Looking for advice and opinions

2old2learn

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I have an old childs mtn bike with a Happy Time 2 stroke on it that my son and I put together a few years back. Now I want to build a more reliable transportation device to use as a drop vehicle for my backpacking, canoeing and my hang gliding.

My current thoughts are to purchase a decent new or used 29'er mountain bike with a front suspension and a front disc brake and put a seat post suspension on it since a bit of my riding will be on fire roads in mountainous areas with a lot of washboard areas on the down hill runs. Generally my maximum rides to get back to my truck will be in the 15 to 40 mile range and since I don't normally do any of these activities alone, one of my fellow outdoorsmen will be staying with the equipment until I return with the truck and bike.

I am leaning towards a rear mounted reliable 4 stroke. I am not cost driven, I am solution driven. I've had scooters that I've used for these tasks before, but their weight and my age makes them not as attractive and I am an avid road cyclist and have been for many years so I am used to pedaling.

Tell me what you think I should consider.

Wayne Hobbs
 
You want the Cadillac of your requirements? Staton.com, Rack mounted chain drive on a Hybrid type bike, Honda GX 50cc motor. I'm dreaming...................
 
Never say never on that setup, older I get stuff changes.
 
Here is a dream setup. Honda GXH 50. Sram 890 bicycle chain. Staton Inc 16.07:1 gear box and shiftkit. I like using the White industries Trails freewheel in the shiftkit. Ask him to get you a 96 Oz see through gas tank. Squeeze inline gas pump. The Staton SK allows you to put 3 chain rings on it to drive the rear wheel. If you use a freewheel I recommend getting the Staton hub on a double walled rim. 8 speed 34-11 (DNP Epoch) freewheel or a cassette. (34,28,24,21,18,15,13,11). GB-SK 15:44. Front chain rings (28,36,44).

Here is your shift patteren: uphill and towing 1(1,2,3) which is 28(34,28,24). Level ground 2(3,4,5,6) which is 36(24,21,18,15). Direct drive 3(6) which is 44(15) {GB-SK 15:44}. Down hill long down grades over drive 3(7,8) which is 44(13,11). The only time you shift the front chain rings is when you're in 3 or 6 in the rear. This gives you 10 easy to understand gears. It eliminates gear redundancy, cross chaining and chain droop.

For stops going up steep hills be in 1(1) before stopping then use that as a starting gear. For all other stops be in 2(3) before stopping then use that as a starting gear.

Get a tachometer/ hour counter it helps with the oil changes and air filter cleaning. It also let's you know the most efficient gear to be in. The Honda GXH 50 max HP rpm is 7000. So be in a gear where max throttle hovers around that for max speed. You'll be able to go up any hill. Level ground speed 35+ mph. Downhill speeds 50+ mph. Get a bicycle computer, mirrors and a lighting system. I run a side basket with a tool bag on it.
 
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Jerry, in your estimation would you be able to attach a Trail-a-bike with the shift kit on the bike, not a trailer per say but one of those half-bikes that usually attach to the seat post ??
 
I don't think it would be possible with a rack mount setup. The way my basket is now on the side I can put up to 60 lbs in it. On the Staton hub the axle sticks out quite a bit. You probably could attach to that with a hitch.
 
Now I want to build a more reliable transportation device to use as a drop vehicle for my backpacking, canoeing and my hang gliding.

My current thoughts are to purchase a decent new or used 29'er mountain bike with a front suspension and a front disc brake and put a seat post suspension on it since a bit of my riding will be on fire roads in mountainous areas with a lot of washboard areas on the down hill runs. Generally my maximum rides to get back to my truck will be in the 15 to 40 mile range

Wayne Hobbs[/QUOTE]I would recommend against a rear above tire mounted engine for trail riding, the high center of gravity is unforgiving.

You could get a 26" beach cruiser like this Macargi Pantera and drop a 49cc in it with a 3-speed internal rear shifter and swap a shock front fork into it.

2_4Sshift12-R1280.jpg


2_4Sshift12-L1280.jpg


It has room for a seat post shock as well.

Mountain bikes are usually pretty hard to motorize due to the small cavity but they can be, and though 40 miles would be stretching the range something like this electric I just finished up would certainly fit your need with the bonus of being able to lay it flat or even upside down.

2_SpecializedEpicDoneR-1280.jpg


2_SpecializedEpicDoneL-1280.jpg


That's a $3,500 Specialized Epic dual disc full suspension 9-speed mountain bike that would handle even your most rugged rides with ease.

In either case motor gears and a low center of gravity are your friends.

Just my current thoughts.
 
Before I flew up to Alaska for 3 months, I had visited Staton's shop in Oklahoma and talked with the owner about some motorized options. At that time he had a slick looking system that allowed a rear mounted motor to power through the pedals and allowed a rider to use his full gear range, powered or unpowered, which is an attractive option. I decided that to ship the bike up there and then return it was too much trouble. I should have bought the bike and then taken my truck, canoe, fishing equipment, backpacking gear, hang glider, and the new bike. Of course, then I might not have ever returned back to the lower 48. I may call Staton again and see what he advises. Nice folks. I need something that I can easily pick up and put in the back of a pickup with a camper shell. I do that now with my road bike. There are many times that I would like to go do a couple of days backpacking or canoeing adventure, alone or with a fellow adventurer, without having the hassle of taking two vehicles. I've used my toy motorized bike for this before, but I don't trust its reliability. I suspect that I will end up with something similar to your suggestion.
 
Building the Cadillac

You want the Cadillac of your requirements? Staton.com, Rack mounted chain drive on a Hybrid type bike, Honda GX 50cc motor. I'm dreaming...................

I have now acquired a Specialized Rockhopper 29er hard tail and a Honda GXH50 and dropped my engine off with David Stanton to mount his inside drive on it and then ship it back to me with his pedal shift kit so I can use my full gear range with the motor. Am shopping now for lights and water/fuel bottle holders for the bike. Since I'm an ultralight backpacker I anticipate some long cross country ride/camping adventures.

Still need to decide on a reliable kick stand for it and possibly a x/c trailer.
Wayne
 
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