Tomashop updates
I haven’t been posting articles as frequently as in the past for few reasons.
I’ve been very busy… writing and keeping up a blog takes a lot of time. I didn’t want to saturate the blog with too many articles making it difficult for the new blog readers to catch up having to go back through so many previous posts. I started to post more about the Tomahawk activities on the right side of the main page but realized that a lot of people only surf the web with their iPhone and completely miss all the frequent updates because the right side is not displayed on their small phone screen.
Some people have asked me to start posting more, so here’s what’s going on a the Tomashop…
- DUAL 103 SOLD:
I just finished the Dual Variated Peugeot 103 and sold it to a friend for $2,300 a steal considering the rareness of that set up, some of the vintage Polini and Giraudo parts, the amount of work, powder coating, disc brake, etc… My consolation is that it stays within the family and will be taken care of. It’s a unique piece of art that we won’t find in the streets anytime soon.
I’m hoping to do a good photo shoot sometime in the beginning of April and maybe bring a video.
This is not a top speed bike more like a cruiser with 50 mph top speed. By design a dual variated transmission absorbs a lot of the engine’s true power and needs to constantly rev high. It makes it harder to tune the transmission for perfect overall power.
MOTOR:
Polini air cooled 50cc W kit ported – Vintage Polini 50cc h2o head – Polini cases small reeds – Doppler crankshaft small taper – MVT internal cdi variable advance – Dell orto 19mm carb – Simonini circuit pipe (just for the photo) but changed to Giannelli Black Gun better high rpm pipe – stock clutch – Vintage Giraudo variator – Vintage dual variated swing arm – Yamaha Zuma scooter radiator – Polini water pump modified with timing belt pulleys.
CHASSIS:
1989 Peugeot 103 frame flat tank sides, imported from France – Honda CT70 rear gas shocks 330mm – Peugeot seat with custom upholstery – EBR hydraulic fork – custom disc brake adapted to stock 1978 spoke wheel – Tomahawk fork brace – Red candy apple and Flat black powder coating.
- MOTOBECANE AV10 – 90′s MBK Magnum Racing XR F1 Assistance:
This is a restoration project for a customer.
A super rare moped that we won’t see anytime soon in the US, on a blog or even less running on the streets. It took the owner at least a year to hunt and import all the parts from France. We’re going to try to restore the bike close to the 90′s stock looking version with that original hot pink paint by importing an MBK scooter model small fairing with the exact same paint match, the vintage moped pink fairing is too rare and too expensive. But the motor won’t be 50cc h20, it will be a Parmakit 70cc air cooled for now.
The original 90′s F1 Assistance (stock 50cc h20, kick start, disc brake, etc… $1,600 back then) and the Tomahawk project:
1996 Scooter MBK Rocket F1 assistance series fairings that we need for a color match:
I just got the stock hydraulic 30mm Paioli fork back from polishing satin finish and already rebuilt it with new oil and dust seals imported from France by Yamaha Genuine parts.
- TOMAHAWK Moby av10 race bike 2013:
I built a new Polini 50cc h2o stock cases 21mm carb for my motobecane race moped but the chassis upgrades are far from being done, radiator, electric water pump, battery, temperature gauge, square swing arm, aluminum launch lever, 3 star mag wheels, custom bracket for rear aluminum sprockets, 250mm scooter disc brake, grimeca caliper, custom bracket, Paioli 30mm adjustable hydraulic fork missing 2 special aluminum washers to be machined.
Mbk Booster front 250mm disc by Doppler, perfect bolt pattern match for the Mbk 51 magnum 3 star front wheel.
There’s a motorized bicycle race event in Southern California coming soon Saturday April 13 at Grange’ race track in Victorville. Few mopeds are invited and I want to bring that bike to the track as well as my Peugeot RCX 50cc h20. So I need a temporary engine.
I’ve just rebuilt a ported air cooled 50cc Doppler kit, stock cases, 19 carb and will also use that oportunity to test the cheap Teknix crank $75 and a new high quality internal ignition coil replacement for the stock cdi $75 “Le partie” sent by https://www.treatland.tv/motobecane-CDI-p/motobecane-cdi-ignition.htm
I’ll bring some reviews on the Teknix crank and cdi internal coil after the race in April.
I’ve already made the Part 1 videos. Check out those links:
Teknix crank – Part 1
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ns76FoX7BRA&list=UUpmRXys5jX0-1m51Xh0Ixew&index=2
Internal coil – Part 1
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nUwOr7Xf_LI&list=UUpmRXys5jX0-1m51Xh0Ixew&index=1
Tomashop Grand Opening
The Tomahawk shop in Filipino town is done.
