Some of you have seen some pics already, but here are some better ones, and now she's a runner.

This is the HoughMade Cycle Works 71 (my last name being pronounced "hoe"). Not a strict replica, it is an homage' to the motorcycles of the pre-WWI era.

The frame is from a '90s vintage Huffy cruiser I got at a flea market for $25.00. The front fork is a reproduction Schwinn style springer. I fabricated "leaf springs" for the look, but their only function is as fenders. The wheels are from Husky- very heavy duty with thick steel and 11 ga spokes. It has a high quality coatser brake, but it also has calipers front and rear which is what I generally use for braking. The tires are all-white vintage style from Kenda.

The tank you see, I fabricated from fiberglass, actually a frm built from 1/4" foam board covered woth fleece and fiberglass resin. If I did it again, I would use fiberglass cloth. Under the cover (and bonded to it) is a 1/2 gallon steel tank that can be bought from bicycle-engine vendors. The seat and headlight are from eBay. The seat is a vintage long-spring frame that I padded with modern foam and covered with goat skin. The headlight was a small railroad lantern. It throws light like a flashlight, but I will not ride at night. Also mounted in the headlight is the speedometer with a custom face.

I bought an engine mounting plate, gearbox and other specialized hardware from a vendor who sold (past-tense) such things. The engine is a brand new Honda GXH50 (49.4cc) with 2.5hp. I made side plates to pretty up the mounting plate and smoothed the grain off the plastic engine housing to mimic metal. I also made an air cleaner housing to look more vintage than the original plastic piece.

I rode it to work last Friday- a round trip of 36 miles (I had ridden about 100 miles before I painted it). It ran perfectly- cruises at 25-30 mph, topping out at about 40 mph (but you don't want to stay there for long).

Another pic

Speedo detail

Very nice...

Yup, I remember seeing an earlier photo. What a great job! It sure looks like the period you strived for, early 1900s. What's the next project?

Well Lawguy- a handsome beast it is.

A truly honest offer on my part.

Now that you've "been there, done that"
I know you'll be needing some spare space for
your next home brewed project.

I'll be real magnanamous here and offer to take that
motorbike off your hands. Just pack it up and U.S.P.S.
it to me here in Puerto Rico . I'll even spring
for the postage.

Wow !! I can't wait !!

d

Somehow, back when you first arrived here and asked about a degreaser and BELIEVED me about the EasyOff it was apparent you had TALENTS UNTAPPED, James.

...you could get funding, go into production and have a REAL job if you aint' careful.


Seriously, that thing is Absolutely Charming. Well done.

nice job and I love the white tires too

Not bad I like it!


mark

You mail that motor bike to me yet!?????

I yam waitin'.................

dale

What a great piece of fun machinery. I bet you would have a market for those.

That thing is knock-your-socks-off cool!

Great job!

It reminds me of the ~1909 Indian~ that Nicky Hayden recently rode around the new Indy road course.

Fantastic work! I'm very impressed. And I want one too.

You got that bad boy crated up yet for it's
trip to it's new home in Bayamon, PR??

d

I must have missed a post. I assumed that as soon as your TR6 got here, I'd send it.

You'd hate me forever and die an early death
if you were the new owner of the Crypt Car. Just on parts that
have not YET failed, there's a good $40,000 to replace them
when they do. This car could easily surpass $100,000. in repairs
once professionals are required for engine and tranny work..

Belive me, you DON"T want this Devil car.

But I like your motor bike.

d

I sent a link to this thread to my father, a motorcycle design engineer (Norton and Harley Davidson) and he was most impressed. He sent this timely heads-up though:

"9 out of 10 for effort and ingenuity, but a serious piece of advice to him would be to design, make and attach, before he rides the bike again, a simple guard (using fiber glass?) to cover the drive chain. Exposed roller chains have a nasty habit of picking up clothing and carrying it into the sprockets. Preventing this happening to the rider by means of a guard is essential."

Good advice!!!

Looks great!

The only change I would make would be to use hydrolic disc brakes designed for bicycles.

But then it would be out of period.

Better brakes (thinking of lacing in drums from a moped- more period looking than bicycle disks) and a chain guard. I actually have a chain guard- just did not want to use it initially. However, as I ride this thing, I'll have to make some concessions to safety.

Thanks for the thoughts, guys!

James, have you started my BRG & Tan version yet?