First off, there are a couple of great on-line resources that you should visit. 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. Be sure to take a look at their photo galleries. |
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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. |
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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. |
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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. |
Final Specifications
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Just needs some accessorizes and some olive drab paint. |
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. |
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I rode the bike with a group of Harley's in the Marysville Veterans Parade and I was pleased to find that the crowd "went wild for the MP bike. |
This is my son, Kurt having some fun on the MP bike. |
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After the bike was up and running, all that was left to do was to accessorize it with items that enhanced the theme. |
One the side of the clutch cover, I glued on a piece of rubber and it was surprising just how much the engine noise was reduced. |
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I found these bags at Swiss Link a surplus store in Paradise, CA. |
I had a really difficult time aligning the rear sprocket and ended up making this tool to help me. It did the trick. |
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