I found it in a shipping container in Pucallpa, Peru. Pucallpa is a town of about 350,000 people located in the Amazon River Basin. (I am an American Missionary) The 1956 Cushman Eagle chassis is pretty much original with the exception of a six-inch extension I did to the front tubes. The engine is a 2006, 200cc Lifan (Korean, Honda copy) with a five speed transmission. In addition to the front-end extension, I mounted the engine as rearward as possible to give the scoot more of a chopper look.
The handlebars are from a 20-inch bicycle that have been widened four inches. The forward mount footrests are also bicycle handlebars with two left side handgrips mounted. The original hand-shifter was retained and adapted using pieces from a Craftsman hand router. A local shoemaker did the leather tool bag and seat cover.
With the exception of the lettering and flame job, the paint is flat black from a rattle can for easy touch-up. The lettering and flames on the tank and exhaust cost me $6.00 at a local sign painters shop. All of the brackets, connectors, chain guard and exhaust are all handmade from various auto, lawnmower, bicycle, hand tools and motorcycle parts. Due to a severe lack of supplies and materials, every piece of scrap is useful. Sometimes finding the right little part, a brake spring or a particular fastener for example, can take hours or even days.
Important Announcement
The tank sealant and tires I had shipped from the States and it cost me good. There is little available for bikes in
Peru. We don't have a lot of pavement in Pucallpa and what we do have is in very bad condition. The ride is rough on
these roads and the small wheel diameter doesn't help much, but... Dig those gangster white-walls!!! As you can tell
from the photos my preference in styling is "Old School".
Living in the Amazon Jungle makes having twenty-nine years of motorcycle mechanic experience really handy. Apart from owning my own shop in North Alabama, I graduated from, instructed at, and served as Director of Education of the American Motorcycle Institute in Daytona Beach Florida from the mid 80's until 2000.
I call it Monkee Bonz. "Why would you call it that?" you ask. Monkee?. because I found it in the Amazon Jungle and Bonz?because that was about all that was left. I get a lot of looks when I ride through town. Most of the locals are really curious because they have never seen one.
"If you don't want to get bored living in the jungle you've got to get creative sometimes. There ain't a lot to do."
For a full set of step-by-step pics visit: spaces.msn.com/jamesarlonwatts
Also, if you have interest in our work in Pucallpa, visit our site (we accept volunteers....) jwattsministries.org
Love your site!!! It's by far the best I've found on the web for bikes with that certain distinction.
Living in the Amazon Jungle makes having twenty-nine years of motorcycle mechanic experience really handy. Apart from owning my own shop in North Alabama, I graduated from, instructed at, and served as Director of Education of the American Motorcycle Institute in Daytona Beach Florida from the mid 80's until 2000.
I call it Monkee Bonz. "Why would you call it that?" you ask. Monkee?. because I found it in the Amazon Jungle and Bonz?because that was about all that was left. I get a lot of looks when I ride through town. Most of the locals are really curious because they have never seen one.
"If you don't want to get bored living in the jungle you've got to get creative sometimes. There ain't a lot to do."
For a full set of step-by-step pics visit: spaces.msn.com/jamesarlonwatts
Also, if you have interest in our work in Pucallpa, visit our site (we accept volunteers....) jwattsministries.org
Love your site!!! It's by far the best I've found on the web for bikes with that certain distinction.
Bubba in the Jungle (James)
