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goober Samba Member
Joined: May 03, 2003 Posts: 1184
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Posted: Mon May 22, 2023 9:56 pm Post subject: I've finished my motor-bicycle. |
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May 22, 2023
I've finished my rear-engine, rear wheel drive, air-cooled motor-bicycle. Of course.
I've put on about 100 miles so far tweaking out the kinks. It's runs great. I can idled around at 7-8 mph yet easily travel at my legal maximum speed of 20 mph. In Illinois a Class 2 electric or gas-powered motor-bicycle is limited to under 750 watts or 1 hp with a maximum speed of 20 mph.
I wanted several features. I wanted to be able to pedal-start the motor. Should I meet up with a crowd and want my motor off or my pull-cord breaks I can pedal, flip the start switch, push the pedal-start lever/clutch and it'll fire right up.
I wanted a belt drive. The belt from the engine to the jack-shaft is a Beetle belt. The belt from the jack-shaft to the rear wheel pulley I purchased. Wanting manual and pedal-start clutches precluded me from centrifugal clutches, chain or gear drives.
I also wanted to be able to quickly remove the motor assembly on the road should I get a rear flat. Nothing is brazed to the bike frame. Nothing needs to be adjusted when removing the assembly. All that is needed is 7/16" wrench to remove four 1/4-20 nuts and washers.
The whole motor assembly weighs about 30-35 lbs. Me and the motor-bike weigh about 280 lbs. I'm still tinkering with it to make it as comfortable, safe, practical, dependable as cheaply as possible. I'm currently working on a homemade twist throttle.
No registration/title, no driver's license, no plates, no insurance is required. Yet, I have legal right-of-way on most roads. When they take away my license or keys and if I can still get on, balance and find my way home, it will be on my air-cooled putt-putt roaming the streets and roads. I'll let my younger brothers sit in their comfy-chairs and watch Maury all day.
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Glenn Mr. 010
Joined: December 25, 2001 Posts: 76761 Location: Sneaking up behind you
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Posted: Tue May 23, 2023 3:43 am Post subject: Re: I've finished my motor-bicycle. |
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You do know they make electric bikes these days.
And as far as " I have legal right-of-way on most roads", let me know how that works for you. I'm a cyclist and drive 4000-6000 miles a year and can tell you, when you're on 2 wheels, you become invisible. _________________ Glenn
74 Beetle Specs | 74 Beetle Restoration | 2180cc Engine
"You may not get what you pay for, but you always pay for what you get"
Member #1009
#BlueSquare
Last edited by Glenn on Tue May 23, 2023 3:47 am; edited 1 time in total |
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Abscate Samba Member
Joined: October 05, 2014 Posts: 22573 Location: NYC/Upstate/ROW
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Posted: Tue May 23, 2023 3:46 am Post subject: Re: I've finished my motor-bicycle. |
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Electric bikes are smug and bad _________________ .ssS! |
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steve244 Samba Member
Joined: March 18, 2022 Posts: 1644 Location: GA
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NJ John Samba Member
Joined: September 21, 2007 Posts: 2175 Location: HdG, MD & NJ
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Posted: Tue May 23, 2023 6:04 am Post subject: Re: I've finished my motor-bicycle. |
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My buddy had one of this motor kits that used the spokes to connect to the drive of the motor. Worked, until it ripped the center out of the wheel and threw him on the ground. He was told you cant use it on low quality China wheels. _________________ 1973 standard, yellow, lowered, 3” narrowed front, 1600 blo-thru turbo w/single dell 15.4@86, so far
11.41 et buggy. Long gone
Let’s go O’s! Let’s go O’s!
https://www.youtube.com/@AirSpooledGarage |
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goober Samba Member
Joined: May 03, 2003 Posts: 1184
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Posted: Tue May 23, 2023 6:27 am Post subject: Re: I've finished my motor-bicycle. |
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Glenn:
"You do know they make electric bikes these days.
And as far as " I have legal right-of-way on most roads", let me know how that works for you. I'm a cyclist and drive 4000-6000 miles a year and can tell you, when you're on 2 wheels, you become invisible."
