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New install on a 7 speed comfort bike

BikerBill — Thu, 24 Jul 2008 05:13:00 GMT

I just finished installing a motorized bicycle kit on a Schwinn 7 speed comfort bike. That thing rides like a dream. I took it out for a test ride around the block, 10 minutes after I was done I needed to "test ride" it again. That's the "addictive personality" in me, I guess I'm hooked.

I have always been a "mountain bike" kind of guy as opposed to a "cruiser" and I have to tell you, it's about time I threw an engine on one of these. Don't get me wrong, I like the cruisers, but I LOVE this comfort bike. I made this one as a test model for someone, now I am going to have to build a new one for them cause I'm keeping this one for myself! I live about 10 miles away from the shop and I'm going to have to ditch the 30 mpg Mitsubishi for the 150 MPG Schwinn.

I also have to mention to those thinking of installing their own kit on a mountain bike/comfort bike... This install is a bit more dificult then a beach cruiser. The sprocket is more challenging because there are more bicycle spockets and a plastic protector to keep the chain on the last gear, this makes it MUCH more difficult to fit your bolts/nuts inside by the hub. Also, the CDI goes nice and easy on the little cantalever bar on a beach cruiser. No such luck on a comfort bike. Nothing a little duct tape can't fix... (just kidding). There are a few other minor anoyances like not being able to tighten the chain.

Good luck,

BikerBill

Motorized Bicycles Pass Emissions!

BikerBill — Wed, 16 Jul 2008 18:14:00 GMT

I came across another entry in a blog the other day and I definately had to share this with you.

This is the posting that was in the Spooky Tooth Blog ...

July 22nd, 2007

by The Spooky Tooth Crew

It seems that people these days are becoming more and more concerned about the environment, including the emissions put out by… bicycles?

Sound funny? Well it should.

Gas powered bicycles have been coming under scrutiny from "environmentalists" and certain bicycle groups in Tucson for air pollution concerns. Which is why Spooky Tooth Cycles decided to settle the matter once and for all.

With $12.25 in hand, Spooky Tooth Cycles went to the Motor Vehicle Division Emission Testing Facility to see if a 48cc motorized bicycle would pass Arizona emissions standards.

'The Dead President', owned by Ruben Moreno, was used at the facility.
Thank you Ruben for the use of your bike.

Testing the bike (Click on image to enlarge)

Ya, they actually tested a bicycle! The inspector read the serial number located under the bottom bracket… make: Spooky Tooth, model year: 2006. The bike was started, hose in the tail pipe, engine purring and… PASS!

Bike passes test (Click on image to enlarge)

'The Dead President' easily passed Arizona Department of Environmental Quality standards for Idle Test Pollutants hydrocarbon and carbon monoxide.

test results showed that pollutants fell within midrange for motor vehicles in Arizona on both Hydrocarbons and Carbon Monoxide.

The Hydrocarbon reading in parts per million measured 7610 with a limit of 18000.

Carbon Monoxide percentage showed 3.41% within the limits of 5%.

These are remarkable findings in direct contradiction to what many opponents of 2-cycle engines have been claiming.

Anecdotal stories do not tell the tale as much as measurable facts. Given that the small displacement 48cc engine breathes with such tiny gasps of respiration, these results are even more astounding when you consider that the strict motor vehicle emission standards are measured in ratios and percentages. 7,610 ppm HC and 3.41% CO mean so much more in this case than do the same results on a gas guzzling 8 cylinder SUV.

The bike used a standard gas/oil mix of 20:1, stock spark plug, and a standard idle of 1,200 rpm. Results could have been enhanced by running straight gas, a hotter spark plug and a higher idle.

Arizona Vehicle Inspection Report (Click on image to enlarge)

In the end, we just wanted to really get the facts straight.

Don't Use a 12 HP Chainsaw Engine!

