Alt.Trans.Bikes

New Jake

2012-01-29T18:22:00.000-05:00

New to me anyway and a nice bike, a Kona Jake cyclocross that has seen very little use. I made an offer a couple weeks back and was surprised the guy called me yesterday and said if it was still on the table, he'd take it. He bought it new online but deciding the frame was too big for him at 56cm had it in storage after one season. It fits me perfectly. Shimano Dura Ace mechanicals, Neuvaiton wheels and Michelin cyclocross tires on a 20 lb. bike. No power assist for this, it'll be used on miles of some great gravel roads nearby to stay in shape.

Update: Sun. 1/29
The weather here is being very cooperative for this time of year, upper 40's. Took the cross bike out for a 25 mile ride today and it rode great, very smooth.

Alternative transportation

2012-01-22T14:51:00.002-05:00

As an alternative to the automobile, anyway. Interesting we have come to consider any other means of transport as alternative and think only of the automobile as the reliable standard....rather than any other way round. I use a car less and less and a bike has become my main means of transport. Be that as it may, this is about personal transportation and it will center mainly on the two-wheeled variety.
The bicycle hardly needs any introductions in that regard, it's been around for well over a hundred years and is a durable, simple machine that works.

It is a multiplier of effort, a raiser of efficiency, a freedom enhancer.....and much fun.

I don't think the bicycle needs much help in this regard either.... but I do at times.

I love the pure, sweet functionality of a well tuned bicycle and want to impact that as minimally as possible. As I grow a older I still love the the exercise I get pedaling ......but perhaps just not all the time. With that in mind, I've been exploring some power assist options and, I must honestly admit, without assist my time spent cycling would greatly diminish.

Power assist as applied by an ICE, small, efficient internal combustion engines that are both EPA and CARB II compliant. There are some wonderful mini, industrial quality engines available today that we've sourced from Japan, made by Honda and Robin/Subaru, Mitsubishi and Tanaka.

Electric assist might be applied by high output RC electric or hub motors that have regenerative braking that can be used to trickle charge a smaller_than_usual bike battery pack to keep weight down.

Or perhaps a combination of the two, a hybrid.....ICE/Elec equipped bike that could get 300 miles to a gallon of gasoline with minimal electric outlet charging.

Perhaps more appropriately we should make that tribrid power: human/ice/electric.

There was a day when mopeds were popular, back in the 1970's with the first oil price shocks. They still are somewhat popular in some places in the world. They are fun but not too practical as bikes. They are heavy, often weighing between one and two hundred pounds and damn near impossible to pedal as a bicycle. In fact, the pedals were only used just to get them started.

What I am proposing is more appropriately called a PEDMO© rather than moped, with pedaling as the primary function and the motoring aspect an ancillary but integral, assisted part of the machine. The functionality of the bicycle remains intact and the rider simply has more options to increase range, sustained speed and load carrying capability and an aid in dealing with hills and headwinds.

Perhaps, along these line, a fully realized PEDMO© would be a tribrid in a longtail or cargo bike.

Older posts below

And please feel free to comment.

Reasoning behind using small effecient ICEs. (internal combustion engine)

2012-01-15T01:31:00.000-05:00

I've gotten some comments and a couple emails concerning "buzzbomb" motored bikes and how annoying they are. I respond by saying I agree with some of the criticism but ask people to read what I have written so far for they would discern I am NOT advocating the cheap, smoky, noisy, made in China 2 stroke kit engines that have gained some popularity.

I'm still running a MAB, or motor assisted bicycle, after a lot of research. I have absolutely no love affair with ICEs, just they are more applicable for my use right now. I do keep my eye out for advances with ebikes and battery tech and have to say I really do like the torque curve characteristics of electric motors through the rpm range.

For me weight and impact on the functionality of the original bicycle are paramount, something I've not compromised on my MABs.. The heaviest bike weighs 50 lbs with 30 miles worth of fuel, the lightest 42 lbs.

I wonder sometimes if ebikes are held to a higher standard though, like they should be more advanced if they are to be considered worthy. I remember a couple of threads on the other MAB forums where the subject line asked "how much does your bike weigh?" I was surprised at the replies, indicating the majority of gas bikes being much heavier than I would have thought, many in the 70 to 90 lb range, some at 100.

