I ordered this bike online because I liked it (a lot)! I thought I could get an engine in there maybe. If not I would send the bike back. When it arrived I opened the box and became sick. I got my engine and held it up to the bike and it would not go in the frame at any angle. I called the bike store I had bought it from and told them I wanted to return it. Long story short they needed around $100.00 to take it back. I then put it on eBay and tried to sell it. After five days and no bids I decided to try the engine in the frame again. I stripped the mounts, studs, sparkplug, manifold and carburetor. With the front mount shaped to fit the down tube and the rear mount gone I was able to fit it in at one angle with very little up and down clearance. You need some to adjust the chain on the shifter kit. I rough shaped the front mount with a wood rasp which worked really well. I formed a piece of tin to fit the tube perfectly and embedded this in the engine with cold weld. I cut the rear mount down to about 1/8" and reinstalled it on the engine. While the cold weld was still soft I put the engine in the frame so the angle on the front mount would be correct. After this dried I filled in the voids on the front mount with more cold weld. It seems to be a very solid mount. There is less vibration on this bike than any of the others I have built. I can't say for sure it is the mounts but I think they help. On my other bikes the front mount sits on a plate u-bolted to the tube.
The rest of the bike went together with no major problems. I wanted to run 2.125" or more on the tires but was limited by the sprocket on the shifter kit to 1.85". I have a set of the 2.125" tires and they are wider and taller. There is maybe 3/16" clearance between the tire and the sprocket now. I rode the bike for a while and decided I needed black rims. After I changed the rims and tires the bike rides even smoother. I think it is because the rims are truer with better bearings. They spin forever. A lot longer than the originals. I think the tires are truer ( if that is the correct terminology) as well.
I added the pipe last. The engine only had about 150 miles on it, but the pipe still made a significant difference. It will continue to improve I hope. I made the head pipe 12". I don't know if this is the best length but that is what it was from the factory. Others on the forum have suggested this length as well. With a little over 200 miles on it the bike tops out at 36mph.
It has six gears. My other bikes improved with mileage hopefully this one will also.
One last note. After I finished taking these pictures I dropped my camera and now it doesn't work so these are the best I have.
The rest of the bike went together with no major problems. I wanted to run 2.125" or more on the tires but was limited by the sprocket on the shifter kit to 1.85". I have a set of the 2.125" tires and they are wider and taller. There is maybe 3/16" clearance between the tire and the sprocket now. I rode the bike for a while and decided I needed black rims. After I changed the rims and tires the bike rides even smoother. I think it is because the rims are truer with better bearings. They spin forever. A lot longer than the originals. I think the tires are truer ( if that is the correct terminology) as well.
I added the pipe last. The engine only had about 150 miles on it, but the pipe still made a significant difference. It will continue to improve I hope. I made the head pipe 12". I don't know if this is the best length but that is what it was from the factory. Others on the forum have suggested this length as well. With a little over 200 miles on it the bike tops out at 36mph.
It has six gears. My other bikes improved with mileage hopefully this one will also.
One last note. After I finished taking these pictures I dropped my camera and now it doesn't work so these are the best I have.
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I just love how you did all that particularly how you tackled the carburetor.
I welcome any and all insight. I didn't know how the long manifold would affect the engine but it seems to run fine.
