Henry Hoover converted into a motorbike is the best mini-moto you’re likely to see
- Henry the Hoover is one of the best-selling vacuum cleaners in the UK
- An engineer decided to turn it into a mini-motorbike
- He gave it a 50cc engine, more wheels and a bike handle
Published on May 28, 2024 at 2:26 PM (UTC+4)
by Alessandro Renesis
Last updated on May 28, 2024 at 6:52 PM (UTC+4)
Edited by
Tom Wood
Cleaning the house using a vacuum cleaner is a chore, but even though it’s a tough job, somebody has to do it.
And there’s a guy in the UK who came up with an unusual solution to facilitate the job.
He decided to give his vacuum cleaner a motorcycle engine.
The vacuum cleaner in question is Henry the Hoover, which sounds like something out of a Victorian-era novel, or perhaps a cartoon character, but it’s actually one of the best-selling vacuum cleaners in the UK.
Allan Gallop, an engineer from Buckinghamshire, decided to modify his vacuum cleaner with a motorcycle engine.
Or, to be more accurate, a 50cc engine out of a minibike.
After that, Gallop fitted some extra wheels and turned the vacuum cleaner into the body as well as the ‘saddle’ of the bike.
Then he added a minibike handle and, Bob’s your uncle, the motorized vacuum cleaner is good to go.
Ordinarily, a 50cc engine such as this one could theoretically propel a mini-motorbike all the way to a ‘massive’ top speed of around…20 or 30 mph.
In this case, we’re going to go ahead and assume this ‘vehicle’ is potentially a lot slower than that.
As far as DIY projects go, this is up there with the best of them.
Mind you, competition is fierce.
From the guy who built a 1:1, fully operational Boeing 737 flight simulator in his shed to all those people who built their own DIY Cybertruck before the actual Cybertruck was even launched, it’s a long and illustrious list.
But this is definitely one of the most interesting ones we’ve seen.
Alessandro is an automotive journalist with 10 years of experience covering supercars, automotive history, emerging vehicle technology, and luxury transportation. He wrote the first article published on SupercarBlondie.com when the website launched in 2022 and has since built a reputation for insightful reporting across the automotive and transportation industries. His expertise is grounded in hands-on experience. Alessandro has driven every Tesla model ever produced, from the original Roadster to the Cybertruck, and regularly covers the latest developments in electric vehicles and automotive innovation. His passion for transportation extends beyond cars, he has even flown a Boeing 787 Dreamliner simulator in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. His reporting spans everything from classic American muscle cars and rare automotive discoveries to luxury yachts, private aircraft, high-end watches, and cutting-edge vehicle technology. Known for his deep knowledge of automotive history and ability to uncover the stories behind iconic vehicles, Alessandro brings readers a blend of historical context, technical expertise, and first-hand experience.
