind of improved stand that can handle the weight of the engine. Anyone got any ideas?

Even though this bike has always been a pleasure to ride, one essential part of this bike that's downright poor is the saddle. As a Brooks copy the three point springing is nice, but the moulded plastic seat cover is just awful. I think I'm going to have to replace it with something that is genuinely leather before I do too many more miles on this bike.

A front drum brake is on my to-do list, but at this stage what kind it will be is still to be decided.

And I'm feeling pretty darn annoyed because the local importer who sold me this kit went to the trouble of making a really good instruction sheet with pictures for the kits he sold and I can't find it. I thought it was in the box, but plainly I've taken it somewhere and misplaced it. BOTHER!

 

[Otero]

I see you have a rear mount stand, but it does seem to extend very
far to the side. My touring bike is heavy fore & aft, so I recently
replaced the flimsy stand with a Greenfield rear mount. It has a wider
stance & a larger foot that won't sink into soil. I really like it. it's
fairly light, & wasn't expensive. The pic doesn't really show the wider
stance. It's a simple install, but there is also an install video that
will save having to figure it out.

 

[Otero]

Update:
They're about $15 U.S.; I hope the shipping wouldn't
be prohibitive. The title of the online install vid. is:
'Rear Mount Kickstand Greenfield Stabilizer made in the U.S,A.'
What size are your wheels? It's best suited for 26".

 

[Intrepid Wheelwoman]

The Wu Yang has 28inch wheels Otero,

 

[cannonball2]

On my Macargi the front wanted to flip to the side dumping the bike with the standard kick stand. I installed a center stand and its acceptable but not totally untipable. May just be my bike/engine combo. Wonder if a rear mount kick stand could be used on the front fork also? Done right might look kinda cool.