engine assists

* Jeremy Watts <[email hidden]>:

Quoted message said:

has anyone on this group used one of those engines that you can get to fit
on mountain bikes? i mean the petroleum/gasoline type not the electric.

what are the pro's & con's to the type that use a chain or belt loop drive
to the type that simply rest on top of the wheel and apply drive directly to
the top of the tyre?

thanks
jeremy

Doesn't that all ready exist? It's called a motor bike. What's the point
of having it on a mtn bike?

Jason

"Jason" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

* Jeremy Watts <[email hidden]>:

Quoted message said:

has anyone on this group used one of those engines that you can get to
fit
on mountain bikes? i mean the petroleum/gasoline type not the electric.

what are the pro's & con's to the type that use a chain or belt loop
drive
to the type that simply rest on top of the wheel and apply drive directly
to
the top of the tyre?

thanks
jeremy

Doesn't that all ready exist? It's called a motor bike. What's the point
of having it on a mtn bike?

Jason

true yes, but... these arent actual motorbikes as such... just a small
engine to get you up over a hill or to hugely extend your range if you're
touring. they dont necessarily replace you having to pedal. plus motorbikes
need insurance, road tax etc, these seemingly lie in a legal grey area...

jeremy

Quoted message said:

Jeremy Watts said:

has anyone on this group used one of those engines that you can get to fit
on mountain bikes? i mean the petroleum/gasoline type not the electric.

what are the pro's & con's to the type that use a chain or belt loop drive
to the type that simply rest on top of the wheel and apply drive directly to
the top of the tyre?

thanks
jeremy

Okay, I'll bite.

I've never ridden one, but I do see those old Velosolex's (with around
here from time to time. From what I understand, it has killed more
Frenchmen then the Bubonic Plague, but largely because of the
overmatched brakes. And their propensity to be steered by drunkards.

Derny bikes are also still in use for track events. Riders draft
behind the derny.

Anyway, my 100% free (and 100% unqualified) ideas about top mounted
motors:

Pro: you won't fry your legs against the motor unless you crash very
awkwardly (which is always the case unless you're drunk) or plow
headlong into a wall and lie in a crumpled pile. Also, a loose
shoelace won't ensure, at the least, shopping for a new prosthetic
foot, or at worst, your mother having to explain your sudden,
gruesome, embarrasing death.

Con: frame-mounted drivetrains sit lower in the frame, which means a
lower center of gravity. This is a good thing if you should want to,
say, turn.

?: Weight distribution. Toodling home with a front basket full of
groceries isn't overly pleasant at 5mph. At 30+mph...well....

/s

Jeremy Watts wrote:
<snip>

Quoted message said:

true yes, but... these arent actual motorbikes as such... just a small
engine to get you up over a hill or to hugely extend your range if you're
touring. they dont necessarily replace you having to pedal. plus motorbikes
need insurance, road tax etc, these seemingly lie in a legal grey area...

jeremy

No they're not 'motorcycles' from a legal point of view but they are
cycles with motors - it's not cycling. If you're having trouble with
hills and/or distances you have a number of choices: (i) get some
smaller gears; (ii) plan your stops so they are nearer and/or avoid the
hills; (iii) take a little more time to get to your destination or (iv)
take up mahjong or backgammon instead.

15 years ago when I raced I would cycle over 200 miles a week and did a
10 mile time trial in under 22 minutes - now I don't go nearly as far or
as fast but I still love my cycling. The last thing I want is some motor
chugging away on the clean lines of my bike, puffing out pollution and
making me reliant on fossil fuels.

Ian

Quoted message said:

true yes, but... these arent actual motorbikes as such... just a small
engine to get you up over a hill or to hugely extend your range if you're
touring. they dont necessarily replace you having to pedal. plus motorbikes
need insurance, road tax etc, these seemingly lie in a legal grey area...

Man, where have you been the last 50 years?
They're called MOPEDS and they're nothing new and no they dont require
licensing unless they're over 50cc just like any other motorized
vehicle.

You ever pedal a 100lb bicycle? that's what pedaling a MOPED is
like. Most people only use the pedals to start them then they ride
them just like a scooter. Its a falacy that the "small engine is used
to extend range or get over a hill.". You must be selling somethin?

"7@m3 G33k" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

Jeremy Watts wrote:
<snip>

Quoted message said:

true yes, but... these arent actual motorbikes as such... just a small
engine to get you up over a hill or to hugely extend your range if you're
touring. they dont necessarily replace you having to pedal. plus
motorbikes need insurance, road tax etc, these seemingly lie in a legal
grey area...

jeremy

No they're not 'motorcycles' from a legal point of view but they are
cycles with motors - it's not cycling. If you're having trouble with hills
and/or distances you have a number of choices: (i) get some smaller gears;
(ii) plan your stops so they are nearer and/or avoid the hills; (iii) take
a little more time to get to your destination or (iv) take up mahjong or
backgammon instead.

15 years ago when I raced I would cycle over 200 miles a week and did a 10
mile time trial in under 22 minutes - now I don't go nearly as far or as
fast but I still love my cycling. The last thing I want is some motor
chugging away on the clean lines of my bike, puffing out pollution and
making me reliant on fossil fuels.

yeah i'm all for environmental stuff myself, and i use the bike far more
than the car - not just for getting around though also to exercise on. just
came across these motors on google and wondered what they were like.

i dont intend to use them as a replacement for my legs...

jeremy

Quoted message said:

Ian

"CowPunk" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

true yes, but... these arent actual motorbikes as such... just a small
engine to get you up over a hill or to hugely extend your range if you're
touring. they dont necessarily replace you having to pedal. plus
motorbikes
need insurance, road tax etc, these seemingly lie in a legal grey area...

Man, where have you been the last 50 years?
They're called MOPEDS and they're nothing new and no they dont require
licensing unless they're over 50cc just like any other motorized
vehicle.

You ever pedal a 100lb bicycle? that's what pedaling a MOPED is
like. Most people only use the pedals to start them then they ride
them just like a scooter. Its a falacy that the "small engine is used
to extend range or get over a hill.". You must be selling somethin?

no not selling anything i swear... 🙂 this is out of genuine interest

Quoted message said: