My First Build

I've been watching my younger brother tool around on his motorized bike for a couple years. My wife and son had visit to grandma's in San Diego coming up so I figured it would be a good time to give it a go. I'm a big guy (6'4", 285lbs) so this isn't the right toy to try to set a speed record on, but I figured I could put together a fun cruiser for pretty cheap.

I had an original budget of $300... but after carefully considering the potential safety issues of the bike, I decided on upgrading to a hub-sprocket setup vs the rag joint and I was none-too-thrilled with the stock tensioner (even the 4-bolt version). I had images of the damn thing falling in to my spokes running through my head and decided an arch-type tensioner was in order.

As for the bike itself... I knew I wanted to go "all new". I managed to pick up a Kent "Sea Change" (where in the heck they came up with that name is beyond me) at the local Wally World on clearance for ... get this ... $74.50. I'd gone in to pick up a Huffy Cranbrook for $169.00... yeah... my mind was changed.

One thing I didn't like about both the Cranbrook and this Sea Change was the "coaster brake" only. I figured the coaster brake isn't that big of a deal so much as the lack of a front brake is. So I decided to pick up a set of handbrakes... next upgrade will be a single pull two-brake setup... hitting that front brake AND the clutch level is a little... tricky.

In any case... I've only put about 3-4 miles on her thus far... still breaking it in.

Here is a shot of the result... total outlay... approximately $375.00 plus perhaps $10.00 worth of over-inflated priced bolts...nuts...washers... at the local Tru-Value Hardware.

:D
Tang1.jpg
 
I have a new exhaust coming... as this is my first build and I really wanted to keep things somewhat simple I decided to stick with a very simple ... and i know ... only a tiny upgrade from stock ... exhaust. I have a Speed Demon exhaust coming next week. The thing only came in at just over twenty five bucks...

...hell, it cost me nearly nineteen bucks for a Bacon Cheeseburger, Medium Fries and a freakin' bottled water at the local Five Guys Burgers... I figured if I manage to piss-away twenty five bucks for something that turns out to be a complete dud... it's no big deal.

That said, from my research I figure I'll get at least a "sound" improvement. We'll see. That's what makes this hobby so entertaining it seems... it's cheap (and just like many other "cheap" hobbies out there... it's only "cheap" until it isnt!).

:D

So a couple days ago I figured since I have another exhaust coming... why not try out some of these "mods" that people suggest for the stock exhaust.

I cut the small tube attached to the "cap" of the exhaust to about 3"... it' goes just behind the first baffle you can see when the cap is off. I also drilled a couple of small holes in the cap as well.

The result:

(1) The sound is a little more poppy. It sounds more like 50cc dirt bike than a weed-eater now.
(2) Maybe it's just wishful thinking... but the bottom end seems a little peppier. I am a big guy and typically it takes a little assistance to get things going but there seems to be a little added torque at the low/mid. Again... COULD be wishful thinking but I don't think so... I'd estimate I picked up an 8 to 10% gain at the bottom end.
(3) My top speed has come down. Prior I could hit 31mph but at 26 or so now it just seems to flatten off... and I get 4-stroking sound (but at high RPMs) and I can get MAYBE 2 more MPH out of her at that point.

I wonder if I leaned her out a bit more (I'm at the #2 notch on the pin) if that'd make an appreciable difference. I wonder if I want to even bother considering it's all going to change next weekend when the new pipe gets here.

:D

I tend to cruise anyway... so I like having the extra "umph" at lower speeds.
 
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I have a new exhaust coming... as this is my first build and I really wanted to keep things somewhat simple I decided to stick with a very simple ... and i know ... only a tiny upgrade from stock ... exhaust. I have a Speed Demon exhaust coming next week. The thing only came in at just over twenty five bucks...

...hell, it cost me nearly nineteen bucks for a Bacon Cheeseburger, Medium Fries and a freakin' bottled water at the local Five Guys Burgers... I figured if I manage to piss-away twenty five bucks for something that turns out to be a complete dud... it's no big deal.

That said, from my research I figure I'll get at least a "sound" improvement. We'll see. That's what makes this hobby so entertaining it seems... it's cheap (and just like many other "cheap" hobbies out there... it's only "cheap" until it isnt!).

:D

So a couple days ago I figured since I have another exhaust coming... why not try out some of these "mods" that people suggest for the stock exhaust.

I cut the small tube attached to the "cap" of the exhaust to about 3"... it' goes just behind the first baffle you can see when the cap is off. I also drilled a couple of small holes in the cap as well.

The result:

(1) The sound is a little more poppy. It sounds more like 50cc dirt bike than a weed-eater now.
(2) Maybe it's just wishful thinking... but the bottom end seems a little peppier. I am a big guy and typically it takes a little assistance to get things going but there seems to be a little added torque at the low/mid. Again... COULD be wishful thinking but I don't think so... I'd estimate I picked up an 8 to 10% gain at the bottom end.
(3) My top speed has come down. Prior I could hit 31mph but at 26 or so now it just seems to flatten off... and I get 4-stroking sound (but at high RPMs) and I can get MAYBE 2 more MPH out of her at that point.

I wonder if I leaned her out a bit more (I'm at the #2 notch on the pin) if that'd make an appreciable difference. I wonder if I want to even bother considering it's all going to change next weekend when the new pipe gets here.

:D

I tend to cruise anyway... so I like having the extra "umph" at lower speeds.
Ha ha, I have one like that. Wasn't very good, and didn't sound any better. So I modified it, it still wasn't any good. You should have bought beer.
 
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Well... I installed it. It does sound better than stock. It does have noticeably more pull than stock... and it seems faster than stock. I'll know more tomorrow later when I borrow the ole ladies cell.

Is it night and day? Naw. But I do notice an increase in performance... from stock.

One thing is that it's a bit of a dog when she's cold... once she warms up though....
 
Just got back from a speed run via the wife's cell phone (I don't own one... i hate `em... and get off of my lawn!).

Down the very same stretch I clocked 31 mph down and 25mph up I just clocked 37 mph down and 27 mph up.

:D

I think I am close enough to 40 mph now to make that a goal... no?
 
cell phone (I don't own one... i hate `em... and get off of my lawn!).
I hate ALL phones, especially since they won't do anything to even try to stop scam phone calls at all hours of the day and night.

I'm a firm believer that Alexander Graham Bell should have been strangled in his cradle with his own telephone cable!!!...lol...lol.
 
I'm old school. If I ain't home... leave a message... or don't.
I have several forms of communication myself, a regular phone call, (unfortunately), (NO TEXTING ALLOWED),......I will also do E-Mail, snail mail, in person, or this forum...That's It !!!...And that's enough !!!

NO Fakebook, NO Whatsapp, NO Twitter, NO Instagram, or any other of those crappy so-called, "Social Media's", or should I say Anti-Social media...lol.
 
I use facebook for the marketplace only. I downloaded and used a script that unsubscribed me from EVERYTHING/EVERYONE. This is my facebook home page... every time:

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