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Motorcycles? Generally the legal-ish definition of 'bicycle'
includes something about 'human powered' to differentiate
from motorcycles.

"Sundance" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
"]news:[email hidden]...
| Anybody have comments/experience with "Golden Eagle"gas
| powered bikes????
|
|

Doug Huffman said:

Motorcycles? Generally the legal-ish definition of
'bicycle' includes something about 'human powered' to
differentiate from motorcycles.

Mopeds and other similar devices with engines displacing
less than 50cc (or some horsepower threshold) aren't
motorcycles, but require operators to wear motorcycle
helmets. in VA, anyway.

If I wanted a motorcycle, I'd get a motorcycle.

-Luigi

Quoted message said:

"Sundance" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
"]news:[email hidden]...
| Anybody have comments/experience with "Golden Eagle"gas
| powered bikes????
|
|

Try posting your questions to our Discussion Area under the
"Motorized Bicycle" section.

Vin - Menotomy Vintage Bicycles, Inc. oldroads.comoldroads.comOpen ↗

Quoted message said:

Anybody have comments/experience with "Golden Eagle"gas
powered bikes????

Doug Huffman said:

Motorcycles? Generally the legal-ish definition of
'bicycle' includes something about 'human powered' to
differentiate from motorcycles.

Aye. However, it's clear that any "jointly powered" bike
will have much more in common with an HPV than with a motor-
only bike.

It is a very tough balance to strike-- motor assist that
actually helps significantly without eclipsing the human
power input. Giant's LA Free bikes have some sort of system
that adds motor torque in proportion to pedal pressure.
That gives a sort of "bionic legs" effect that seems ideal,
especially for older or weaker riders in challengingly
hilly areas.

Chalo Colina

Chalo said:

Doug Huffman said:

Motorcycles? Generally the legal-ish definition of
'bicycle' includes something about 'human powered' to
differentiate from motorcycles.

Aye. However, it's clear that any "jointly powered" bike
will have much more in common with an HPV than with a motor-
only bike.

It is a very tough balance to strike-- motor assist that
actually helps significantly without eclipsing the human
power input. Giant's LA Free bikes have some sort of
system that adds motor torque in proportion to pedal
pressure. That gives a sort of "bionic legs" effect that
seems ideal, especially for older or weaker riders in
challengingly hilly areas.

Chalo Colina

Power assisted bicycles which are primarily human powered
are quite different from mopeds which are generally only
human powered to start the motor. Unfortunately, most
jurisdictions ignore the functional difference and lump the
two together legally.

Lorenzo L. Love home.thegrid.net~llloveOpen ↗

"Americans are broad-minded people. They'll accept the fact
that a person can be an alcoholic, a dope fiend, a wife
beater, and even a newspaperman, but if a man doesn't drive
there's something wrong with him." Art Buchwald

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

Quoted message said:

Anybody have comments/experience with "Golden Eagle"gas
powered bikes????

You know, they make electric-powered ones too. Go for one of
those; then you won't pollute.

RL said:

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

Quoted message said:

Anybody have comments/experience with "Golden Eagle"gas
powered bikes????

You know, they make electric-powered ones too. Go for one
of those; then you won't pollute.

You think electricity comes from the electric fairy? In the
U.S., 71.4% comes from burning fossil fuels, mostly coal.
Source CIA, 2003 data. And then there are the toxic
chemicals in the batteries. Electric bikes have pitiful
ranges. Healthy cyclists should be able to pedal futher
without lugging around heavy batteries. For short distances,
an electric bike may be suitable for disabled or elderly
people, but for most cyclists human power out performs
batteries. For long distances beyond your capability, gas is
the way to go.

Lorenzo L. Love home.thegrid.net~llloveOpen ↗

"Americans are broad-minded people. They'll accept the fact
that a person can be an alcoholic, a dope fiend, a wife
beater, and even a newspaperman, but if a man doesn't drive
there's something wrong with him." Art Buchwald

"Lorenzo L. Love" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
"]news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

RL said:

You know, they make electric-powered ones too. Go for
one of those;

then

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

you won't pollute.

You think electricity comes from the electric fairy? In
the U.S., 71.4% comes from burning fossil fuels, mostly
coal. Source CIA, 2003 data. And then there are the toxic
chemicals in the batteries. Electric bikes have pitiful
ranges. Healthy cyclists should be able to pedal futher
without lugging around heavy batteries. For short
distances, an electric bike may be suitable for disabled
or elderly people, but for most cyclists human power out
performs batteries. For long distances beyond your
capability, gas is the way to go.

Well, I generate all my electricity off solar cells on my
roof and a couple bicycle-powered generators; I've been off
the electric grid since '98.

(On Usenet, no one can see your nose grow.)