The history of motor assisted bicycles please

[SimpleSimon]

You might enjoy reading this.

http://www.motoredbikes.com/showthread.php?p=177776#post177776

 

[andyszyd]

I'm really thirsty for knowledge about the phenomena of motor assisted bicycles. Could someone please explain the recent history of motor assisted bicycles?

I already know most of the ancient history. I just want to know about the last few years.

When did these happytime motors first come on the market? Does anyone know the total sales?

I don't even have one yet and I'm already going nuts.

One thing is for sure, Chinese did not invent the HT engine, they copied it just like they copy anything else.

As a kid growing in postwar Europe in the 50,s and 60,s
I remember East German made 2 stroke 50cc engines mounted on the bicycle exactly like HT using chain drive, and as I remember looking exactly like HT engine. They were hard to come by, and obviously I could not afford one.

 

[SimpleSimon]

My understanding is that the basic small 2 stroke engine we call an HT was originally developed by the Russians in the early 1930's to serve as the power source for man-portable military radio systems.

I suspect that the first radioman to carry a 100+ pound radio pack with attached generator and engine figured out he'd be better off with a wheelbarrow, the second one said - "I'll put it on a bicycle rack", and the 3rd one said, "Heck with that, I'll let itr power the bike!"

 

[andyszyd]

My understanding is that the basic small 2 stroke engine we call an HT was originally developed by the Russians in the early 1930's to serve as the power source for man-portable military radio systems.

I suspect that the first radioman to carry a 100+ pound radio pack with attached generator and engine figured out he'd be better off with a wheelbarrow, the second one said - "I'll put it on a bicycle rack", and the 3rd one said, "Heck with that, I'll let itr power the bike!"

Not to argue with your post, but until I see a hard proof that Russians invented HT engine I will never believe it.
Russians copied everything and always violated all patents and international laws.
This engine type was probably developed in Germany or France.
I've also seen HT type axle mounted engines in post war Europe.


Russian soldiers were too busy of drinking vodka every day, they would rather try to trade HT like engine for vodka in their dayli quest than adopt it to power a bicyckle. LOL

 

[SimpleSimon]

You may be correct. I do not personally know who originated the design - I just saw a circa 1934 Russian field radio operators pack, complete with a 2 stroke engine visually identical to the current HT, in the museum of military technology in Kiev in 1994. I cannot read Russian or Ukrainian, but the man I was touring the museum with read and translated the descriptive text accompanying it to me.

The notion of packing a huge tube radio, generator and engine, along with a pair of dry cell batteries as a backpack looked really exhausting to me.

 

[RedBaronX]

whether it was the Chinese or the Russians, it's not like they invented anything, they simply downscaled a motorcycle... not hard to believe of either country. Or, not even downscaling a motorcycle as much as reviving the original motorcycles which were bicycles with two stroke engines...