BikerBill — Mon, 14 Jul 2008 22:42:00 GMT

I noticed this posting on another blog yesteray and I thought it was so funny I had to share it with you. This was in response to a blog about somone wanted to use "salvage" parts (lawnmower or chainsaw engines) to make their own motorized bicycles and asked for some advice.

Bush Pilot replied:

What ever you do, do not use a 12 hp chain saw engine! I did when I was a kid, and it darned near killed me. The bicycle was an old Huffy 26" boys bike. The old McCallough 2 stoke engine first tore out the rear hub and spokes from the rear wheel, then it threw the chain. ( nearly taking my leg with it ) It ripped up the bicycle rear sprocket,stripping off teeth twice.

Finally we used a 18" motorcycle rear wheel set up. [required a lot of wielding and fab work to make it fit.] Once the suicide machine was able to finally to run down the road, the brakes proved to be not up to the job, and I ended up in a ravine about 15 feet deep. Split my lip open too. Replaced the brake linings and fabricated a foot pedal, discarding the hand lever.

Then it burned out the clutch. Replaced that with a new unit. Now it would burn rubber, and take off like a rocket. At high speeds on the street, the front end wobbled and violently shook, making it very hard to control. Changing handle bars didn't help any. The 26" front bicycle wheel and fork weren't up to the speeds or the power transfered from a 12 horse engine pushing it through corners and turns. We tried other wheel and tire sizes, only making the situation worse.

Then I dumped it, ruining the muffler, and banging up the fan shroud. Could not find another muffler. My dad made one out of some old vacuum sweeper chrome wand pipes and a pipe flange. It worked, but was so loud the neighbors complained, and called the cops. The cops came and gave me a ticket. The ticket cost my dad $25.00 for noise ordinance violation. ( he got a stiff warning that the bike was illegal to use on the street ) He rigged up a silencer to thread into the pipe end and it was some quieter, but not much.

Then Later, I spilled gasoline on the hot engine trying to refuel it, and it caught fire.

I kicked it over and ran for the garden hose. But, the gasoline pouring out of the gas tank, set the yard on fire, and finally the whole bike was in flames enough I couldn't get it out. { using water on burning oil and gasoline mixtures is not a good idea } The woman who lived next to us, saw the whole ugly event unfold, and called the fire department. They showed up and extinguished the blackened bike. I got a scolding, and my dad got a bill for $100.00 from the city.

I wanted to try to repair it,but, my dad had enough of it, and took a sledge hammer to the engine case, and cut the frame in half with a torch. The doomed power bike ended up curbside for city trash pick up. My Dad never built another engine powered bicycle again for me. This took place back in 1964. Again, do not use a chain saw engine on a bicycle! It is nothing but trouble!

Welcome to Green Earth Choppers Blog

BikerBill — Fri, 11 Jul 2008 06:44:00 GMT

Hello. Welcome to Green Earth Choppers Blog.

This is the place to ask questions about motorized bicycles, kits, installations, and just about anything that has to do with motorized bicycles. This is not the place to drop your website URL and look for "targeted traffic". If you have a legitimate web address that is useful to someones specific need, then I will probably allow it, but just figure I will edit out any URLs that you type in.

This blog is to allow some like minded individuals who have a common need for information or need to give information about motorized bicycles. This is not where you try to sell some books, flowers, or candles! Keep it about motorized bicycles, kits, and installs.

Also, as much as I love to help anybody out with their questions, I do not live on the internet. I am not going to be sitting here watching and waiting for questions or comments. I will check the blog about once or twice a day, so don't expect a response within 5 minutes.

One of the most frequent questions I hear is: Do I need a license, or Do I need to have insurance. There is a page you can read that answers most of your questions on the legalities of riding a motorized bicycle. You can find it at What's The Law. Feel free to post about any tickets you know people are getting, but make sure they are first hand information, not just Urban Myths.

Have fun and keep it clean.

Thanks,
BikerBill

Welcome

BikerBill — Wed, 09 Jul 2008 04:20:47 GMT

Welcome to my blog. Please check back soon for new entries.