Bicycles are pretty much by default "steam-punk", that's the era they came from. If you wanted to be truly authentic regarding a steam-punk motorised bicycle, you could fit a steam engine to it.

That'd be an interesting challenge.

As a kid I put lawn mower motor on Schwinn hornet I think the concept is real cool cept one thing, they are puting motors on these very cheap bikes that are not near strong enough for a gas motor. They seem extremely dangerous and people should keep away from them.

sounds like fun to me.

in a way that is what a motorcycle is anyway and i ride a small motorcycle, as well as ride touring bikes and tandems. the question for me is: are we having fun yet?

well are we?

edit: found this site on another thread, yeah we are still having fun and the proof is over here: https://motorbicycling.com/showthread.php?t=77 The place is a hoot and you can feel like a kid again just reading about their altered bicycles.

Oh....then we should all get rid of them.

My latest project...

There was another recent thread where I expressed my opinions.

What I notice, around here, is that it is very rare to actually see one- like once in 5 years I think? Yet, they crop up on Craigslist pretty regularly, where they are invariably advertised as the best thing since sliced bread. So from that, I get the impression that the idea really appeals to people, but the reality must sort of suck. So people buy them but don't really use them.

The main drawback I see is the noise- about like riding a chainsaw.

Somebody up there mentioned the worst of both worlds. You get the exposure to elements, the slow speed, the hazards or bicycling, but without the exercise. So if you want to go slowly in the freezing rain while you get run over, without being healthy, they're just the thing. But seriously, I ride a bicycle, got nothing against riding motorcycles, but I'd ride all kinds of little motorized scooters before I started sticking a motor on my bicycles.

One other thing is that it seems people invariably stick these on the crappiest bicycles with the crappiest brakes, too.

The motor bikes are probably not a fun draw for adults, but when we were kids it looked much more appealing. Adults have access to cars, and other transportation: kids don't. As a kid i always wanted a mini bike, and yeah they were fun. After maturing some a small motorcycle did just fine.

These things will never take the place of the fun we have with bicycles though, about the only thing that may take off will be a really good electrical assist for those who commute or those just wanting some extra speed in the wind as they peddle.

I never said it bothered me.

The difference between a gas powered bicycle and a Honda Civic with a coffee can for a muffler is that people on powered bicycles attempt to use routes inaccessible to cars, so they are 'worse' than cars in how they are used.
We don't see them too often around here, though.

Ridley made them for a few years, I rode one that looked like a turn of the century motorcycle. It was really quite and a hoot to ride, but they're not street legal in WA and I doubt it would see much use after the novelty wore off anyway.

I see the benefit of petrol assists (4 stroke) in delivery bicycles / trikes... they get very high mileage and are a much lower emission vehicle that can carry a lot of weight with no range limitation.

These 4 stroke engines are much more expensive and refined than the cheap kits most folks buy and see.

Sure anyone can get a moped or whatever, but that isn't the point of a motor bicycle. It's just a fun hobby and it's much cooler to motorize a bike....it's fun.

Google about it....a lot of people come up with neat ideas...and bikes.

The cheap 2 stroke china engines really suck sometimes...it's a crap shoot....might get one with a pretty good crank balance....might not. I usually rip them apart and have a machinist balance the crank and I slide in Japanese bearings....as well as porting the head and taking care of any metal flash the factory should of done.
With a balanced crank, better bearings and some basic machining...these engines will do for a long time, but they are a tinker toy.... I wouldn't get one if yo uplan on commuting to work every morning.... or plan on being late 2 days out of 5.

IMO, this is the only acceptable engine. And putting engines on bikes would be dieselpunk, not steampunk

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=f_-9OwOM4cc

I see them regularly here in Southern California. They're not illegal to ride on the road, but since they are considered 'motroized' you are requried to wear a helmet while riding one. Not sure if a bicycle helment or full-on motorcycle helmet is required, but I've seen folks wearing both types. No license if the engine is under 100cc.


Me? I see them as somewhat of a silly novelty. I'd rather buy a used motorcycle (400cc or bigger) and fix it up; used motorcycles are pretty inexpensive around here.

I didn't read the whole thread. I'm sure the general consensus is negative. However, this is my experience:

I installed a Golden Eagle kit on a mountain bike for my father after he had heart surgery for the third time. He also has a replacement knee and severe disc issues in his lower spine. He likes to exercise as much as he can, but that is not very much recently.

Even walking is a big chore after heart surgery. The engine helps him up hills and helps him get started if he's not on a flat area. He gets much more exercise than he was getting before we added the motor. It helped him get his cardio health back up to the point that he could walk a mile, slowly. He also says that people are curious about it and friendly in general when he shows them what it is.

I'm not sure how many of these systems work, but the one I put in for him has an adjustable throttle, so he can barely use it, or use it a lot. It's up to him and I think it's been extremely helpful for his particular health situation. If it matters, before his heart issues resurfaced (congenital ) he was 2/3s of the way done with the Appalachian trail. I doubt he'll ever finish it, but maybe we can ride bikes through the rest of the states!

Best wishes to you and your dad.

Ride what you want but if it has a motor (electric or gas) stay off the bike trail and out of the bike lanes.

I'd own an old Whizzer. https://auctionsamerica.com/images/lo...11_r308_01.jpg

The gas-powered recumbent vision is hilarious. I'm seeing a remake of "Easy Rider." We just need someone to fill-in for the Dennis Hopper role and we are good-to-go. I picture them rolling into a nursing home parking lot with the soundtrack wailing, "Born, tooo be mild!"