Retro Thing

Royal Enfield: The World's Oldest Motorcycle Marque

Royal Enfield motorcycles have remained in continuous production for over a century. Enfield Cycle Co. Ltd. was founded in Redditch, Worcestershire in 1893 and released their first motor bicycle in 1901. The company produced motorcycles for the British armed forces during WWI, but the company's most famous innovation was the single cylinder 4-stroke "Bullet" introduced in 1932.

Following military production throughout WWII, the company produced a series of extremely popular 350cc and 500cc Bullets. The Indian government selected the Bullet 350 for military and police use in 1955, and Royal Enfield Motors Ltd. (India) was formed to manufacture the Bullet domestically.

Ultimately, British Royal Enfield was unable to compete with the onslaught of Japanese models that flooded the market in the late 1960s. The company closed its doors in 1970, but production continued in India.

Updated versions of the Bullet 350 & 500 are still produced and exported to a number of countries around the world, including the USA and Great Britain. The current product line ranges from the classic Bullet 350 with a single cylinder air-cooled OHV engine and 4-speed transmission capable of a maximum speed of 100 km/h (62 mph) up to the Bullet Machismo 500 with 5-speed transmission and a 499cc air-cooled single cylinder engine capable of hitting 130 km/h (80 mph).

The US and UK distributors offer a number of Bullet 500 variants with electric start and "lean-burn" engines. US prices range from $4995 to $5295.

Enfield Motorcycles (USA)
Royal Enfield (UK)

Rebirth of the Whizzer Ambassador Motorcycle

The $1995 Whizzer Ambassador is an updated version of the company's top-of-the-line motorized bicycle design from 1951. The original was finished with a full-size frame, glass black finish, ivory trim and lots of chrome. It was Whizzer's most expensive product, selling for $249.50.

The modern version features an Aluminum 138cc single cylinder 4-stroke motor, electric start, front and rear mechanical disc brakes, 26" x 3" front and rear wheels and belt drive. It has a maximum speed of 40 mph and is street legal in the USA, although the lack of pedals might force you to register it as a motorcycle rather than a moped in some jurisdictions. Best of all, this unique bike gets 90 mpg.

The original company stopped making parts for their bikes in 1965. It took over three decades before the Whizzer name was revived in 1998 and Whizzer USA Inc. began to offer the new NE5 range of retro-style motorized bicycles capable of reaching speeds of 25 mph. It's great to see them expanding their product line, and I'm sure the Whizzer Ambassador will turn heads wherever it goes.

Visit Whizzer USA for full details
Video of an Ambassador in action [YouTube]

Giant Simple 7 Cruiser: Stylish urban bicycles

The $330 Simple 7 proves that simplicity is indeed a virtue. This stylish retro cruiser features a 7-Speed Shimano Revo shifter, 26" balloon tires, dual hand brakes, a lightweight aluminum frame and a memory foam seat. It's available in black, candy red and pearl white and the company proudly proclaims "one size fits most." If the concept of a seven speed shifter seems too daunting or sissy, the company also offers a $260 Simple Single with coaster brakes. All versions are available in both men's and women's models.

Giant Simple 7 cruiser bikes

Jorg & Olif Scout City Bike

The Scout is an affordable 'Dutch City Bike' that hails from Canada. Prices start at $495 for a single speed model, or $595 with a Shimano Revo 3-speed gear shift. Each version includes a high tensile rustproofed steel frame with powder-coated high-gloss finish, stainless steel Dutch 28" wheel rims, numerous Shimano components and a wheel-mount generator to ensure that you always have front and rear lights when needed. It's available in Oma (gal) and Opa (guy) versions in four frame sizes. The frame and fork carry a 10 year warranty, with a 1-year warranty on parts.

The company proudly declares that they've redesigned the classic Dutch design to suit the sometimes-hilly realities of North American life, and they also offer an array of useful high-quality accessories that include a classic leather saddle, wicker and metal baskets, and even a steel cargo rack.

The only thing I'm not a fan of is their pricing. For some reason, the bikes cost a good 10% more in Canadian dollars, even though they're a Canadian company.

Jorg & Olif Scout City Bike

Piaggio Releases The Vespa S in 50c and 125cc Versions

Two new classically styled scooters have been added to the Vespa lineup after being announced at last fall's EICMA Show. The Vespa S successfully echoes the style of vintage small frame Vespas, while providing all the benefits of modern technology.

illnoise at 2StrokeBuzz offers some perceptive analysis: "Most obvious is the legshield, which discards the plastic insert of the LX, returning to a more traditional shape and contour than any scooter since the PK series. The Corsa-style seat looks as magically uncomfortable as the original. Details like the fender and tailight add to the impression that the Vespa smallframe is back, although for some reason, of all the great smallframe models to choose from, they gave it the horncasting and square headlight of a Vespa 50 Special."

There's no word yet about North American availability and price, although I'm sure it'll be several thousand dollars more than I have in my piggy bank.

