Hi all!
I saw a guy riding a red motored cruiser (maybe a Schwinn?) in Kensington, MD the other day and was intrigued. Quick search brought me here and I've been glued to the laptop since!
My plan is to build a Trek mtn bike with the 80cc from Bikeberry. Like the idea of the 6 mo warranty, and people seem to have had pretty good luck with them. Originally I wanted a cruiser, but the mountain bike seems like it might be a better fit for me. For one, it'll easily accept a front suspension. Also the shift kit from Sick bikes looks intriguing.
Still need to find the perfect bike on craigslist or ebay, and then order the parts. Planning on a vacation in March, and would like to have the thing completed by then to take along and buzz around the island.
I live in DC now, and driving around here gets worse every year. Parking is nigh on impossible, and 45 minute roundtrips to the grocery store (2 miles each way) are far too routine. As traffic and speed limit restrictions will keep speeds below 25mph anyway, this seems the perfect solution. Was considering a moped or scooter, but these motored bikes just appear to be SO MUCH COOLER!!!!
My one concern is with torgue, or low end grunt. Like I said, top speed isn't a concern, but we're in a somewhat hilly area, so I'm thinking the shift kit might allow hill climbing ability. Plus, the years and my wife's good cookin' have taken their toll and I'm now tipping the scales at a svelt 235lbs.
Mechanically, I think I'm up to the task. I'm a former marine (boats, not military) mechanic, and have a pretty good head for tinkering. Show me a math problem and you'll get a blank stare, but give me an ancient outboard that hasn't run since the Johnson administration and more often than not I'll have her happily putting along by day's end.
I think the plan for the 1st build is to get it going and sell it to a buddy who has no car, then take what I've learned from that one and build one for myself. That way, we both get a new toy,he gets an on call mechanic and I get to build 2 bikes!!
Thanks again for all the great info, and I'll keep you all posted on the progress.
Cheers,
Andrew
I saw a guy riding a red motored cruiser (maybe a Schwinn?) in Kensington, MD the other day and was intrigued. Quick search brought me here and I've been glued to the laptop since!
My plan is to build a Trek mtn bike with the 80cc from Bikeberry. Like the idea of the 6 mo warranty, and people seem to have had pretty good luck with them. Originally I wanted a cruiser, but the mountain bike seems like it might be a better fit for me. For one, it'll easily accept a front suspension. Also the shift kit from Sick bikes looks intriguing.
Still need to find the perfect bike on craigslist or ebay, and then order the parts. Planning on a vacation in March, and would like to have the thing completed by then to take along and buzz around the island.
I live in DC now, and driving around here gets worse every year. Parking is nigh on impossible, and 45 minute roundtrips to the grocery store (2 miles each way) are far too routine. As traffic and speed limit restrictions will keep speeds below 25mph anyway, this seems the perfect solution. Was considering a moped or scooter, but these motored bikes just appear to be SO MUCH COOLER!!!!
My one concern is with torgue, or low end grunt. Like I said, top speed isn't a concern, but we're in a somewhat hilly area, so I'm thinking the shift kit might allow hill climbing ability. Plus, the years and my wife's good cookin' have taken their toll and I'm now tipping the scales at a svelt 235lbs.
Mechanically, I think I'm up to the task. I'm a former marine (boats, not military) mechanic, and have a pretty good head for tinkering. Show me a math problem and you'll get a blank stare, but give me an ancient outboard that hasn't run since the Johnson administration and more often than not I'll have her happily putting along by day's end.
I think the plan for the 1st build is to get it going and sell it to a buddy who has no car, then take what I've learned from that one and build one for myself. That way, we both get a new toy,he gets an on call mechanic and I get to build 2 bikes!!
Thanks again for all the great info, and I'll keep you all posted on the progress.
Cheers,
Andrew
