The Screaming Pigeon motorized bicycle by Dicer Bikes is a custom-built motorised bicycle inspired by American boardtrack racers of the 1910s, built by Australian designer Brad Wilson on the frame of a classic Flying Pigeon, the iconic Chinese bicycle first produced in 1950. Powered by a 50cc single-cylinder engine, it reaches 35 mph in a lightweight package that turns one of the world's most common bicycles into a speed machine.
What Is the Flying Pigeon?
The Flying Pigeon is one of the most manufactured bicycles in history. First produced in China in 1950, the twin-bar frame roadster became a staple of everyday Chinese life and is estimated to have sold hundreds of millions of units over the decades. Its heavy-gauge steel twin-bar frame, upright riding position and rod-brake system are unchanged from the original design, making it both an engineering time capsule and an unlikely but perfect foundation for a hot-rod custom build.
The Boardtrack Racer Inspiration
Brad Wilson, the Australian adman and designer behind the Dicer Bikes brand, drew on the earliest competitive motorcycles in American history. Boardtrack racers were stripped-down machines that raced on steeply banked wooden oval tracks in the 1910s. They were characterised by minimal bodywork, integrated fuel tanks, low seat positions and forward-leaning riding postures. Wilson applied every one of those principles to the Flying Pigeon frame: the fuel tank is seamlessly integrated into the second frame tube, the Brooks leather seat is mounted at the far rear of the frame for a low, stretched riding position, and jackhammer grips with reverse levers reinforce the racing reference.
Engine, Speed and Braking
The Screaming Pigeon is powered by a 50cc single-cylinder engine producing 2 horsepower. Despite that modest output, the bicycle's extremely light construction allows it to reach a top speed of 35 mph, faster than most urban speed limits. The original rod-brake system, adequate for a bicycle, was replaced with a front disc brake to give stopping power proportional to the new performance level. The bike rolls on 28-inch wheels, keeping the classic roadster proportions intact.
A Series, Not a One-Off
Wilson designed the Screaming Pigeon as a low-volume series rather than a single commission. Each unit in the run will share the boardtrack racer DNA but carry its own individual details, making every Screaming Pigeon slightly different. The project sits at the intersection of product design, bicycle culture and moto history, which is exactly the territory where the most interesting things tend to happen.
For more exceptional two-wheeled designs that mix heritage and craft, explore the Materia Bikes AMBRE handcrafted bicycle, the Saint Martin Bicross Time Bike, and browse the Bicycles collection at TheArsenale.
Sources: Designboom, Bike EXIF
