Author Topic: Why can't bikes be like lawn mowers  (Read 4342 times)

guest18

  • Guest
Re: Why can't bikes be like lawn mowers
« Reply #15 on: May 08, 2009, 11:18:19 AM »
...My point was why can't we have bikes that can be similarly abused and yet start reliably and run and run

Steffan

CG125.
Happy now?  ;)

guest27

  • Guest
Re: Why can't bikes be like lawn mowers
« Reply #16 on: May 08, 2009, 11:39:34 AM »
Hi

CG125 - 10.86hp and 7.2 ftlb from 124cc, only the professional series of B&S make similar torque but from much larger engines.

Not suggesting that the CG would make a good mower motor, but as oone of the more long lasting Jap engines, low stress use and abuse etc, it produces more usable bike poer etc.

B&S make V-twin engines too - but less than 30hp from an 810cc engine - again really well suited to their tatget market, but not to bike use, if you want to sell the bike.  As far as I know not even in the US is there a bike made with a B&S lump, though it could.

Guess we loose out because we want more power to weight, and because we will not pay the extra etc.

R

trophydave

  • Posts: 374
  • Dave the rave
Re: Why can't bikes be like lawn mowers
« Reply #17 on: May 10, 2009, 04:26:31 PM »
Strangly the same question has appeared on the RealClassic forum.

Steffan

  • Posts: 1412
Re: Why can't bikes be like lawn mowers
« Reply #18 on: May 10, 2009, 06:16:24 PM »
Not guilty!!
Merely a manifestation of a commonly held desire for simple reliability in motorcycles.

Steffan

guest7

  • Guest
Re: Why can't bikes be like lawn mowers
« Reply #19 on: May 10, 2009, 06:19:02 PM »
If we invert the question and ask "Why can't lawn mowers be more like motorcycles" then we can discuss the need to own numerous lawn mowers in various states of (dis)repair and why this year's Flymo is superior to last year's model (and hey, the new graphics are so coooool).

GC

Mark

  • Posts: 1634
Re: Why can't bikes be like lawn mowers
« Reply #20 on: May 10, 2009, 08:49:27 PM »
You need to have a look at what my mate Mike made with V twin lawnmower engine.

Heres a clip of work in process and I'll upload a photo of the finished article when I find it.

There exists a set of people who believe 2>4

guest18

  • Guest
Re: Why can't bikes be like lawn mowers
« Reply #21 on: May 10, 2009, 11:02:54 PM »
Brilliant  ;D sounds mega! What's the engine out of?

robG

  • Guest
Re: Why can't bikes be like lawn mowers
« Reply #22 on: May 11, 2009, 07:19:59 AM »
Top boys . More please .

Rob .

guest27

  • Guest
Re: Why can't bikes be like lawn mowers
« Reply #23 on: May 11, 2009, 08:49:36 AM »
Absolutly excellent and proving me wrong yet again!!!!

ON the front of maowers, was having a natter with the man in the local mower shop the other day and was asking about engines - inspired by here.  To his mind, you cannot go wrong with a Honda engine, he is less impressed by the B&S, but in the main people use their mowers so little that anything should last in a 'normal' garden.  When it comes to serious work some of the higher end 4S engines are OK, but for real world 8 hours per day cutting anything from flat grass to boulder strewn rough ground the Victa 2S is top dog.

I have a fetish for Victas so was pleased to hear this, cannot bring myself to throw my abused and dead Victa in the tip, and dream that one day I will be able to afford a new one  ;D

Cutting the grass on Sun I did wonder whether the Victa blade mounts etc are patented - nowt to do with motors this - as the bar on the Mountfield (B&S engine) I was using does not do the job half as well as the individual blades on a great big flywheel on the Victa.  True my Victa engine was knackered and took some starting, but once going only runnign out of fuel (1 gal tank) stopped us, with the Mountfield set up I am thankful for the B&S "Reliable Easy Start" technology as I have to restart it every 2 mins or so having run in to some slightly thicker grass or brambles for which there is insufficiant momentum in the blade set-up to trash through.

R

guest40

  • Guest
Re: Why can't bikes be like lawn mowers
« Reply #24 on: May 11, 2009, 01:02:00 PM »
Thats cos Victas were made for TOUGH OZZIE lawns, none of that pampered pommy poofy grass here, Mate!

guest18

  • Guest
Re: Why can't bikes be like lawn mowers
« Reply #25 on: May 11, 2009, 03:10:21 PM »
Dunno about lawnmowers but my Husqvarna (54cc 2 smoke chainsaw) 254 used to get hammered 8 to 10 hours a day between 5 and 7 days a week on minimal maintenance and it was extremely reliable, still working in fact (although it is retired to minimal use now as I don't do that for a living anymore!)
An awful lot of that was a peak revs too (circa 14K iirc)  :o

guest27

  • Guest
Re: Why can't bikes be like lawn mowers
« Reply #26 on: May 11, 2009, 07:49:03 PM »
Mmm my Father in Law had a pair of Husky chainsaws and I have my eye on at least one - mind I also like my Sthil brushcutter and wondered if their chainsaws are 'better' than Huskys - only to find whole web forums dedicated to chainsaws and debates as to whether Husky or Sthil make the best.. :)

I will take either.

Smudge - you used to be a tree man?  Want a nice holiday in South Wales?????

R

Mark

  • Posts: 1634
Re: Why can't bikes be like lawn mowers
« Reply #27 on: May 11, 2009, 07:49:36 PM »
Brilliant  ;D sounds mega! What's the engine out of?

It's a Honda V twin sit on mower engine coupled to a BSA gearbox using a triumph clutch, Bantam tank, Z650 wheels, everything else home built including the frame and springers.

Here is the final product


Mark
There exists a set of people who believe 2>4

guest27

  • Guest
Re: Why can't bikes be like lawn mowers
« Reply #28 on: May 11, 2009, 07:53:23 PM »
A season ticket for the local A&E and Flamazine for that peg / leg / zorst combo?

Nicely done true custom mind

R