If we ask that ebikes remain as bicycles with a high degree of portability, it seems fair to do the same for gas bikes. I see many showing interest in larger displacement and heavier engines with more HP all the time...79cc, 99cc engines weighing 25 to 30 lbs. dry weight. The mission creep for gas bikes morphing into small motorcycles with faster top speeds seems like a given reading through the pages here anyway, and the "if it's not reasonably portable like a bicycle" argument seems largely an ancillary consideration.

A recent conversation

2012-01-08T00:27:00.005-05:00

I've been mulling something over the past few weeks. I hadn't been able to identify or begin to clearly articulate it until a recent conversation I had with another motored biker, an average guy though very much capable of thinking for himself. Mike is his name and he said:

I have an intuitive feeling that the largest part of the MAB market is not in larger MABs, with trannies and such but with 33cc and under, simple systems, 4 stroke, that can meet MAB laws, travel no more than 20mph, and come in a kit at low cost. There is a need for a low cost 22-33cc four stroke to make it happen, and right now none exists. I envision low cost motorized bicycles for the masses.

I had a college student tell me he likes the idea of a motorized bicycle only if he can also used it as a bicycle. The thought of using pedals is attractive to many people because it provides exercise. So to widen this market the concept has to be a motorized bicycle. I believe folks who build more powerful machines will always be in the minority. The day will come when low powered motorized bicycles will be sold complete, not as kits, with 4 stroke engines, and then the sport will take off with big retailers joining in. I think one big secret is to find a way to quiet all these motors, including 4 strokes.

This triggered somewhat of a small realization, that it's quite possible and most likely that wider scale acceptance of MABs won't have anything to do with some of the fake motorcycles you see being used that are called MABS, in fact it will be in direct counterpoint to that. I don't mean just in a legal sense either because if there were indeed 'masses' interested, as Mike stated, more widespread mass acceptance would dictate that legal challenges find resolution. Now perhaps this is not all that revelatory. I admit early on I thought that MAB interests were largely represented by what's seen online and what gets posted there. What's dawning on me is the folly in that, especially on the for-profit forums. It would be like asking how much of what's seen posted on a hot rod forum is of interest or applies to an everyday automobile commuter and perhaps best expressed in a saying I used to hear the old timers say when I was a kid:

'you're barking up the wrong tree'

It's quite probable that Mike is right, the fake motorcycles amount to not much more than a handful of boisterous enthusiasts repeating the same lines and only of interest to each other in a small bubble while a far more vast, potential demographic goes on unheard and unrepresented outside that bubble.

The US Bike League estimates there are 60 million people who ride bicycles in the US. That's 60 million who already regularly swing a leg over a bike saddle (compared to motored bikes which I guess to be maybe <1% of that? ). I have two friends that own bicycle shops, they work hard at it, competing with the online stores and such, but theirs is a huge market for bicycles. Also, the bike shop guys thrive on a classier market, customers who are willing to pay the prices for quality, state of the art equipment. Let's face it, most of the current motored bike market buys low end department store bikes, looks to scrimp as much as possible and not spend a lot of dough. I'm not suggesting there will suddenly be a huge migration from the bicycle crowd to MABs but......as the general population continues to age.....as fuel prices stay high and climb higher.....it's not too hard to imagine some curiosity and interest taking shape with a certain percentage of them if it were well presented and fit the bill to them as a means of sensible alternative transportation.

BTW, a shout out to all the new readers I see showing interest in these subjects, I appreciate the interest.

Advantages of the Motor-Assisted Bicycle

2012-01-03T20:31:00.006-05:00

This was a post from Augidog over at motor-assisted-bicycling that I liked a lot.

Advantages of the Motor-Assisted Bicycle:

~ Of all the definitive motored 2-wheel classes, the MaB is the easiest for an individual to build for a proper fit. I'm a tall guy, anything smaller than a 26" bicycle is no fun. I never got to enjoy all those cool 70's-80's mopeds or scooters, I was always too scrunched up. And by the time I get enough motorcycle under me, I've got too much motorcycle. Same thing in reverse, bicycles have a broad range of sizing. Better fit, safer ride all 'round.

~ Not only can you build and maintain a MaB on your own at home, you pretty much have to. If you're even half serious about the Motorsport, you'll learn to do for yourself, whether you intended for that to happen or not.

~ MaB's never break down...oh sure, the engine might take a nap in the middle of nowhere, but a properly configured pedal/assist means you'll just have to pedal without assist until you figure out why your engine doesn't like you.