My back is sore but it was worth it. It’s a nice little nest to build custom bikes, repair and restore mopeds. We’ve got the tools, the bikes, now we just need to hang a photo of a moped babe to make it a ligit shop.
It’s party time tonight Friday night at 7:30pm. Come and hang out with us. Honest Mike from Scoot TV will be there to cover the event. I saved plenty of room on the red doors for his stickers, yeah!
Next Monday I’m finally back to fixing mopeds, I can’t wait. We’re gonna build some amazing bikes there and we’ll happily serve the LA moped community.
BBQ Party:
Thanks everybody for coming, it was really fun. We’ll try to throw more moped parties in the future.
Video by Honest Mike – Scoot TV Show. Thx dude, that was fast editing!
Additional video:
Taking a “brake”
Tomashop phase 1 complete.
Leleu front wheel custom disc brake anti-lock system, peugeot rcx rear sprocket/disc brake project.
After taking a quick break from building the Tomashop I filmed Melvin working on the moby rockstar project front wheel custom disc brake.
Because of the demand this is now a service that we provide. We can pretty much adapt a disc brake to any bike. If you need that upgrade on your moped just send us your fork, wheel, caliper , rotor and we’ll take it from there. Our tools are not fancy but they get the job done.
Depending on each project, prices start at $300. This includes custom made aluminum rotor mount, caliper bracket and labor.
If you don’t have the parts we can provide them at additional cost.
I think Melvin likes my new right angle drill. I can say good bye to it. Au revoir ma petite perceuse…
Commissioned custom disc brake for Peugeot Leleu front wheel to be installed on a motobecane moped in Chicago.
BONUS PIC:
Bernie’s next next project Derbi liquid cooled flat reed dual variated.
Many options for that build. Kit Airsal 90cc, Barikit 78cc, Parmakit 80cc,Parmakit 95cc, etc….
Derbi Variant with Pro Race cylinder kit, polini clutch and variator, oko 24mm carb, PVL cdi:
BONUS VIDEOS:
Teaser video by Nicolas Danevel who traveled from March to May 2011 through San Francisco, Los Angeles, Denver, Richmond to film a moped documentary. The final video will be ready soon on his vimeo channel.
LIVE FAST/ RIDE SLOW
Video Rebecca Dreyfus of the March 20th 2012 moped rally “Whiskey Business V” organized by the Bourbon Bandits.
Scoot TV Show episode 2
By Honest Mike.
BONUS PICS & VIDEOS:
What’s happening at Tomahawk Mopeds ?
Melvin finished the stretched out Honda Hobbit 70cc mikuni 24mm carb + dio intake + Sebac 380mm shocks.
Ported and assembled the 50cc Doppler engine for the rockstar moby project. Melvin is working on the disc brake custom aluminum mount and wheel spacers.
Machined the 50cc polini cylinder top deck and fin for the peugeot 103 dual variated project. Found a new machine shop 20+years experience. Ported and assembled the polini engine + Bidalot head. Serviced and assembled the vintage Giraudo steel variator to fit a new motobecane malossi belt.
The motobecane malossi belt seems to fit perfectly. Gas shock 330mm + Giannelli pipe. Next, make a strong rubber engine bracket, install the internal cdi and rubber mounted 19 carb, new bearings on the dual variated reduction gear, build a front disc brake.
I’ll try to finish that back before the next race June 2nd. It won’t be as fast as with a standard swinging engine setup + launch lever but should be fun to ride with quick accelerations. The good new is I can mount a solid exhaust instead of a ball joint system.
Yes, we can build your engine
This is a Peugeot bottom end engine I properly reassembled today and ready to ship back to Canada for a top tank moped project.
Some people still ask me if we build moped engines for others, I hope this post answers the question.
I’m specialized in Peugeot and Motobecane variated engines my first choice of mopeds but can also work on Puch and Tomos engines stock or kitted.
Just email us at tomahawkmopeds@ymail.com for quotes since every engine project is different and send us your parts or ask us some advice on what parts to buy.
And YES…. we can build your custom moped too!
Keep in mind that a vintage custom moped built from scratch with brand new parts is not cheap and to build it right with quality like all the Tomahawk bikes it takes an average of 50+ hrs of labor, that’s if there’s no special custom frame modifications request.
For example:
Just a vintage moped frame can cost up to $200, good mag wheels $200, Ebr fork $200, disc break assembly $200, standard rear shocks $60, handle bars – controls – head light – cables – pedals – chains, seat, etc… another $200.
