Modified Bike Project: Part 4 -- The Bike

This was a four-month project that included hard work and some thinking outside the box. Here is the final product.

Started with a stock Cimatti city bike frame, chopped up and a hard tail from a triumph motorcycle that was welded on.

Modified Bike Project: Part 3 -- Engine build

The most exciting part of the build so far -- the engine!

A nice fresh rebuild with the best bearings on the market. The rebuild was super smooth, and I cant wait to rip this thing and show it off!

Of course the engine will be better though when I'm twisting the throttle. This is a Minarelli v1, 50cc moped engine that has been rebuilt and features the cutting edge ceramic hybrid bearings from the great folks @ Boca Bearings. It's almost too ridiculous how smooth these bearings roll in the engine.

Ceramic bearings need to be installed with a shop press, specifically by pressing the inside race. They went in with ease.

Now I will admit, I was wrong initially about whether the bearing shields needed to be taken out. After researching and discussing my concerns with the reps at Boca, I went ahead and removed the shield from the internal facing side of the bearing. Even though they are internally greased bearings, this is definitely a precautionary measure needed to be taken. I keep the engine stock for the most part, purposely to truly show the gains from using these bearings.

Obviously a hop'd up motor will be fast but I was worried that would overshadow the natural benefits of a ceramic bearing upgrade.

The next step of course will be completing the build, ripping the throttle wide open, then sending the bike down to Florida to live its life at the Boca Bearings complex!

Modified Bike Project: Part 2 -- Frame set up

Progress on the Modified Bike project:

The 1976 Cimatto frame with a 1967 triumph motorcycle hard tail. The hard tail was cut down in sections and then fully welded. This hard tail will lower the rear of the bike, and stretch it out giving the bike a very aggressive stance.


The next step for this bike is to be sanded down then prepped for a wild metal flake paint job!

Modified Bike Project: Part 1 -- 1976 Cimmato City Bike

Adam Farris, owner and operator of O'Malleys Speed n Kustom, started out this project with a 1976 Cimmato City Bike powered by a Minarelli V1 engine.

The leaf springer fork was handmade, as well as gas tank which was formed on an English Wheel. For the rear section to get the proper stance for this bobber bike Adam is making an extended hard tail section.

The engine will be rebuilt using Boca Bearings cutting edge ceramic hybrid ball bearings to go with the Boca Bearings logo and a paint scheme that will be heavy metal flaked blues, blacks, and silvers.

Lincoln Electric welders and Lil Daddy Roth's Flake paint is being used for this project.

                  Stay tuned. Adam will have an update with the completed frame in early March.