The L.A.M.B. is Legally A Motor Bike. This all started a joke among my friends and I in college. Parking in your car was less than ideal. Once you spend several minutes finding a parking space, your class was still another 30 minute walk from your car. Alternatively, the motorcycle parking was almost always empty and was only a 5 minute walk to your class. The spaces were empty due to most people not riding their motorcycles during the colder season when classes would take place. This led us to joke about how we should build something that would fit in the motorcycle parking spaces but be more suitable for winter driving. I decided to actually attempt to build that joke.
I started by looking for the largest engine I could find on my college budget. This led me to find the Goldwing 1200. I found one that had been wrecked and mostly parted. This bike still had all the parts I needed for my build. My dad and I worked on the engine and got it running. We then set out to buy the tubes and build the chassis.
The chassis was built from 1.5" DOM tubing with 0.095 wall. I originally used part of the frame from the bike, but these particular bikes have a common rust spot that made the frame beyond repair. I ended up designing an engine cradle that would make the engine easier to slide in and out from the bottom of the chassis. Many of the front suspension parts are from a Volkwagen Jetta. The intention was to use front wheel drive spindle so that a differential could be added to the front for a front wheel drive electric motor to be added later.
My family really helped make this vehicle what it is. My brother helped turn a wrench. My dad helped with engineer the chassis and working on the engine. Probably one of my favorite components, is the two bucket seats that my mom built from scratch.
Unfortunately, It took me two years to finish the project and by the time it was done and street legal, I had graduated from college. I do drive it to and from work from time to time, but I still have several plans for it.
I'm not sure I will ever call this vehicle complete. There will always be that "one more thing." I want to add the electric motor. A small electric motor should add another 60hp and 100ft.lbs. I wonder if I can get 100+ mpg if I build a body. I think it needs a fatter rear tire because it has a tenancy to spin the rear wheel a lot. The engine needs a turbo because why not. I think the more I get done to it the more I will think of the add to that "one more thing" list.