I know what you mean. I humbly travel the slower roads when possible keeping to the right. I only claim the lane when I'm at a stop-light or making a left-hand turn. The County here won't allow Class 2 or 3 electric motor-bikes on the bike trails and no gas-powered at all. They do allow Class 1 e-bikes which has basically the same power and speed restrictions as Class 2. It would make life safer and easier for me if I could use the bike trails.
My goal is to travel the back roads to my brother's house and back in a day. A 65-70 mile round trip. Electric bike? Well, when my gas-powered motor-bike runs out of juice I simply reach into my bag and pull out my quart of gas and keep going.
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Abscate:
"Electric bikes are smug and bad"
I wouldn't say 'bad', let's say, 'inappropriate'.
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NJ John:
"Worked, until it ripped the center out of the wheel and threw him on the ground."
Not good. Sure hope mine doesn't. |
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Abscate Samba Member
Joined: October 05, 2014 Posts: 22573 Location: NYC/Upstate/ROW
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Posted: Tue May 23, 2023 6:49 am Post subject: Re: I've finished my motor-bicycle. |
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steve244 wrote: |
I have two.
The motor-bicycle is brilliant! The airbag is inspired! |
If everyone gets these the power grid will have to triple
#RandomProfessorQuotedatDunningKGraduation _________________ .ssS! |
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steve244 Samba Member
Joined: March 18, 2022 Posts: 1644 Location: GA
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vwracerdave Samba Member
Joined: November 11, 2004 Posts: 15280 Location: Deep in the 405
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Posted: Tue May 23, 2023 6:59 am Post subject: Re: I've finished my motor-bicycle. |
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What size engine do you have.
In Oklahoma anything over 50cc requires a tag & drivers licenses. _________________ 2017 Street Comp Champion - Thunder Valley Raceway Park - Noble, OK
2010 Sportsman ET Champion - Mid-America Dragway - Arkansas City, KS
1997 Sportsman ET Champion - Thunder Valley Raceway Park - Noble ,OK
Featured in Dec. 2001 HOT VW's Magazine page 63
Watch my racing video's http://www.youtube.com/user/okvwracer/videos |
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Glenn Mr. 010
Joined: December 25, 2001 Posts: 76761 Location: Sneaking up behind you
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Posted: Tue May 23, 2023 7:11 am Post subject: Re: I've finished my motor-bicycle. |
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goober wrote: |
when my gas-powered motor-bike runs out of juice I simply reach into my bag and pull out my quart of gas and keep going. |
You know it has pedals...
BTW, i never run out of juice.
_________________ Glenn
74 Beetle Specs | 74 Beetle Restoration | 2180cc Engine
"You may not get what you pay for, but you always pay for what you get"
Member #1009
#BlueSquare |
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steve244 Samba Member
Joined: March 18, 2022 Posts: 1644 Location: GA
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NJ John Samba Member
Joined: September 21, 2007 Posts: 2175 Location: HdG, MD & NJ
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Posted: Tue May 23, 2023 7:30 am Post subject: Re: I've finished my motor-bicycle. |
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Glen, that’s why the bug sits. Park the bike, drive the bug, post pics! _________________ 1973 standard, yellow, lowered, 3” narrowed front, 1600 blo-thru turbo w/single dell 15.4@86, so far
11.41 et buggy. Long gone
Let’s go O’s! Let’s go O’s!
https://www.youtube.com/@AirSpooledGarage |
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Abscate Samba Member
Joined: October 05, 2014 Posts: 22573 Location: NYC/Upstate/ROW
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Posted: Tue May 23, 2023 7:37 am Post subject: Re: I've finished my motor-bicycle. |
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Glenn wrote: |
goober wrote: |
when my gas-powered motor-bike runs out of juice I simply reach into my bag and pull out my quart of gas and keep going. |
You know it has pedals...
BTW, i never run out of juice.
