The Motored Bike Project

http://www.motoredbikes.com/

These  forums are a great place to learn about what it takes to start, and successfully complete a motorbike project. Lots of helpful people and information here.

The inspiration for this project comes from a couple of directions. Shown on the left is a 1903 Harley Davidson, the first model produced. Notice that it is a moped so, this project goes back to he simplicity of this first Harley so that it, the historical look and the simplicity.

This is the Felt 1903 Model bike. It is no doubt a take-off of the 1903 HD. When I saw a Felt frame like this on another bike model, I thought the top frame looked like a natural to convert into a fuel tank.

Someone did a real nice conversion on the Felt 1903.

This is the model of Felt bike I thought would be cool to convert to a motored bike. It's the MP bike.

After I tested for leaks with air and found that it leaked like a sieve, I decided to open the top frame and here is what I found, large holes on both the front steering tube and also the seat tube.

This is what the frame/tank looked like after the bungs for the filler and the fuel petcock were installed, and the section was re-welded.

Probably the most innovative thing I have done on this project so far, was to use a stainless steel clamp for the front motor mount. This clamp is rubber coated on the inside and is used to stop leaks in pipes. I could not use the spacer and clamp that came with the motor, because of the larger than standard diameter of the tube. I merely made a simple "T" shaped bracket which bolted to the motor. So far, it seems to be working.

• Weight                            88.6 lbs
   

•  Fuel tank capacity          .57 gallons
   

• Miles per gallon         132.8    (at 20 mph)
   

• Range - full tank          75 Miles

This bike is pretty much done and

I have been enjoying riding it, my son Kurt

in the photo below - left

Marysville, CA Veterans Day parade 11/6/08

The crowds loved the bike, so much fun!

Click these thumbnails

Tool I made for centering the sprocket on the rear wheel