More! Yes More Strange Bikes!

The Weird Wheels Saga Continues

Nov. 01, 2005 By Rick Sieman
Just When You Thought You Saw It All

THE WOOD BIKE

This just might be the prime candidate for The Strangest Bike of the Year. It's made out of wood. Yep. Wood. Don't ask why. Jut enjoy the ride and don't get any splinters. Well, at least the frame won't rust.


Engine: MZ TS 150, 150cc/11.5 hp Weight: ca. 150 kg
Builders: Marko Buschner & Mario Pillath Owner: Marko Buschner www.holz-bleibt-holz.de
Top Speed: theoretical 70 km/h, so far 55 km/h Dimensions: Width 1.35m, Length: 2.95m
Build up time: 5 Months (about 250 man hrs) Frame (hardtail) & forks: 4x4 and 4x6 pine timbers
Wheels: universal tractor fitment; 15in x 9in Custom made stainless axle bearings and 96 tooth rear sprocket

 

HARLEY HUMMER

Way before Harley brought out the Aermacchi line of bikes, they also sold a "starter" model for those who could not afford (or ride) their line of big bikes. This little beauty shown here is, I believe, a 1958 model. As you can see, this model was made to copy the police bike look. But as you can see from the second photo, they also made them into racers, like this flat-track bike.


DIMENSIONS  
Wheelbase 51-1/2 in Spark Plugs - Size 14 mm
Overall Length 81 in Spark Plugs - Gap .025 to .030 in
Overall Width 28-1/2 in Type Constant Mesh
CAPACITIES Speeds 3 forward
Fuel Tank 1-3/4 US Gallons NUMBER OF SPROCKET TEETH
Transmission 1-1/4 pints Engine Sprocket 15
ENGINE Clutch Sprocket 31
Number of Cylinders 1 Countershaft Sprocket 14
Type of Engine 2 cycle Rear Wheel Sprocket 49
Taxable Horsepower 2/1/2004 GEAR RATIOS
Bore (60.3mm) 2-3/8 in Low (First) Gear 20.8 to 1
Stroke (57.94mm) 2-9/32 in Second Gear 12.2 to 1
Piston Displacement (165cc) 10.1 cu in High (Third) Gear 7.23 to 1
Compression Ratio 6.6 to 1 TIRE DATA
Brake Horsepower (approx.) 5.5 Tire Size 3.50 in x 18 in
IGNITION SYSTEM Tire Inflation Pressure - Front 12 lbs
Circuit Breaker Points .020 in Tire Inflation Pressure - Rear 14 lbs

 

2004 DIAMO LS200 DIRTBIKE 200CC ENDURO

The Diamo LS200 is an off-road bike with a 198cc, 4-stroke powerplant, and a 5-speed transmission with manual clutch.

It also has a front disc and rear drum brakes and full-size knobby tires. The company is proud of the bike and bills it as either a dirt or street bike.

Anti Theft Features : Engraved Engine #, Engraved Frame Number, Keyed Ignition
Brakes : Disc Front, Drum Rear
Dimensions LxWxH : 86.2x29.2x42.5 inches
Engine : 199cc, Air-Cooled, Single-Cylinder, 4-Stroke, Overhead Cam
Features : CDI Ignition, Rear Carrier
Gauges : Fuel Gauge, Speedometer
Maximum Speed : 65+ MPH
Model : LS200
Oil Mixture : Oil Separate - 4 Stroke Engine
Safety Features : Brake Lights, Head Light, Kill Switch, Side Mirrors, Turn Signals
Start : Electric / Kick Start
Suspension : Front Telescopic, Rear Monocross Suspension
Transmission : Manual 5 Speed
Weight : 262 lbs.
Wheel Base : 57.5"

 

 

BMW NAZI R71 SS MOTORCYCLE W/ SIDECAR & MACHINE GUN

This is a CJ750, a Chinese Chang Jiang motorcycle, painstakingly detailed to look like a WWII era German BMW R71, which it was based on. It is painted Nazi SS Beige, and has various markings and decals to give it that "Wehrmacht" look. It's a 745cc shaft driven motor, sidecar with MG-13 Heavy Machine Gun. Just the thing for those pesky traffic jams!

