Nanonevol
Member
I've got bikes for when I want to ride a bike and pedal. I think what I'm leaning toward is a lightweight motorcycle - and aesthetics matter.
How much pedaling do you do?
- Thread starter Nanonevol
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Purple Haze
Active Member
Go with an in-frame kit, they look sooo much better. (like a motorcycle) Those friction drive kits might be more reliable (I doubt it) but they just look goofy and have a higher center of gravity, adversely affecting handling.
2old2learn
Member
If it's available, a frame mount with a right side output that powers a freewheel on your pedal axle that allows you to use whatever pedal cogs you have available on your bike so you can use all the gears you have with power and still be able to pedal the bike power off with no system drag.
butre
Well-Known Member
the only additional failure point with a center mount engine is the chain or belt drive. friction drives greatly increase tire wear and have an incredibly high center of gravity
I've read many stories here, of other things going wrong with CG's.Another + to friction over even my GEBE, is flat fixing, chain and belt drives can be a pain in that regard.Friction drives DO NOT cause premature wear to the tire, unless the spindle pressure is too light, my spindle on the other hand is wearing out.Incredibly high CG?? Higher than your a.s.s, shoulders, and head!?FD's are off balance, when parked, and that's about it.
Handling is only effected with 50cc+ engines.As to the looks, beauty is in the eye, I'm the exact opposite from most, I think frame mounts look not only "greasy kid stuff" goofy, but down right g.a.y..That's a to each his own thing, a friction or rack mount looks no different than a packed touring bike to me, not a kids wannabe motorcycle.That's me.
butre
Well-Known Member
imagine if your butt gained 45 pounds and stuck out 18 inches behind you. that's what an fd does to center of gravity.
if rack mount was superior then harley Davidson would do it
if rack mount was superior then harley Davidson would do it
butre
Well-Known Member
personally I think a friction drive looks ghetto no matter how much thought or work went into it. it always looks like an add on, like it's not meant to be there. an in frame kit can look factory if done well.
Nanonevol
Member
This is getting kinda funny. I'm not trying to look cool myself as that's kind of ridiculous but when I create something I want it to hold to my own aesthetic. If you're trying to look cool on your "moped" you're pathetic. I'm building an in-frame bike because I want it to be strong and fast and handle well.
No offense, you're high.My whole FD bicycle, gassed up weighs 50lbs.You must've put a lawnmower engine on yours.
A GEBE weighs in at 12-14lbs.
A FD weigs in at 15-20lbs.
No more than a rack of groceries on the back.
I can lift either bicycle with one hand, and feel nothing once under way.
I've had the harley debate before, the reason harley mounted the engine in the center, because the engine couldn't possibly fit anywhere else.We're talking about bicycles not things as big as small cars, big difference.
A GEBE is near 1to1 territory 95 to 98 percent of the engines power is transferred.43cc's gets me 32mph and 180mpg.
As to looks, it's all opinion, no need trying to look cool, frame mout or rack mount, if you ride a MAB, you are cool.
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Kind of on-off topic, I also ghost pedal all the time just in case of bored lawmen.A friction/rack mount doesn't attract as much attention, there is a "stealth" FD on here, completely hidden by panniers.Most FD/rack mounts have quality utility engines, self cooling, look at the rack section as far as engine problems, then look at the 2stroke/CG section, engine problems galore.I read here for years, and came to my FD is better conclusion.
I put my FD on my folder, bought a crappy bag from wallyworld, packed it with my clothes and an empty 1gal can, took it on a 600 mile greyhound bus trip, when I arrived I unpacked/unfolded/gassed-up my FD equipped bicycle and motored home.
I put my FD on my folder, bought a crappy bag from wallyworld, packed it with my clothes and an empty 1gal can, took it on a 600 mile greyhound bus trip, when I arrived I unpacked/unfolded/gassed-up my FD equipped bicycle and motored home.
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