I have wanted one of the little Chinese motor kits for a while now but I am too frugal to go buy one. This past weekend at the Midwest Bicycle SwapI managed to get my hands on a complete used 80cc kit with a one gallon tank. All it cost me was a '94 Redline 20" I had brought to flip.
The motor had some stickers on it from one of our local motorcycle custom shops so I figured it was something they had built to sell along side their other bikes. I wanted to ask them some tech questions about it so I loaded the bike I had the motor half mounted on and headed to pay them a visit.
The shop guy was real helpful chatting me up about the motor and such when he noticed the tank, with its flaming skull decals. His eyes lit up and said "I know that motor!" He ran off and grabbed his boss who came out to see.
It turns out that they didn't build the bike for retail sales. It had been one of the boss's personal play toys. Evidently he let someone ride it and they hit a car. The rider was arrested and the bike taken as evidence. That was the last he say it until I showed up.
He wasn't pleased to find out he missed the auction where the guy I got it from had picked it up. As you might expect from a motorcycle customizer the motor has a few hop-up parts already installed.
Short of a few fasteners the kit was indeed complete. I do need to get a new throttle grip and cable (already ordered) since the ones in there are a bit worn, about 6" of 415 chain, and some new fuel line. I have already built my custom motor mount and finished mounting the engine. Today I hope to get the clutch cable mounted, tank mounted, and if I can find the chain I may be riding today.
Here is the bike it is going on, early 60s AMF Western Flyer Silver Flyer. The tech from the cycle shop wants to buy my electric hub motor set up in a couple weeks when he gets paid. Until then I will run dual motors.
The motor had some stickers on it from one of our local motorcycle custom shops so I figured it was something they had built to sell along side their other bikes. I wanted to ask them some tech questions about it so I loaded the bike I had the motor half mounted on and headed to pay them a visit.
The shop guy was real helpful chatting me up about the motor and such when he noticed the tank, with its flaming skull decals. His eyes lit up and said "I know that motor!" He ran off and grabbed his boss who came out to see.
It turns out that they didn't build the bike for retail sales. It had been one of the boss's personal play toys. Evidently he let someone ride it and they hit a car. The rider was arrested and the bike taken as evidence. That was the last he say it until I showed up.
He wasn't pleased to find out he missed the auction where the guy I got it from had picked it up. As you might expect from a motorcycle customizer the motor has a few hop-up parts already installed.
Short of a few fasteners the kit was indeed complete. I do need to get a new throttle grip and cable (already ordered) since the ones in there are a bit worn, about 6" of 415 chain, and some new fuel line. I have already built my custom motor mount and finished mounting the engine. Today I hope to get the clutch cable mounted, tank mounted, and if I can find the chain I may be riding today.
Here is the bike it is going on, early 60s AMF Western Flyer Silver Flyer. The tech from the cycle shop wants to buy my electric hub motor set up in a couple weeks when he gets paid. Until then I will run dual motors.
Once that was fixed I was able to get it out and run it up and down the block. After a few passed I let it cool down and began going through all the mount bolts and giving them the loctite treatment and torquing them down. In the process I broke a mounting strap and an exhaust stud. :x :x :x 
