oliverw123
Member
This information is for a typical mountain bike. After riding for a few months I realised that certain components can be removed from the bicycle yet still maintain good functionality. The purpose of this is to simplify and thus make the bicycle less prone to failure and easier to maintain.
First thing I do is get rid of all gear cabling. You don't need to change gears with the engine installed but you still want to have the ability to pedal if say, you run out of petrol. Disconnect cable (and remove) front derailleur and disconnect cable on rear derailleur. You can go as far to remove the front upper chain rings but leave the bottom smaller one, looks neater and saves a little weight. Now your chain will by default sit on the smaller chain ring on the rear cassette. This makes it too hard to get going with all that weight so all you need to do is adjust the screw on the derailleur that shifts the chain up the chain ring as far as it will go to enable easier pedaling. It should sit somewhere in the middle. Remove the shifter components from the handlebar. Now you have more space to install the throttle and clutch lever.
The bike will be quite a bit heavier with the engine and other components so it is a good idea to grease wheel bearings liberally and also the pedal crank bearings, using good grease. Use good brake pads front and rear too.
If you don't have front shocks, balloon tyres will make the ride a lot softer, this I would recommend anyway regardless of front shock.
I forgot to add, get rid of the kill switch. Use the choke or release the clutch to kill the engine. After 5 years running, my clutch ppads were hardly worn.
First thing I do is get rid of all gear cabling. You don't need to change gears with the engine installed but you still want to have the ability to pedal if say, you run out of petrol. Disconnect cable (and remove) front derailleur and disconnect cable on rear derailleur. You can go as far to remove the front upper chain rings but leave the bottom smaller one, looks neater and saves a little weight. Now your chain will by default sit on the smaller chain ring on the rear cassette. This makes it too hard to get going with all that weight so all you need to do is adjust the screw on the derailleur that shifts the chain up the chain ring as far as it will go to enable easier pedaling. It should sit somewhere in the middle. Remove the shifter components from the handlebar. Now you have more space to install the throttle and clutch lever.
The bike will be quite a bit heavier with the engine and other components so it is a good idea to grease wheel bearings liberally and also the pedal crank bearings, using good grease. Use good brake pads front and rear too.
If you don't have front shocks, balloon tyres will make the ride a lot softer, this I would recommend anyway regardless of front shock.
I forgot to add, get rid of the kill switch. Use the choke or release the clutch to kill the engine. After 5 years running, my clutch ppads were hardly worn.
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