No, not to crazy about that one either. I'm the mechanical type, and like mechanical parts to look like mechanical parts. I have never really been one for decoration. As for the rest of it, it is hard to really get a good look at it from your pictures. I did not know you used a skateboard wheel. You didn't say so, and it isn't obvious from the picture. Actually a skateboard wheel sounds like a pretty good idea for a tensioner roller. Certainly a lot better than what comes in those kits. I have a lot of issues with those. One, they are way too flimsy for the job they are meant to do. Both the bracket and the roller. They mount to the bike in a way that allows them to rotate on the frame. Mine was very tight, yet it still wound up in the rear wheel spokes, breaking several spokes and locking up the wheel, and dumping me on the road in front of oncoming traffic. Also, while they are adjustable, they are not spring loaded and they cannot pivot to maintain constant tension on the chain. You seem to have solved many of those problems. I'm not putting down what you did. But you had to build it. What I would like to see is a well made commercially available part. As an auto mechanic, I like precision. A derailleur is a precision made component, And I just think that something of similar design but bigger and stronger would be just what we need. But I guess it really doesn't need to be that complex. Just overbuilt for what it needs to do, and attach solidly to the bike without clamping around a frame tube.
I have so many issues with these Chinese kits. I know they are cheap, and people like that. But they never fit properly, the tensioner and method of attaching the sprocket to the rear wheel is terrible, The engine and gas tank mountings almost always have to be rigged. I'm not saying that I think all this should go away, other than the tensioner, which is downright dangerous. But I would like to see motorized bikes come out of the stone age. I would like to see a company build upscale kits, including a frame and rear wheel specifically designed as motorized bike parts, so that everything fits. A motorized bike is such a cool idea, both as transportation and fun, that can be ridden in most places without all the red tape hassles of a motorcycle. I think they deserve better than what we have today. I'm also on the 4 stroke bandwagon, and am using a Honda GX35 with a friction drive. I would love to use that same engine, only frame mounted, with a shift kit. A shift kit eliminates many of the problems with the Chinese kits. But there are still usually engine mounting problems. Many are caused by the way bicycles are built today. Whatever happened to bicycles built with small diameter round steel tubes? All the tapered and oval shaped frame tubing certainly complicates mounting things. But again, a frame designed for a motor, with welded on mounts for everything (engine, gas tank, and tensioner) would solve a lot of problems, and would be so simple to build. Ultimately I would like to see complete factory made motorized bikes, made to high quality standards, just like real mopeds were back in the '70s. A motorized bike would solve so many of the issues mopeds had. They would not require registration, insurance, motorcycle license, etc. and the most important part, they can be ridden in bike lanes where mopeds can't. They are perfect for someone like me, who loves to ride a bicycle, but are physically unable to pedal anymore. They can be parked at bike racks (if you want to take the chance, I had one stolen) and they could still be customized by the owner. Sorry about this "rant" but I am very passionate about this. I am a lifelong cyclist, and perfectionist, who is no longer physically able to ride a pedal bicycle. And I can see no technical obstacles to building a high quality motorized bike. I think it would be nice to see someone like Honda, with all their engineering expertise, build one.
