|
|
Post by wheelbender6 on May 6, 2018 20:17:09 GMT -5
|
|
|
|
Post by oldchopperguy on May 7, 2018 1:01:39 GMT -5
Wheelbender6,
To this old geezer, that pictured bronze bike and the "kit" bike are TRUE mopeds.
When I was young, a "moped" had to have a motor, and pedals. Hence the term: MOPED. Most were really funky European stamped-steel imports with stone-age motors and hideous cosmetics. A few did look cool, especially our home-grown American WHIZZER.
Terminology of the 1950's dictated a moped had to have pedals and be capable of being ridden motor-off by pedaling. If it was a light-duty "bicycle-type" vehicle with a motor, but had NO pedals (like a Whizzer "Sportsman") it was a MOTORBIKE.
If it had a step-through frame and small wheels, it was a SCOOTER. (Cushman Eagles and Mustang bikes were considered scooters even with gas-tanks between your knees).
If it had big wheels, a tube-steel frame and a motor with gears, it was a MOTORCYCLE... (Exceptions being some weird Euro-cycles with pressed-steel frames) like the JAWA 2-cylinder, single combustion-chamber 2-strokes... Weird, but still motorcycles.
So there you have the trivia of useless definitions from my long-forgotten youth... LOL!
And, yes, today the laws only determine what is a "moped" by displacement, top-speed, etc. To me however, that bronze-colored bike on your link is the TRUE personification of a REAL "moped"... Yup.
Pedal/ride safe!
PS: A while back, I saw a video of a home-built "moped" that was REALLY neat... Built from a 15-speed mountain-bike, it used a small 2-stroke chainsaw motor with centrifugal-clutch chained to the largest pedal chainwheel (sprocket to us)... This allowed 10-gears to be used and the derailleur worked fine under power, OR pedaling. The powered sprocket somehow was able to freewheel, or ratchet, so the pedals only engaged when actually pedaling, and the pedals could remain stationary while under power.
Pretty ingenious I think! Danged thing would do around 50-mph with only 3 or 4 horsepower! Gears ARE nice to have!
Mighty frisky moped! Since quality mountain bikes attain speeds WAY over 50-mph in downhill competition, I would think the wheels, tires, suspension and brakes would be adequate, especially around town surface street speeds.
|
|
|
|
Post by wheelbender6 on May 9, 2018 21:23:06 GMT -5
"A while back, I saw a video of a home-built "moped" that was REALLY neat... Built from a 15-speed mountain-bike, it used a small 2-stroke chainsaw motor with centrifugal-clutch chained to the largest pedal chainwheel..."
While 30 mph feels leisurely on a 180 lbs motor scooter, it feels very fast on a 50 lbs motorized bicycle. The bicycle feels fragile at that speed.
-I would not want to go 50 mph on either of the motorized bicycles that I have built. (The Worksman front drum brake looked cool, but would not be up to the job). However, on a much heavier downhill bicycle, like OldChopperGuy mentioned, I would be willing to give it a try.
|
|
|
|
Post by oldchopperguy on May 11, 2018 23:23:54 GMT -5
Yeah, the one I saw was built from a high-quality downhill mountain bike... Those things reach INSANE speeds (near 100) on rough terrain so it probably wouldn't be any worse (actually MUCH better) than the old Whizzers of my youth on balloon-tire Schwinn frames. We got them up to over 40 when we were lightweights ourselves... LOL!
The thing that impressed me on the video was that the bike could be pedaled using 10-speeds, AND also ridden with the motor using all 10-speeds. It just seemed to me to be some brilliant yet simple engineering! Lots of spinning gears and chains and it all worked reliably! Probably broke all sorts of "unlicensed" laws but still a neat ride!
Here's a pic of a nice conversion I found on the Net... Shows the setup of being able to use pedals or power with the gears functional... Pretty cool! Almost has the look of a 1950's bobber! Replace the tank with a vintage extra-small motorcycle "peanut" tank straddling the frame, add small vintage bucket headlight and tail-stop light, and Woo-HOO! Be still my beating heart! It's 1950 again and the Whizzer went high-tech!
Only real negative I can see with it is it's TOO easy to steal!
