Goodbye from Florida

PatNoPed

New Member
Local time
9:52 AM
Joined
Jun 20, 2008
Messages
4
Location
Vero Beach, Fl
I thought that this bicycle engine craze was going to be the perfect solution for me. I have pedaled thousands of sweaty miles on my trek road bike (human powered). To be able to throttle my bicycle all the way to my destination and arive still freshly showered was a dream come true...
Twenty miles into my first ride, the little plastic chain tensioner wheel bails, chain wraps into the rear wheel and locks me up hard. Had I been in traffic, I woulda been messed up but luckily I'm just bummed out and my bicycle is a mangled metal mess. The links on the chain were twisted and it was junk. My mechanic picked me up and put together a new chain for me. I was able to ride it home from his shop that day. Excited with new parts I head out the next day. Engine is sluggish, stalling out left and right, idle screw does nothing, choke does nothing and I'm peddaling!?! Limp back to the shop and we discover a blown intake gasket AND a freshly missing idle screw. A new gasket is made from proper material and a replacement idle screw adjusted. It ran great, idled smooth, and I rode it home again, happy. The next day (today) I try again and a jackhammer type noise starts creeping into my head. I pull over to try to figure out what the **** is making such a racket and I discover that the actual engine casting has cracked where the front engine mount bolts screw into the engine. Not only did it crack but it cracked in half and broke off! The bolt had nothing to hold onto so it jumped ship too. The noise I was hearing was the engine jackhammering my frame. It was barely holdin on to my bicycle! I don't know how I made it home without the entire engine falling off but I did. I can't ride it anywhere now. To add insult to this already expensive injury the infamous "leaky gas cap" has stained and ruined my sun cruiser paint job. I'm glad I took the time to try to make it look nice. So what's next??? I can't rely on this to get me anywhere, ESPECIALLY school or a job (the main 2 reasons I got into this hobby). If I don't totally break down I'll be filty with grease and covered in leaky gas by the time I get there. I'd rather sweat and pedal! My bicycle engine honeymoon is over and the big question for me has been answered. Reliable transportation? No. All my parts and enthusiasm I left on the side of A1A. Feel free to use them for your own bicycle and ego repairs. Good luck to all of you, hopefully you'll have better luck than I did.
Patrick
 
second that

Pat,
Do it right with the GEBE. It has it's own idiosyncrasies but it IS reliable transportation. Save the money, read all you can on this board about them and get back out on the road.
I commute 12 miles round trip almost every day on my tanaka 40cc. Others are going much further. The only maintenance I do is when I choose to add or change something on my bike. It definitely has payed for itself.

peace,

Dub
 
Like the others have said, there are MUCH more dependable kits out there. You get what you pay for !
 
Most of us DO have the HT motor setup, and with a little patience and willingness to fix the **** ONE TIME, things can be good.

There's some good info on this site. Maybe just put the bike away for a bit and read, then decide if you want to give it up that quickly.

I live down south in Boynton Beach, and have had my share of pains getting started, too...and you do get what you pay for, but on the other hand, I have been using my bike as my main vehicle to commute to work every day, and I'm saving a ton of gas money, too.

I don't show up to work smelly or greasy - trust me - these bikes are great once you work out the bugs.

If you really want to get rid of it, I'd be interested in buying your motor for the spare parts...PM me.

Thanks,
Mark
 
Sorry that the substandard exports from Xnese based factories got to you, and lost us a member.

The trend is a viable one, with demands for better quality from consumers, the need for quality control should become transparent in a competing market.

In the meantime you may want to reconsider, as gas prices slither to new heights!;)

Best wishes, in a flagging economy.
 
Bummer About your Experience.

I would agree not all people Will benefit from A motorized Bike If they have no mechanical ability or the patience maintaining the problems that may come about.

At least you tested the waters and now have a new story to tell.


cheers:)


Bob
 
Aw, Pat, don't conclude it all based on some cheap kit engine. This is a good lesson for those starting out....do it right the first time and get a quality kit with a quality engine.
 
Aw, Pat, don't conclude it all based on some cheap kit engine. This is a good lesson for those starting out....do it right the first time and get a quality kit with a quality engine.

Could not have been said better !!
 
his engine cracked on day 3. no amount of ability or patience could help that one.


Bummer About your Experience.

I would agree not all people Will benefit from A motorized Bike If they have no mechanical ability or the patience maintaining the problems that may come about.

At least you tested the waters and now have a new story to tell.


cheers:)


Bob
 
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