Donger
Convoi Exceptionnel
- Location
- Quedgeley, Glos.
About ten years ago, my mad scientist nephew Ollie was bought a bicycle for his 13th birthday. Any hopes I had for him joining me for long rides in the countryside soon evaporated. Within a few weeks he had stripped it down and set about it with an angle grinder and a welder. He added a fuel tank and an old petrol engine from a lawn mower and, hey presto! He had made his own working motorbike. I was impressed.
About five years later, he took possession of my mum's old shoprider, stripping the electric motor out and converting his motorbike to a working e-bike for a school science project. I was even more impressed.
I went round to my brother's house today and found my nephew tinkering with his latest creation, which blew my mind:
The eagle-eyed among you may have spotted the JET TURBINE bolted on the back. This runs on kerosene (once fired up on propane) and apparently should generate 20kg (45lb) of thrust. Judging by comparisons to other similar projects that Ollie has researched on the web, it is likely to be notionally capable of speeds in excess of 80mph .... so long as you can hang on tight enough to stay on it. My favourite features are the fuel tank made from sewage pipes and the electronic throttle.
There are still some early teething problems, such as fuel line issues, only one brake being currently connected and the need to fit some kind of mesh/cage behind the saddle "to prevent it from sucking your clothes into the turbine" !!
The first time he fired it up he had it faced rear-on to the house, and the whole house stank of kerosene for hours afterwards!
Every ounce of my common sense tells me this project may be a step too far. But when I saw it fired up, every ounce of my inner child screamed "baggsy have the first go on it!".
Obviously, it will never hit the highway, (will be tested gently on private land), and as mechanical doping goes, it is not the most discreet adaptation, but you've got to admire the lad's ingenuity. I'm just left wondering what the hell comes next. It's fun having a mad scientist in the family.
About five years later, he took possession of my mum's old shoprider, stripping the electric motor out and converting his motorbike to a working e-bike for a school science project. I was even more impressed.
I went round to my brother's house today and found my nephew tinkering with his latest creation, which blew my mind:
The eagle-eyed among you may have spotted the JET TURBINE bolted on the back. This runs on kerosene (once fired up on propane) and apparently should generate 20kg (45lb) of thrust. Judging by comparisons to other similar projects that Ollie has researched on the web, it is likely to be notionally capable of speeds in excess of 80mph .... so long as you can hang on tight enough to stay on it. My favourite features are the fuel tank made from sewage pipes and the electronic throttle.
There are still some early teething problems, such as fuel line issues, only one brake being currently connected and the need to fit some kind of mesh/cage behind the saddle "to prevent it from sucking your clothes into the turbine" !!
The first time he fired it up he had it faced rear-on to the house, and the whole house stank of kerosene for hours afterwards!
Every ounce of my common sense tells me this project may be a step too far. But when I saw it fired up, every ounce of my inner child screamed "baggsy have the first go on it!".
Obviously, it will never hit the highway, (will be tested gently on private land), and as mechanical doping goes, it is not the most discreet adaptation, but you've got to admire the lad's ingenuity. I'm just left wondering what the hell comes next. It's fun having a mad scientist in the family.
Last edited:
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