So a $1000 just for the rolling chassis + paint job.
Plus close to $1000 in parts for a fast brand new race engine built from scratch. A brand new stock engine is a little cheaper but still around $600 in parts.
Here’s my personal experience:
The fun thing about mopeds is that it’s supposed to be cheap and do it yourself. Fast vintage custom mopeds are a whole different world. People buy a cheap vintage moped and try to learn to fix it themselves. It’s fine as long as they keep the engine stock but once they decide the bump the power with performance parts, it’s just the beginning of a long, painful and expensive road.
Over and over I see people wanting to build their own kitted engine to learn and save money. But most of the time they end up spending more in the long run after seizing multiple kits or breaking their engine parts. After few months of frustration, they finally bring the bike to an expert which they should have hired in the first place to really save money. It takes even more labor for a mechanic to repair a damaged engine than building one with new parts.
In conclusion, their is no cheap vintage custom moped and fast. The only cheap moped is a stock vintage one which you got a good deal for and that only needs little maintenance once in a while. Or, a brand new Tomos stock-ish engine reliable with a pipe and up jet for daily commuting at 45 mph max, and maybe little extra money spent on chassis parts to make it look less boring and more custom.
That’s just my opinion but I hope that it helps those who are new to the moped world or want to build a custom bike.
Monster Moped Prototypes
Single variated transmission:
Dual variated transmission:
6 speed transmission:
BONUS PICS:
Among many brands, a Bidalot 50cc and 70cc kits for 6 speed minarelli AM6 engines.
Plus, French-German company Maxiscoot/MXS racing latest prototype with their new 90cc kit (2 years development) available on the market by 2012 for minarelli horizontal scooter engines and 6 speed engines like minarelli AM6, Derbi euro 2 and Derbi euro 3.
Can you imagine that sweet 6 speed 2T euro technology available and easily adaptable for our french variated mopeds? Hmmm… let me see if I can work on that this year.
Look inside Maxiscoot/MXS custom shop, working on their 1st air cooled 70cc kit 18.5 hp one of the most powerful for vertical minarelli Zuma 50cc scooter engine.
Tomahawk new shop
So it looks like in January 2012 Tomahawk is finally leaving the underground “James Bond room” for a bigger shop at Overkill high end baja buggy parts in Anaheim, Orange County. Perfect location in an industrial zone to build and test screaming mopeds all day long.
I’ll keep an antenna in Hollywood for small projects and moped repairs but I’ll use the new shop to build all the future custom bikes. With our new fast mopeds we’re gonna show the Ruckus scooter people of OC what’s up. I’m also working on fabricating future Tomahawk moped parts:
Some aluminum clipons with steel chromed tubes for 28mm moped fork like the EBR and maybe later 30mm for Tomos fork, with future options like anodizing, powder coating, tubes stainless steel, titanium, etc… Also an aluminum launch lever with bearing that mount on the pedal shaft for pegs or pedals use + a bracket ready to bolt on motobecane or peugeot engine cases. The launch lever is a must-have part on those variated french bikes to get the most out of your engine by pressing down on it with your foot. It’s like downshifting on your variated transmission, it gives you that extra power that no other moped offers (even with a dual variated transmission), launching the engine into high rpms for quicker accelerations to reach top speed or be the fastest climbing hills.
I’m also going to design and test a new engine spring for peugeot and motobecane since none of the polini or doppler works perfectly. I’m trying to work on a new Tomahawk clutch pulley or a heavy duty kit to upgrade your doppler clutch pulley ER2. And a bunch of other parts needed for french bikes and later think about good parts for Puch and Tomos.
We’ve got a couple of projects lined up, another fast 50cc Doppler motobecane av10 project, the “Motomos” a Tomos A55 with custom extended swing arm top quality welds and streetmate front end disc brake with maybe a motobecane variated engine, my Tomos ST Harley top tank and my Minarelli 77cc h20 drag moped. There’s gonna be some long nights but let’s do this thing!
More frames waiting for a Tomahawk extreme makeover:
Black Peugeot 103 vogue short swing arm 50cc h20/air cooled, Green peugeot 103 RCX short square swing arm 70cc polini h20, White peugeot 103 mvl dual variated swing arm with high rpm vintage Bidalot racing 50cc air cooled and wide 2.5 inch mag wheels with stock threaded holes for disc brake, Yellow old new stock motobecane av10 frame zero miles not even a single drop of gasoline in the tank. How do you like that moby frame drg7? I know know you want it bad.