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I admire your cajones for biking in LI. I’m terrified driving in my 2 tons of Swedish steel tank, here. _________________ .ssS! |
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steve244 Samba Member
Joined: March 18, 2022 Posts: 1644 Location: GA
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EverettB Administrator
Joined: April 11, 2000 Posts: 69734 Location: Phoenix Metro
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goober Samba Member
Joined: May 03, 2003 Posts: 1184
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Posted: Tue May 23, 2023 1:49 pm Post subject: Re: I've finished my motor-bicycle. |
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vwracerdave:
"What size engine do you have.
In Oklahoma anything over 50cc requires a tag & drivers licenses."
Same here with 50cc or more. It's a 30cc, .7kw (700 watt) 4 cycle weed-wacker, trimmer, blower replacement motor. It had no base motor mount just 4 screws intended for side mounting for a centrifugal clutch outer assembly. The flywheel only had centrifugal weights/shoes mounted to it. I couldn't even start or test it until I made the motor mount and the horizontal shaft/pulley.
..........................
EverettB:
"Interesting.
Is the 20mph at all times?
This would be annoying for me on my regular bike, I go over 20mph riding around normally."
Yes. In Illinois Class 1 and 2 e-bikes and gas driven motor-bikes are limited to a max of 20 mph. Class 3 e-bikes are allowed a max of 28 mph. This is a state-wide law. But local communities and governing bodies are allowed to set their own rules, regulations and limitations. I can basically go anywhere a bicycle can go except on a sidewalk. But in my County they won't let me on the bike trails with a gas-driven motor-bike. |
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oprn Samba Member
Joined: November 13, 2016 Posts: 12633 Location: Western Canada
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Posted: Tue May 23, 2023 8:31 pm Post subject: Re: I've finished my motor-bicycle. |
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steve244 wrote: |
Mine has 65 mile range. Longer if no hills: they don't have regenerative braking. I used it for a week on Key Largo. after 70 miles it still had 30% battery left. I did help out peddling.
They also have one with 100 miles range. |
Holy crap man! That's better range than your Leaf! _________________ We had the stone age, the bronze age, the industrial age and now we are in the age of mass deception and mind control for corporate profit. (The mass media age) |
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EverettB Administrator
Joined: April 11, 2000 Posts: 69734 Location: Phoenix Metro
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Posted: Tue May 23, 2023 10:02 pm Post subject: Re: I've finished my motor-bicycle. |
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goober wrote: |
I can basically go anywhere a bicycle can go except on a sidewalk. But in my County they won't let me on the bike trails with a gas-driven motor-bike. |
I know it's the law but thank you for not riding it on the bike or multi-use trails. I see people riding motorized vehicles (electric too) on paved trails sometimes and it's annoying but honestly it's more because they drive like crap and act dangerously, more so than non-motorized vehicles. _________________ How to Post Photos
Everett Barnes - [email protected] | My wanted ads
"Water is the only drink for a wise man" | "Communication prevents complaints"
Stop dead photo links! Post your photos to The Samba Gallery! |
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Glenn Mr. 010
Joined: December 25, 2001 Posts: 76761 Location: Sneaking up behind you
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Posted: Wed May 24, 2023 4:06 am Post subject: Re: I've finished my motor-bicycle. |
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EverettB wrote: |
goober wrote: |
I can basically go anywhere a bicycle can go except on a sidewalk. But in my County they won't let me on the bike trails with a gas-driven motor-bike. |
I know it's the law but thank you for not riding it on the bike or multi-use trails. I see people riding motorized vehicles (electric too) on paved trails sometimes and it's annoying but honestly it's more because they drive like crap and act dangerously, more so than non-motorized vehicles. |
Recently the put up signs that electric powered bikes/scooters/skateboards are not allowed. Last week they were stopping people, giving tickets and seizing vehicles of people that did not have ID. _________________ Glenn
74 Beetle Specs | 74 Beetle Restoration | 2180cc Engine
"You may not get what you pay for, but you always pay for what you get"
Member #1009
#BlueSquare |
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steve244 Samba Member
Joined: March 18, 2022 Posts: 1644 Location: GA
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