European lightweight Motorized Bicycles
- Thread starter Ludwig II
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- motorized bicycle
Very entertaining stuff, as usual, Ludwig, our two wheeled historian.
Just you wait until the kitten starts playing with it 
This is probably German, with a 74cc Sachs engine, from the early 1930.
Alma, photographed in Portugal
Cucciolo engined Vilar, shown in Portugal
This is from an Colombian FB page with a Russian motor in a Czech picture.
This is probably German, with a 74cc Sachs engine, from the early 1930.
Alma, photographed in Portugal
Cucciolo engined Vilar, shown in Portugal
This is from an Colombian FB page with a Russian motor in a Czech picture.
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Late 1940s Taurus with Cocker engine, Italy
1936 Terrot M, France
1933 98cc Sachs engined Wanderer, Germany
http://www.sachsarchiv.de/bilder/albums/userpics/normal_DSC02589.JPG
A men's older version with 74cc
1921-24 Rapid with Lorenz & Witting engine, Germany
1936 Terrot M, France
1933 98cc Sachs engined Wanderer, Germany
A men's older version with 74cc
1921-24 Rapid with Lorenz & Witting engine, Germany
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Oh, I like the the front wheel belt drive, truly unique.
I tempted to try something like that with my latest
acquisition, but it would rather like painting a moustache
on Goya's Maja. Still my 35cc honda would work, & I
already have the sheave and pulley.
I just scored a mint '79 Univega Sportour mixte, really
light yet strong, dbl. butted chromoly, from the 'golden age',
$60. Standard frame models are going on the 'Bike Trader'
for $400 to $600; the mixtes are rarer. I've set it up as a
light touring bike, and put on 27 x 1 3/8" club roost cross
tires. I'm waiting for a 110mm 36T chain ring for a bit lower
range,(currently 52/42 with 28/14 cassette). I LOVE THIS BIKE!
I'll post pics once it's all together.
I tempted to try something like that with my latest
acquisition, but it would rather like painting a moustache
on Goya's Maja. Still my 35cc honda would work, & I
already have the sheave and pulley.
I just scored a mint '79 Univega Sportour mixte, really
light yet strong, dbl. butted chromoly, from the 'golden age',
$60. Standard frame models are going on the 'Bike Trader'
for $400 to $600; the mixtes are rarer. I've set it up as a
light touring bike, and put on 27 x 1 3/8" club roost cross
tires. I'm waiting for a 110mm 36T chain ring for a bit lower
range,(currently 52/42 with 28/14 cassette). I LOVE THIS BIKE!
I'll post pics once it's all together.
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Here are pics of the ultra-light touring setup for the "vega.
1.) 3$ bar bag: glasses, gloves, toiletries,first aid, sewing kit,
balaklava, minimalist fishing tackle.
2.) Inframe: is a simple triangle of ripstop nylon with velcro
closures, 2 oz., rain hoody & pants, dry socks, long sleeve T &
light sweat pants in plastic bag, rations, telescopic fishing pole.
3.) seat bag: 2 multi-tools, 6" crescent wrench & visegrips,
spoke wrench, chain breaker & links, patch kit & spare tube,
tire levers, tactical folding knife, and a sandwich.
4.) on the rack: U.S.M.C. all weather bivy with fleece bag,
bottle & tire pump not shown. Bags have been modified from
thrift store finds. With the 100 psi roadies I felt every pebble
of aggregate in the asphalt. The 65 psi cross tires really
smooth out the ride, and I don't have to clench my teeth for
mud or gravel. I had to add extensions to the rack to avoid
heel strike on my panniers should I choose to use them. (#14 feet)
This arrangement makes for a confident weekender or a more
aromatic long distance tour.
1.) 3$ bar bag: glasses, gloves, toiletries,first aid, sewing kit,
balaklava, minimalist fishing tackle.
