Forums | MacLife

Jdude · 2008-07-04 11:38 am

I have decided that I want to use less gas. Of the options available, I have decided a bicycle with an engine would suit my needs well.

During a normal day, I drive about 36 miles a day. These are all short trips, 6 miles or less. At 12 MPG, I am using about 3 gallons of gas, or roughly 12 dollars worth. Working 5 days a week, I use 240 dollars a month in gas.

A bicycle with an engine gets around 100 MPG. Doing the same exact commute, the bike would cost me 29 dollars a month.

Before I jump in and do this, I wanted to try and get some fact verification.

Does anybody get the purported 100 mpg these engines claim?

What is the average maintenance on a 2 stroke engine, and said cost?

Do they achieve 30 MPH as claimed?

Will I look like a dork?

I am looking at either this 70 cc kit or this 80 cc kit.

StaticAge · 2008-07-04 12:59 pm

Will the bike be air conditioned? Will you need a shower by the time you get to work? How much is your time worth to you and how much more time will it take to bike? If your employer asked you to volunteer to stay that extra amount of time at work, how would you feel about it? How does that compare with the money you spend on gas?

But I think its overall a great idea. If I didnt live in such a rural area, I would do it.

Last edited by StaticAge (2008-07-04 1:00 pm)

dv · 2008-07-04 2:27 pm

I'd worry about falling off at 30MPH.

That said, when I have ridden a bike around town, I can actually save time, depending on the route and time of day. Rush hour sucks.

ephemeron · 2008-07-04 5:25 pm

I don't have any experience with power-assisted bicycles (I am my bike's engine big_smile ), but you might find this bikeforums.net thread, or the motorized bikes forum mentioned therein, useful.

There's also an Electric Bikes board on bikeforums.net.

davic3 · 2008-07-04 5:51 pm

While I have no experience with these I can only suggest a call to your local police to see if there are any restrictions on this type of kit. While it is only a bike once you put a gas motor on it some municipalities take a strange view of things. It would suck to get it only to find out there may be a local law against it.

Jdude · 2008-07-04 6:32 pm

StaticAge wrote:
1Will the bike be air conditioned? 2Will you need a shower by the time you get to work? 3How much is your time worth to you and how much more time will it take to bike? 4If your employer asked you to volunteer to stay that extra amount of time at work, how would you feel about it? 5How does that compare with the money you spend on gas?

But I think its overall a great idea. If I didnt live in such a rural area, I would do it.

1 Probably not? The engine is air cooled, if that is what you mean.
2 No more than riding a motorcycle requires.
3 About 15 minutes driving. At worst 30 minutes biking.
4 I would feel that it is stupid and arbitrary, and demand a pay raise. This would be ignored. wink
5 Even with the extra time, I save more on gas than I lose out.

dvpierce wrote:
I'd worry about falling off at 30MPH.

That said, when I have ridden a bike around town, I can actually save time, depending on the route and time of day. Rush hour sucks.

I've been on a motorcycle, and have a moderate amount of experience. This will basically be a slower, lighter motorcycle.

davic3 wrote:
While I have no experience with these I can only suggest a call to your local police to see if there are any restrictions on this type of kit. While it is only a bike once you put a gas motor on it some municipalities take a strange view of things. It would suck to get it only to find out there may be a local law against it.

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.

Jdude · 2008-07-04 6:37 pm

ephemeron wrote:
I don't have any experience with power-assisted bicycles (I am my bike's engine ), but you might find this bikeforums.net thread, or the motorized bikes forum mentioned therein, useful.

There's also an Electric Bikes board on bikeforums.net.

Thank you.

Fried Chicken · 2008-07-05 1:57 pm

I would go w/Electric bikes. Quieter, no mess, simple, reliable, don't stink things up, and for the performance you're asking for I think they would work fine.

ColourClassic · 2008-07-06 2:52 am

When I see people on motorized bicycles, I can't help but laugh.

Seriously, are people so lazy they can't pedal?

kamizuno · 2008-07-06 7:07 am

ColourClassic wrote:
When I see people on motorized bicycles, I can't help but laugh.

Seriously, are people so lazy they can't pedal?

The problem with riding a regular bike to work is that some employers don't like the idea of sweaty workers fermenting in their cubicles all day long, I could see a motorized bike being useful in that regard shrug

nayrk · 2008-07-06 8:26 am

kamizuno wrote:
ColourClassic wrote:
When I see people on motorized bicycles, I can't help but laugh.

Seriously, are people so lazy they can't pedal?
The problem with riding a regular bike to work is that some employers don't like the idea of sweaty workers fermenting in their cubicles all day long, I could see a motorized bike being useful in that regard

so very true.

I saw a really cool motorized bike in WIRED quite awhile ago, really pricey though.

jeff-o · 2008-07-07 9:38 am

I'd suggest looking into an electric kit for your bike, though it will be more expensive for the same (and probably lower) amount of power. You won't have to pay a single cent for gas though.

To start, take a look at www.jvbike.com for pre-built electric bikes and kits.

mrreet2001 · 2008-07-07 9:57 am

he would have to pay for the power ... and worry about it charging during work as well.

jeff-o · 2008-07-07 10:29 am

mrreet2001 wrote:
he would have to pay for the power ... and worry about it charging during work as well.

