Repro Moterbikes

[Rick Blaine]

Forgive me if this has been covered. I performed a diligent search & tuned up nothing...

I was in Vancouver (BC) recently and saw dozens of 2 & 4 stroke motorized bikes.
So I went looking. The below are coolest looking I have yet found.

Impressions? Experiences?[huh] would YOU ride one?






REPRO NDN





VINTAGE NDN

 

[Edward]

I'd want something with a more upright sitting position than that, but I'd be all over one of those. If ever I have the money for a bigger motorcycle, (specifically, the money for the garage space, which is the real killer here in London), I am very keen on a Royal Enfield Classic 500:

That would satisfy my craving for a motorcycle in the more rock and roll end of things.... BUT I'd equally love to have something like the above, for wearing with jodhpurs and tweeds... Maybe even more practical in the city... There are a wide number of companies now selling a 49cc petrol engine kit (this sort of thing: http://www.petrolscooter.co.uk/4-stroke-49cc-bicycle-petrol-engine-conversion-kit.html ) which many people are fitting to the sort of basic beach-cruiser bicycle you can pick up for a couple of hundred dollars. It's a cheap route into what seems to be a huge enthusiast scene for 'motor-bicycles'. Not exactly the same as what you've posted above, but very close in spirit:

Unsurprisingly, the Chinese have caught onto this and are now making them complete:

For anyone wanting to get into business, this model sells on Alibaba.com for USD130(!) wholesale, based on buying 100 of them... Across China, not least in Beijing, there's a big two-wheel scene in the cities. Very, very many of the university kids I teach will ride something, typically some form of petrol or electronic motor assisted bicycle. This builds on that trend, but with significantly more style.

49cc is significant in the UK, as anything under 50cc here you don't need a specific motorcycle licence for (can ride it with a car licence, which many more people have as compare to motorcycles). It would be a very easy, and much cheaper, way to get into two-wheel fun for a lot of us. I just need to convicne Herself that it would make an ideal centrepiece for the lounge of our small, central London flat....

I'd love something with a real vintage pedigree look like the ones in the OP. I imagine they're a significant investment, money-wise, but a great idea. Original vintage bikes are gorgeous, but rare and expensive. Something like this, you could take out and really enjoy without too much worry. What sort of engine size are we talking on that Indian - 49ccish? IT's a very cool concept, and I'd love to see more of this sort of thing around. My dream is that in time London's central zone will forget half-measures like the congestion charge and go entirely car-free, allowing much more room for safe two-wheel transport.

 

[Stanley Doble]

In many areas you can ride a pedal bike with a motor up to 50cc with no driver's license, license plate or insurance. I have a Norco balloon tire bike with Chinese motor like the black one in papaya's post.

They can be a lot of fun for not much money. Around here they are mostly a fun thing for teenagers but I knew one or 2 guys used them for everyday, get to work transportation.

Although, the electric scooters have taken over that segment of cheap transportation.

Check your local traffic laws. It may be easier than you think to have your own vintage motorbike.

 

[Stearmen]

Here it is 49.99cc or smaller. However, they have now added some technicalities, such as max speed, wheelbase and others. Probably because of bikes like the Honda CR110, a replica of Honda's first GP champion bikes.

 

[kaiser]

My brother and I had one of these, a Honda 305 Dream. Good Bike.