Steel fork bent, causing an accident & messing up the bike. Should I just get a moped?

[one_question]

I'm a college student in a big city and I just finished making this steel-framed bike for general commuting. I tightened everything and used loctite, so the engine ran well for 4 miles. I even tightened and checked everything after each ride!

I rode the bike this morning for a relaxed break-in. I was going down a flat road (no debris, noone else) at 20mph and braked to pull over and drink some water, but the front fork bent back an extreme amount. The brakes got ripped off, while the exhaust started rubbing against the exhaust/engine studs. I was thrown over the handlebars and shattered my helmet visor/scratched my knees+hands badly.

TLDR, Damages: - Front Fork destroyed - Front tire & tube torn up - Exhaust screw hole shredded (new cylinder needed). - Helmet damaged, new one required

These damages will require me to buy a new bike, but I'd rather buy a cheap moped or scooter. What do you think?

mopeds/scooters
* Are more ergonomic (my bike couldn't idle so acceleration in traffic was awkward)
* Are safer (turn signals, mirrors, horn)
* Are faster
* Won't randomly explode

 

[Gordy]

Motorized bikes aren't for everyone. They seem like a great end all fix all to cheap transportation, but they require alot more than just the kit. The reason your forks bent is the style of fork. They are old and don't handle stress very well. You could likely get a new set of forks and new front wheel and be back down the road in no time. The exhaust bolt holes could be helicoiled to save from buying a new cylinder. And we can help figuring out why your engine doesn't idle and get it fixed. However if this is something you don't want to do, then if a moped is in the budget it would likely suit you better. But mopeds come with their own problems.

The bike I'm almost finished building has about 1500 bucks worth of parts in it to make sure it is reliable, fast, and will stop on a dime. A decently safe and reliable bike could be built for around half the price, maybe a little less with used parts.

 

[cloakedvillain]

Have to look at your budget. If you can afford a scooter it will be more reliable and hold value much better.

 

[Chainlube]

Students should never buy a MB to just go to school on, OK if you want a little hobby on the side, but not a daily.

I hate it when I'm looking at vehicles on the used market and the seller says, "good for student". It might as well also say "or some one that knows nothing about vehicles and will come a take this piece of away".

 

[Gordy]

Students should never buy a MB to just go to school on, OK if you want a little hobby on the side, but not a daily.

I hate it when I'm looking at vehicles on the used market and the seller says, "good for student". It might as well also say "or some one that knows nothing about vehicles and will come a take this piece of away".

Unless he lives less than a 20 minute walk away. I lived 12 minutes walk from school, 7 on a skateboard, and 4 on my bike in heavy traffic, but 2 minutes most mornings.

 

[Chainlube]

A true hobbyist will get it to run perfect and be reliable.

Unless he lives less than a 20 minute walk away. I lived 12 minutes walk from school, 7 on a skateboard, and 4 on my bike in heavy traffic, but 2 minutes most mornings.

 

[Gordy]

A true hobbyist will get it to run perfect and be reliable.

It was reliable the entire time I rode it except for when it lost the fender, which was my fault. Otherwise I rode ot for 2 years whenever weather wasn't wet. In the cold or hot, if ot wasn't slippery I would ride

 

[Chainlube]

It was reliable the entire time I rode it except for when it lost the fender, which was my fault. Otherwise I rode ot for 2 years whenever weather wasn't wet. In the cold or hot, if ot wasn't slippery I would ride

Not you or the OP, just students in general. They don't have your mechanical savvy.

 

[Sidewinder Jerry]

I'm a college student in a big city and I just finished making this steel-framed bike for general commuting. I tightened everything and used loctite, so the engine ran well for 4 miles. I even tightened and checked everything after each ride!

View attachment 217300

I rode the bike this morning for a relaxed break-in. I was going down a flat road (no debris, noone else) at 20mph and braked to pull over and drink some water, but the front fork bent back an extreme amount. The brakes got ripped off, while the exhaust started rubbing against the exhaust/engine studs. I was thrown over the handlebars and shattered my helmet visor/scratched my knees+hands badly.

TLDR, Damages: - Front Fork destroyed - Front tire & tube torn up - Exhaust screw hole shredded (new cylinder needed). - Helmet damaged, new one required

View attachment 217299

These damages will require me to buy a new bike, but I'd rather buy a cheap moped or scooter. What do you think?

mopeds/scooters
* Are more ergonomic (my bike couldn't idle so acceleration in traffic was awkward)
* Are safer (turn signals, mirrors, horn)
* Are faster
* Won't randomly explode

Looks like a road bike frame; unfortunately, those aren't a very good choice for building a motorized bicycle. In our world a thick tube heavy steel frame is a good thing.

 

[Gordy]

Not you or the OP, just students in general. They don't have your mechanical savvy.

I was just mentioning I was close to home, so if it did brake I could drag it home. But I get what your saying.