It was unable to compete with the imports in quality, innovation, and price. It really was a 1930 design made into the late 1950s. Western Auto sold Simplex motorcycles under the Wizard brand in the mid-1950s. Whizzers, Italian Scooters, and cheap Japanese bikes, led to the end of the Simplex. 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. It’s little motor is incredibly simple, having only ONE main bearing, and 3 moving parts: Piston, rod, & crank. Also sold well to the military during WW2 & Korean conflict. These were intended as either a low cost entry into motorized transport, or for delivery service for pharmacies, grocers and other retail operations. H-D said no, build it yourself, so he did! 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. I sold a 1952 Air Force version at Hershey 2 years ago, with an extra motor. Are you a fan of the Simplex Servi-Cycle? This bikes low weight really makes it a fun ride and a great cruiser for a swap meet or as a vintage pit bike. The tires, brakes, and other mechanicals will need to be checked. Most of the paint has survived with some mild surface rust to be found on the lower part of the frame. Well worn but still legible, the water slides are still visible on either side of the bike. Fortunately the engine does turn over, so with a little luck and wrenching, hopefully this two stroke will be buzzing again.Ĭharming in appearance, I personally would leave the bike as is and make it road worthy. Mostly complete, there are is a missing cover off of the engine, and the kick starter is missing. Also the Servi-cycle was claimed to be capable of reaching 100 mpg, but I am sure some have seen higher. 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. This Servi-Cycle is listed as both a 1952 and a 1954. Tank cleaned out, starts, runs, idles pretty well. Tires, belts, seat cover replaced so that it can be ridden around. Check out this sweet two wheel find here on eBay out of Rancho Cucamonga, California. Up for sale is a 1958 Simplex Servi Cycle in non restored running condition. ![]() ![]() Overall, I just don't understand why someone would be willing to let a complete bike go for so little when the parts & restoration costs are so high.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. It could be argued that there is more demand for the parts than there is for complete scooters, but then again, if the parts are "worth" that much, having them all together and on a scooter should make them "worth" no less, right? I don't want to see folks rip apart nice complete machines to part them out. A good, correct scooter could be parted out on Ebay for 2x what people are willing to accept for complete scooters, so they're leaving money on the table, I guess. Loose parts prices on places like Ebay are getting to be just out-of-sight high. A professional restoration (including a real engine rebuild) will be $6000+ and that doesn't include the cost to buy the bike in the first place. In most cases you can't even buy just the parts to restore your own for $3000. Most are actually selling in the $3000-$3500 range, done, complete, and running. $5000 seems to be about the upper limit of what I see them listed for when restored to pretty close to correct. My experience is really almost all with Doodle Bugs, but this could just as easily apply to a Simplex: Sorry, I just wasn't around here when this thread was fresh! I know.here I go digging up another old thread.
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