cdevidal
Member
Hello from sunny ?? Jacksonville, FL 
Ten years ago I got a cheap electric friction motor kit off eBay that I used for over a year... gave me about ten miles at probably 10 miles an hour, had a heavy (lead acid?) battery that was always swinging around, throwing my balance off. The connectors were always coming loose and I re-wired some with RCA audio connectors, but others I was unable to change, and at times you'd catch me re-plugging while riding. Dangerous :rolleyes5:
The friction wheel was metal with sharp-ish edges. It attached between the seat post and the wheel, but was designed for a much bigger post than my old 1970s Schwinn, so I had to wedge in lots of rubber to keep it from shifting (which it did anyway, but less often). Because it shifted and had sharp-ish edges, it popped a few tires so I eventually installed a solid tire. This kept me from losing tires -- there was even a nice wide groove that the friction motor cut into the solid tire -- but the solid tire eventually warped the rim. It was a $10 bike so that was no big deal, and I wasn't about to take that solid tire back off (a huge fight to get it on the first time!).
LOL what an experience. Hey, I saved about $300 on the kit over similar motors And despite its faults it did get me to work on time. Though next time I may pay a little more.
Fast forward ten years and a marriage with kids. I just got a new job and will be travelling about the same distance as I did last time, six miles. I want some exercise, but I don't have as much free time as I did ten years ago, so I need to spend as little time biking as possible.
I also don't want to arrive poring with sweat; I recall that ten years ago it wasn't too heavy exercise. I also would like to save some gas money, and give my wife access to the car.
A bike motor fits all purposes; I can spend just half an hour extra a day on the bike, which of course means half an hour of moderate exercise. Plus it saves about $35/month, and gives the wifey a car. So it's like I'm getting paid $35/month to exercise half an hour a day. Pretty good deal.
My biggest concern will be travelling along a six-lane road which is marked as 45MPH. (For Jax residents, Southside Blvd. from the Avenues to Tinsel Town).
That's not bad enough, but several pieces "feel" like a freeway and so most travel at 60+MPH. Yikes
To add to it, I'll be riding at night, so tail lights will be a must, perhaps with a flag and reflector. I'm also considering adding knee and elbow pads and a mirror to my excellent helmet.
Unfortunately there's no alternate route which is any safer. So I'm having second thoughts. Your input is encouraged.
Motorized biking is definitely a cool way to arrive in style! If only the Florida laws weren't so heinous about bike speed limits, I could strap on a serious motor and get there in no time
Cool forum, glad it's out here. Thanks for letting me share my story, and God bless!
Ten years ago I got a cheap electric friction motor kit off eBay that I used for over a year... gave me about ten miles at probably 10 miles an hour, had a heavy (lead acid?) battery that was always swinging around, throwing my balance off. The connectors were always coming loose and I re-wired some with RCA audio connectors, but others I was unable to change, and at times you'd catch me re-plugging while riding. Dangerous :rolleyes5:
The friction wheel was metal with sharp-ish edges. It attached between the seat post and the wheel, but was designed for a much bigger post than my old 1970s Schwinn, so I had to wedge in lots of rubber to keep it from shifting (which it did anyway, but less often). Because it shifted and had sharp-ish edges, it popped a few tires so I eventually installed a solid tire. This kept me from losing tires -- there was even a nice wide groove that the friction motor cut into the solid tire -- but the solid tire eventually warped the rim. It was a $10 bike so that was no big deal, and I wasn't about to take that solid tire back off (a huge fight to get it on the first time!).
LOL what an experience. Hey, I saved about $300 on the kit over similar motors
And despite its faults it did get me to work on time. Though next time I may pay a little more.Fast forward ten years and a marriage with kids. I just got a new job and will be travelling about the same distance as I did last time, six miles. I want some exercise, but I don't have as much free time as I did ten years ago, so I need to spend as little time biking as possible.
I also don't want to arrive poring with sweat; I recall that ten years ago it wasn't too heavy exercise. I also would like to save some gas money, and give my wife access to the car.
A bike motor fits all purposes; I can spend just half an hour extra a day on the bike, which of course means half an hour of moderate exercise. Plus it saves about $35/month, and gives the wifey a car. So it's like I'm getting paid $35/month to exercise half an hour a day. Pretty good deal.
My biggest concern will be travelling along a six-lane road which is marked as 45MPH. (For Jax residents, Southside Blvd. from the Avenues to Tinsel Town).
That's not bad enough, but several pieces "feel" like a freeway and so most travel at 60+MPH. Yikes
To add to it, I'll be riding at night, so tail lights will be a must, perhaps with a flag and reflector. I'm also considering adding knee and elbow pads and a mirror to my excellent helmet.
Unfortunately there's no alternate route which is any safer. So I'm having second thoughts. Your input is encouraged.
Motorized biking is definitely a cool way to arrive in style! If only the Florida laws weren't so heinous about bike speed limits, I could strap on a serious motor and get there in no time
Cool forum, glad it's out here. Thanks for letting me share my story, and God bless!
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