It costs less than five cents to charge a typical e-bike from empty to full.

Pithecanthropus · 2008-07-07 10:36 am

kamizuno wrote:
ColourClassic wrote:
When I see people on motorized bicycles, I can't help but laugh.

Seriously, are people so lazy they can't pedal?
The problem with riding a regular bike to work is that some employers don't like the idea of sweaty workers fermenting in their cubicles all day long, I could see a motorized bike being useful in that regard

Two words: whore shower.

Jdude · 2008-07-07 3:48 pm

jeff-o wrote:
mrreet2001 wrote:
he would have to pay for the power ... and worry about it charging during work as well.
It costs less than five cents to charge a typical e-bike from empty to full.

This is true, but a gas motor can be full in moments and I don't have to worry about slow battery death.

Pithecanthropus wrote:
Two words: whore shower.

I'll go with motorized. wink

resedit · 2008-07-07 5:24 pm

Jdude wrote:
This is true, but a gas motor can be full in moments and I don't have to worry about slow battery death.
Pithecanthropus wrote:
Two words: whore shower.
I'll go with motorized.

You'd rather ride a motorcycle than shower with whores?

Geez - my fantasies are a little different than yours.

Jdude · 2008-07-07 5:27 pm

resedit wrote:
Jdude wrote:
This is true, but a gas motor can be full in moments and I don't have to worry about slow battery death.
Pithecanthropus wrote:
Two words: whore shower.
I'll go with motorized.
You'd rather ride a motorcycle than shower with whores?

Geez - my fantasies are a little different than yours.

Ahem. Motorized whores.

clio · 2008-07-07 7:26 pm

Read the commuting forum on http://www.bikeforums.net That forum has been an unbelievable help to me and they can help you find all kinds of solutions to all kinds of problems, including sweat and stink.

I commute 20 miles daily on a bicycle, thanks to the extremely helpful people over there. It is awesome and I wouldn't change it for the world. You can do way more on a bike than you might think you can!

Antonio · 2008-07-09 11:39 am

ColourClassic wrote:
When I see people on motorized bicycles, I can't help but laugh.

Seriously, are people so lazy they can't pedal?

I was about to say, my bicycle already has an engine, so what are we talking abour here? tongue

Tallgeese · 2008-07-09 11:46 am

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.

Jdude · 2008-07-09 12:09 pm

Clio, thanks for the link.

Valid point, Tallgeese. I have pedaled the trip before, on my weekends. The only problem with weekday biking is that we do regular morning exercise, and I don't want to be burned out before I even start.

uncreativename · 2008-07-09 6:02 pm

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.

That's my ride, up in front. Not the Vespa.

Jdude · 2008-07-09 6:30 pm

Why was that guy run over?

Jdude · 2008-07-09 6:32 pm

Twice?

Forums | MacLife

#1 2008-07-04 11:38 am

Bicycle engine

#2 2008-07-04 12:59 pm

Re: Bicycle engine

#3 2008-07-04 2:27 pm

Re: Bicycle engine

#4 2008-07-04 5:25 pm

Re: Bicycle engine

#5 2008-07-04 5:51 pm

Re: Bicycle engine

#6 2008-07-04 6:32 pm

Re: Bicycle engine

StaticAge wrote:

dvpierce wrote:

davic3 wrote:

#7 2008-07-04 6:37 pm

Re: Bicycle engine

ephemeron wrote:

#8 2008-07-05 1:57 pm

Re: Bicycle engine

#9 2008-07-06 2:52 am

Re: Bicycle engine

#10 2008-07-06 7:07 am

Re: Bicycle engine

ColourClassic wrote:

#11 2008-07-06 8:26 am

Re: Bicycle engine

kamizuno wrote:

ColourClassic wrote:

#12 2008-07-07 9:38 am

Re: Bicycle engine

#13 2008-07-07 9:57 am

Re: Bicycle engine

#14 2008-07-07 10:29 am

Re: Bicycle engine

mrreet2001 wrote:

#15 2008-07-07 10:36 am

Re: Bicycle engine

kamizuno wrote:

ColourClassic wrote:

#16 2008-07-07 3:48 pm

Re: Bicycle engine

jeff-o wrote:

mrreet2001 wrote:

Pithecanthropus wrote:

#17 2008-07-07 5:24 pm

Re: Bicycle engine

Jdude wrote:

Pithecanthropus wrote:

#18 2008-07-07 5:27 pm

Re: Bicycle engine

resedit wrote:

Jdude wrote:

Pithecanthropus wrote:

#19 2008-07-07 7:26 pm

Re: Bicycle engine

#20 2008-07-09 11:39 am

Re: Bicycle engine

ColourClassic wrote:

#21 2008-07-09 11:46 am

Re: Bicycle engine

Jdude wrote:

#22 2008-07-09 12:09 pm

Re: Bicycle engine

#23 2008-07-09 6:02 pm

Re: Bicycle engine

#24 2008-07-09 6:30 pm

Re: Bicycle engine

#25 2008-07-09 6:32 pm

Re: Bicycle engine

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