Non US/European Motorized Bicycles

Ludwig II · Aug 30, 2013

Re: Non US/European bikes

Cuban homemade everything

http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=hQVOBekRrwg

Ludwig II · Aug 30, 2013

Re: Non US/European bikes

From Japan, a bitza with what appears to be a 28cc Honda People friction driver

A whole page of Japanese pics, no captions. There's Bridgestone, Toyo and Suzuki in there for a start. http://www.conyguppy.com/bicycle.html
A Toyomotor: http://ameblo.jp/oiler-boys/image-10523485090-10521369526.html

Ludwig II · Aug 30, 2013

Re: Non US/European bikes

Shanghai pickup

Japanese Inoue bike with Sunlight friction driver

This was in a Japanese museum; it looks very much like English 98cc autocycles of the 40s/50s, except for the drive belt instead of a chain

But! Look at the bikes in this, is it the 60cc?
1956 Sankikogyo 90cc Sunlight King friction drive

Bisumo Falcon, early 50s, Japan

http://ameblo.jp/oiler-boys/image-10523485090-10521369526.html
Unidentified 1950s Japanese 60cc
http://ameblo.jp/t-akiyoshi/image-11508828970-12495619226.html

Ludwig II · Sep 1, 2013

Re: Non US/European bikes

1953 Union Industry MT21 Comet

88cc Comet

1953 Tokyo Orion, 60cc 2 speed, Japan

1954 Toyo Motor T-9

Ludwig II · Sep 1, 2013

Re: Non US/European bikes

Tanaka A3 engine drive side & Kawasaki KB1

Ludwig II · Sep 1, 2013

Re: Non US/European bikes

Lower right images, Pointer 56cc

1956 Otsuki Dandy, possibly 50c

Ludwig II · Sep 1, 2013

Re: Non US/European bikes

1959 50cc Toyopet Cyclone

Toyo delivery trike, no date given

1958 50cc Tanaka Tasumopetto

1953 90cc 4 stroke Yamazaki Blue Bird

Another 1953 Blue Bird, but from Masakazu,60cc 2 stroke with rear monoshock

Ludwig II · Sep 2, 2013

Toyo R5, 50cc, 1955 in this ad

Even Toyos with sidecars?

1954 KB-3 Kawasaki engine in ?Miyata bike

Malvern Star Autocycle, Australia, 98cc Villers

full-2933-2337-dsc02717malvern_star_autobyke..jpg

CCM light delivery bike with a Pixie engine, size not given, late 40s onwards

A link explains more:http://thecabe.com/vbulletin/archive/index.php/t-26641.html

bluegoatwoods · Sep 2, 2013

Thanks for this thread, Ludwig. All of these bikes are just great to see.

Now...is it just me or are the Cuban bikes pretty ugly?

Ludwig II · Sep 2, 2013

Most of them are, but since they're a solution to a transport problem, aesthetics come second to actually working. Add in the fact that the builders do it from necessity, rather than as a hobby or art form, and you are unlikely to see bikes where you just want to get in the saddle and ride.