~ A true MaB, legally compliant, ridden by a dedicated commuter with a mature riding style, is the most money-savin'est of all of 'em...for the most part, a "free ride" on documentation and insurance, with few and reasonable regulations and limits.

~ Motor-Assisted Bicyclists get healthier without trying, in body, mind, and spirit. Daddy never used to smile while he got ready for work, and he dang sure was never smilin' when he got home at night. It's called a perma-grin, get used to it.

~ Life is Wonderful at 30MPH...you see stuff that's just a blur to everyone else.

50cc and under, 2 HP and under.

2011-12-20T19:25:00.007-05:00

To ride legally on public streets with a motor assisted bicycle in the majority of states with defined moped/motorized bicycle regulations, a helper motor is most commonly described as being 50cc/2 HP and under. More than that and it becomes something else; legally, mechanically and ascetically. Want more than that, perhaps a scooter or a small motorcycle would be better.

Work Space

2011-12-15T15:46:00.007-05:00

After years of no shop or sharing the garage with lawnmowers and rooting around in driveway gravel looking for dropped parts, I'm happy to have a decent work space together. A few years ago I renovated and plumbed this space for heat and in this climate that's a huge bonus, being able to work year round. I guess a clean, well lighted place is a luxury.....

But I'll take it.

This is my bike 'studio'.

Welding and the crud work take place in the garage space below.

A quiet little corner to do delicate work on small parts and not have it disturbed if I get up and leave it for a while.

Follow your own bent

2011-12-08T06:03:00.005-05:00

Hugh Currin, professor, engineer, and long ride cyclist has toured all over the US, Canada and Australia.
Not only does he design and make his own recumbents, he has developed a power assist methodology that's a right fit and use of appropriate technology as he succinctly explains below:

The idea of power assist for a bicycle is to add a motor while retaining the functionality of the bicycle. A power assist is for use on steep hills where it is most needed and turned off where pedal power alone is adequate. It differs from traditional mopeds which are small motorcycles and can't be reasonably pedaled without the motor.To retain bicycle function the power unit must be light weight and not impede pedaling when not being used. It's possible to maintain light weight since the power requirements are quite small. An average rider can provide some 75 to 100 watts of power on a continuous basis (8 hours). An assist providing this power would be adequate and it shouldn't provide more than two or three times this power lest it overpower the rider. My wife and I like touring, self supported bicycle tours. We're usually getting away for a trip of several weeks to a month each summer. I became interested in power assist for touring. I thought it would be wonderful to turn those 10 mile, 7%, 3+ hour pain-ridden climbs into 1+ hour more pleasant climbs. I was right, it is wonderful. We had also found ourselves planning tours and side trips around the terrain rather than where we'd like to tour and what we'd like to see. Having power assists allows us to tour many more places and take all the side trips we'd been passing up.For touring a gasoline engine is the only reasonable alternative. The other common option is electric which is a good alternative for around town and commuting. Electric assist tends to be heavier for the power output but reasonable systems can be built. However, for touring where the hills are much longer (read mountain passes) and electricity isn't always available for charging, gasoline wins out. Gas is readily available on the road and we can also use it in our stove in a pinch.
Finding a small low power gasoline motor is a trick though. The smallest available are string trimmer motors of about 20 cc displacement. These develop about 1 HP, or 750 watts. This is more, and thus heavier, than needed but again is about the smallest available. For my assists I decided to use a Honda 22cc four stroke string trimmer motor. It is a little heavier, and more expensive, than similar two stroke engines. However it is much cleaner, a little quieter and doesn't require a gas/oil mixture. So far I've been very happy with the choice.

Needless to say, I am a huge fan of this kind of thinking. It represents a well reasoned and clearly articulated use of appropriate technology that easily recognizes when enough is enough.
Hats off to Professor Currin for following his own bent. His website can be seen here

New Forum

2011-12-01T05:00:00.004-05:00

Anyone involved with the o.g. MAB scene probably knows or at least has heard of Augidog.
Well, he's has kicked off a new effort with a new forum, a simple format, no ads and a straight forward approach. It probably should be noted the dawg doesn't suffer fools gladly heh, this will be the real thing, about the bikes, hard core touring and traveling on them by someone who has done the miles. Augi is back from Alaska setting up for the next leg of The Long Ride.
Click the link below to check it out.
motor-assisted-bicycling

Winter project, new prototype

2011-11-25T06:39:00.005-05:00

This

and this

will be combined as power assist on this

The engine is a Robin Subaru 33cc, 1.6 hp, 4 stroke ICE. It weighs 8 lbs, is extremely quiet and is both EPA and CARB II certified compliant. The CVT or constant velocity transmission, will act as intermediary drive train gearing offering an extremely wide range of gear ratios.

