Motorized Bikes

[jamming]

I never knew this but there’s a huge community for motorized bikes. My Brother in law lost his license due to a DUI but still needed to get to work. He asked me to look into a motor for his bicycle so I did some research. Wow, my eyes got opened in a hurry. I found a bunch of forums and websites that sold kits to bolt engines into your bicycle.

In the State of Arizona if the engine is 49 CC and below you don’t need to register or insure the motorized bicycle and no license is required. Armed with this knowledge I went to work. I was a little hesitant to order blind off of the Internet, so I found a local guy on Craigslist who sold kits out of his garage. I went and looked and it was just OK. The quality of the cheap China made 2-stroke engine was suspect, but I knew I could re-engineer the internals. So a little less than 300 bucks later (hey it wasn’t my money ;) ) I packed the kit up on the Triumph and I was off. The kit included the engine, carb, mounts, throttle, throttle cable, clutch cable, ignition module, drive chain, chain tensioner and the rear sprocket with the rubber mounts to mount on the rear wheel. Sorry, no pics as this was a rush job. I also bought an extra set of gaskets for the engine as I intended to take it apart and tighten it up.

I got the kit home and took the engine apart and proceeded to hand lap the piston and cylinder, did a port and polish with files and jewelers rouge. Took the lower end apart and reshimed the tranny with a couple of filed down grade 8 washers. Everything seemed tight so I put it all back together with fingers crossed and no illusions on what I started with.

I don’t have pictures of the build on the 2 smoker but I have these of the completed bike with about 2000 miles on it and its still running so I think I did pretty good.



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The 2 smoker IS getting a little long in the tooth so Kelly my BIL asked about a 4 stroke kit. More research entailed and I found a kit online for 419 $ and I called to the dealer had pics emailed, hit the forums, and found that most people liked the kit and the dealer was a good business to deal with. I found that to be true as well. They sent me the wrong throttle cable and overnighted the correct one to me, so kudos to them.

I did do pictures of this build………………..see the next installment of the story..............

[jamming]

So our story continues. You will notice in the previous post that the engine is frame mounted. The problem with frame mounting a 4 stroke engine is that it is so much wider than the 4 stroke that you need a wider crank-set on the bicycle and that IMO creates a failure point. So I opted to go with a rear mounted engine with chain drive.

So I order the kit and this is what showed up:
http://jamming.smugmug.com/Other/1050-Tiger/Motor-bike-2011-003/1207286414_A9q9S-M.jpg

So Dr Jamming went to work and this is the victim, it would run away if it knew what I had planned.
http://jamming.smugmug.com/Other/1050-Tiger/Motor-bike-2011-002/1207286280_erdtW-M.jpg

Here's the rear tire and coupling
http://jamming.smugmug.com/Other/1050-Tiger/Motor-bike-2011-004/1207286437_r8Y7S-M.jpg

Done and installed on the bike
http://jamming.smugmug.com/Other/1050-Tiger/Motor-bike-2011-006/1207286477_ysijW-M.jpg

Engine mount and engine mounted on bike

http://jamming.smugmug.com/Other/1050-Tiger/Motor-bike-2011-007/1207286497_oLGbV-M-1.jpg

and done....
http://jamming.smugmug.com/Other/1050-Tiger/Motor-bike-2011-008/1207286514_JQLf4-M.jpg

It's a total hoot to ride. I'll post up a YouTube link as soon as I edit it it and post it. Top speed is 38 MPH as shown on the Speed App on my phone. The 2 Stroke would do 28 MPH. I'm here to tell you, that's pretty darn fast on a bicycle. The brakes just are not up to the task of hauling down from those speeds so a little temperance is in order. I don't have any of that but I haven't crashed yet :yahoo:

My BIL likes it and we'll see how well it holds together in daily use. If you have any questions, ask away. I really enjoyed the project and the on the fly engineering to make it work.

[DarthRider]

Rog, you're a Whizzer kinda guy!
It looks good, good job.
I'm sure your BIL thinks it beats hell out of shoe leather...

[panthercity]

That almost looks like too much fun!

[Deans BMW]

Roger, that looks great. I remember back in Jr Hi, I think, mounting an old Briggs and Stratton on the back of an old bicycle just like that, used a very large belt drive pully somehow attached to the bicycle spokes and with a centrifugal clutch on the motor, still geared way to high, would only pull about 15 or 20, but still fun.

What a great project you got involved with.

[JCsman]

Jeez Roger, when you gonna add a disc brake system?

That looks like a HOOT!

[Pacific]

That's amazing, Roger. I would think that some of the disc brake systems available now would provide considerably more stoping power to the front end than the cantilevered system. I also see that the four-stroke version allows an emergency back-up system by way of the pedals. I don't know how much the Schwinn is worth, but you're doing all this for a fraction of the cost of some of the motorized bicycles currently on the market. And if you cut the motor, the extra weight at the back will give your BIL a good workout, too.

Jay

[jamming]

That's amazing, Roger. I would think that some of the disc brake systems available now would provide considerably more stoping power to the front end than the cantilevered system. I also see that the four-stroke version allows an emergency back-up system by way of the pedals. I don't know how much the Schwinn is worth, but you're doing all this for a fraction of the cost of some of the motorized bicycles currently on the market. And if you cut the motor, the extra weight at the back will give your BIL a good workout, too.

Jay

I looked at a rear disc brake system and you can't use one with the rubber coupler on the rear wheel...however, there's a hub you can lace to your rim that you bolt the sprocket to. I know how to lace a wheel so I have one on order. I'll order up a disc brake system after that. It's a work in progress as he gets the money.

