BikeBugRider
New Member
Hi all,
As you may have heard in the news we just had some massive flooding here in Massachusetts. I was lucky to only have a tiny puddle in my basement, but I did have to move a bunch of boxes I hadn't touched since I bought in 1996. One of the boxes that I moved had an unused 1983 BikeBug Deluxe QMB-23N. That brought back some memories.
I had moved a lot over the years and, back in 1983, I was living with my folks and finishing up an Associates degree on the GI Bill. I was pretty poor at the time and looking for cheap transportation. I got a mailing from AquaBug announcing a big Christmas sale. A new BikeBug w/ shroud was reduced to $89.95 plus $13.50 S&H. A spare roller was only another $12.50. Seemed like a good deal and I knew they worked pretty good since my younger brother was using one on an old bicycle. His license had been suspended for a year and a BikeBug/bicycle combo was his current transportation. My folks lived on a pretty steep hill and that BikeBug got him up that hill with only a little bit of pedaling on his part. Impressive little motor!
Well, like a lot of people I had good intentions. I planned on mounting my new motor on a fixer-upper bicycle, and using it for my transportation. Maybe I'd race my brother. lol We were a competitive family. Instead of building out the motorized bike, I got a VW Rabbit Diesel. Much easier.
As you can guess I never got around to the using the BikeBug motor. It's never been run and never had gas/oil mix in its tank. Now I'm close to retirement and looking for a fun project. I like modifying bicycles and was a motorcycle mechanic briefly in the 70's. I think I can figure it out.
I almost gave the motor to my nephew, for his son's bike. He didn't know if he'd get to it so I dropped the subject. Then when I moved the box in the damp basement I decided to try to find out more about the motor kit.
I fired up the PC and Googled "BikeBug". Amazing! These little motors fetch some pretty good money on eBay and 160 mpg in these times is not to be laughed at.
I have two decent bicycles I could use for the project. My 20+ yr old Fuji S12-S Limited has been converted to 18 speeds. It has basic lighting, plastic fenders, a set of bags, and a rear rack. It's 3.5" fork-width matches the design of the BikeBug. But that Fuji has trap pedals, bar end shifters, and dropped bars. Not a great cruiser configuration.
The other bike is a 10+ yr old Gary Fisher HooKooEKoo that I converted to a street bike with street tires, upright bars, and plush seat. I needed a cruiser so I could ride with my lady. Nice bike, but it has a 5.5" fork-width and front RockShoxs. That would be my first motorization choice but probably more challenging to get the BikeBug mounted.
I know that this forum has some real guru's and I'm starting to read through the threads looking for valuable info. I'd welcome any advice or info on good threads.
Thanks ahead of time for any responses.
BikeBugRider (soon I hope).
As you may have heard in the news we just had some massive flooding here in Massachusetts. I was lucky to only have a tiny puddle in my basement, but I did have to move a bunch of boxes I hadn't touched since I bought in 1996. One of the boxes that I moved had an unused 1983 BikeBug Deluxe QMB-23N. That brought back some memories.
I had moved a lot over the years and, back in 1983, I was living with my folks and finishing up an Associates degree on the GI Bill. I was pretty poor at the time and looking for cheap transportation. I got a mailing from AquaBug announcing a big Christmas sale. A new BikeBug w/ shroud was reduced to $89.95 plus $13.50 S&H. A spare roller was only another $12.50. Seemed like a good deal and I knew they worked pretty good since my younger brother was using one on an old bicycle. His license had been suspended for a year and a BikeBug/bicycle combo was his current transportation. My folks lived on a pretty steep hill and that BikeBug got him up that hill with only a little bit of pedaling on his part. Impressive little motor!
Well, like a lot of people I had good intentions. I planned on mounting my new motor on a fixer-upper bicycle, and using it for my transportation. Maybe I'd race my brother. lol We were a competitive family. Instead of building out the motorized bike, I got a VW Rabbit Diesel. Much easier.
As you can guess I never got around to the using the BikeBug motor. It's never been run and never had gas/oil mix in its tank. Now I'm close to retirement and looking for a fun project. I like modifying bicycles and was a motorcycle mechanic briefly in the 70's. I think I can figure it out.
I almost gave the motor to my nephew, for his son's bike. He didn't know if he'd get to it so I dropped the subject. Then when I moved the box in the damp basement I decided to try to find out more about the motor kit.
I fired up the PC and Googled "BikeBug". Amazing! These little motors fetch some pretty good money on eBay and 160 mpg in these times is not to be laughed at.
I have two decent bicycles I could use for the project. My 20+ yr old Fuji S12-S Limited has been converted to 18 speeds. It has basic lighting, plastic fenders, a set of bags, and a rear rack. It's 3.5" fork-width matches the design of the BikeBug. But that Fuji has trap pedals, bar end shifters, and dropped bars. Not a great cruiser configuration.
The other bike is a 10+ yr old Gary Fisher HooKooEKoo that I converted to a street bike with street tires, upright bars, and plush seat. I needed a cruiser so I could ride with my lady. Nice bike, but it has a 5.5" fork-width and front RockShoxs. That would be my first motorization choice but probably more challenging to get the BikeBug mounted.
I know that this forum has some real guru's and I'm starting to read through the threads looking for valuable info. I'd welcome any advice or info on good threads.
Thanks ahead of time for any responses.
BikeBugRider (soon I hope).