The bike is a 1983 Diamond Back Ridge Runner with chromoly, lugged frame. The old Centurion Diamond Backs were right there at the front of the production mountain bike trend, making the transition from the fat tire, modified cruisers that Joe Breeze, Charlie Kelly and Gary Fisher were bombing off of Mt Tam with.

My goal is to end up with a lightweight and versatile commuter, being able to pedal, motor or do both together or independent of each other. Taking advantage of a wide range of gearing afforded by the CVT it should be capable of maintaining cruising speeds from a slow walking pace to that approaching urban traffic speeds, be able to climb hills effortlessly and offer fuel efficency somewhere around 200 to 250 mpg and a range of 75 miles before refueling.

Outside the bubble

2011-11-11T19:21:00.014-05:00

Or maybe it's concentric bubbles we live in and with only very small contact patches. Whatever it is, below is from an online discussion I recently had on a urban planning website about alt. trans. and though no further alternatives were offered by the other person more than to say ICEs were shite, it does raise some interesting points, some of which are true. I actually kinda like this type of feedback because IMO, it's somewhat naive but honest and makes me want to try harder knowing what I'm up against. And I also think it represents a large part of the general public perception.

I had just got done posting : "Any bicycle will do... even small ICE powered bikes and cargo bikes are appropriate technology for the times." when the following response came up:

The Census estimates there are roughly 79.6 million people aged 45 to 64 in America. If you divide 79.6 million by 19 years, then divide that by 365 days, you get 11,478. That’s the number of people, on average, who will turn 65 each day for the next 19 years.
It was the first generation in the history of the world to be ferried cradle to grave on infernal combustion... small ICE powered bikes, indeed.
The only problem with the ICE powered bikes is, well, everything. The technology is complete shit. The vast majority of the kits are clabbered together garbage.
Ideally you'd have a near-zero emissions modified ICE with noise suppression, greatly extended gas mileage, etc.
What you get is a jerry-rigged leafblower engine bolted to a regualr bicycle. It does neither the weedblower or the bicycle any favors.
Does America aspire to the ambiance of Calcutta during rush-hour? Hell no.

...........and my reply to this was as follows:

I don't disagree with some of what you wrote. At the risk of further tooting my own horn I'd say read my blog, it addresses and continues to explore some of these issues you raise. http://alttransbikes.blogspot.com

I love the pure, sweet functionality of a well tuned bicycle and want to impact that as minimally as possible. As I grow older (meaning I'm already old) I still love the exercise I get pedaling ......but perhaps just not all the time. With that in mind, I've been exploring some power assist options and, I must honestly admit, without assist my time spent cycling would greatly diminish.

Power assist might be applied by an ICE, small 7 lb., quiet, efficient engines that are both EPA and CARB II compliant. There are some wonderful mini, industrial quality engines available today.
Electric assist might be applied by high output RC electric or eHub brushless motors that have regenerative braking that can be used to trickle charge a smaller_than_usual bike battery pack to keep weight down.
Better might be a combination of the two, a hybrid.....ICE/Elec equipped bike that could get 300 miles to a gallon of gasoline with minimal electric outlet charging. Perhaps most appropriately we should make that tribrid power: human/ice/electric.

The power assisted bicycle has a 125 year history, before it morphed into bigger/faster/heavier and the prior is my inspiration. Your mind is probably made up but then you're stopped by what you know. There's nothing to be done about that by anyone other than yourself.
Thanks for your comments.

Old School

2011-09-30T15:58:00.004-04:00

A vintage DiamondBack from 1983, just totally refurbished, Bi-plane fork, Chromoly frame, Suntour and Diacompe groups.
Check out that wheelbase, 45 inches, it's long and smooth riding. Old school mountain geometry. Trying out a Mitsusbishi TLE43.

