just an observation of rider weight

[motorpsycho]

well, i usually never ride my bikes where there are people or cars anyway.
I do take my bikes to custom car and bike shows in the summer and having the engines on them is just another way of having something custom that not eveyone else has.
so to me, having an engine on a bike is just cool, especially when you are around hot rodders and custom car guys.
I built my bikes to fit in with the hot rod crowd and every time eomeone asks about my bikes, it's not about them just being bikes with engines on them.
It's always about "how did you make this, how did you make that, what kind of paint did you use..."etc.
I do have non motorized pedal bikes that are also customized. Everything i build is custom and not off the shelf, so I do get a lot of compliments on my building style and my paint jobs.
It's just for fun.

 

[TOTAL CARNAGE]

I love going to car shows. I have had car owners get mad when my bikes have more people looking at them than their car!!
As for weight, it has to make some difference. I'm 5'9" 160 and my wife at 5', 95 with basically the same set up BLOWS my doors off.

 

[motorpsycho]

yep me too.
here's a pic of my 2 bikes and my friends bike in front of my 55 pontiac at a car show.
I too love it when my bikes get more looks than some cars at a car show.
my bikes are the one in the middle and the occ chopper on the right.
but yeah wieght does matter because with me on either of my bikes, i can blow my friend away.
If he rides one of my bikes, and i ride his, i'm still the faster one.
i'm 5' 6" 160 and he's 5' 8" 225. whichever bike he's on, it becomes the slow one.

 

[Mountainman]

cheap China spokes

yes weight seems to be a problem
I hit 205 lbs
MB with motor maybe 75 lbs
bicycle held up good for a couple of years with the prox 280 lbs
then started braking spokes (often on the rear wheel)
let's face it that is a lot of weight
got me a new rear wheel the other day
one not with the cheap China spokes

I just want to ride that THING

MM​

 

[geebt48cc]

So, here I am, at 6' 6", 260, and ride a 66cc 28" with panniers. Best ever is flat 34.8 mph..............but really cruise mid twenties............

Alrighty then..................................... Glen

 

[Mountainman]

epoxy on our spokes

So, here I am, at 6' 6", 260

wooo
you and I may want to put some epoxy on our spokes
hold them wheel THINGS together !!
as we Ride That Thing​

 

[Big Red]

Fat Guy Here

Thats right, I'm 6" 230lbs and I've NEVER tore up a wheel. I think a lot has to do with HOW you ride it. I've broken a spoke or two but I think that says more about that cheap rag mount than anything. If I see a hole in the road, I go around it. I don't ride off curbs or try to "Jump" my bikes. I will admit to going through clutch pads sooner than most, But then I don't peddle when starting off. I also try to use only heavy duty steel frames and wheels for my personal builds. I wouldn't try to ride a shetland pony either. Mt fat a$$ needs something a little more heavy duty, And I know it.
My next build, a 26" Huffy Cranbrook, Has a steel frame and 12 guage spokes. Aluumineeuum frames or wheels would buckle with me on it. GIVE ME STEEL OR GIVE ME DEATH.
Big Red.

 

[5-7HEAVEN]

Like you mentioned, it's about avoiding pot holes, cracks and jumping on/off curbs.

 

[Big Red]

Fat Guy Here

Like you mentioned, it's about avoiding pot holes, cracks and jumping on/off curbs.

Yeah 5-7, If ya take care, anything will last longer. But I think Motorpsycho still has a point. If yer behind is closing in on 400lbs perhaps you should consider a Honda Gold Wing instead of a bicycle. Or at least build your own REAL HEAVY DUTY steel frame with motorcycle wheels. Bicycles were not built for us "BIG" guys. (The stationary bikes were built for us .)
In the end I don't think a big guy can take a kids chopper bike, put a motor on it, and not expect it to FUBAR. If ya do then ya got no room to complain about cheap bikes, engines or whatever.
Big Red.

 

[HoughMade]

6'3"- 230# here...big, not fat.

I run Husky wheels with 10ga spokes. I couldn't harm them if I wanted to.