Lightweight and compact with awesome looks, this Simplex Servi-Cycle is nice survivor that would be a perfect cruiser for those big swap meets you go to each year! Easy on gas, and easy to pick up and put into the back of your truck or van, this motorbike has drawn a lot of interest with 45 bids raising the auction price to $2,650. Check out this sweet two wheel find here on eBay out of Rancho Cucamonga, California.
This Servi-Cycle is listed as both a 1952 and a 1954. From 53 onward these bikes were equipped with a variable speed automatic making the 7.9 cubic inch two stroke much more useful with its peak 4 horsepower rating. Also the Servi-cycle was claimed to be capable of reaching 100 mpg, but I am sure some have seen higher. Mostly complete, there are is a missing cover off of the engine, and the kick starter is missing. Fortunately the engine does turn over, so with a little luck and wrenching, hopefully this two stroke will be buzzing again.
Charming in appearance, I personally would leave the bike as is and make it road worthy. Well worn but still legible, the water slides are still visible on either side of the bike. Most of the paint has survived with some mild surface rust to be found on the lower part of the frame. The tires, brakes, and other mechanicals will need to be checked. This bikes low weight really makes it a fun ride and a great cruiser for a swap meet or as a vintage pit bike. Are you a fan of the Simplex Servi-Cycle?
Really looks like a fun machine. A quick Google search shows parts sources and message boards so my guess is you could count on a community to help with questions.
Wow, that looks great, I get the “want have feeling” right away. But it doesn’t have a title, so I can’t bring it to Europe. Too bad!
But thanks to BF for the article, so far I only knew the dutch Simplex bicycles.
Simplex was manufactured in New Orleans Louisiana They also made a tricycle used as delivery transportation for gas station, repair shops etc. Just like the HD service car but smaller and belt drive with centrifugal clutch The bike in the picture is missing the kick start. 100 mph I don’t think so I could only get 45mph out of mine and that is with the wind at my back
100 mpg.
The ad said it could possibly get a 100 mpg not 100 mph think they are talking about gas mileage not mile”s per hour. Thanks
Even 45mph on that would be “death defying”, but fun and certainly 100mph cool factor!
Good looking scooter! Sure could have a lot of fun with this one. Good luck finding parts, although I understand that there is a motorcycle swapmeet in the midwest (Davenport?) held every Labor Day weekend. I was told that no matter what kind of bike you’ve got, you can start at one end and by the time you reach the other end, you’ll have everything you need to rebuild your bike. Of course your money has to hold up too….
That would make a cool little putt-putt, just stay out of traffic with it or risk being run over leaving stop lights. Performance with 4 questionable HP would be lackluster to say the least. On the plus side the 16 to 1 gas and oil mix would provide you with a good smoke screen. I’m guessing a Honda 50 would skin this thing alive but I still like it. Ten years ago I would be bidding on this but I don’t ride much anymore. It’s easier and safer these days with distracted drivers to drop the top on the Rabbit and I don’t need to wear a helmet.
A cool find and priced right…
Shame I have no more room at the inn, as this would be a tempting addition to my collection.
Water slides? That’s a new one for me, had to look that up. Belongs in a museum. Even by mid-50’s standards, this is horribly out of date. Nostalgia up the ying-yang, but you gonna drive this thing? Hang it on a wall for all to see, this is how we got started. Be like driving a Model T down I-70,,,,
16:1 was all you got out of the poor oil quality back then. With the new synthetic oils, you might be able to go as high as 40:1 for a lot less smoke. I really like this and its in my area. Darn its gone at $2700.00…
I had one as a kid in the early 1960s. It was an absolute ball to ride and had a surprisingly smooth ride. It had the first expanding pulley clutch I had ever seen and as I recall was never a problem. When you ran out of gas, you would simply lay the machine on its side and fuel would run from the reserve side of the tank to the supply side and off you went. At some point, the engine would no longer start and I suspect it was from a faulty seal in the 2-stroke crankcase. As a youth, I had no knowledge of 2-strokes so it never ran again. I don’t recall what became of it but I’d give my right arm to go back in time and be given one more spring day to cruise on that lovely machine.
I have a ’53 Servi. Parts are reasonable and not to hard to find.
I sold a 1952 Air Force version at Hershey 2 years ago, with an extra motor. A very unusual cycle, the creator was a Harley dealer in New Orleans, who during the depression, begged H-D to make a more affordable bike. H-D said no, build it yourself, so he did!
These were intended as either a low cost entry into motorized transport, or for delivery service for pharmacies, grocers and other retail operations. Also sold well to the military during WW2 & Korean conflict.
It’s little motor is incredibly simple, having only ONE main bearing, and 3 moving parts: Piston, rod, & crank.
If you ran out of fuel, a little plate next to the ignition switch instructs the rider to dismount & lean the bike over all the way to the left side, wait 30 seconds for the reserve tank inside the main fuel tank to empty, the you have another 50 miles of travel.
Whizzers, Italian Scooters, and cheap Japanese bikes, led to the end of the Simplex. It really was a 1930 design made into the late 1950s. It [along with the Whizzer] was unable to compete with the imports in quality, innovation, and price.
A shop I worked at had two Servi’s, one was the blue & cream as shown, the other was red & cream & had a ‘wee’ sidecar! It was ‘cute’ but maybe only useful to carry one shopping bag of groceries! ( Or a chihuahua with a monkey.)