The Bitsa, Chch 1970s.

**fuknKIWI** · 8th October 2010, 14:01

I was recently reminded about a homemade custom bike that used to be seen around CHCH in the 70's & even in the 80's.
It was called the Bitsa, that was the name on the petrol tank, it was powered by an old Austin 7 engine. Some times at race metings the owner would place a small sign with some relevant information about the bike sign written on it. If I remember rightly the owner was an engineer & the bike was his daily commuter.
It would be nice to think this bike is intact possibly lying in a shed somewhere.
Does anybody remember this bike?
Does anybody know what became of it?
Does anybody have any old photos of it?

**scumdog** · 8th October 2010, 14:26

Never seen it - but saw an inline 4 built before the Jap invasion, used a Hillman Imp motor...

**slofox** · 8th October 2010, 14:27

Although I haunted Ruapuna in the early 70's I don't remember seeing this bike, sorry.

I did know a few dudes who made up bikes from all sorts of parts - usually either as sprinters or as speedway bikes. But none powered by an Austin seven engine.

I did see one drag bike powered by a supercharged 1300cc Escort engine though. Now that one DID go...until the supercharger blew its guts that is...

**JimO** · 8th October 2010, 16:13

ya cant beat the austin 7 donk for low down.....something

**AllanB** · 8th October 2010, 16:25

Vaguely rings a bell with the brain cells I did not poison in my youth.

Somewhere at home I have a photo album with bikes from that era in it, taken at Ruapuna etc. I'll have a look and see if I have one.

I remember a Britten being tested once when I went out there - he was trying out some little wings by the bars.

**Kickaha** · 8th October 2010, 17:32

Originally Posted by fuknKIWI

Does anybody remember this bike?

Yes, not long after I left school I worked in Cheviot at one of the garages and sometime in the early to mid eighties that bike called in

When I asked him what it was the rider told me it was a Superkiwi Mk2 and then he asked me if I recognised the engine, when I said no he commented that my education in things mechanical was sadly lacking and went on to explain it was made up of about 5-6 bikes with the engine being an Austin 7

I think he said it was an AJS frame and Norton gearbox

Originally Posted by AllanB

I remember a Britten being tested once when I went out there - he was trying out some little wings by the bars.

I remember it being tested and raced and breaking down and DNFing so many times I wondered why they bothered

**supamouse** · 8th October 2010, 19:57

Saw the bike at the telecom workshops in Tuam St once. It apparently was built by the senior overseer of the workshops who had retired prior to my going there in 1977.

**pete376403** · 8th October 2010, 20:38

on a slightly related note, there's an Austin 7 powered Brough Superior at Southwards museum. Bikes were intended as sidecar tugs, sold during the 20's and 30's