I don't see any reason this couldn't be titled, licensed and insured in any state allowing "home-made" bikes to be titled except for places it might violate emissions... Like California?For a hundred bucks or so per year, you could have some REALLY cheap, street-legal transportation around town!
|
|
|
|
Post by wheelbender6 on May 12, 2018 7:34:46 GMT -5
That is a great looking motorized bike. It would be street legal with a bigger engine, like 212cc in Michigan. In most states, a motorized bike must be 48cc or less to be street legal.
-I prefer a motorized bicycle to a 50cc scooter, because the bike is much lighter and I enjoy assembling them.
-Reliability was the disadvantage of a motorized bike. I had to retighten bolts a lot and fiddle with the wiring on my lights. Engines are mounted with big clamps, so loose engine mounts can cause the engine to fall of of the bike. A loose or misaligned chain can quickly mangle your back wheel.
-I was fun making light brackets, faux oil tanks, Springer seats and other such sundries for it. I was always experimenting with it.
|
|
|
|
Post by oldchopperguy on May 12, 2018 23:23:36 GMT -5
Wheelbender6,
I'd think a vintage kart motor (McCulloch, West Bend, etc.) would be IDEAL on a setup like this. I forget what my old MC101B was in displacement, I think somewhere around 10cid or approx. 165 cc give or take a little. The little West Bend 580 was around 100cc or so and at about 7hp would be sweet in a bike! PLENTY fast and yet not so brutal as to tear up the drive-train.
This would make a true "motorcycle" which could be licensed.
All-in-all, a really fun ride!
|
|
|
|
Post by wheelbender6 on May 22, 2018 19:34:35 GMT -5
|
|
|
|
Post by oldchopperguy on May 25, 2018 1:37:11 GMT -5
Wheelbender6,
THAT is a GREAT little bike! I've wondered about the reliability factor of these. The engines look a lot like the European 2-strokes designed in the 1930's and used on all sorts of Euro-mopeds and the 1950's Harley "Hummer". I'm sure these new ones are better, using modern ignition and carburetion but they DO look extremely "pre-WWII".
The concept is great, and I wonder about using the drive components with a small chainsaw motor? Or a vintage kart engine?
There's just something about ANYTHING that resembles a vintage "WHIZZER" that is irresistible!
Ride safe!
Leo
|
|
|
|
Post by wheelbender6 on May 25, 2018 7:03:53 GMT -5
Chainsaw engines are more powerful and much more reliable than China girls (two stroke HT bicycle engines). The issue is gear reduction. -The HT engine has a built in 4:1 gear reduction. No jack shaft or external reduction needed. -Chainsaw engines rev higher and provide no gear reduction. You will need a jack shaft for gear reduction for chain or belt drive. It's tough to put together a jack shaft together from scratch. It's impossible for your average non-mechanic and non-welder. -The easiest way to use a chainsaw motor on a bicycle is to go with friction drive. A drive spool is placed on the engine output shaft. The drive spool contacts the tire and you are on your way. To change reduction ratio, simply use a different diameter drive spool! -i really like the Whizzers, but the 140cc engine requires a motorcycle license in the states where I have lived. Since I now have a motorcycle license, I may get a Whizzer sometime.    |
|
|
|
Post by oldchopperguy on Jun 2, 2018 12:00:20 GMT -5
Wheelbender6,
Gotta agree with you on the Whizzer! There's just SOMETHING about them that is irresistible.
Sixty years ago, some of my pals had Whizzers. They were "motorbikes" but had that "motorcycle" appeal (sorta like the Cushman Eagle) and little boys went nutz for them.
For some reason, they seemed to be less than reliable: probably due to our infantile skill level with things mechanical... LOL! I'll bet the new versions are far better.
Your first pic shows the pedal-crank journal being used as a jackshaft... I made one like that in the early fifties and found the original cheesy crank bearings to hold up AMAZINGLY well under power, and spinning WAY faster than ever designed for! Just keep 'em oiled! I suppose one could fit "real" high-speed bearings in there, but not all that necessary... In short, it works!
Please keep us posted, especially if you do get a Whizzer. You just don't see Whizzers all that often, either vintage or new! But they STILL are the coolest "mopeds" on the planet!
Ride safe!
Leo in Texas
|
|
|
|
Post by wheelbender6 on Jun 2, 2018 13:49:44 GMT -5
Leo, the more recently made Whizzers (since year 2000) are made in China. Some even have a cvt, but they are not reliable at all.
The Whizzers from pre-WWII to 1960 were made much better. The old Whizzers cost more, but it is worth it if you can find one.
|
|
