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Are these okay? - 48cc bicycle motors
I found an ad on ebay -
http://cgi.ebay.com/48cc-SCOOTER-KIT...QQcmdZViewItem for a bicycle motor kit. I understand you have to pedal a couple times from a stop, and then engage the clutch on the handle bar. (And start it the same way, but while going faster.) Do these work okay? Once going, will it take the bike up hill? (city street) There are a couple other places selling similiar kits under different brand names. Thanks for any comments or experiences. |
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#2
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Are these okay? - 48cc bicycle motors
wrote in message
oups.com... I found an ad on ebay - http://cgi.ebay.com/48cc-SCOOTER-KIT...QQcmdZViewItem for a bicycle motor kit. I understand you have to pedal a couple times from a stop, and then engage the clutch on the handle bar. (And start it the same way, but while going faster.) Do these work okay? Once going, will it take the bike up hill? (city street) There are a couple other places selling similiar kits under different brand names. Thanks for any comments or experiences. Unfortunately in my opinion they all appear to be junk. I suppose if you weigh 120 pounds or less, it might be able to get you up a not so steep hill. The big problem is in most areas and municipalities they instantly become a "moped" and are required to have all the DOT approved safety equipment so that you can ride them on the roads as a registered vehicle. So if a cop is in the mood, you can get ticketed if caught out on one on the road. Now then there are a few electric motor. controller and battery kits that are fairly camaflauged so that they look like a bicycle with a trunk pack. Those might be better, but I honestly can't tell you how powerful they are for hill climbing though. |
#3
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Are these okay? - 48cc bicycle motors
These kits are junk. By the time you get it fitted you could have bought a
Honda scooter that was made for the motor in it. Aside from being faulty and unreliable, the bicycles basic geometry is not built for a motor. It is built for a human being. Yes we see people with all kinds of stuff strapped to a bike. That is NOT proof that it works or is safe. Seriously, a Puch moped is built for the purpose it serves. The bikes with motors in the bay area seem to be ridden by thrashers. In other words this is their hobby and they tend to be gear heads. They run expansion chambers and all kinds of hop up equipment for more speed. If you are looking for a more serious commute vehicle than look at a DOT approved scooter or moped. "Earl Bollinger" wrote in message ... wrote in message oups.com... I found an ad on ebay - http://cgi.ebay.com/48cc-SCOOTER-KIT...QQcmdZViewItem for a bicycle motor kit. I understand you have to pedal a couple times from a stop, and then engage the clutch on the handle bar. (And start it the same way, but while going faster.) Do these work okay? Once going, will it take the bike up hill? (city street) There are a couple other places selling similiar kits under different brand names. Thanks for any comments or experiences. Unfortunately in my opinion they all appear to be junk. I suppose if you weigh 120 pounds or less, it might be able to get you up a not so steep hill. The big problem is in most areas and municipalities they instantly become a "moped" and are required to have all the DOT approved safety equipment so that you can ride them on the roads as a registered vehicle. So if a cop is in the mood, you can get ticketed if caught out on one on the road. Now then there are a few electric motor. controller and battery kits that are fairly camaflauged so that they look like a bicycle with a trunk pack. Those might be better, but I honestly can't tell you how powerful they are for hill climbing though. |
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Are these okay? - 48cc bicycle motors
The big problem is in most areas and municipalities they instantly become a
"moped" and are required to have all the DOT approved safety equipment so that you can ride them on the roads as a registered vehicle. So if a cop is in the mood, you can get ticketed if caught out on one on the road. I called a local DMV inspector. Anything with a moter (motor that doesn't have an external shifter) = 50cc (or electric), that goes = 30MPH on a level serface is a moped, and the state has no regulations that moped/scooters be DOT approved. In fact, they consider razor scooters, mini-choppers, etc. (for kids) mopeds, and if they ride them on the street in their neighborhood, and are under 16, they can be given a ticket. (You have to be 16, but don't need a driver's license.) |
#6
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Are these okay? - 48cc bicycle motors
hm... no idea. seems kinda neat... looks like it runs a chain to one of
the smaller sprockets on a mtn bike, requiring either a cheap mtn bike, 10-speed, or something with a spare front chainwheel and diamond frame, wouldnt work on my aluminum frame monoshock. The kit comes with its own sprocket. Another site sells nearly identical kits, and shows adding the sprocket. OTOH... it also looks like it will require a LOT of tinkering, adjusting, fitting, etc to get it right. and the engine is a complete unknown. It's 'supposed' to install easily on a bike with a 70 def V frame, with not mods. |
#7
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Are these okay? - 48cc bicycle motors
These kits are junk. By the time you get it fitted you could have bought a
Honda scooter that was made for the motor in it. The cheapest scooter I've seen is a $650 chinese throw-away (it's too expensive to fix when it wears out, so you replace it). The cheapest true moped I've seen is $950. This is a fraction of the cost. If the engine wore out it two years, it would be cheap to replace it. I'm hoping to find someone who has actually ridden one to get their comments as to how well it works. |
#8
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Are these okay? - 48cc bicycle motors
One thing to consider - you need to be realy handy for the installation.
Don't expect too much help from the instructions. Most likely you will get an exploded diagram and some broken english. That said, why not go for it? If it works, you have something useful at a fraction of the cost it would otherwise require. wrote in message oups.com... hm... no idea. seems kinda neat... looks like it runs a chain to one of the smaller sprockets on a mtn bike, requiring either a cheap mtn bike, 10-speed, or something with a spare front chainwheel and diamond frame, wouldnt work on my aluminum frame monoshock. The kit comes with its own sprocket. Another site sells nearly identical kits, and shows adding the sprocket. OTOH... it also looks like it will require a LOT of tinkering, adjusting, fitting, etc to get it right. and the engine is a complete unknown. It's 'supposed' to install easily on a bike with a 70 def V frame, with not mods. |
#9
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Are these okay? - 48cc bicycle motors
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#10
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Are these okay? - 48cc bicycle motors
wrote:
The big problem is in most areas and municipalities they instantly become a "moped" and are required to have all the DOT approved safety equipment so that you can ride them on the roads as a registered vehicle. So if a cop is in the mood, you can get ticketed if caught out on one on the road. I called a local DMV inspector. Anything with a moter (motor that doesn't have an external shifter) = 50cc (or electric), that goes = 30MPH on a level serface is a moped, and the state has no regulations that moped/scooters be DOT approved. In fact, they consider razor scooters, mini-choppers, etc. (for kids) mopeds, and if they ride them on the street in their neighborhood, and are under 16, they can be given a ticket. (You have to be 16, but don't need a driver's license.) In California you are required to have either a M1 (motorcycle) or a M2 (moped) drivers license. The requirements for a M2 license including insurance are identical to a M1 license. I have one of these: http://www.bikemotor.com/mitsubishi%...%20engine.html that I'll sell for half price to anyone who can pick it up in Yreka, CA. Pictures at: http://home.thegrid.net/~lllove/bikes.htm Works fine, one of the best small engines made. 150 mpg. Can climb the steepest mountain roads with ease. Insurance requirements are ridiculous. Lorenzo L. Love http://home.thegrid.net/~lllove "Americans are broad-minded people. They'll accept the fact that a person can be an alcoholic, a dope fiend, a wife beater, and even a newspaperman, but if a man doesn't drive there's something wrong with him." Art Buchwald |
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