How did you get started with Motorized Bicycles?

[sparky]

My buddy needed to get around, so he started looking at Go-Peds. He eventually ran across a Go-Ped Riot, which is alright, but I'd still prefer the Go-Ped TrailRipper, personally.

Anyway... when I was researching these "top-of-the-line" Go-Peds, I saw one link about motorized bicycles.

The first two links I ever remember seeing were....

(1) http://www.5min.com/Video/How-to-Build-a-Weedeater-Motorized-Bicycle-76354663 (this version is MUCH better than the YouTube vesion I'd originally seen)

(2) http://thatsdax.com/

Much love for these two fountains of information.

 

[fm2200]

I like motorcycles a lot, but these mb's are really easy to get around with. They are not like anything else with an engine. I rode go karts & mini bikes when I was a kid, so this is not the same but close to that feeling I got when I was young.

 

[lazaruslong]

for the missus and me it was a three year quest---i wanted to go to bikes as a primary means of transportation as we live in a very small city in arkansas---the terrain here is fairly level and arkansas has some sweet laws when it comes to powered bikes---i wanted to go electric for a myriad of reasons but the batteries was holding me up--with lifepo4s hitting the market it has now become both economically feasible and with more then enough range available for my needs-and the weather is also very bike friendly as long as you have a motor assist cause pedaling at 90 plus degrees would be a bit of a drag
i bought a trailer to go with the bikes and parked my car not selling it thinking it might be useful in time---as it turns out i dont need the car at all and it sits parked with the registration run out and no insurance==lol=== i think it is getting lonesome

 

[rustycase]

Hey Lazarus!
Would you post more info abt that 'lifepo4s' ?
Never heard of that, and the 'affordable' part really caught my eye!
Tnx!
rc

 

[nhfembiker]

How I Got Started

Ever since I was a little kid, I had an appreciation for anything with two or more wheels and anything with a motor...from rollerskates to fast cars and motorcycles....and in between and beyond. I would ride my bike from early afternoon until late at night. I used to get in trouble with my next door neighbor for touching his motorcycle. When most girls were coloring in their Barbie coloring books, I was coloring in my Hot Wheels book. Whenever anyone asked me what I wanted to be when I grew up, I would say a mechanic.

But I was a girl (and still am actually.... ) and with the exception of rollerskating, I was basically told that girls shouldn't be interested in all the other stuff. So I would keep my motored and mechanical interests to myself. I thought that as I got older, attitudes would become more accepting toward women with my type of interests, but it never really did. And my attempts to reach out to people who could assist me in my endeavors have always failed.

I discovered this forum after finding out that someone I admired was on here. And in the past couple of years of being on this forum, I have read everything posted and also read several books on motorized bikes, motorcycles, bike technology and history, etc. I haven't yet put any of the things I learned into practice.... partly because of the old childhood repression I haven't quite risen above yet, and partly because I want to share the activity, but don't have anyone to share it with. I learn the most by doing and imitating, and would really like someone to teach me in person. There is still so much to learn.

I'm hoping I can turn my "someday" into "now" eventually

 

[spad4me]

I quit smoking.
I started eating everything in sight.
I Weighed 300 plus pounds. Gonna DIE!
I hate gyms.
I hate exercising inside. TOO STINKY.
I bought a bicycle. I could peddle out but not back. The ambient temp in the summer is like 120 F.
I bought a kings bushing engine and installed it.
Then when it fell apart. Chain carb adjustment clutch etc.

I found this site.

I now use a scooterguy type motorized bicycle.
I can peddle or not and weigh a lot less.
Because the scenery changes. I do go out a lot.

In AZ motorized bicycles are totaly legal and dirt cheap compared to paying for Insurance, 20 gallons of gas at $4.00 per gallon per week.
When I go shopping with say 45 bucks.
I spend $1.00 on gas and $44 .00 on goodies.
Not $20.00 on gas and $25.00 on goodies.

 

[GoldenEagleChris]

"I started eating everything in sight.
I Weighed 300 plus pounds. Gonna DIE!
I hate gyms.
I hate exercising inside. TOO STINKY.
I bought a bicycle. I could peddle out but not back."


Welcome to my world.

 

[Will Snow]

Starting in 1982 I put a motorized bicycle in the back of my airplane and got hooked.

Wanted better quality and reliability so it became a hobby. Now I have 4 very nice high quality bikes. Had 5 but one was stolen just a few days ago.

 

[rustycase]

Sry to hear that Will,
Did you post a pic of it so we can keep an eye out for it?
Any unique identifying features?
Whew! Fresno is REAL big ! Gonna be hard to find it there without help.
Good luck in a recovery.
rc

 

[5-7HEAVEN]

Ever since I was a little kid, I had an appreciation for anything with two or more wheels and anything with a motor...from rollerskates to fast cars and motorcycles....and in between and beyond. I would ride my bike from early afternoon until late at night. I used to get in trouble with my next door neighbor for touching his motorcycle. When most girls were coloring in their Barbie coloring books, I was coloring in my Hot Wheels book. Whenever anyone asked me what I wanted to be when I grew up, I would say a mechanic.

But I was a girl (and still am actually.... ) and with the exception of rollerskating, I was basically told that girls shouldn't be interested in all the other stuff. So I would keep my motored and mechanical interests to myself. I thought that as I got older, attitudes would become more accepting toward women with my type of interests, but it never really did. And my attempts to reach out to people who could assist me in my endeavors have always failed.

I discovered this forum after finding out that someone I admired was on here. And in the past couple of years of being on this forum, I have read everything posted and also read several books on motorized bikes, motorcycles, bike technology and history, etc. I haven't yet put any of the things I learned into practice.... partly because of the old childhood repression I haven't quite risen above yet, and partly because I want to share the activity, but don't have anyone to share it with. I learn the most by doing and imitating, and would really like someone to teach me in person. There is still so much to learn.

I'm hoping I can turn my "someday" into "now" eventually

Too bad you live on the other side of America. My buddy Hawaii Ed and I could help you build, maintain and fix a motorized bike.

If you don't have anyone near your location, stick around here. There is no doubt in my mind that the gentlemen here can walk you through the steps into building your MB. If it's more to your liking, you could buy one already made and just maintain and fix. I would recommend buying one from someone here on the forum, then pay to have it shipped to you.

With this hobby, you MUST be willing and able to repair the motorized portion of the bicycle. Bike shops will probably not want to have anything to do with your motorized creation. You MIGHT have sympathizers at the local moped or motorcycle repair shop.

It CAN be done. Your "someday" WILL eventually turn to "now". We've got a good, supportive bunch here. The fact that you wear skirts don't make a bit of difference to most of us here, I would imagine.

Good luck, Miss.