Pocket bike powered bicycle

[NLbike]

Hey, I'm new to this site and I wanted to share what I've been working on for the last little while. It started life as a Norco Dirtmaster that I found abandoned in a ditch when I was a teenager. I took it home, fixed it up and drove it as a bicycle for a few years. About 10 years later, my parents were cleaning up their garage and came across the bike again, so I took it back to my place, where it sat for longer, until I was given a pocket bike engine. I made a mounting plate for the engine and that's as far as I got with it until I got a new job close to home with lots of free time! I brought the bike in, and with the helpful donation of a 70s Harley peanut tank, finished it off! It did have ape hangars on it before, but I've always liked the look of café racers.

 

[Dave31]

Welcome to the forum NL, nice ride

 

[WECSOG]

That is a nice looking bike. It looks like you could fill it up, ride it every day, and still eventually have to dump out stale gas and replace with fresh!

 

[NLbike]

Well I haven't had to fill it up yet!! Even though its called a peanut tank, there's more than enough gas for this engine! Eventually I will have to give the tank back, so I am working on a smaller tank. I had one mocked up out of cardboard before, but this was just easier in getting the bike mobile.
I just finished up some proper foot pegs and a (very necessary!) chain guard.

 

[Ludwig II]

Oddly enough, this bike is closer to a true cafe racer than the majority of customised motorcycles that are claimed to be cafe racers. Nothing unnecessary on it, and no ornamentation.

Well done.

 

[NLbike]

Thanks for the compliment! She definitely doesn't have any extras! I would like some better brakes though! I'm thinking discs if I can get them on a 20" rim..

 

[mogollonmonster]

Simple, elegant, and clean. I like it. Very nice work on your chain guard, quite professional.

 

[joetrammel]

looks very clean what fork is that?

 

[NLbike]

That's just the fork that came on the bike!

 

[NLbike]

This is what it looked like new (I'm pretty sure)

The ride is a little bouncy, I'm hoping I can service the front shocks to make it a little better, and maybe match up a couple shocks for the back..

 

[joetrammel]

that fork is so sweet i got to score me one of those

 

[16v4nrbrgr]

Great job with your cafe build! These are my favorite type of motorized bikes and I always gotta give props for a well made ride! I like the jackshaft axle in the bottom bracket.

 

[NLbike]

Thanks! Yeah I wasn't sure how I would do the jackshaft.. I just so happened to have a couple of snowmobile bearings lying around, and they fit like they were supposed to be there! I am hoping in the next couple years to build a full size Cafe racer out of a Yamaha xs850 that I have lying around my garage taking up space!

 

[NLbike]

I had a plastic pull start on my engine, but every now and again, it would twist enough to jam itself against the flywheel, so I bought a metal one. It's much tougher, but it was a bit rough looking when it came.. Nothing a file and a can of engine enamel can't fix!!

Before

After

 

[cali9x]

Nothing unnecessary on it, and no decoration.

Very good.

 

[NLbike]

Thanks for the compliments! Here is a video I just made..
https://youtu.be/sbOBKjD4Lco

 

[Ludwig II]

Live to dare, pose with a Canadair.

 

[cali9x]

I look at this bike motorcycles seed stock

 

[NLbike]

Yep, that's my plane! Actually 1 of 5..

 

[cali9x]

This is what it looked like new (I'm pretty sure)

The ride is a little bouncy, I'm hoping I can service the front shocks to make it a little better, and maybe match up a couple shocks for the back..

I looked it felt weak so it is too small chassis