For a man of means, a future 25hp 86cc h20 monster peugeot or motobecane moped using the CNC machined Mykitech cases from http://www.treatland.tv to adapt all the powerful high tech minarelli scooter parts imported from Europe + the Mykitech clutch pulley.
France, custom scooter minarelli engine + peugeot 103 monster scooter:
New Vespa Quarantasei Concept and BMW Concept C (with cameras replacing the mirrors) in 2012:
BONUS PICS and VIDEOS:
The US moped scene is just the best and probably the biggest. If you don’t own a moped yet watch that video and go get one!
A 1979 film about moped safety.
Great art work and T-shirts by Tyler Conway “Bright mind designs” in Denver, inspired by the Tomahawk custom mopeds:
Motobecane 40T project
I’m going to build 2 rigid frame Motobecane 40T bikes with fast Doppler 50cc engines based on my Av10 race bike set up with stock cases.
1- The orange frame (bought in the US) is a commissioned project. We’ll use a set a red Grimeca mag wheels (imported from France) and powder coat them, mount an EBR hydraulic fork with disc brake. All the engine parts have been ordered, I just need to find a Doppler or Bidalot variator.
2- The 1971 blue frame project (imported from France) will be for sale. I might use some spoked wheels for a more retro look.
Bonus pics:
I worked on a customer’s 1978 Motobecane 7 moped that was starting but not running right. It was my first time riding a moby 7 and even though the engine is non-variated it’s a really fun bike.
Fred’s 103 gets a new look
Last time Freddie test rode my 50cc motobecane race bike he really liked the riding position better than on his peugeot 103 with 80′s style twisted handle bars and high seat position, so he brought his bike back to make the conversion. It feels like a new bike much safer to ride.
I lowered and pushed the seat back just like we used to do it as kids in France. Instead of using cheap clip-ons that never get tight enough, I bent, cut and welded clubman handle bars just like on my race bike. I installed a new Lusito throttle n grip, my favorite, and upgraded the ignition with the MVT Millenium cdi from http://www.treatland.tv
http://www.treatland.tv/lusito-throttle-p/lusito-throttle-chrome.htm
The bike’s previous riding position:
The bike’s new riding position and Freddie’s warm up routine before blasting the streets of LA.
Pimp my Peugeot TSM
Casey (Toecutter peugeot 103 owner) just dropped his Peugeot TSM 70cc polini. I’m excited, this is my first Peugeot top tank project. I’ll try to get it ready before the Sacramento ride but I won’t rush the project. Here’s what’s on the list so far:
First, correctly reassemble the engine with a new polini head and get it running. Upgrade the stock variator with a Doppler er3, fabricate a launch lever and a polini spring bracket, install new rear gas shocks or a mono shock , an hydraulic EBR fork with disc brake, mag wheels, new handle bars and controls, new seat, new tail light, lose the fenders.
Once that TSM and my 103 streetfighter are done, my next project is to chop and convert a Tomos Sprint into a tubular frame top tank bike but shhh….. it’s a secret.
1h engine dissasembly for a full check up:
The engine reassembled with few Tomahawk tricks and ready to blast:
Polini W exhaust ported + custom ball joint ring, rear boost transfer ported, piston ported, cylinder+head decomp valve plugged, doppler variator modified to fit the malossi belt, stock clutch modified, ignition timing and points set, carb tuned (needle, slide, main jet, idle jet, starter jet).
Heavy duty custom launch lever made out of a peugeot pedal + cases bracket (2 hours).
Plus, Johnson’s Peugeot 103:
Another “nobody can fix it” Peugeot 103 sp polini 70cc fun challenge for Tomahawk.
The stock cases were over ported with JB weld to fill up the holes so there’s no guarantied reliability. I reassembled the top end plugging up the cylinder decomp hole and head decomp valve, set the timing with new points, installled a kill switch, used some silicone on the polini reed block (not my 1st choice block known for air leaks sometimes), slightly cut off the stock engine spring top plate to clear the polini reed block that was hitting and stopping the engine from reaching full variation (Tomahawk free tip), tuned the 4 stroke 19 carb AN atomizer (make sure to get a 2 stroke carb with the AU atomizer, it’s easier to tune and consumes less fuel), installed the doppler exhaust low to clear the pedals, I had to loose the center kickstand.
Two days later, the bike runs like a clock. No special porting, just the 70cc polini stock power. It really feels good to bring all those vintage peugeot mopeds back to life one by one.
Engine set up available at http://www.treatland.tv
Stock cases vs Polini cases:
