1915 Flying Merkel Copy & 1913 BSA Copy
Hi guys,
In talking to Gary yesterday, I thought I would send these pics along for a laugh. Sort of 'winter projects' from last year.
When I was a kid I spent a lot of time gazing at my grandfathers collection of
old Mechanics Illustrated magazines and always thought it would be really fun to
put an engine on a bicycle... but having no engines kicking around and no money
either it just never happened. I never liked those kit motors you can buy and
thought a Briggs & Stratton 5hp would work better. I did the first motorized
bicycle build in 2010, the 1913 BSA was my third crack at 'antique' bike
building...
I figure if you can't afford to buy the real thing, why not build one instead.
It kept me busy during a very slow winter 2010/2011 and was finished in early
April 2011. Mike asked me to help him build the Flying Merkel Copy, that was
started last spring and was finished in the fall of 2011. These machines are
single speed chain drive with centrifugal clutches and will comfortably cruise
along at about 50kph, top speed is quite a bit more, but way over the
recommended engine running speed. I have another one on the drawing board
(Indian Board tracker?) that I intend to use a variable ratio belt drive
transmission in, I have a motor and donor bicycle, but no start time in mind...
I guess I'll do it 'whenever'.
Not a whole lot of real motorcycle stuff on them, but there are indeed some odds
and ends that I can thank you folks for. I posted build threads on
motorbicycling.com under the DIY Home Built section... a search on that site of Merkel Board Track Copy and 1913 BSA Copy will take you right there.
Cheers,
Bruce
Visit the Atlantic Vintage Motorcycle Society's Official Website
>>>> Click Here for a HUGE Picture of the Flying Merkel [400kb] <<<<
>>>> Click Here for a HUGE Picture of the BSA [600kb] <<<<