Nuova Vespa S [Auto-translated Italian, via 2StrokeBuzz]

EVT Introduces 45mph Retro-Styled Electric Motorcycle

We've been waiting for EVT America to introduce their high performance Z-20 electric scooter since September 2005. For several years it appeared that the manufacturer of the popular EVT-4000e had bitten off more than they could chew during the development of an affordable electric moped capable of hitting 45 mph (72 km/h).

The wait is over, and EVT surprised everyone by unveiling three variations of the machine. I think this was a rather serious marketing blunder. There's nothing significant to differentiate the Z-20A and Z-20B models. They're mechanically identical and feature bland modern styling typical to dozens of low-cost Chinese scooter designs.

By far the most interesting model is the retro-inspired R-20 Electric Motorcycle. $1999 gets you a little urban runabout that can travel 30 to 45 Miles (48 to 72 km) on a charge. It's powered by a 2500 Watt brushless 60V motor (significantly more powerful than the 1500W model in the original EVT-4000e). The R-20 meets DOT requirements and includes the required paperwork and VIN for registration in the United States. It should also meet Canadian laws, but check with your local authorities before purchasing.

EVT R-20 Electric Motorcycle

Jet Powered Sinclair C5 Still Can't Outrun a Reliant Robin

The C5 electric runabout was Clive Sinclair's bizarre follow-up to his brilliantly cheesy ZX series of microcomputers. This dodgy little plastic trike was envisioned as an electric runabout that could replace a car for short jaunts around the 'hood. Alas, it's diminutive  power plant could only propel the vehicle to about 15 km/h.

In an effort to rectify this unfortunate oversight, the folks at jetpower.co.uk have crammed an Air Research JFS100-13A jet engine where the anemic 12V electrics used to live. The end result? Probably not what Sir Clive originally intended...

Jet Powered Sinclair C5 construction pix [via Ektopia]
Videos of the modded C5 in action

Affordable Honda CBR125R Motorcycle Arrives In Canada: A return to simpler times?

The modern North American motorcycle market is a strange beast. In many parts of the world, riders start off on affordable 49 cc scooters before graduating to 125cc and 250cc bikes. That's not the case here, where many people start out with a much more powerful and expensive machine. In an effort to make the sport safer and more affordable, Honda recently introduced the sleek little CBR125R in Canada for only $3399 ($3100 US).

Could three wheels be better than two or four?

I spent the day at a motorcycle show. As a retro fanatic, I'm always a bit torn at these events. Should I spend my time on the classics concourse or venture out to see brilliant new models from the likes of BMW, Aprillia and Vespa? I did a bit of both.

From a retro perspective, the Russian sidecar-equipped Ural lineup seems to be selling well. Their factory reps tell me that they've been riding a wave of renewed interest in 3-wheeled biking. In fact, they commented that their Wolf 2-wheeler might be destined for the scrap-heap as the company focuses exclusively on their sidecar-equipped models.

And since we're talking about three wheelers, one of the bikes that seemed to be generating the biggest buzz wasn't a bike at all. It was the MP3 - the world's first three-wheeled scooter. It's manufactured by Vespa's parent company Piaggio and seems destined to turn the urban transportation world upside-down. The company claims that having two wheels at the front leads to improved cornering, braking and road grip. Follow the jump for video of the MP3 in action...

Cozi: Sidecars for scooters

Scooterworks USA offers two bullet-style Cozi sidecars for scooters with 8" or 10" wheels. This is hardly something I'd suggest as an accessory for your 49cc ride, but it might make sense if you own a machine with a larger displacement engine.

One thing I can guarantee is that you'll get tons of attention. Both models retail for $1744 and include a windscreen, lockable glovebox and even a rain hood for those times you get caught in a monsoon induced by global warming. A word of warning: these are popular, so expect to wait a month or two to get your hands on one. 

Cozi Scooter Sidecars

kinda related:
Russian Motorcycles (with sidecars, dig?)

Schwinn rolls out electric bikes

Schwinn has taken the wraps off their 2007 lineup, including 8 slick bikes with an integrated Plug 'n Drive electric system that offers a 40 mile (64 km) range and recharges in just 4 hours. All models feature lithium polymer batteries, internal cable routing and rear-hub motors. The electric drivetrain is effectively hidden in the frame, making these machines less appealing to would-be thieves.

UK-based Pedelecs recently pointed out the similarities between the unreleased Danish Diavelo electric bike line and Schwinn's new Continental model. At first glance, it seems that Schwinn might have leveraged the Diavelo design to produce their new bikes.

I'm glad to see a mainstream manufacturer tackling the electric bike market because the product will benefit from large production volumes. It should also ensure that electric bikes make it out of specialist shops and into department stores and local bike retailers around the planet.

Schwinn 2007 Electric Bikes [via treehugger]

Whimsical Whizzer Motorbikes

This is one occasion where the word 'motorbike' literally means 'bicycle with a motor attached.' The original Whizzer bicycle motor was released in 1939 at a price of $54.95. By 1948, Whizzer had managed to sell more than 150,000 bolt-on units. They introduced the Pacemaker -- billed as the 'only complete motorbike' -- for $199.50 in June of 1948. The company's last engine design was released in 1952 before they morphed into Whizzer Industries, Inc. and diversified into toys, windows and sliding doors. To their credit, the factory continued to offer parts for the old bikes until 1965.