 

SKYTEAM ST 50 CC TRAIL BIKE

They make no bones about this being a copy of the popular Honda mini bike. For what it's worth, here are the specs.

SPECIFICATIONS:
SKYTEAM (Honda ZB50 Replica )
Model: ST50cc Trail bike
Color: Black and Red  
Engine: 49cc air cooled single cylinder 4 stroke
Bore and Stroke: 39mm X 41.4mm
Compression Ratio: 8.8:1
Transmission: Three-speed with semi-auto
Ignition: 12V CDI
Final Drive: Roller chain
Front Suspension: Telescopic fork oil damped
Rear Suspension: Mono shock swing arm
Brakes : front - disc, Rear - Drum
Front Tire: 100/90-10
Rear Tire: 120/90-10
Length: 60"
Height:  26"
Seat Height: 26"
Dry weight: 109 pounds 
Fuel Capacity: 1.9 Gallons

 

CUSHMAN SILVER EAGLE 1965 SCOOTER-MOTORCYCLE

Scooters never really caught on, so the Cushman company tried to market some of their scooters to look like motorcycles. The results were less than spectacular, as with this 1965 Cushman Silver Eagle. Sorta like a Harley in drag.

 

ZEEDEE MAMMOTH 90CC

This bike is considered to be "Kid Heaven" by the manufacturer. The 90cc 4-stroke engine is powerful enough to get a good top end for a child's bike of it's capacity, with a semi-automatic gearbox it gives a good introduction to gears (no clutch).

Since this is intended for a kid, the copy that came with the ad brochure is a bit odd. Check this out:

"This dirt bike is ideal for leisure use and can give a lot of freedom on the mountain or beach. This bike has a lot of tractor pulling torque. We were quite surprised the first time on the Mammoth. It flat out hauls butt! We tested it with the trusty GPS unit and it was blowing past 50 MPH with a 225 pound test rider. The exhaust note is something else. It's not a strangled cat sound. More like a deep rumbling throb that a good 4 stroke performance bike should sound like. This is not a putt putt 10MPH bike for 6 year olds. You could almost get on the freeway with it and keep up with traffic. You will be amazed with it. This is one of, if not the most popular kids (and grown up kids) dirt bikes we sell. Throw a couple on the back of the RV and you will have a blast. This is an awesome brand new in the crate 2004 ZEEDEE Mammoth 90cc with a reliable 90cc 4 stroke Honda authorized engine. Comes with kick starter, CDI ignition, 4 speed semiautomatic transmission, front and rear drum brakes, tool kit, instruction manual, full 3 month parts warranty."

Specifications:
Dimension (l x w x h): 63 x 26 x 35 (inches)
Wheel base: 41"
Seat height: 24"
Min. Ground clearance: 6"
Dry weight: 144lb
Transmission: semiautomatic 4 speed
Lubrication: auto
Starter: kick
Ignition: cdi
Max. Speed: 35mph (factory says 35, in testing we have topped 50)
Fuel consumption: 120+ mpg
Front tires size: 250 x 14
Rear tires size: 300 x 12
Brake f/r: drum/drum
Hand/foot: hand-f, foot-r
Engine: 4-stroke Honda clone
Engine cooling: air
Displacement: 86cc
Lights front/rear: none
Racks: none
Msrp: $1,595

 

2003 JIANSHE "FLYWING" 100CC DIRT BIKE

The oddly named bike is available in Red with Black graphics, 4 Stroke Automatic 3 speed. It's billed as a starter/ novice bike at a low price. This motorcycle is made in China and has a stamped production date of 12-13-03.



2003 DESERT FOX

Not a DR, KLR, XT, XL or XR, even though it looks like one, the Desert Fox 150cc trail bike is made by LOCN Industries and sold by Uno Powersports. It has a 4 stroke motor and is kick start only. Has lights, horn turn signals and a carry rack on back. And that's all we know about the Fox.

 

68 WARDS RIVERSIDE 350CC SINGLE

This is a 1968 Montgomery Wards Riverside motorcycle. It has a 350cc four-stroke single cylinder motor, and was made in Italy. Sticker on the tank at one time but is now gone. It was built to fill a niche that never existed and turned out to be a market disaster.

