Geared motorized bicycle... on the left side?

[ionia23]

Hello all,

I've been riding about 8 months on a motorized bicycle. Great option for those without a driver's license who can't rely on public transportation.

Regarding gearing, I'm already familiar with using jackshafts to enable gear shifting. I'm pretty sure the answer to this is a no/wouldn't work, but has a gearing system ever been designed for the left side of a bike?

 

[johnsteve]

I am no expert, but maybe a sturmey archer hubsmight be the way to go, because all gearing is done inside the hub and you dont have a derularer bobing up and down when you change gears.

having said that, great care needs to be taken that somone does not go over 20 mph, and risk getting a ticket.

 

[MacZulu]

you could use a trike set up, here's a five speed. you still need to attach it to frame or on an engine mounting type system.

http://www.niagaracycle.com/categor...-brake-hub-conversion-kit-for-adult-3-wheeler

 

[skyash]

i think from the motor to a bike cassette on the left to the sprocket on the wheel

 

[Nanonevol]

The problem is that bike components are made for the right side transmission. In particular, freewheels both for wheels and bottom brackets are designed to work on the right side. If you flop your freewheel to the other side it's going to drive you backwards. I'm with you, though. We have motors with driveshafts on the left. Sure the jack-shafting works but it would be nice to not need it.

 

[Nanonevol]

Here's an idea. Sturmey-Archer and maybe others make hubs with reverse gear for use on tricycles and quadracycles. I wonder if they freewheel in reverse? Then you could flip the wheel and put it in reverse and you'ld have a left hand freewheeling sprocket (with 3 or more reverse gears)

 

[MatthewMore]

anyone who rides freestyle or street bmx knows that anyone can buy a left hand drive rear hub or left hand drive rear wheel, from any bmx parts site for the same price as another wheel or hub... i assume the same thing could be bought for a mountain bike or cruiser...

 

[FurryOnTheInside]

anyone who rides freestyle or street bmx knows that anyone can buy a left hand drive rear hub or left hand drive rear wheel, from any bmx parts site for the same price as another wheel or hub... i assume the same thing could be bought for a mountain bike or cruiser...

Um, no. Not with gears.
That's something you'll have to invent for yourself.

 

[MatthewMore]

Um, no. Not with gears.
That's something you'll have to invent for yourself.

yeah, i suppose. there must be single speeds available for mtb/cruiser with left hand drive..

 

[FurryOnTheInside]

yeah, i suppose. there must be single speeds available for mtb/cruiser with left hand drive..

Um. No. LHS drive hubs all take 14mm axles, which are 14mm for the strength to take stuntpegs... BMX.
Only reason for LHS drive is doing grinds on ramps if you prefer to rotate ccw like most right footed and right handed people do.
Larger than 20" wheels make grinds very difficult even if you chose to use 14mm axles and put stuntpegs on.