Preaching to the Choir

2011-09-15T21:34:00.004-04:00

Recently I was exchanging ideas with a friend about the future of MABs, we have similar views on the topic, and he suggested it was preaching to the choir, that despite good intentions he felt it was a waste of breath and he wasn't going to get upset with stuff he couldn't influence.

I think about the inverse too though, how this stuff is gonna influence or effect me? Also, I think the jury is still out whether he or I or us or we can influence things, not hugely or all at once, but simply persevering with a consistent and commonsense message.

Are MABs becoming more popular? Who knows, hard numbers are not easy to come by but probably they are, as word gets around and people sight them on the street. I think there is a fairly high attrition rate, guys lose interest. I'm guessing it's 1 1/2 steps forward one back, a low overall increase but I don't know, it's an open question, not rhetorical.

High fuel costs effect things, though right now for the short run anyway, energy costs are flat and dropping. I noticed a big uptick in MAB interest 4 years ago when oil was $147@bbl. The downside to that is the markets will also react to prolonged economic troubles, which also effects people thinking about cheap trans. I lost track of the number of college kids I've seen recently asking about MABs because they can't afford a car. And to say it's just college kids and not working adults wouldn't be the whole story either.

I'm also noticing what appears to be a huge increase in the number of catastrophic mechanical failures in MABs. Maybe they were always there but I'm led to believe because there are more MABs out there, it's more noticeable. Not talking about chain tensioners or fender suck either, but frame tube failure, wheel bearings blowing out, torque steer pulling cheap forks apart. Faster speeds, heavier engines, cheap bikes and the chickens come home to roost. A corollary question would be are there more crashes and wipeouts happening? I think so, I'm seeing some mentioned, but it's the kind of anecdotal evidence that's bound to be hugely under-reported also. Guys will brag about road rash but not brain damage.

But it's no wonder guys lose interest without a lot of practical, commonsense opinion and advice going around. Is the whole scene too big to worry about or influence or even care about? Yeah, probably. But sometimes I think about just narrowing the focus down: the noob thinking about getting started, that young guy just searching for sound advice or the seasoned old timer looking for exercise or travel but who can tell the difference between good advice and bullshit...........which is the category I count myself in, lol.

Future of MABs

2011-09-01T16:23:00.006-04:00

I think about the future of MABs and where it's headed. I also get a little spooked when I add up what I've got invested over the years, certainly not a fortune, but enough to make me not want them to be regulated out of existence. You might know how that goes, you get a bike then another and start swapping power plants and experimenting and before you know it, you build a bunch to figure out what you really want and should be building, lol.

I'm getting a little disgusted with the way the whole MAB thing is playing out though, and not just the "choppers" and "board trackers" but the mission creep that's going on with bigger engines, faster speeds, questionable safety features on a bicycle frame made by a manufacturer to be pedaled 12 MPH max. I'm seeing Harbor Freight 100cc and 200cc etc. just because they are dirt cheap. It's an entry for every yahoo out there who lost their license to get a walmart huffy and think he's easy rider, a get yer motor running low ball with no license, insurance, tags but oh it's still a bicycle even though the those engines are too wide to pedal.

It's also plays right into the hands of every 16 year old kid who can register on a message forum and role play as one of the guys and be encouraged by the other children there who happen to 50+ years old. It's obvious that to many, (most) of these guys that MABs are just a toy, something to brag about on message forums without spending a lot of dough, and the extent of build integrity just enough to ride once and a while and only just sufficient to buzz the neighborhood and piss the neighbors off. IOW, a hobby they'll do for a while until they get bored or slapped down by local cops when neighbors complain and then drop it.

I would just like to be able to be allowed to continue to ride and don't like where it's going. But I am seeing this encouraged on the some sites apparently without regard for the future of MABs. (and the sake of a quick buck today) It's gotten so I've even changed my views somewhat on HT engines and think about encouraging their use over some of the other engine choices that get recommended for in-frame, the HTs that are 50cc anyway, add a decent muffler and at least they are narrow enough to still be able to feign they can be pedaled.

I've also come to see the value in MAB racing, something I see happening at various places around the web. It provides a LEGAL outlet for the need-for-speed and if done right and responsibly could offer a good public view to the sport. The folks just have to know and be told, race bikes are for the track and not the street and don't mix that up.

I read about the history of MABs and appreciate the early Popes, Schwinns (Whizzer)and Harley Davidson's that came up from bicycles but I look at them as quaint collectibles now. As soon as Mr. Harley and Mr. Davidson got their chops together with enough cash in the bank, they dropped bicycle frames and built a plant to make real motorcycles with dedicated frames, brakes, wheels and suspension, etc.

