Forums | MacLife
You are not logged in.
#26 2008-07-09 6:35 pm
- Jdude
- Surfing on waterboarders

- From: Home is where the war is
- Registered: 2003-02-03
- Posts: 2702
Re: Bicycle engine
Turns out the kits I initially looked at are cheap chinese junk. I have decided to go with this 4 cyl staton motor. The engine is made in Japan and the rest of the kit is made in USA.
Uncreativename, that is a sweet looking bike.
Thanks for the warning about pedaling. If I have to pedal without motor assist, I will be sure to completely disconnect the friction drive mechanism.
Sometimes before replying to a topic, I think to myself: I am just so original!
Offline
#27 2008-07-10 1:11 am
- uncreativename
- Member

- From: Chicago (Bucktown)
- Registered: 2001-09-10
- Posts: 852
- Website
Re: Bicycle engine
Ha, yeah, long story about that girl being under the moped.
You tend to meet pretty crazy people around 530 in the morning riding home through a very hipster part of town.
I just ordered a 160cc 20hp engine from England. It was the only place that made performance parts custom for that bike. Stock engine is 49cc 2.89hp. Pretty weak. But the bike is over engineered anyways, it has big disc brakes and full suspension. It was made to handle more than the crawling 33mph it was limited to. Should be fun.
Patience comes to those who wait.
Offline
#28 2008-07-10 5:52 am
- Pariah
- James Carville Fan..

- From: Belly Of The Beast, Oklahoma!
- Registered: 2001-05-24
- Posts: 18394
Re: Bicycle engine
uncreativename wrote:
I ordered a beach cruiser that has a motor on it from http://www.spookytoothcycles.com and it was pretty cool. It was a lot heavier than I expected with all the motor parts bolted on. What I didn't like about these were that it was only one gear. If you are traveling at 30mph, it is at a very high whine of the engine and you wish you can throw it in 2nd gear. With the 2 stroke engines, you always have to fill it up with the 2 stroke oil mix with gasoline, that means, you can never fill up at a gas station unless you have the bottles of oil with you.
The other thing that did very much suck was one time, I was riding about 5 miles away from my apartment and I ran out of fuel. Pedaling these are way way heavy, feels like you are riding up a SF hill against the wind. Clutching out of the motor doesn't disengage it from moving the piston up and down. Doing that with no fuel/oil messed up my engine, it seized and was never able to get it started again. There are also no shops around town, bike shops, nor motorcycle shops that want to work on it. I am not stuck with a 400 dollar paperweight.
The following summer, I bought a moped. Im loving that. It still gets 100mpg. It is also 4 stroke, which means I can fuel up anywhere.
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v99/j … /pong6.jpg
That's my ride, up in front. Not the Vespa.
That Y frame model is badass. What brand is that?
I am thinking of getting something scooter-like and that looks awesome.
"and it's not surprising that they get bitter, they cling to guns or religion or antipathy to people who aren't like them or anti-immigrant sentiment or anti-trade sentiment as a way to explain their frustrations."
Barack Obama
Offline
#29 2008-07-10 6:00 am
- Pariah
- James Carville Fan..

- From: Belly Of The Beast, Oklahoma!
- Registered: 2001-05-24
- Posts: 18394
Re: Bicycle engine
Also I need to add that as someone who has worked in a bike store as a mechanic and has seen low end motorized bikes come in with broken frames and wheels. I would strongly suggest doing this mod to a good quality MTB.
Bikes under $500 or so are simply not sturdy enough to deal with the extra weight and speed that a motor adds.
That's why I wouldnt even consider one of those home brewed conversions when the total project cost ends up being as much or more than a real scooter. Doing it as a hobby is one thing but for practical transportation I'd go with a scooter instead.
"and it's not surprising that they get bitter, they cling to guns or religion or antipathy to people who aren't like them or anti-immigrant sentiment or anti-trade sentiment as a way to explain their frustrations."
Barack Obama
Offline
#30 2008-07-10 9:24 am
Re: Bicycle engine
Pariah wrote:
Also I need to add that as someone who has worked in a bike store as a mechanic and has seen low end motorized bikes come in with broken frames and wheels. I would strongly suggest doing this mod to a good quality MTB.
Bikes under $500 or so are simply not sturdy enough to deal with the extra weight and speed that a motor adds.
That's why I wouldnt even consider one of those home brewed conversions when the total project cost ends up being as much or more than a real scooter. Doing it as a hobby is one thing but for practical transportation I'd go with a scooter instead.
Agreed; you need a big beefy steel frame, nothing less will do.
"I'd rather be told, 'Have a nice day.' by someone who doesn't mean it, than 'F*** you!' by someone who does." - Lewis Black
Offline
#31 2008-07-10 4:08 pm
- Jdude
- Surfing on waterboarders

