Ride on wooden motorbike (Serious challenge)

**Kiwi75** · 22nd March 2013, 07:26 AM

Howdy, I've been thinking of another project that will seriously challenge my skills, a wooden ride on bike for our youngest boy who loves motorbikes.
But me being me I'm not happy to just make something that roughly resembles a bike, no no, it needs to look like the real thing.
I have an unopened scale model of a Suzuki GSX750S Katana pop top that I thought i'd copy as I can scale up each piece.

The issues I have are as follows:

1) I've no experience with scaling (up or down) how do I scale up a model that is already scaled down? and how do I know what scale is the right size?
2) Weight! even a small version of a fully detailed bike such as the Katana would be pretty heavy I'd assume, how do I keep the detail I desire whilst keeping it light enough for a wee 3 year old to be able to use.
3) Budget! we've other much more important projects (such as buying a house) on our plate so how do I keep the cost down?
4)Tools, I have only basic equipment, a table saw, bandsaw, thicknesser, mitre saw, small drill press and the standard hand tools. I've no lathe or steamer, would I be able to make it with just the basic tools?

http://www.suzukicycles.org/photos/s...Katana_520.jpg

Any feed back will be much appreciated, whilst cruising this site in the last few weeks I've noted that there's many highly skilled wood workers here and I'd respect your opinion.
Cheers guys.

**Dalboy** · 22nd March 2013, 08:04 AM

Some considerations to be made is that you may find that you will need to compromise on the amount of detail you will put onto the bike. Some parts will be easily broken so these will need to be either beefed up or omitted.
Some bulkier parts will need to be hollow to reduce weight, joints will need to be strong enough to take the knocks of a little one playing on it,
Draw up plans or find some that would suit your needs and either use them as is or modify them to suit your own taste.
As for materials solid wood will be dearer than sheet material. Tools needed well it can be done with basic tools as you have(I know I built a motorbike rocker) The plans of which had the option of a steering version which is then mounted onto rockers, I chose to have the steering fixed and the bike firmly attached to the rockers.
Hope some of this of use.
Scaling up to the size you need depends on the final size of the bike someone with a little more knowledge on this may help better than I
Some links for the bits on my build sorry about music in video.

Completed bike https://www.woodworkforums.com/f174/m...inished-91060/
Bike Build video Rockinghorse Build woodworking - YouTube
Bike plans Manuals and Plans

**Kiwi75** · 22nd March 2013, 08:32 AM

That's amazing, thanks very much, certainly gives me food for thought.

**Dalboy** · 22nd March 2013, 09:03 AM

Don't be put off as it is not as bad as it sounds to make one. Also look forward to your build with lots of WIP photo's we hope

**Pogo02** · 23rd March 2013, 02:49 AM

Please find attached the plans from a Dutch site (FAN.tv | Digitaal - Klus - Woon - Tuin - Auto - Motor - Reis), which are free to download.

It can be used as a rocker bike, but when the child is old enough you can remove the undercarriage and it becomes a ride on bike. It does not look like the bike you want to make, but it can be used as a starting point. The instructions are in Dutch, but the pictures make it clearer. You can use Google translator, or send me a PM if you need the instructions translated.

hobbelmotor.pdf

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