He's constantly being asked where he got it. Right now he has about 300 bucks in the 2 smoker and about 550$ in the 4 stroke...not counting the beer he bought me for doing it. I thought about it for a garage business but there's 8 or 9 people doing it here in Phoenix and I'm just not sure its worth the hassle. If I build the bike I have some liability so is it worth it?

BTW..I have a Trek mountian bike and am thinking about building one for me....I'll put a 68 CC big bore kit and a big carb. It should be good for 50 MPH or higher with the right gearing....another BTW...there's a class at Bonneville for motorized bikes ;)

If anyone's interested I can do some more detailed photos and post em up.

[1MPH]

Nice looking job Roger. A couple of questions.
How far does your BIL have to travel to work.
I'm thinking it's all surface streets....would that be correct?
It'll be a hoot to ride the back was to Gila Bend.
Good luck with your project bike.

[jamming]

About 10 miles onr way Jack and its all surface streets. I don't know about riding to Gila Bend, its 38 miles. Terrie and I took the Tiger out for a while today looking at new cars. Beautiful 80 degree day, good looking Women on the back of the bike, great lunch, all in all a wonderful day.

[Deans BMW]

Geeze Roger, I went to the Bearwallow today temps ranged between 46 and 59...............80 sounds much better.

[jamming]

Geeze Roger, I went to the Bearwallow today temps ranged between 46 and 59...............80 sounds much better.

Hey!!! I've offered numerous times to store a bike for you in the winter, just leave the keys ;) . Then you and Pam could scoot down and go for a ride. Hell DeanO, I'll even make sure the tanks full and it's had a recent service. :045:

[jamming]

Here's the ride...BTW I can't take credit for the music. My oldest did it :045:


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FtjWgZ0xv50

[Deans BMW]

That bike looks like it goes well. That music..........er..............:omg:

That would be a perfect commuter down there.

I had my heated Gerbings on today.

[Sir Limpsalot]

Roger, splendid stuff! That's right up my street. Your BIL is lucky to have you as his BIL!

[1stBoxxer]

Roger - That is damn cool! What kind of mileage do those get? When gas hits $4+ you should go into business. I had a 2-stroke mo-ped in high school when my folks were stationed in Germany, some French made thing, takes me back!

PS - Long time no see, hope is all well.

[Deans BMW]

I bet your Moped was a Mobeyelette, don't know how to spell it. I had it one year in college at Texas Tech up in lubbock, Texas. I actually road it home to Houston once, 550 miles. Now that was an adventure, took several days, sleeping on the ground behind old barns etc. I just wanted the adventure.........and it was.

[panthercity]

IIRC, Montgomery Wards sold the French CVT Mobylette while Sears sold a three-on-the-grip Allstate Puch moped.

[DarthRider]

IIRC, Montgomery Wards sold the French CVT Mobylette while Sears sold a three-on-the-grip Allstate Puch moped.
Bob, no biggy but the Sears Allstate (made by Austrian Puch) was a 2-speed.
The clever shifter-on-the-grip required you to first pull in the clutch lever which released a dog from a slot, thereby allowing you to twist the whole assembly towards the rider to up-shift.
Of course, it didn't take a 14 year old moron long to figure out how to do full throttle speed-shifts by just yanking on the clutch lever, without touching the grip. Or do wheelies by sitting back on the rear luggage rack!
I had 2 of them, the first was totalled when a woman ran a yield sign. The 2nd was damaged but not destroyed by a gasoline fire in my old man's garage.

A 14 year old moron recently turned loose on an unsuspecting society...and looking for "those girls" my mother made me promise to stay away from.
"Wanna race...?"
http://mrcycle1.smugmug.com/Other/Edited-Misc/42636535Mtbp7-O/1176551069_rXaMY-S.jpg

[Sir Limpsalot]

Cars proved to be better for girls. We used to park up somewhere quiet and talk about the hereafter!*

Si.

* "If you're not hereafter what I'm hereafter, you'll be hereafter I'm gone!"

[panthercity]

2-speed? Wouldn't be the first time my memory let me down. As you say, "no biggie".

One of my chums in Junior High had one. We put a Bell megaphone exhaust (from a West Bend go cart engine) on it and added half a bottle of rubbing alcohol to every tank of gas. Ran pretty good and made cool blue flames after dark...

IIRC, the Vespa and Lambretta had a similar twist shift arrangement. I've always thought that was a practical piece of engineering.

Rodger had the Allstate, another friend had a Whizzer while I had a strap-frame mini-bike with a 2-1/2 HP Clinton. When my West Bend powered go cart was no longer competitive and I couldn't even dream of affording a McCulloch replacement, I put the West Bend in the mini bike. Tilitson diaphragm card, stuffer kit, full-circle crank and Bell megaphone exhaust. Much more than the strap frame and rear band brake could handle.

[DarthRider]

Those were the days my friend!
My first attempt at hopping up a bike was when I took a hammer & nail and punched a nice hole in the tiny little exhaust header on the Sears Moped. My reasoning was if it made more noise it must be going faster too.
I could have made a fortune in the aftermarket motorcycle exhaust business!

I think you're right about the clutch-shifter on the Vespas & Lambrettas. When I was 15 I wrecked a buddy's Lambretta...:ne_nau:

[Deans BMW]

Panther Bob, I seem to remember that it was the Lambretta Moped that had three on the grip. that goes way back to Jr Hi.....I think. :017:

[NoRRmad]

I had a Lambretta 150 scooter, and it had three on the grip. The guy I bought it from had broken the shift cables, so he cut an opening in the right-side panel and bolted a two-foot lever to the shift rocker. You pulled in the clutch and reached behind you for this lever. (Not too safe!) That would have been about a 1955 model. First thing I fixed.