 

HODAKA BONANZA MINI-BIKE MINI BIKE

So you think you know your Hodakas, eh? Well, this is a vintage Hodaka Bonanza mini bike. It is in fairly good used condition, and the year it was made is not known; somewhere in the late 60's or early 70's.

 

DENALI ELECTRIC TRIALS BIKE MOTORCYCLE

Another bike that was built to ? ahhh ? never mind. Why anyone would make a trials bike with horribly limited range escapes me. It comes with a heavy duty fast charger, which is sorely need, as it goes for 30 minutes then needs a 20 minute charge. This bike sold 2 years ago for $5,400.00.

 

2003 ROKON RANGER 2WD

This green Rokon Ranger two wheel drive bike came with spoked wheels, trail maintenance kit, GPS/cell phone holder and towbar kit. It was equipped with a Honda 4 stroke motor and this Rokon can carry 1000 lbs on its frame and pull 2000 lbs. Legend says it will climb a 60% grade, forge 3ft of water and plow through 3ft of snow.

 

CAR SEAT SUZUKI A100

Have a seat. A big seat. These photos came accompanied by a rather cryptic letter:

"Here are some pics of my friend Nicolas and his father Cacho with his 1978 A100 Suzuki with a car seat. Look at the sock on the headlight, this is way cheaper than fix the broken glass!
Enjoy the ride.
Carlos from Uruguay"


RUSSIAN 175 SNOW TRIKE

Not much info was available with this cold weather specialist, but if you gotta ride in the snow, this sorta, kinda, maybe looks like it might work. It looks like big inner tubes taped over the rear wheels. Now face it ? this baby is STRANGE!


RATTLER CZ

125cc CZ built and abused by Len Fang of the Frog MCC (aka the alternative CZ owners club) and lately of Len's Motorcycle Breakers in High Wycombe. We have no idea where this is and don't really want to go there if this is what they do to CZ dirt bikes. By the way, the two photos are of the same bike. It just looks different because of the unique "modifications."


MZ MILITARY

Eastern-bloc-army-styled MZ TS250/1 that only the Commies could design. Red star and all on the gas tank. Stylish, nyet?

 


BOXER-STYLE TWIN

1989 Dnepr MT-11. Two headlights and a straight handlebar makes this old Russian beast a cool looking motorcycle, at least on the front side.


GT 380 - STREET TO DIRT (2 photos, stock and dirt)

This started life as a 1975 Suzuki GT380 two-stroke triple. The first photo shows the bike as it appeared stock. The owner installed expansion chambers to replace the 3-into-4 system it came with. The mufflers were cut off just before the first baffle and brazed on the tail cones of two discarded 125cc motocrosser pipes. Since the middle cylinder split into two pipes, everything aft of the headpipe for that one, was made by using the front cones from the two discarded pipes, brazed together at their large end, then welded one end of that to the middle headpipe.

The suspension from a 1977 RM125 motocrosser was installed to make a cheap, powerful dirt bike. The second photo shows the results of that decision. RM forks, RM shocks on the GT swingarm, and note the shocks' gas reservoirs hose-clamped to the passenger pegs. Truly an amazing and strange bike!


DIRT FAZER

The owner tells the story:

"Here are a couple of pictures of my 'Dirt Fazer'. 1986 Canadian 750 Fazer, 20-valve, liquid-cooled, six-speed four cylinder. Front fork from a YZ250, front wheel and brake from an XT600, radiator from an EX500 Kawasaki, rear wheel and brake from an RZ500, seat and rear fender from an XT225, skid plate from an XT500, custom stainless high exhaust with Supertrapps and stock header pipes. Manny"

Editor's note: this bike successfully competed and finished the Mini Pine enduro race!


YAMAHA MAXIM STREET TO DIRT

Somebody just took a street bike and sort of made a dirt bike out of it. The forks appear to YZ stuff from the early 80s. It has a beefed up swing arm, dinner plate-sized sprockets and many more 'custom' parts. Wait a minute! There are two of them!

 


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