So I've been researching building a motorized bicycle off and on for a while now, and my vision has changed several times as I read and learn, from my original plan to motorize a Micargi Sluggo SS (which I quickly found out KC Vale had built a great example of, and pined after for a while), to a more chopper type bike, and then swung hard away from style driven back towards practicality, seriously considered a phatmoto(until I realized who was behind it) then I bought a mongoose mack after some rough scaling from photos and trig to see if there was room for a midframe mount with a 79cc pretendator© kit, then winter. Now that it's past the worst (I hope) I want to get the ball rolling, but instead of a kit I want to use the kits' parts lists to piece it together myself with respectable quality components, but first I'd like to hear the voice of experience on a few points. First of all I had been caveman-thinking that I need a 79cc(legal limit here in OK) to haul me up the hills around here and achieve respectable top end, but A)I've seen several comments around opining that a 49cc with the magic gearing setup will outshine even an ungoverned 79cc in either or both aspects & B)Taking into account what my idea of and the general consensus on what a respectable speed is, I realized that legality isn't as important to me as the appearance of legality, and I swear it was a freak tailwind officer. So now I'm back to the beginning wondering what displacement will fit the frame and pull 180-190# of meat up a moderate hill and still attain 35+ mph (obviously + is better . . . to me anyhow), can occasionally handle grocery/human cargo, and what gearing is required to get there with it. Also wondering what upgraded vs kit parts I should be aware of such as spring tensioners vs 1 clamping bolt fixed tensioners, properly durable chain etc. I'm thinking shift kit from sbp, but if i decide to make that a separate add on later I know the thought of a pineapple bushing repulses me no matter how many people attest to their suitability when installed correctly, so I'd be looking at something like this(although tooth count and supplier/retailer are still up in the air): https://www.amazon.com/CDHPOWER-Ada...torized-Bicycle/dp/B06XKJT29J?ref_=ast_bbp_dp
I realize that at the very least mounting brackets will need modified or fabricated due to the nonstandard downtube shape. I am a machinist and work in a sheet metal fabrication shop so this does not concern me, but it wouldn't break my heart to be able to afford to turn the mack into a parts donor for a tank frame either so I'll be checking sizes to see how much would be transferrable sometime this weekend.
Also thinking of adding a wiring harness later for a small battery/electric ignition/lights if that has any relevance. Looking to put another $700 or so into it, maybe as much as $850 if it really ties the room together, man. Thx for reading the novel and any insights
I realize that at the very least mounting brackets will need modified or fabricated due to the nonstandard downtube shape. I am a machinist and work in a sheet metal fabrication shop so this does not concern me, but it wouldn't break my heart to be able to afford to turn the mack into a parts donor for a tank frame either so I'll be checking sizes to see how much would be transferrable sometime this weekend.
Also thinking of adding a wiring harness later for a small battery/electric ignition/lights if that has any relevance. Looking to put another $700 or so into it, maybe as much as $850 if it really ties the room together, man. Thx for reading the novel and any insights
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