Gas, Gashol, Alcohol or Diesel, & Alternative Powered Bicycles
#101
I started messing about with these things about 12 years & 150 pds. ago. I will say they
helped me get started losing weight. These days I pedal 99% of the time. My motored bike
is kinda lonely, but I start it regularly & ride once in a while. i ran the gamut of kits. Those
Chinese 2 stroke chain drive are pretty much trash. Their 4 strokes aren't much better,
too many moving parts. The chain drives are dangerous. If not very precisely installed,
the chain can jump & lock up the wheel. Not good at 35 mph, which is faster than a
regular bike is engineered to go under power. I finally settled a a high quality Japanese
2 stroke,(EPA & CARB approved), with a friction drive. It is my bug out bike & hedge against
getting too old to pedal. The rear wheel shown was for an optional belt drive I've abandoned.
It will do 26 mph, but I prefer to stay between 16 &18. 140 mpg. When electrics get that
kind of range, I might buy one.
helped me get started losing weight. These days I pedal 99% of the time. My motored bike
is kinda lonely, but I start it regularly & ride once in a while. i ran the gamut of kits. Those
Chinese 2 stroke chain drive are pretty much trash. Their 4 strokes aren't much better,
too many moving parts. The chain drives are dangerous. If not very precisely installed,
the chain can jump & lock up the wheel. Not good at 35 mph, which is faster than a
regular bike is engineered to go under power. I finally settled a a high quality Japanese
2 stroke,(EPA & CARB approved), with a friction drive. It is my bug out bike & hedge against
getting too old to pedal. The rear wheel shown was for an optional belt drive I've abandoned.
It will do 26 mph, but I prefer to stay between 16 &18. 140 mpg. When electrics get that
kind of range, I might buy one.
Last edited by rawly old; 05-18-16 at 04:17 PM.
#103
Newbie
Joined: Mar 2016
Posts: 4
Likes: 0
Aaalright I think this is the right thread to post my question... in short, I'm looking for a 26" rigid front fork, 1" threaded headset... WITH disc brake mounts!!!
and I'm starting to think that doesn't exist.
The long version is: I got a mid 80's mtb for free off of craigslist and threw on an 80cc Chinese suicide machine, had an absolute blast, but yeah nearly killed myself... twice. first ride the (probably original, yeah I know) tire fell off. Third ride the rear rim started resembling a washing machine with a brick in it, rendering the rear brake useless. Not that it did much anyway because of all the oil spitting out of the engine. fourth time one of the bolts for the engine mount fell off, engine tilted to the side and the drive chain got in the spokes. Seriously, it was a lot of fun... so now I have mag rims off of ebay, that might hold the weight a little better, but I have to upgrade to disc brakes. anybody I ask usually says not to weld to the frame and brazing wont hold the forces soo... any ideas. buying a new frame usually just brings its own set of problems, mainly that the engine never fits
and I'm starting to think that doesn't exist.
The long version is: I got a mid 80's mtb for free off of craigslist and threw on an 80cc Chinese suicide machine, had an absolute blast, but yeah nearly killed myself... twice. first ride the (probably original, yeah I know) tire fell off. Third ride the rear rim started resembling a washing machine with a brick in it, rendering the rear brake useless. Not that it did much anyway because of all the oil spitting out of the engine. fourth time one of the bolts for the engine mount fell off, engine tilted to the side and the drive chain got in the spokes. Seriously, it was a lot of fun... so now I have mag rims off of ebay, that might hold the weight a little better, but I have to upgrade to disc brakes. anybody I ask usually says not to weld to the frame and brazing wont hold the forces soo... any ideas. buying a new frame usually just brings its own set of problems, mainly that the engine never fits
#105
Cycleway town
Joined: Jul 2014
Posts: 1,397
Likes: 169
From: Milton Keynes, England
Bikes: 2.6kw GT LTS e-tandem, 250w Voodoo, 250w solar recumbent trike, 3-speed shopper, Merlin ol/skl mtb, 80cc Ellswick
Yeah, mine's that engine, i have side-pulls on chrome rims, they compliment the culture of the bike pretty well...
#109
Senior Member
Joined: May 2019
Posts: 59
Likes: 4
had the same issue, can't seem to find those forks anywhere in the world! just some ideas i have are, magnesium front rims with the original rim brakes, work fine on my rear wheel now. stainless front forks, will take welding better for the caliper nuts. other than that i'm out of ideas. just remember of you use magnesium quick release rims to use the original tabs that hold the rim in place on open forks, just put it on the inside of the fork. almost lost my front wheel
#110
Member
Joined: Mar 2020
Posts: 25
Likes: 3
Gas bikes
Hello, I want to try buying a complete gas bike kit and build it in my apartment, I dont think its legal to ride them in the street here but I would have fun building it and starting it for quick test rides. I found two stores online that sell these complete kits, gasbike.net and bikeberry.com, which one do you recommend? also are there any others?
#111
Happy banana slug

