Utility Cycling - gas powered utility bike.

i was wondering if anyone has tried using a gas engine bike kit like this one?
http://www.daemonbikes.com/products/80cc-Black-Bicycle-Engine-kit.html
i thought it might come in handy in the summer.

here was one of my gas engine/bike projects:

http://i280.photobucket.com/albums/kk177/thirdgenbird/DSC00915.jpg

The drawback - its legally a moped and you will need to get a drivers license and buy insurance.

Some more searching may turn up additional information.

Evidently, there are higher-quality motors out there.

To me, it's a solution without a problem. You're taking something that gets you good exercise, is peaceful, and non-polluting, and making it noisy, polluting, and fattening.

Legally, the laws vary state to state as to what's considered a motorcycle/moped or whatever, and what's considered a bicycle.

Note that in general, bicycles aren't intended for motorized use and aren't warranted for such use. And unfortunately, people tend to put these motors on the bicycles most ill-suited to safely use them.

The drawback - its legally a moped and you will need to get a drivers license and buy insurance.

Not in NC, only requirement is that you are over 16 and wear a helmet.

Aaron :)

Bikes with an assist engine added above the front wheel had been very popular in France, I believe in the 50s and 60s, see Wikipedia:

Motorized Bicycle (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Motorized_bicycle)

VeloSolex (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/V%C3%A9loSoleX)

As motorized vehicles, they were not very efficient compared to dedicated mopeds.

Right now in Europe electric motor assist bikes became very popular among commuters and I have seen some in the US as well. You might look at an electric system if you feel that you need extra power, provided you do not have long distances in mind.

If it goes without pedaling, it would be a Motor Vehicle in most jurisdictions.
electric motor booster setups pass below this threshold, as when you stop pedaling
the assist stops too.

Not in NC, only requirement is that you are over 16 and wear a helmet.

Aaron :)
According to:
http://moped2.org/laws/North-Carolina.htm
if the engine displacement is over 50cc or the top speed is over 30 mph than it would need to be registered as a motorcycle.

The engine in the OP has a displacement of 80cc and claims speeds of 40+ mph.

According to:
http://moped2.org/laws/North-Carolina.htm
if the engine displacement is over 50cc or the top speed is over 30 mph than it would need to be registered as a motorcycle.

The engine in the OP has a displacement of 80cc and claims speeds of 40+ mph.
pretty much the same laws here. i don't mind. i was actually thinking about getting my M licenses and insurance should not be too hard to get. even the 49cc engine on that website is suppose to go about 40mph.

Go with electric assist instead. A gas engine is likely to be obnoxiously loud to ride.

the electric ones are way more expensive from what i have seen. plus i am a gas guy. i own 2 full size dodge pickup trucks with v8. i love loud and obnoxious. i figured having a gas assisted bike would be good for getting parts or gas for my truck easier if i ever broke down on the side of the road.

the electric ones are way more expensive from what i have seen. plus i am a gas guy. i own 2 full size dodge pickup trucks with v8. i love loud and obnoxious. i figured having a gas assisted bike would be good for getting parts or gas for my truck easier if i ever broke down on the side of the road.

This will be more like riding on top of a push lawnmower.

i don't mind. i use to cut a couple of acres of grass a week. you get use to it.

I've built a few 2-stroke gas powered bikes, they're noisy, messy, and the vibrations are pretty bad at speed. Plus, they don't have the torque to really work well for a cargo bike... unless you spend another $200 for a jackshaft kit to use the bike's gears. They're really heavy, too. Okay for occasional cruising, but I wouldn't use one on one of my bikes. Yes, electric is a lot more expensive if you get a pre-packaged kit, but if you build it yourself, it's not much worse than a really nice gas setup.

They even sell cargo bikes with the electric kits pre installed now.

I have a lot of experience with motorized bikes. Some states allow them, some don't. It is best to check your own states laws before deciding.
ALL the info you would ever want to know is over here. Make a short introduction, when joining. READ, READ, a lot on that forum before making to decision to spend [ or waste ] your money. There are some good kits & there are some junk ones. Putting a cheap $100 motor on a cheap $100 bike, gets you a cheap [ junk ] rig.

http://www.motoredbikes.com/showthread.php?t=8793&highlight=skate

183600
Here's one I saw at a bike expo in Philly

I have a lot of experience with motorized bikes. Some states allow them, some don't. It is best to check your own states laws before deciding.
ALL the info you would ever want to know is over here. Make a short introduction, when joining. READ, READ, a lot on that forum before making to decision to spend [ or waste ] your money. There are some good kits & there are some junk ones. Putting a cheap $100 motor on a cheap $100 bike, gets you a cheap [ junk ] rig.

http://www.motoredbikes.com/showthread.php?t=8793&highlight=skate

I agree with this, I had originally planned to install a 80cc engine on my Xtracycle build,when I was planning (for lack of a better word) my build. It turned out that the engine wouldn't fit. Changed my plans, installed an e-assist instead, been very happy with the results.
I did more research, discovered that I wouldn't have been happy with a engine, it would have required a lot of tinkering to keep it running. Not a good choice for a commuter/cargo bike.

A moped is legally a bike with a gas engine attached capable of attaining speeds up to no more than 30 miles per per hour. They were all the rage in the 1970s.

A moped is legally a bike with a gas engine attached capable of attaining speeds up to no more than 30 miles per per hour. They were all the rage in the 1970s.

I would disagree with this statement, mopeds were really small motorccles, with pedals that could aid in starting the moped moving. without the engine you could not practically pedal the darn thing......based on the ones I rode in the 70's

The main reason for the pedals as a legal technicality to avoid being called a motorcycle, just like a lot of the "electric bikes" out there have pedals, but could never be practically powered by pedaling.

mopeds were really small motorccles, with pedals that could aid in starting the moped moving. without the engine you could not practically pedal the darn thing......based on the ones I rode in the 70's.

Except if you rode a loaded moped uphill and would not make it without aiding the engine by pedaling.

The drawback - its legally a moped and you will need to get a drivers license and buy insurance.

And in most places, wear a helmet, depending on your age. Electric bikes and the gas-assisted kind are also prohibited on many "bike" trails since they're legally considered to be motor vehicles. Check your state traffic law, as well as local ordinances to see what sort of restrictions they have on these things.

the laws (http://www.mto.gov.on.ca/english/dandv/vehicle/emerging/#motor)are easy to find. i don't mind tinkering on an engine. both of my trucks are carbureted so i understand how they work and how to tune them. electric bike have pretty much the same laws as gas except they weight and cost more and go slower.

The link I posted above has a " Sticky ," that describes what to do BEFORE you install one of the Chinese kits on a bike. Basically, some of the parts in the kit [ tensioner, kill swith , bolts ] are junk & you might as well find an alternative before starting installation. Also, on the left side of that forum are links to some of the better sellers of these kits. Many sellers do not stand behing their product at all, so be careful who you buy from.