I rode my bike every day to work this week; it was like an thrilling amusement ride that lasted 25 minutes each way! When the road is wet or the bike is limping, I ride the bikepath at speeds well under 20mph. When everything's right, I claim the lane and keep up with 35mph traffic. A split-second brain fade brought me close to the curb on the highway. MUST be alert at all times; that instant could have been the death of me.
The 460 engine runs an ADA S1 expansion pipe and is silenced by a length of hose and a lawnmower muffler. Its exhaust is quiet enough, but the engine's spitting oil onto my chainring, crank arms, down tube and cassette ANNND my shoes and pants cuffs. I need to extend the exhaust hose past the chainstay to keep things clean.
This engine runs 25:1 fuel/oil ratio. If I swap in the Tanaka 47R engine, it runs a 50:1 fuel/oil ratio, so should be less messy.
The carb adjustments are VERY sensitive. I'm still searching for the right combination while riding, so a small screwdriver is tucked into my glove. I thought about keeping the driver in my shirt pocket, but might stab myself in the heart(!!!!!) if I fell the wrong way.
This MB needs to be started with the bikestand down and the rear wheel off the ground. The instant that the engine fires up, the GP460 roars to life at high rpm and clutch fully engaged. If the wheel is on the ground, the bike wants to rip itself out of your hand and take off without you. It's like a wild stallion, a stampeding metal pony needing to be broken in.
The 460 and ultra-low first and second gears apply so much power to the ground. If you don't have a firm grip, you will FEEL your butt sliding back on the bike seat as you accelerate. This MB is trying to throw me off towards the back of the bike. Throttle must be judiciously applied for safety's sake. No pedal-assisting at any time is necessary. This is REALLY a small-displacement motorcycle, perfect for speeds under 30mph.
The goped tank's locking gas cap with allen screw works well. I keep the allen wrench inside the soft handlebar grip. Luckily, it is the same wrench that I use regularly to adjust my mirrors.
The tuna can "bonnet" for my air cleaner is the bomb, and so easy to mount. The 3.25" food can fits over the 2.875" air cleaner canister with room for airflow. I drilled 27 holes with a 3/8" bit in the upper half of the canister, so ya can't see the holes. A small hole in bottom center, and a half inch spacer between tuna can and air cleaner allows airflow to the original air vents and the 27 new holes.
Now I don't have to worry around what little rain could enter the air cleaner canister's original air vents...
or the prankster that pours a can of soda down my air cleaner while the bike is parked at work or school. Being that the air cleaner canister is facing straight up, that soda WILL flow straight down the carburetor into the engine!
Feedback from passersby have been positive. A kid asked me how he could install an engine on his bike. I told him it was not possible(for his own safety's sake). I referred my neighbor to this website. A few mopeds have sidled up to me at the lights or at slow speed in traffic. They floor their engine and I let them slip by. The "cool" moped rider has rubber slippers on, with bermuda shorts, tee shirt and sun glasses. I've got my motorcycle helmet, transitional prescription glasses, kneepads, gloves, 20lb hydration backpack(it's like a rear-facing "air bag"), jeans and shoes.
Most responses to the sight of a motorized bicycle here are utter amazement. For one thing, ya might see a handful of MB's in a herd of 800,000 registered vehicles stuck in traffic on a 23 square-mile island. Another might be because of this bike's quick acceleration from a standstill ANNNND the shifting of gears. Any correlation to the thousands of resident mopeds is quickly dismissed when I shift gears...again....then again...then again...
