Anyone add a motor to a bicycle?

[raggie33]

What's the easiest cheapest way to go? To me all the 66 cc engines look the same every brand spears to be the same

 

[scalpel_ninja]

I'm not sure if it's the cheapest site, but this is a source that's been around for a while: https://www.bikeberry.com/

You're right in that most two stroke engines are pretty much the same. Some are marketed to have more power due to the construction and carburetor setup. Kits usually come with an engine, throttle, gas tank, clutch handle, exhaust, drive chain, and bolt-on drive gear for the rear wheel.

Installation is pretty similar, however if your bike is not the usual "two triangle" frame, modifications and custom mounts might be needed. Three add-ons that made my bike and my friend's bike immensely easier to maintain and safer are:

Adjustable rear axle tensioners. The usual chain tensioner (spring loaded wheel pushing on the drive chain) often was a point of failure for my friend's bike. I opted to shorten my drive chain to be just right from engine to drive gear with little slack. These tensioners are simple eyelets that capture the rear axle and a bolt is welded to it; tightening it pulls the axle rearward and takes up slack in the drive chain.

Mag wheel for the rear. The sandwich hub adapter the the rear drive gear has a risk of spinning free and ripping all the rear spokes apart when under hard acceleration (ask me how I know). A "Mag" wheel is a one-piece wheel without thin spokes. The construction is pre-molded and threaded for the drive gear to bolt directly to it. Some models also allow for adding a disc brake (even safer).

Disc brakes. With the added power of a motor, traditional brakes that rub on the rim aren't enough stopping power and the posts where the pads mount can flex due to the higher speeds. This makes the pads contact unevenly with the rim, further losing braking power. A disc brake setup can remedy this.

Other considerations: upgraded exhaust to make it quiet enough for certain neighborhoods, new engines need a break-in period, and local laws and emissions.

 

[raggie33]

Cool I just need help for hills

 

[alpg88]

I installed such motor on a bike when i was a kid, about 35-40 years ago, but i'm looking at modern gas engines, and they are still the same as they were back then, nothing really changed. I put it on a pretty heavy duty cruiser. it had no front brakes, only rear coaster brakes. i managed not to get killed, but front brakes would definitely improve safety. different exhaust would not make it quieter, i tried, i even tried a muffler from a car. the tone changed a bit, but it was still as noisy, the whole engine vibrates and makes noise, not just exhaust gases. Did not have any chain tensioners, i removed links until the chain was tight enough, never had it fall off, or any other issues. That is pretty much it, very simple straightforward install.

 

[thermal guy]

Wouldn't it have been cheaper in the end just to buy electric Bike?

 

[knucklegary]

I owned a second hand Monark, they were sold by Schwinn. It came with a 2 stroke (gutless) motor. That was back around 1963. Motor eventually burned up, and then I bought a Honda scooter 50cc powerhouse! Used it for a newspaper route, I was the fastest delivery boy in town.

 

[raggie33]

Nah a ebike cost more both bikes new from Walmart cost me like 159 for both. I see some gas engines for around 130

 

[alpg88]

yea, good ebike is 1000 dollars to build, at least, i'm building an ebike with a mid drive motor now, at minimum it is 1200 bucks for a kit with a battery. if you want good quality battery with LG, or Samsung cells 200-300 dollars more.
Gas engine kit is definitely cheaper by a lot.

 

[raggie33]

Whats crazy I think it would take a 1500 watt electric moter to be as strong as a 50 cc 2 stroke

 

[alpg88]

I can not compare side by side, since i do not have my gas bike for decades, but going just by memory, my 2000watts scooter is much more quicker than gas bike was. 50cc have very narrow powerband, electrics are way wider.

 

[raggie33]

True my 250 watt ebike was fun ? But it's small frame and 14 tires sucked

 

[orbital]

+

edit:

I just keep thinking of a used Honda Metropolitan or better yet Yamaha Zuma (50cc) 4-stroke

..wrong footwear for this women, but you get the idea

 

[Monocrom]

Won't lie, after seeing e-scooters and e-bikes spontaneously combusting; I'd rather have anything with a gasoline engine instead.

 

[aznsx]

Won't lie, after seeing e-scooters and e-bikes spontaneously combusting; I'd rather have anything with a gasoline engine instead.

Given my career, I'm of course a very 'E-' kind of guy in general, but those old classic 'mopeds' from back in the day are certainly looking better and better to me.

 

[alpg88]

Won't lie, after seeing e-scooters and e-bikes spontaneously combusting; I'd rather have anything with a gasoline engine instead.

that was one of the reasons why i gave my scooter away., If god forbid battery catches on fire, it will be a disaster in my apartment. i wont even be able to throw it outside the window cuz it would not fit. E bike otoh has a removable battery, i'll be charging it right by an open window, where i can just dump it out, if anything, Gas motor unfortunately is not an option inside an apartment.

 

[jtr1962]

I installed such motor on a bike when i was a kid, about 35-40 years ago, but i'm looking at modern gas engines, and they are still the same as they were back then, nothing really changed. I put it on a pretty heavy duty cruiser. it had no front brakes, only rear coaster brakes. i managed not to get killed, but front brakes would definitely improve safety. different exhaust would not make it quieter, i tried, i even tried a muffler from a car. the tone changed a bit, but it was still as noisy, the whole engine vibrates and makes noise, not just exhaust gases. Did not have any chain tensioners, i removed links until the chain was tight enough, never had it fall off, or any other issues. That is pretty much it, very simple straightforward install.

I tried one of these around the same time. I think it was called the Bike Bug. After about a month I returned it. The speed was decent. I could get to about 27 mph. The drive system was awful. It used a metal roller which chewed up tires. After less than 100 miles the tire was worn out. The acceleration stunk. It was way too noisy. And refueling was a pain as it involved bringing a gas can to the nearest gas station. I think I also needed to add oil to the gas. One day one of my neighbors knocked my bike over. The engine started making weird noises and running erratically after that. That's when I sent it back. It seemed to annoy drivers as well. I had a few of them get in front of me, and slam on their brakes. Never had that happen before I put the motor on.

Electric is worlds better. "Refuel" at home. No maintenance. Plenty of torque off the line. My brother got an e-bike and loves it. I have yet to take the plunge. I'd definitely go with one using a LiFePO4 battery though. I don't want to play the burning/exploding battery lottery. I can't trust batteries made in China using the cheapest parts.

 

[raggie33]

I'm more stupid then I used to be this dang thing took me damn near 4 hours to buid?.but my frame was not idea have to mod it to get air filter on

 

[scalpel_ninja]

I'm more stupid then I used to be this dang thing took me damn near 4 hours to buid?.but my frame was not idea have to mod it to get air filter on

You're not stupid @raggie33

These kits need a lot of tweaking and fiddling to get right for your bike.