The Whizzer name was revived in 1998 and Whizzer USA Inc. began to offer a new range of retro-style motorbikes. As with many products, the modern version is manufactured in Taiwan. Their latest model is the Whizzer NE5. It's available in a 26 or 24-inch frame and sports a 1.95 HP 138cc 4-stroke engine. The stock model is capable of reaching speeds of 25 mph, although they're capable of much more than that with a bit of tweaking.

The company claims their bikes can be registered and insured as mopeds in many jurisdictions, but I'd check with the authorities before purchasing -- mopeds in my little corner of North America are restricted to a maximum engine displacement of 49cc. The Whizzer site doesn't list prices, but the NE5 with centrifugal clutch has been spotted for around $1595 on the web.

Whizzer NE5 Product Specifications

A skeptical look at the eGo Cycle 2 electric moped

Scooters make ideal second vehicles. The vast majority of these little beasts are gasoline powered, but an increasing number of electric models are beginning to glide silently though cities worldwide. Mary Jensen recently posted her impressions of the eGo Cycle 2 on Treehugger. It's a nifty $1199 electric scooter that's capable of reaching 24 mph (38 kph). The eGo weighs a mere 130 lbs and offers a practical 25 mile (40 km) range on a 6 hour charge that costs a mere 8 cents. Mary seems quite happy with her little runabout, but I'm more hesitant.

My thoughts? Think twice before buying this or any other limited speed electric vehicle that's unable to keep up with traffic. The eGo Cycle's poky top speed means that you'll often be forced to ride on the shoulder of the road, where you're forced to deal with rocks, gravel, garbage and the occasional stray hubcap. You're denied the right to "own" a full lane like a car, motorcycle or scooter. This increases the odds that a stray Hummer will force you into a curb or accidentally cut you off as it makes a right-hand turn in front of you. You're also faced with a dilemma when trying to turn left -- you're suddenly forced to putter away from the relative safety of the curb and into the path of much faster vehicles.

Another count against these vehicles is that they don't require registration or a motorcycle license in many jurisdictions. This might lull potential riders into a false sense of security by intimating that vehicles such as the eGo Cycle 2 aren't "real" motor vehicles that requires skill and training to ride competently. Sadly, that's miles from the truth. A 24 mph top speed is fast enough that riders need to have a solid practical understanding of counter-steering and emergency maneuvering. Experience on a bicycle doesn't equip you to drive a motor vehicle.

All in all, I think it's far safer to consider a more capable conventional scooter that's able to keep up with traffic. Your local safety council might even offer practical hands-on scooter training that could save your life.

eGo Cycle 2: Great style and fewer emissions than your Vespa

Classic Retro Thing: Russian Motorcycles

[Yes, I know the riding season is coming to an end for many motorcycle enthusiasts, but one can always dream for next season. Here's a rebroadcast of a classic Retro Thing post from 2005 for your two-wheeled enjoyment.]

Even back in the late 1930s, BMW made great motorcycles. They were decidedly better than those the Soviets had to suffer with. In a moment of strategic stupidity, the Germans gave blueprints and casting molds for BMW's out-dated R71 motorcycle to the Russians. Over the course of WWII, thousands of these bikes were manufactured for the Red Army.

By the 1950s, the Irbit Motorcycle Works was producing Ural motorbikes for civilian use. They survived the breakup of the Soviet Union, and now operate as a privately held company. You can buy them new in North America or Europe quite easily, starting at around $10,000.

The vast majority of their bikes feature sidecars, like the Troyka shown here. Powered by a 745cc twin engine, it offers sumptuous (by motorcycle standards, anyway) sidecar seating for your passenger. [more & another pic after the jump]

Vintage Vespas... from Vietnam?!

ScootRS restores classic 1960s Vespa and Lambretta scooters to showroom condition. The Saigon, Vietnam company was started fifteen years ago by a Canadian ex-pat. They apparently do nice work, to the point that these rebuilt scoots are often offered for sale in Western bike shops.

They offer an inventory of unfinished scooters in stock, ready to finish to the customer's requirements. The ScootRS website allows you to pick and choose from popular options to create the retro ride of your dreams. Base prices start at about $2,500, although you should expect to pay around $4,000 for a decently tricked out bike. Once finished, the finished bike is crated and shipped by sea. I was quoted just under $300 for delivery.

Here's their description of the rebuild process:

"The body itself is first dry-built to fit body parts exactly. Any damaged metal - e.g., often in the Vespa floorboard area or Lambretta rear license plate area - is fixed properly by welding in new metal, then any dings are fixed by hand, by hammer and dolly. The body is then disassembled again, stripped to bare metal, primered, painted, and finished with a protective gloss coat. (With our GP200, you also get some new body pieces!) External items are chromed, zinc plated, or re-polished. The seat is re-sprung and re-covered. A spare-wheel unit is included.

Once reassembled, the scooter is properly broken in: warmed up the first few times, then given a short test drive, then longer and longer test drives, with any needed adjustments made in between. We will probably put 75km on the motor while testing it." [thanks, Jordan!]

ScootRS: Lambretta & Vespa vintage scooters