- From: Home is where the war is
- Registered: 2003-02-03
- Posts: 2702
Re: Bicycle engine
Pariah wrote:
Also I need to add that as someone who has worked in a bike store as a mechanic and has seen low end motorized bikes come in with broken frames and wheels. I would strongly suggest doing this mod to a good quality MTB.
Bikes under $500 or so are simply not sturdy enough to deal with the extra weight and speed that a motor adds.
That's why I wouldnt even consider one of those home brewed conversions when the total project cost ends up being as much or more than a real scooter. Doing it as a hobby is one thing but for practical transportation I'd go with a scooter instead.
MTB I assume means mountain bike?
I will be using a Pacific express with an aluminum frame. It is an entry level mountain bike. I will be using the stronger of the mount kits available.
The motor is a friction drive, which means it spins a steel bar against the rear tire to make me move. The kit is built for this purpose. It is not a homebrew, I am not mechanically inclined enough for that. It weighs 14 pounds.
Sometimes before replying to a topic, I think to myself: I am just so original!
Offline
#32 2008-07-10 4:13 pm
- Tallgeese
- Sternly Advising
- From: Pool Party
- Registered: 2000-10-17
- Posts: 34007
Re: Bicycle engine
uncreativename wrote:
Ha, yeah, long story about that girl being under the moped.
You tend to meet pretty crazy people around 530 in the morning riding home through a very hipster part of town.
So we can happily imagine a hipster being run over by Vespas?
I still believe in liberalism today as much as I ever did, but, oh, there was a happy time when I believed in liberals.
Offline
#33 2008-07-10 4:56 pm
- JediKnightChewie
- eternal n00b

- From: far from home
- Registered: 2002-06-18
- Posts: 4652
Re: Bicycle engine
Tallgeese wrote:
Jdude wrote:
On a military installation only, and they don't care so long as appropriate safety gear is worn. No license required but I already have motorcycle safety training.
If you're on a military installation, there should be no problem showering at the gym after arrival.
Assuming the gym is not on the opposite end of post.
Ride to post > shower before work > get back on the bike to go to work > still show up at work sweaty.
Ive never worked particularly close to a gym on any of the bases Ive been at, and Ive really only been to the small ones.
the c00ki33 0wns J00!
Offline
#34 2008-07-10 5:33 pm
- Jdude
- Surfing on waterboarders

- From: Home is where the war is
- Registered: 2003-02-03
- Posts: 2702
Re: Bicycle engine
I found out this morning the gym available to me is quite crowded in the morning. It seems that people who live off post have a very long commute.
As a side note I do not smell nice when I sweat. This is a gift to my coworkers as much as it is to me.
Sometimes before replying to a topic, I think to myself: I am just so original!
Offline
#35 2008-07-10 6:13 pm
- uncreativename
- Member

- From: Chicago (Bucktown)
- Registered: 2001-09-10
- Posts: 852
- Website
Re: Bicycle engine
Pariah wrote:
That Y frame model is badass. What brand is that?
I am thinking of getting something scooter-like and that looks awesome.
Sachs Madass 50cc
They are now making a 125cc version, but those are a bit hard to find.
Performance parts can be found at www.ooracing.com
Tomberlin is the company that imports them from Germany.
Patience comes to those who wait.
Offline
#36 2008-07-10 10:11 pm
- toadkiller
- Member
- From: Mississippi
- Registered: 2002-09-26
- Posts: 719
Re: Bicycle engine
Move closer to work and pedal.
--TK
"Oh popcorn, you won't laugh at me!"
"Bill Gates" The Daily Show 1/30/07
Offline
#37 2008-07-10 10:26 pm
- Jdude
- Surfing on waterboarders

