Saw this on the bay today anybody come across one before? I know Don Smith (the builder) published a book in the 80's on BMX but this is a long time before that.
From the auction page
"Up for auction is probably the rarest of all early BMX bikes, a 1970 Don Smith prototype Moto-bike. Here's a little background. Don Smith was a world class trials rider who also wrote the British book Ride it BMX. If you have a copy of this book, take a look on page 7 or so, a version of one of these bikes is there. Back in 1970 Don built a number of prototypes for an off-road bicycle with front and rear suspension, he called it the motobike (the following info comes from his daughter) and with the help of the dept of trade and industry, hawked the design arounf the world. It was sold for very little money to a worldwide company, for a flat fee, who according to his book, went on to have huge success with a version of his design (probably Yamaha). Don saw no money other than the fee.
The bike itself has been in my ownership since 1980. It's hand made from steel and has working front and rear suspension. It did have chrome mudguards, but unfortunately these have been lost in the intervening years. The wheels are astrange one, 23" with tandem hubs and a five speed block, though the period deraileuer has also long since gone. The suspension, believe it or not, still works fine.
The condition is best described a original. the wheel, spokes and hubs will polish up great, the cranks are alloy and seem virtually as new. Only the bars have chrome that is beyond repair."
http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=320598492188&ssPageName=STRK:MEWAX:IT#ht_500wt_1154And where do you get 23" tyres
