Why not Buy a Cyclemotor?
This auction has some interesting cyclemotors for sale. Some are mine and others are from the collection of my friend Peter Smith. We’ve collected these attractive and obscure examples over many years.
I’m particular about what I buy and I trust my instincts. I don’t want to sell them all, but need to find new homes for many of them as I can no longer give them all the time they deserve. Peter is also running out of space.
Mopeds, cyclemotors and small scooters are becoming increasingly popular. When you’re on a 1940’s / 1950’s cyclemotor, it feels like you’re riding one of the earliest pioneer machines from 1910. Manufactured for only a brief time in the early fifties, cyclemotors represent a lost era.
Like other vintage vehicles they’re really jumping up in price, so now’s definitely the time to get one. Not only a better return than money in the bank – but you can ride your investment, and involve the whole family when you take it to summer fetes, shows or steam rallies!
Best of all, they’re ideal vintage bikes to start with if you’re just getting into the hobby because they’re cheap, easy to ride and, based around a bicycle, much easier to maintain. Also, they have pedals in case you break down… 
Pictured above is the rarest of a rare breed. This American 1918 Smith Motorwheel is rather impractical by today’s standards. It’s extremely basic. But it is very rare to find a Motorwheel in such superb unrestored condition. This one is attached to a wonderful restored Iver Johnson Truss-bridge. (Motorwheel – Page 2 in the auction catalogue PLEASE CLICK HERE). UPDATE: The Smith attachment has now been posted off to New Zealand to its new owner, but I kept the Iver Johnson bicycle.
At the other end of the spectrum of practicality is the 1967 Honda P50 (below). It’s newer than most of my bikes, and I don’t usually buy Japanese; but I do like iconic styles. I bought this in 2006. It’s a useable, cheap, good-looking moped that’s taxed and MOT’d and ready to use.
(Honda P50 – Page 56 in the auction catalogue: PLEASE CLICK HERE)
If you fancy something earlier and rarer than a Honda, but nevertheless completely useable, below you’ll see a 1948 Rudge-Whitworth DeLuxe Sports Tourist powered by a very reliable Mosquito engine. It runs well and is not expensive. (Rudge Mosquito – Page 91 in the auction catalogue: PLEASE CLICK HERE)
Or how about a Cyclemaster? Because of the Cyclemaster Museum (http://www.Cyclemaster.co.uk) I often have one of these for sale; the Cyclemaster below, on a wonderfully original Phillips bicycle, is in running order. (Phillips Cyclemaster – Page 121 in the auction catalogue: PLEASE CLICK HERE)
Many enthusiasts do simple restorations on their bikes in the winter, and then take them with their families to local steam rallies and shows in the summer. It’s a great way to get your kids interested in a hobby, whether they help you with simple mechanical tasks, paintwork or just riding the bikes around the parade ground at a show. If they’re only ridden around a showground the bikes obviously do not need to be insured, MOT’d or even registered.
Some of my friends restore small machines for their wives or girlfriends to use. Let’s face it, convincing the ‘other half’ to go to a motorcycle event can sometimes be hard work; shows can be boring. But a group effort – and the promise of a picnic in the sun at a summer event – helps a lot.
Most of my cyclemotors in this auction are ready to jump on and ride, but there are often a few restoration projects too. The 1949 Derny 98cc Motorized Tandem (below) is as unusual a vehicle as you’re likely to find for sale anywhere this year. (Derny Tandem – Page 43 in the auction catalogue PLEASE CLICK HERE). Now sold.
You can usually ride an under-50cc vehicle on a car license. So, once you’re set up with insurance, you’ll be ready for a cyclemotor run.
You can read about one of the events I attended last year by clicking on the following link:
PLEASE CLICK HERE http://www.RideVintage.com VMCC Cyclemotor Sussex Run PLEASE CLICK HERE
There are three national clubs that cater for cyclemotors – all offer enough support to make sure you keep your machine on the road.
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