Joined: Sep 2015
Posts: 4,566
Likes: 2,515
From: Arcata, California, U.S., North America, Earth, Saggitarius Arm, Milky Way
Bikes: 1984 Araya MB 26L, 1992 Specialized Rockhopper Sport, 1993 Hard Rock Ultra, 1994 Trek Multitrack 750, 1995 Trek Singletrack 930
Hello, I want to try buying a complete gas bike kit and build it in my apartment, I dont think its legal to ride them in the street here but I would have fun building it and starting it for quick test rides. I found two stores online that sell these complete kits, gasbike.net and bikeberry.com, which one do you recommend? also are there any others?
#112
Member
Joined: Mar 2020
Posts: 25
Likes: 3
I sold my electric bike last year and took out my old regular bike a few weeks ago from my parents garage and cleaned it up and added accessories to it, havent ridden it in 4 years about, will take it out as soon as weather permits here in canada
#113
Senior Member

Joined: Dec 2004
Posts: 12,560
Likes: 799
From: Middle of da Mitten
Bikes: Trek 7500, RANS V-Rex, Optima Baron, Velokraft NoCom, M-5 Carbon Highracer, Bacchetta Quattro, Catrike Speed
Not going to check out the sites. I'll just say that if you add a motor and it cannot exceed 35 mph, it would be considered a moped in Michigan. Your local laws may vary.
#114
Happy banana slug

Joined: Sep 2015
Posts: 4,566
Likes: 2,515
From: Arcata, California, U.S., North America, Earth, Saggitarius Arm, Milky Way
Bikes: 1984 Araya MB 26L, 1992 Specialized Rockhopper Sport, 1993 Hard Rock Ultra, 1994 Trek Multitrack 750, 1995 Trek Singletrack 930
Neat! When you get your 10 posts, post a pic of your old bike; we love bike pics.
#115
Senior Member
Joined: Aug 2009
Posts: 5,720
Likes: 111
From: North of Boston
Bikes: Kona Dawg, Surly 1x1, Karate Monkey, Rockhopper, Crosscheck , Burley Runabout,
Try this, eat a big breakfast, free fuel, then pedal. Probably not going to get a whole lot of love on this forum with gas powered stuff. Cheers.
#116
Clark W. Griswold




Joined: Mar 2014
Posts: 18,374
Likes: 6,701
From: ,location, location
Bikes: Foundry Chilkoot Ti W/Ultegra Di2, Salsa Timberjack Ti, Cinelli Mash Work RandoCross Fun Time Machine, 1x9 XT Parts Hybrid, Co-Motion Cascadia, Specialized Langster, Phil Wood Apple VeloXS Frame (w/DA 7400), R+M Supercharger2 Rohloff, Habanero Ti 26
I can put a motor on any of my bikes in a second a really nice two piston joint. Still a bit gassy but no petroleum, thanks! Those bolt on gas motors are death machines waiting to happen and have no need to exist for any reason. We have motorcycles and we have quality e-bikes no need to turn a bike into something really bad.
If you are looking into suicide please visit: https://www.crisisservicescanada.ca/en/. We are also here to help in whatever ways we can but they might be able to help better. Keep your chin up and stay alive, death by lawnmower powered bike isn't glamorous.
If you are looking into suicide please visit: https://www.crisisservicescanada.ca/en/. We are also here to help in whatever ways we can but they might be able to help better. Keep your chin up and stay alive, death by lawnmower powered bike isn't glamorous.
#117
SE Wis

Joined: Apr 2005
Posts: 11,555
Likes: 4,331
From: Milwaukee, WI
Bikes: '68 Raleigh Sprite, '02 Raleigh C500, '84 Raleigh Gran Prix, '91 Trek 400, 2013 Novara Randonee, 1990 Trek 970
I can put a motor on any of my bikes in a second a really nice two piston joint. Still a bit gassy but no petroleum, thanks! Those bolt on gas motors are death machines waiting to happen and have no need to exist for any reason. We have motorcycles and we have quality e-bikes no need to turn a bike into something really bad..
#119
Clark W. Griswold




