Scooterotica

Picked this lovely beast up last year, 1958 Bella 150cc. It even has the now fancy Porcupine head in the 50s!!

I plan on sticking a bike engine in it. It`s chain drive and has 12" wheels and seems to have plenty of room for a transplant.

Not sure what engine yet so open to ideas??? Was thinking a 4 stroke single or a compact twin? Ideally want about 30-40 bhp and economy too 50-60mpg would be great. A mile munching tourer instead of a screamer.

Here`s it at the minute













Remember this from Scootering many years ago?? RD250 lump I seem to remember, front disc brake, love it  8)

If it fits, a cb250 or 500 engine would be cheap, reliable and not stupidly fast.

I thought about the same thing on a Heinkel but the chain is on the right hand side which is opposite to just about everything.

great idea, i know someone whos building one at the moment, he is using an engine out of a big trials bike, cant quite remember which one at the moment, although i would recomend a twin if your bodywork is wide enough, ive got a tuned 350lc engine in my lambretta gp and its awsome to ride, very smooth and powerful as well, maybe more power than needed, but thats not a bad thing, i have a removeable kickstart, you might want electric start which may limit your choice, im sure others will have ideas as well, good luck with your build.
holty

I love the oddness of the Bella, not sure if that's a word "oddness" but anyway good luck with the build, cracking scoot btw.

Nice looking bike...

Cheers folks, open to all suggestions at the minute. Handy that the chain is on the right side too.

It`s in storage at the minute so have to clear a couple of club scoots out first before I get it back in the workshop, then the plan is to get the Bella engine running and sell it to fund the bike engine. I had a battery hooked up and the electric start works so should be handy enough sorted.

More updates when I get my hands on it again.

Didn't a Bella Suzuki transplant feature in one of Stickies rides across Europe?
I sort of assumed it was the 400cc Brugman scooter engine, which would fit your spec pretty much. I have no idea if it would fit your chassis though.

Modern OHC engines seem pretty tall compared to an old school 2t.

The 470cc Honda CB X/F/R engine is a twin, 47bhp, fuel injected. Supposed to be very smooth, grunty and economical - 70+mpg without too much restraint.

Sounds like a project with excellent potential.

Sticky`s had a DRZ400 Suzuki engine, plenty of grunt but expensive to get a donor. CB spec sounds good.

i like the bella , a bike engine would be perfect, that back shock set up is a strange looking affair..

It is!! Hopefully be able to update that too.