I get more useful, real people, inspiration from the history of MBs in Europe. The Euros have long been able to keep things separate with a rich history in bicycles, motor assisted bicycles, mopeds and motorcycles. The Cyclemasters and VeloSolexes were kept as motor assist bicycles for 125 years without blurring the lines or causing the authorities to worry much. I was reading recently the the French Postal Service once had a fleet of a couple thousand Velosolexes for local route delivery. They recognized the real value in that appropriate technology: lightweight, navigable on narrow lanes, cost effective, reliable and able to assist human productivity.

Take a look around and if you're in the least bit interested and informed about the MAB scene, ask yourself what does the future of motored bikes look like?

As to mopeds

2011-05-27T14:07:00.006-04:00

As to mopeds (and BTW there are some good moped sites out there already IE: mopedarmy), they have their place. Sometimes I think people get the wrong ideas with MABs though and would really be happier with a moped, scooter or small motorcycle.

But I like MABs for the very reason they are bicycles and pedal well. Kinda why I've always wanted decent bikes to begin with and favored finding good used bikes that overhaul and hold up well, then motorizing them with the thought of detracting as little from the sweet functionality of the original bicycle.

It's why I've been a stickler for keeping the bike as light as possible. When a MAB gets over 50 lbs I lose interest.

A decent bike with a quality engine/drive assembly is just the ticket for me. I put over 3000 miles on my MABs last year and and am on track to do the same this year.

MAB

2011-05-25T13:27:00.004-04:00

I guess I'm in the narrow category of MABers (motor assisted bicyclists) whose primary interest is first retaining all the functionality of the original bicycle and only looking for a bit of power assist over accommodations made to motorize it. I've spent a lot of time building up bikes with quality components and really dislike, for example, the idea of having to replace a quality crankset in favor of some one piece affair to accommodate mounting a motor.

It's a good discussion, one that I appreciate and I continue to wrack my brain and be on the lookout for solutions that meet my needs.

Early motorcycle history was born from motorized bicycles and as transmissions and other accommodations were added weight increased to the point more power was needed....and so on.

Motorized bikes heretofore are throwbacks to the backyard, funky, DIY contraptions. I'm glad for that though there are limitations. Complexifying a MAB beyond a certain point will probably just begin a new round of the weight/power/costs cycle.

So why not electric?

2010-07-21T09:04:00.004-04:00

An email circulated around the field office I used to work in some years ago that went something like:

An ET of advanced intelligence landed and established contact with earth, as a gesture of good will fielded questions where long sought solutions were needed. One of them was the energy question, where to obtain the best return with available resources. The ET worked the equation, considered the resources available and come up with an answer....a gallon of gasoline.

It was a joke and a gallon of diesel would have been more correct in that reference, but the point was made.

So, why not electric?

I am first in line! First in line when an all electric bike can do for me what a small, efficient, 8 lb. industrial quality ICE can do for me. I already stated my penchant for "inhibiting the sweet functionality of a well tuned bicycle as little as possible", and that includes being as light as possible. My bikes I ride are all under 50 lbs. and some nearer 40.

Electric motors are simple and have a wide torque curve without gearing. Electric motors are not the problem, it's the power generation and means of storage that's been the stumbling point for so long. Although electric vehicles were first, it's those aspects that's caused us so much trouble, what's caused us to seek more convenient methods of getting around. There are solutions, hybrids of all types for example, and if we look at modern train locomotives we see a hybrid of sorts, diesel generating electric power for incredible load pulling ability.

So, what's this about?

2009-05-20T08:56:00.004-04:00

"When someone says it's not about the money, it's about the money". H. L. Mencken

The Chinese 2 stroke kits for bicycles have gained some popularity. I started there a number of years ago myself.

They are inexpensive and they are cheap and they are not worth it. Cheap as in bad components, unbalanced crankshafts, poor castings. In my experience they are frustratingly unreliable, you might need two to keep one running. They are also noisy and prone to vibration to the point of nerve damage if run for any extended period. California will not approve them under CARB II. I moved on learning the hard lesson in the meaning of the phrase 'false economy'.....when an initially inexpensive item begins the mission creep of breakdowns and replacements until you got more $ into it than the better item would have cost up front.

