Ridley Vintage Motorized Bicycles
By James Grahame
OK, time to come clean. There's nothing old about a Ridley Motorbike except the styling. These brand new designs feature modern aluminum frames and 48cc to 70cc motors to propel you in style. Take care not to spook passing horses or lose control on slick cobblestone roadways while dashing around town at speeds approaching a breathtaking 33 mph. It's almost enough to make you believe these fanciful self-propelled contraptions will one day supplant the horse and buggy.
Ridley bikes are shipped as kits requiring separate motor installation (presumably for liability reasons). Each of the company's five distinctive designs includes a Cruiselite aluminum monocoque frame with integrated fuel tank, Quick Brick whitewall tires, single speed Shimano coaster brake hub, wiring and rubber engine mount. The frame alone costs a steep $1940, plus an additional $559 for a 48cc 2-stroke engine.
Ridley Motorized Bicycles [thanks, Mike Walters!]
