98cc Villiers

[harry76]

Hi guys, i just found this site. Thought id join and post. Hope im in the right section. If not feel free to let me know. Ive had a love affair with bikes for about the past 10years.
About 10years ago i rode motocross bikes and would turn my nose up at the thought of a bicycle, seeing as you have to pedal and all. Then i got outta motocross and got into cross country, then downhill, then i got into restoring vintage bicycles, and then i motorized one. And thats my new hobby/passion.

Heres my early 1950's Villiers 98cc 2 stroke engine that i fitted to a beach cruiser frame resembling a board track racer. Hope you guys like.....

[KALT]

thats mad fresh

[Louis]

Hey Harry, its kinda sad to see not many people have replied to your post. I think its awesome I have a Midget that im in the process of putting on a bicycle similar to yours. I was wondering, I heard rumors that because the cylinder is slanted you can run a straight pipe on the engine... What are your thoughts on that? And also, i would love to see close photos of all the main parts of your bike, its a real inspiration. Do you pedal start it? And how fast does she go? Thanks alot.

[harry76]

Thanks Louis. If you want to see more of the bike, i have the complete build on motorbicycling.com. If you are building a bike i suggest you check it out. There is a guy in NZ on there (CAMNZ) whos doing a build with 2 of these motors inline on a bicycle. Heres the link to my build if u wanna check it out, its all there but be warned it very long http://motorbicycling.com/f36/villiers- ... 28803.html

Or i have a picture section of the bike which is a lot shorter http://motorbicycling.com/f15/98cc-vill ... 30542.html

The tricky bit with these engines is they are low revving so a standard centrifugal clutch wont work (without modification) so i decided on a hand clutch/lever. Ive only just finished this bike and because i hadnt heard of anyone using one of these i went for an 8:1 reduction and that gearing is too high and wasnt very ridable. I got it up to about 20kmh on the testride but because its geared too high it was labouring and couldnt get past that. So im in the process of getting a smaller front pulley and primary belt to suit.

And yes i pedal start it. I just put it up on the stand and pedal it. I have a kickstart on the jackshaft but i need to finetune it to work properly.

And a straight pipe would be fine. CAMNZ has a straight pipe much like boardtrack racers had. I had intentions of doing a straight pipe but when i put this on i quite liked how it filled the gap and looked quite different so i kept it.

[Louis]

After I posted my reply i continued to research and found both your build (very long but worth every page of information), and CAMNZ's build. I liked your thread better because you posted so much information. I'm thinking about making account over on motorbicycling.com to follow our build.

I was not going to use a centrifugal clutch. I can't stand them on a motorised bike, its just not how they are supposed to be, I will be using a tensioner on the primary belt similar to yours. I love your lever idea on your tensioner. Looks really old school How does it stay forward when you put tension on it? Is there some sort of lock on it? I have a really small drive pulley for the engine, about 2'? Its very small, so thanks to you i'll use that one My engine has no starting mechanism, no kick starter or rope starter. So i have no choice but to pedal start.

I think i could fab up a straight pipe that sounds real nice, my ucle has a TIG welder so i should be able to weld up a pretty one

And also, do happen to have any spares for these little engines? My engine is missing its ignition system inside the flywheel. It still has the coil but the points and every thing else are gone My dad's friend may have a spare one of these engines but im not sure so im sorta no the lookout for any parts.

[harry76]

Thanks man.... The handclutch locks in place, i cut out a stainless steel "gate" on the tank



I have 2 other complete Villiers engines but no spare parts unfortunately. Keep an eye out on EBay, in "Vintage Stationary Engines" and "Villiers", but you are more likely to get a cheaper one by buying a complete mower like i did and you may get the kickstart as well. Ive gotten one of these mowers complete for as little as $30..... search "reel mower", "cylinder mower"

Good luck and keep us posted. And if you make an account over at motorbicycling there are plenty of people more then happy to help.

[ldrcycles]

The front hub is WAAY out of place but thats just being picky, looks really cool. Where you able to get that crank arm like that or did you modify it yourself?

