First off, for anyone wanting to build their own motorbike, 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. MotoredBikes.com and MotorBicycling.com.
(Click a photo for larger view)
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. Sadly, Felt doesn't make these model anymore, they are into performance bikes. I think today, I would try to get a fat-tire electric bike and install a motor in that.
After I tank area 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. This worked well.
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.
After the bike was up and running, all that was left to do was to accessorize it with items that enhanced the theme.
At one point, I acquired a hand crank siren and mounted it to the handlebar. The crank handle actually folded up.
I found these bags at Swiss Link a surplus store in Chico, CA.
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.
Here is the final product, fully tricked out and ready to ride.
Here is the title photo in case you want to see a larger view of the soldiers. :-)
Final Specifications
This has been a really fun project to build and just as fun to ride.