- From: Home is where the war is
- Registered: 2003-02-03
- Posts: 2702
Re: Bicycle engine
toadkiller wrote:
Move closer to work and pedal.
If only life were that easy. I am not even going to attempt to sell my house in this market. I have a nice fixed rate APR, no changing payments, no balloons, and a note that I can afford. I know my bill for the next 27 years will not change, barring tax rates.
Why should I take a few thousand dollar move and engender financial upheaval, just to be a few miles closer to work to pedal? It would take me 2 or 3 years to recover the losses incurred. That is a bit excessive just to save a few bucks on gas.
Sometimes before replying to a topic, I think to myself: I am just so original!
Offline
#38 2008-07-12 2:23 pm
- uncreativename
- Member

- From: Chicago (Bucktown)
- Registered: 2001-09-10
- Posts: 852
- Website
Re: Bicycle engine
For real man... after you get your cool bike, you can join a gang like this one.
Patience comes to those who wait.
Offline
#39 2008-07-12 5:17 pm
- Jdude
- Surfing on waterboarders

- From: Home is where the war is
- Registered: 2003-02-03
- Posts: 2702
Re: Bicycle engine
The guy on the right in black. Does he have a backpack full of bricks or something?
Sometimes before replying to a topic, I think to myself: I am just so original!
Offline
#40 2008-07-12 5:20 pm
- Jdude
- Surfing on waterboarders

- From: Home is where the war is
- Registered: 2003-02-03
- Posts: 2702
Re: Bicycle engine
Do I have to walk funny and do synchronized finger snapping? I won't join your bicycle gang unless I can keep my hair gel.
Sometimes before replying to a topic, I think to myself: I am just so original!
Offline
#41 2008-07-16 8:29 pm
- Pariah
- James Carville Fan..

- From: Belly Of The Beast, Oklahoma!
- Registered: 2001-05-24
- Posts: 18394
Re: Bicycle engine
uncreativename wrote:
Pariah wrote:
That Y frame model is badass. What brand is that?
I am thinking of getting something scooter-like and that looks awesome.Sachs Madass 50cc
They are now making a 125cc version, but those are a bit hard to find.
Performance parts can be found at www.ooracing.com
Tomberlin is the company that imports them from Germany.
Sweet, that's right in my price range too!!
:::::::::::starts saving pennies::::::::::::
"and it's not surprising that they get bitter, they cling to guns or religion or antipathy to people who aren't like them or anti-immigrant sentiment or anti-trade sentiment as a way to explain their frustrations."
Barack Obama
Offline
#42 2008-07-16 9:52 pm
- Jdude
- Surfing on waterboarders

- From: Home is where the war is
- Registered: 2003-02-03
- Posts: 2702
Re: Bicycle engine
I just finished putting the motor on a few minutes ago. Tomorrow I am going to do a test run. If I never post again, have a moderator change my name to Jdude (RIP) and my signature to "damn moron".
-Jdude
Sometimes before replying to a topic, I think to myself: I am just so original!
Offline
#43 2008-07-17 8:23 am
- user
- Your plastic pal who's fun to be with

- From: I'm not getting you down, am I
- Registered: 2001-10-15
- Posts: 16016
Re: Bicycle engine
There's a joke in there somewhere but I just can't quite put my finger on it.
Aw, he's no fun, he fell right over.
Unless you become as little children, there's no way you will believe this crap.
Offline
#44 2008-07-17 10:57 am
- ephemeron
- Member
- Registered: 2003-06-23
- Posts: 226
Re: Bicycle engine
Jdude wrote:
I just finished putting the motor on a few minutes ago. Tomorrow I am going to do a test run. If I never post again, have a moderator change my name to Jdude (RIP) and my signature to "damn moron".
-Jdude
Assuming you survived, care to post some pictures?
Offline
#45 2008-07-17 11:02 am
- Jdude
- Surfing on waterboarders

- From: Home is where the war is
- Registered: 2003-02-03
- Posts: 2702
Re: Bicycle engine
I will be happy to. Test run is at 5 pm Central. Expect pics around 2 hours after that or a sudden lack of posting.
Sometimes before replying to a topic, I think to myself: I am just so original!
Offline