[harry76]

I bought a complete set of secondhand wheels off EBay which were already laced, and i didnt feel like pulling them apart so i just put straws on the spokes to paint the rims, i plan to make the front hub back a bolt thru axle, so shouldnt look as noticable. This is a tight budget build so i just worked with what i had.....

The cranks were the standard cranks for the bike, i just heated them and bent them with an oxy set.....

[boyracer]

nice work! I like your style. Will check out your build.
have you seen the site 'Ratrod bikes'

[harry76]

nice work! I like your style. Will check out your build.
have you seen the site 'Ratrod bikes'

Yes i have my builds on Ratrodbikes.com, also Motorbicycling.com is also very good. Many nice builds on both those sites.

[Louis]

Alright, sick, i will keep an eye out on ebay, dad reckons i should just convert it to electronic ignition, but im not an expert on ignition systems, and im not too sure how it would go.... lol That gate idea is very cool

[harry76]

Id been having problems with the primary belt not slipping when i wanted it to, i.e i couldnt pedal it without engaging the engine. And because of this i couldnt start the bike (i havent fixed the kickstarter to work yet... the teeth need tidying up). So i made a guide out of stainless, i figured this would be less abrasive against the belt then steel. It was a little tricky as i had to miss the carb.

Anyway i got it done and it works perfectly, now when the clutch is out it pedals like a bicycle again

[harry76]

So now thats fixed i took it for a ride. YEEEEEEEE HAHHHHHHHH. Its not a rocketship, but more then fast enough and i couldnt get the smile off my face the entire ride. And some of the looks from people was priceless. The clutch worked fine and im guessing i got it up to around 60kmh. Very very cool. I have a few little issues, my fuel tap is leaking and also my exhaust, but i still havent sealed the exhaust as i planned to have it out again. Now i can fix it and do a couple other things. But i am wrapped with the first real ride. Im going to get a new plug, this is the one that i got with it.... looks very old.... gotta love these engines..... still going.... how many chinagirls will still be running in 70 years????

[harry76]

A short video

http://s1193.photobucket.com/albums/aa3 ... ure691.mp4

[mark field]

that is one sweet sounding beast. nice work, glad you've got somewhere nice to ride it. be a shame to have it and not be able to take it past the driveway.

[harry76]

Thanks Mark, i built this bike to ride..... so ride it i will

Yeah its pretty cool to live near the beach to go for a ride, its not that nice of a beach to swim at but its nice to jump on my bike and cruise around the peninsula. And so far ive only seen one ploice officer and he didnt seem bothered. and it gets a TON of attention, everyone in the street stops what they are doing and just stares as i go past. I even had an old couple waiting by my bike when i went to the shops..... he said you dont see these anymore and asked how old it was..... i said i made it but the engine is Vintage. Him and his wife waited while i rode off and they watched and waved, and they seemed to get a big kick out of it by the smile on their faces.... who wouldve thought..... pretty cool.

Anyway i made a stationary video of the bike on the stand

http://s1193.photobucket.com/albums/aa3 ... ure700.mp4

[trickle]

Yo Harry, where you at mate?
Pm me details, would love to see that in person. I was at Duttons Cycles at North Lakes once and an older guy turned up on something very similar chasing a spare tube on a ride up to caboolture.

Cool stuff!

[harry76]

North Lakes huh? Haha im from Redcliffe so you may see me out and about.

[trickle]

Cool beans.

I thought that noise barrier looked familiar

[harry76]

I havent stopped riding this thing..... heres a few pics

[mark field]

send your pics to a motorcycle magazine and they might want to do an article on your bike, which they should. by the way -do you want that guy photoshoped out of the last pic?

[trickle]

send your pics to a motorcycle magazine and they might want to do an article on your bike, which they should. by the way -do you want that guy photoshoped out of the last pic?

Nah I reckon it adds to the pic, call it "old bloke ponders youth once had"

oi Harry, you and the Villiers available for moto pacing up and down Anzac Ave?

[Riggsbie]

Wow, I really like that !!

I want one......