New to motors - long time bicycler

Hello from sunny Arizona. The great info in this forum site gave me the confidence to order my first bike engine today. You can bet I would have twisted off the cheap bolts and tried to cut gaskets from a cereal box if I hadn't been studying this site.

Engines 48cc and under can be ridden in the bike lane here, so I picked one of those Chinese mills that mounts in the frame. It bears an uncanny resemblance to the Mattel Vroom play engine that I had on my banana seat bike as a kid.

I tinkered with 2 stroke motorcycles for years, so I think it will go well if I do a good job on the installation.

My wife is not happy about this, but I think that will change when she takes her first ride on my machine.

My first victim (bike to be motorized) is shown below. It's an aluminum mountain bike, styled like a cruiser, with vertical wheel dropouts in the back.
If the motor wont fit, I have another mountain bike with a small diameter, straight tubed, chromoly steel frame that would easily do the job. It also has vertical dropouts, so I don't have to worry about the back tire staying in place.

Nice to meet you all.
http://i252.photobucket.com/albums/h...ham1-08028.jpg

__________________
If you said something in the forest and your wife wasn't there to hear it, would you still be wrong?

I am also a long time bicycler that has been messing about with motor assist for awhile. Congrats on making the leap into the void! One word of advice though is that the jackshaft shifter that is now available makes a really good compliment to the motor you are planning on using. It is another couple hundred bucks but I feel it is a worthwhile investment for the long run.

One thing I can guarantee is that not only your wife will think you are nuts to put a motor on a bike until they swing a leg over yours and come back with an ear splitting grin on their face!

You will be much happier with the steel frame bike.
The roads here are so bad, it is beyond belief.
Get a good roller bearing engine . Thatsdax comes to mind or spookytooth.
Count on a trial fit then a final fit. Six to eight hours for install.

Thanks for my welcome to the "void". A jackshaft shifter sounds great, but exceeds the current budget. Maybe down the road.

I will take Spad4me's advice on using my steel, diamond shaped frame for the first build. It will provide far more mounting options and I will not have to deal with a rear disc brake.

The steel diamond frame is currently just a frame with headset, so I need to start doing paint touch ups and pilfering parts from one of my other bikes. I will make it a single speed with a chain tensioner and cantilever brakes for simplicity.
Cheers

__________________
If you said something in the forest and your wife wasn't there to hear it, would you still be wrong?

Welcome to the forum

Hiya...I'm new here too. I will be using my new motorized bike (Greg) to actually put physical distance between my wife and I." Absence makes the heart grow fonder "is my new motto....

welcome, wheelbender! glad you made it.

haha...now you're really wishing the speed limit was higher, huh.

__________________
New, fully assembled motored bikes here: http://happytimecycles.wordpress.com/
401-952-7064

Checked your site man..No doubt y'all are experienced. But I live in Canada. I am interested in building . This is an area that is ripe for MB. Maybe feelers on a CAN-AM connection for this new demand product.....Just checkin'.

welcome from FH !!!
what part of our beautiful state are you in?

__________________
Bill (aka azbill, aka azkronic)

yesterday is history,
tomorrow is a mystery,
but today is a gift...
that's why it's called "the PRESENT"

TOYOTACRUSHER, WELCOME. I THINK THIS FORUM IS ONE OF THE MOST IMPORTANT INGREDIENTS TO BICYCLE MOTORING. "CRUISER" IS THE AUTHOR, HE HAS DONE US ALL A GREAT SERVICE. I THINK YOU MAY BE THE FIRST FROM YOUR LOCATION.YOU MAY WANT TO POST IN THE "INTRODUCE YOURSELF" SECTION. MORE PEOPLE WILL KNOW YOUR HERE. YOU WILL GET ALL YOUR ANSWERS HERE. GLAD YOU JOINED. WE LIKE PICTURES. RON

__________________
PUMP YOUR BRAKES
NEVER BEAT ON IT, GET A BIGGER HAMMER