2.) Inframe: is a simple triangle of ripstop nylon with velcro
closures, 2 oz., rain hoody & pants, dry socks, long sleeve T &
light sweat pants in plastic bag, rations, telescopic fishing pole.
3.) seat bag: 2 multi-tools, 6" crescent wrench & visegrips,
spoke wrench, chain breaker & links, patch kit & spare tube,
tire levers, tactical folding knife, and a sandwich.
4.) on the rack: U.S.M.C. all weather bivy with fleece bag,
bottle & tire pump not shown. Bags have been modified from
thrift store finds. With the 100 psi roadies I felt every pebble
of aggregate in the asphalt. The 65 psi cross tires really
smooth out the ride, and I don't have to clench my teeth for
mud or gravel. I had to add extensions to the rack to avoid
heel strike on my panniers should I choose to use them. (#14 feet)
This arrangement makes for a confident weekender or a more
aromatic long distance tour.
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I think the front belt drive would be totally doable. I have
all the components needed to put my on 35cc Honda. It's
just such a great little bike as is. There's a route I take
motored all the time that I rode with the 'vega. It is so fast,
I covered the distance just as quickly pedaling no harder
on the hills than I would motored.
The advantage of leaving it this way is that motored bikes are
not allowed on public transit, which is incredibly cheap in Washington
State. I can take it 200 mi. to the Pacific beaches or down to
Oregon for $4.50. That's just a bit more than the current price of
a gallon of gas. What a freedom machine!
all the components needed to put my on 35cc Honda. It's
just such a great little bike as is. There's a route I take
motored all the time that I rode with the 'vega. It is so fast,
I covered the distance just as quickly pedaling no harder
on the hills than I would motored.
The advantage of leaving it this way is that motored bikes are
not allowed on public transit, which is incredibly cheap in Washington
State. I can take it 200 mi. to the Pacific beaches or down to
Oregon for $4.50. That's just a bit more than the current price of
a gallon of gas. What a freedom machine!
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Ludwig,
You got me thinking, there are a number of 'oriental' axle mount kits
floating around out there, but how reliable they might be is an
unknown. I've also been toying with the idea of some kind of
electric assist. It wouldn't have to be powerful, just something of
an extra boost to use on hills as needed. the cheapest kits I've seen
are $300 for a lead/acid setup, $500 for lithium.
Lead acid is definitely out. A while back I built a DIY with a truck
heater fan motor & an old radio rheostat for a controller. It worked
surprisingly well, but the lead battery was too heavy & unwieldy
for the amount of power it could provide.
How to make a relatively cheap lithium drive? I'd seen a video
where a cordless drill was used to drive a bike. I found this thing;
remember the 'Rubbee'? This is a 36v lithium cordless trimmer
factory refurbished,(restored to new condition but with cosmetic
flaws), $109*. I think by simply eliminating the shaft, it could be adapted
to a friction drive. they come with multiple power settings & low
charge light. Hmm?
*with battery
You got me thinking, there are a number of 'oriental' axle mount kits
floating around out there, but how reliable they might be is an
unknown. I've also been toying with the idea of some kind of
electric assist. It wouldn't have to be powerful, just something of
an extra boost to use on hills as needed. the cheapest kits I've seen
are $300 for a lead/acid setup, $500 for lithium.
Lead acid is definitely out. A while back I built a DIY with a truck
heater fan motor & an old radio rheostat for a controller. It worked
surprisingly well, but the lead battery was too heavy & unwieldy
for the amount of power it could provide.
How to make a relatively cheap lithium drive? I'd seen a video
where a cordless drill was used to drive a bike. I found this thing;
remember the 'Rubbee'? This is a 36v lithium cordless trimmer
factory refurbished,(restored to new condition but with cosmetic
flaws), $109*. I think by simply eliminating the shaft, it could be adapted
to a friction drive. they come with multiple power settings & low
charge light. Hmm?
*with battery
Attachments
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