Complete Newbie, Need Some Advice

Jarod Bridge

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Sep 21, 2016
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Hey guys! 100% new to even owning a bicycle. My car recently blew up on me and I'm looking to try out a motorized bicycle.

Couple details about where I live first :
West Virginia. Snow, ice, hills, all that good stuff.

I don't have a motorcycle license, so I am stuck at 49cc or under as far as motors go.
Considering ice and snow, I know fatter tires mean more traction, which means less bruises during the upcoming winter. Given my rural area I will more than likely be using the side of roads and occasionally going into grass and over railroad tracks. The engine I'll hopefully be using is a 49cc Flying Horse 4 Stroke (Due to pure gas convenience) which is below.

http://www.bikeberry.com/49cc-flying-horse-5g-pull-start-bicycle-engine-kit-4-stroke.html

On to the bikes :

The first bike I found was a Mongoose Dolomite, which I've seen modified in all kinds of ways thanks to google.

https://www.walmart.com/ip/26-Mongo...Fat-Tire-Mountain-Bike-Navy-Blue-Red/29741123

The second bike is a Panama Jack Cruiser, which is thin wheel, so less traction, more apparent death.

https://www.walmart.com/ip/26-Huffy-Men-s-Panama-Jack-Cruiser-Bike-Midnight-Blue/50774840

My question for you guys, and treat me like a kindergarten kid here, is can a 49cc engine pull either of those bikes up and down slight grades. I only weigh ~150lbs. More importantly, can I even put the engine on either of them? If it would be possible I would rather do the Mongoose due to the tire and winter being right on me.

I do not have welding skills/tools.
I have VERY limited experience working on my car, but have some tools and know how to use them.
I once put an IKEA table together by putting the legs on the top before realizing what I'd done.

I'm trying to be as cheap as possible with this, given I need transport and quite literally only have $300 from my car. 2-stroke, 4-stroke, any bike, let me know what works for you guys; maybe even your full build I could copy.

Throw your thoughts at me guys. Help me out here.
 
2 stroke will be cheaper. As far as the bike you choose you will have to check the measurements of the frame or like I did do research and choose a bike that others have already had success with. Also gears, if you breakdown and have to peddle 5 miles home you will need them. Especially if this is your first build. I promise you'll be peddling a bit while you work out the kinks. I found a 7 speed cruiser at Walmart for $99. That the engine and the few tools I didn't already have and I'm still under $300 on bike.

I weigh 145 lbs and have a few really steep hills to climb to get back and forth to town. I have no problem maintaining speed. I haven't used it in the winter, only a couple rainy days and no problems.

My only complaint would be having to answer questions everywhere I go because people think it's cool. (Literally everywhere just about)

This is a pic of my bike. The bike had the factory stickers but I removed them all before I left the store.

Good luck!
 
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Considering ice and snow, I know fatter tires mean more traction, which means less bruises during the upcoming winter.
Given my rural area I will more than likely be using the side of roads and occasionally going into grass and over railroad tracks.
The engine I'll hopefully be using is a 49cc Flying Horse 4 Stroke (Due to pure gas convenience) which is below.

Throw your thoughts at me guys. Help me out here.
#1 stay away from the crap kits!
This is where you can get the good stuff http://www.bicycle-engines.com/4-Stroke-Engine-Kits/
Get a Real 4-G transfer case which is what it is all about anyway as the engines are all the same.

2_Pantera4SblueDDL.jpg


Just a tip.
 
Oh my gosh I wasn't expecting this much information! Thank you guys!

So Bike Berry has the "Cheapest Prices Around"... Heh.

So on a bike, what is the difference between 2-stroke and 4-stroke besides the gas input? I'm assuming to beat the gas-oil of a 2-stroke, just have a quart of oil in my backpack?

Also, what if I somehow manage to get pulled over going down the road? How do I prove I've got a 49cc engine?
 
peak horsepower on a 4 stroke is generally half of that of a 2 stroke given the same cc
 
IMAG0312.jpg


Dolomite, no modification needed with a jackshaft. I suggest jackshafting the bike, you will be able to get up the hills, and the big tires will get you across all the worst terrain. I can handle snow with my 3 inch wide tires with stock tire tread, pick up some super knobby for snow and some slicks for good days and you're set. Or pick up some mid range tires for year round use, which is what I do. Only seem to need to replace a tire once a year they get pretty good use with the crap roads we have.

Proving it's a 49cc is as easy as saying it is, unless the motor is clearly marked as larger there is no evidence that it is larger, and therefore they can't take it for being larger unless they can get a search warrant and an impounding permit from a judge, wont happen trust me unless you got warrants on you but then you have other problems to worry about.

4 stroke or 2, some people sway one way, others sway the other. I like my loud punchy full of pep fast small motor, others like their reliable quiet no need to hurry and easy to maintain 4 strokes, even if they suck.

Guess it rolls out to what you want from the motor long run, lots of power but continuous (cheap) easy maintenance, or less power but with better life expectancy with slightly more expensive repairs that are usually more complicated and hard to diagnose.

If it wasn't for all the higher speed roads and retarded drivers between me and my job I might have went 4 stroke.
 
View attachment 73865

Dolomite, no modification needed with a jackshaft. I suggest jackshafting the bike, you will be able to get up the hills, and the big tires will get you across all the worst terrain. I can handle snow with my 3 inch wide tires with stock tire tread, pick up some super knobby for snow and some slicks for good days and you're set. Or pick up some mid range tires for year round use, which is what I do. Only seem to need to replace a tire once a year they get pretty good use with the crap roads we have.

Proving it's a 49cc is as easy as saying it is, unless the motor is clearly marked as larger there is no evidence that it is larger, and therefore they can't take it for being larger unless they can get a search warrant and an impounding permit from a judge, wont happen trust me unless you got warrants on you but then you have other problems to worry about.

4 stroke or 2, some people sway one way, others sway the other. I like my loud punchy full of pep fast small motor, others like their reliable quiet no need to hurry and easy to maintain 4 strokes, even if they suck.

Guess it rolls out to what you want from the motor long run, lots of power but continuous (cheap) easy maintenance, or less power but with better life expectancy with slightly more expensive repairs that are usually more complicated and hard to diagnose.

If it wasn't for all the higher speed roads and retarded drivers between me and my job I might have went 4 stroke.
Great looking bike!
 
His bike is rather infamous in this area, probably not a single motorized bicycle rider who doesn't recognize it around here. Astetics also mean more to him than most, unlike me, who likes the run over by a rusty garbage truck look, also helps deter would be thieves.
 
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