Tom, I "cut my teeth" on a STATON friction drive and 1.60hp 33cc ROBIN 4-stroke engine. It's a great engine/drive combo to begin motoring. top speed on a slight decline was a gradual 26mph. there's a large friction loss, so the engine never reached max rpm.
next came the 2.2hp MITSUBISHI and STATON gear chain drive on a 20" DAHON. excellent acceleration, speeds to 29.6mph, much less power loss and engine rpm maxing out.
coming up is an old SCHWINN bike with friction drive, smallest roller, modified 49cc pocket bike engine, DELLORTO carb, advanced timing and tuned pipe to reach 35mph. because of large friction loss and high gearing, the engine's 9500rpm won't be reached.
finally, a 4.2hp 40cc engine from a POLINI Italian pocket bike, coupled to a STATON gear chain drive and maybe NuVinci hub. the 35mph limit is still personally enforced, but acceleration should be very brisk.
Yes, Tom, i can feel the wind resistance at speed. lately, i've been trying to rest my throat on my handlebars to reduce frontal area, but the bike gets more squirrelly when i do that.
Anyway, it's not the actual top speed that gives me the rush. it's the ILLUSION of speed, and the acceleration. therefore, restricting top speed to 30mph or 35mph is prudent for me, because with high hp and low gears, brutal acceleration under control will be totally exhiliarating!
Myron