Joined: Mar 2014
Posts: 18,374
Likes: 6,701
From: ,location, location
Bikes: Foundry Chilkoot Ti W/Ultegra Di2, Salsa Timberjack Ti, Cinelli Mash Work RandoCross Fun Time Machine, 1x9 XT Parts Hybrid, Co-Motion Cascadia, Specialized Langster, Phil Wood Apple VeloXS Frame (w/DA 7400), R+M Supercharger2 Rohloff, Habanero Ti 26
Nope I stand by my statement. Bolting something to something it wasn't designed for is generally a very poor idea. Just because someone does something does not make it a good idea or safe. Having had several customers who have built these up over the years and they constantly tried to get us to work on them because they were always broken and needing parts or damaging the frame I can say I would call them death traps.
#120
Senior Member

Joined: Aug 2018
Posts: 93
Likes: 46
From: Michigan
Eh, to each their own... I can see the appeal, it's essentially a DIY ebike for someone who enjoys wrenching on motors. Would probably be a lot of fun on country roads -- away from traffic and pedestrians for sure. I'm in Michigan, along with another commenter; The thought of trying to register something like that as a moped here sounds like some bureaucratic fun though...
Personally, I like to eat... Cycling is my way of burning off the extra caloric fuel...
Personally, I like to eat... Cycling is my way of burning off the extra caloric fuel...
#121
Happy banana slug

Joined: Sep 2015
Posts: 4,566
Likes: 2,515
From: Arcata, California, U.S., North America, Earth, Saggitarius Arm, Milky Way
Bikes: 1984 Araya MB 26L, 1992 Specialized Rockhopper Sport, 1993 Hard Rock Ultra, 1994 Trek Multitrack 750, 1995 Trek Singletrack 930
The noise and the stink would kill all the joy for me, and not pedaling would remove the point of the endeavor. YMMV, of course.
#122
Senior Member

Joined: Aug 2011
Posts: 22,676
Likes: 2,643
From: CID
Bikes: 1991 Bianchi Eros, 1964 Armstrong, 1988 Diamondback Ascent, 1988 Bianchi Premio, 1987 Bianchi Sport SX, 1980s Raleigh mixte (hers), All-City Space Horse (hers)
Hello, I want to try buying a complete gas bike kit and build it in my apartment, I dont think its legal to ride them in the street here but I would have fun building it and starting it for quick test rides. I found two stores online that sell these complete kits, gasbike.net and bikeberry.com, which one do you recommend? also are there any others?
#123
Happy banana slug

Joined: Sep 2015
Posts: 4,566
Likes: 2,515
From: Arcata, California, U.S., North America, Earth, Saggitarius Arm, Milky Way
Bikes: 1984 Araya MB 26L, 1992 Specialized Rockhopper Sport, 1993 Hard Rock Ultra, 1994 Trek Multitrack 750, 1995 Trek Singletrack 930
ThermionicScott thanks for the warning.
#124
All Campy All The Time


Joined: Nov 2013
Posts: 1,432
Likes: 124
From: Richmond, Virginia
Bikes: Listed in my signature.
OP, search you tube, there are plenty of videos about motorized bike kits. It looks like there are 4-stroke kits that are better. The 2-stroke ones were widely used by commuters in China until their government outlawed them due to their contribution to air pollution. Chinese commuters are now using 4-strokes and/or electrics instead. I had a couple of Whizzers back in the late 1950's. They were real cheap on the used market, but not very dependable. Google and check your actual local laws before taking your creation onto the streets; don't rely on advice from random people.
__________________
My C&V Bikes:
1972 Bottecchia Professional, 1972 Legnano Olympiade Record,
1982 Colnago Super, 1987 Bottecchia Team C-Record,
1988 Pinarello Montello, 1990 Masi Nuova Strada Super Record,
1995 Bianchi Campione d'Italia, 1995 DeBernardi Thron
My C&V Bikes:
1972 Bottecchia Professional, 1972 Legnano Olympiade Record,
1982 Colnago Super, 1987 Bottecchia Team C-Record,
1988 Pinarello Montello, 1990 Masi Nuova Strada Super Record,
1995 Bianchi Campione d'Italia, 1995 DeBernardi Thron
#125
Happy banana slug

Joined: Sep 2015
Posts: 4,566
Likes: 2,515
From: Arcata, California, U.S., North America, Earth, Saggitarius Arm, Milky Way
Bikes: 1984 Araya MB 26L, 1992 Specialized Rockhopper Sport, 1993 Hard Rock Ultra, 1994 Trek Multitrack 750, 1995 Trek Singletrack 930



