This is what you’re doing this weekend.
What has a nine-volt battery, adorable aluminum can wheels, and
is the reason I won’t get anything done this weekend? I’ll give you a
hint: It’s the amazing coke-can motorcycle built in this YouTube clip on
the Million Gears channel.
People have been building toy motorcycle models out of scrap
metal and household objects for years—that part is not necessarily new.
The novelty factor on this one is wound up several notches by the fact
it actually runs.
Whether you’re a motorcycle
enthusiast, a devoted model maker, or just someone with a cat you like
to annoy in new and inventive ways, seeing this mini motorbike meander
around the room is going to make your heart sing. The pink rubber band
belt drive connects the tiny electric motor to the rear tire, and off
tootles this palm-sized pocket rocket.
Our hero in this clip has made his bike look like a muscle cruiser, but I think you could do it in the style of a retro café racer, like the BMW R NineT racer, or a Ducati Paul Smart Special. I especially like the way the builder fashioned a v-twin engine using ring pulls from cans as accents.
The
video is six minutes long, and we guarantee you’ll be enthralled. If
you’re like me, you’ll probably then lock up your calendar for the
weekend and attempt something similar yourself. All you need is some
glue, some tape, some scissors and a couple of old coke cans.
After that, you probably need skill, craftsmanship and a great
deal of patience. Which is why my results will definitely differ from
those in this video. As far as “ways to cut your fingers a lot and waste
a weekend producing something that looks nothing like you intended” go –
this one is my new favorite.
What will you model your toy bike after?
