The Liberation

The liberation from the cost of fuel has lead many cost conscience Americans to seek other forms of transportation and escape the dependency of the gas pump. The popularity of motorized bicycles is increasing daily as Americans fight back and save loads of money while having fun. Many have a hard time distinguishing from whether its better to build them and look at them as a work of art or to ride them and enjoy the invigorating open fresh air.

Modifying a Bicycle From a Kit

The kit supplies all that is needed to transform a regular bike into your need mode of getting to work for a fraction of the cost. Most of these kits are $200.00 and under. Consider the fact that many enthusiast are going to garage sells and buying regular bikes for under $20.00 and you can see that the cost of getting started is cost efficient.

Some of the members I have talked to are now trying to convert from gasoline to alcohol and try and reach even bigger savings. Some of these motorized bicycle that run on gasoline can get up to 150 mpg. In the event that it runs out of gas it still has pedals to pedal it and gain exercise at the same time.

The Laugh Factor

I interviewed Paul for this article and one of the first questions I ask him, “do a lot of people laugh at you when they see you on a motorized bicycle.”

Paul- “Yes some people do and some people thinks its great but I never have had a person laugh at me when I tell them how many miles a gallon I get and how much I saved in a month using the bike to get to work”

What is their reaction when you tell them how much you saved?

Paul- ” They become very interested and want to know how they can get started. I very poltely write down my website for them and nine out of ten of them will become members.”

Is it true these motorized bicycle get 150 mpg?

Paul- “Yes but like a lot of things it depends on the persons weight and the terrain. I weigh a little over 220 lbs and have a basket and saddlebags on my bike to go shopping with and I get a little over 100 mpg.”

How fast does these motorized bicycles go?

Paul- ” depending on engine size you are looking at 20-35 mph. There are modifications that can be added to make them go faster. My bike goes 35 mph and that is just right for me.”

Is there anything you would like to add?

Paul- “This is a great way to save money, help keep our world green and have fun. Its perfect for college kids on campus and for people that live close to their jobs. Please visit our site. We will help in any way we can.”

A Little History

The first true gasoline powered motorcycle/motorbike was invented by Gottleib Daimler in 1885. Daimler designed a single cylinder engine to minimize size and weight, which was significant, as his machine was made of wood with metal rimmed wheels. The vehicle, basically a two-wheeler, also had “training wheels” to keep it upright.

Another early motorcycle was the 1892 Millet. It incorporated a five cylinder rotary engine with the crankshaft as the hub of its rear wheel. The cylinders rotated with the wheel. (This same design concept appears in WW I aircraft engines.) The first commercially successful 2 wheeled motorcycle may have been the 1894 model by Hildebrand & Wolfmueller of Munich. Its engine was a water cooled twin-cylinder design, mounted with the cylinders oriented fore-and-aft. The water tank and radiator were built into the rear fender.

After the turn of the century, designers began creating vehicles designed from the beginning to be motorcycles, rather than adapting bicycles to accept gasoline engines. However, the “chicken-power” class motor bike is still made today.

1939 -August Breene-Taylor Engineering, a Los Angeles-based manufacturer of airplane parts, announced the availability of the Whizzer Model “D” Bicycle Motor. This kit sold for $54.95 and included an air-cooled, four-cycle engine that was capable of producing 1.375 horsepower as well as a 2/3 gallon fuel tank. Approximately 1000 Model “D” motors were made and sold.

Conclusion

Paul was adamant that his site is growing fast and people are looking for many ways to cut their fuel bill. People from all walks of life are showing up on his forum to investigate motorized bicycles and many were getting hooked. I visited the website and all the members were helpful and loved their motorized bicycle. Everyone of them enjoyed the building of the motorized bicycle as much as they enjoy the riding and the money they are saving. The photo section had some really nice bikes that looked more art than motorized bicycle but I was assured that they bikes were to ride as well as to appreciate as art.