Happens with tools too if they're used hard every day. Which is why it's tough to get reliability as a daily commuter out of one of these made in China set-ups without major revision and even then it's questionable.

I realize some enthusiasts might come thinking that with a hundred dollar department store bike and another hundred and a half in a China made kit they're going to get a quality touring machine or something. Truth be told most, not all of course but many of the folks who build up these kind of bikes put very few miles on them, maybe zip around the neighborhood aannoying the neighbors and an errand run here and there totaling a couple hundred miles or so a year. But day in day out get on it and ride reliability for commuting isn't going to be there.

PEDMOs©

2009-01-16T06:48:00.008-05:00

You've heard of mopeds, a motor equipped 2 wheeler that has pedals you can sorta use, to get it started mostly, and barely qualifies as a human powered vehicle. They have their place, are used in many places in the world and were produced in fairly large numbers. But they are heavy, cumbersome, and don't pedal well if the motor isn't running.

So what is a Pedmo? That's a term coined in a conversation with my son discussing power assisted bikes. Acknowledging the fact that typical mopeds were cumbersome to pedal, he said "so these bikes you make should really be called pedmos then". And so it's duly entered and copyrighted to suggest something else, actually the inverse of a moped, a 2 wheeler that pedals well, AKA a bicycle, that has a small helper motor that offers ancillary assist to the rider but doesn't inhibit the functionality of the original bike.

Both mopeds and pedmos are alt. trans. bikes, just Pedmos are lighter, more agile, with better fuel efficiency and generally easier to ride that mopeds.

What this blog is NOT about.

2008-10-30T20:15:00.008-04:00

I've been experimenting with adding power assist to bicycles for a number of years now. Before that I rode pedal bicycles many miles in a season. Age caught up with me and I still like to pedal for the exercise but I also have found small assist motors are a real boon as the advancing years catch up with. Simply put I would ride a lot less without them. In other words, LSVs or low speed vehicles. Many of those details are explained elsewhere in this blog.

What this blog is not about is what many people think of as stupid, noisy, smelly and obnoxious additions to what a bicycle is supposed to be. I happen to agree with that and NONE of my bikes fit those categories. What is happening in some, maybe the majority, of instances is that the whole idea of MABs, motor assisted bicycles, is quickly being overrun with what I'll call infantilization. People, supposedly adult men many of an age who should know better, get a whiff of teen spirit, riding without a helmet, buzzing neighborhoods, blowing through stop signs and generally acting like jerks. What is it about American men that fantasize everything to be like race week in Indianapolis? Grow up or get a motorcycle. What a way to ruin what should be a good thing. Why have we seemingly lost the ability to recognize a good thing and know when enough is enough. And where the hell are the adults?

The imminent danger to any continued legality and public acceptance of motor assisted bicycles will not come from under-powering of MABs, but that mission creep will continue to push them toward becoming little more than fake, illegal motorcycles and transparently viewed as a way of skirting the law. Look around, it's already happening.

IMHO, it's also a shame that organizations, groups and domains don't take an official position, it would be refreshing to see them ignore the perceived risks and bite the bullet looking instead to earnestly furthering the long term legal status of MABs as legitimate alternatives. Commonsense is universal. Likewise, why acquiesce to the lowest common denominator and not look to broaden the demographic when fitness is something the whole of the US could use a lot more of.

There are 60 million people who use bicycles in the US according to USBL. One will be hard put to find the number of people who use MABs but my guess would be somewhere around low single digit percentage of that. It might be fair to assume many of those 60M would think any assist on a bicycle a novelty, but not all, particularly considering an aging population might well consider assist a way to stay active. But labeling something a novelty would be simply a semantic way of framing a discussion. For example, making bicycles look like motorcycles at the expense of of inhibiting their function as bicycles could easily be labeled nothing more than supreme novelty. If we were to even tacitly include the rational that MABs might have a role as a serious transportation alternative, they would need move on past the toy status that largely exists or be perpetually relegated to something close to that of ATVs.

The legally defined moped/motor assist bike regs are 25 mph max in my state, I can live with that and find it quite reasonable. The average person will pedal a bicycle 10 mph for sustained periods, so doubling it with little human power input is an enormous advantage. In fact, just being able to maintain the non-assist average pedal speed with no pedaling input could be viewed as a gift. Try doing that pedaling a standard moped.