MB in the news

Now that decompression switch is a good idea. Wonder how one could go about making one of those. That could easily replace the gravity clutch.

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visit my blog for Riding in the hood,... The home brew bike journal....http://frictiondrivebicycles.blogspot.com/ The deacon's fiction

I believe someone here did, I'll see if I can find it and put up a link to it.

Sorry Deacon, I could not find it

Its okay probably way past my limited abilities anyway but man it is a good idea. You know that chainsaw motor has an extra opening to the cylinder and when it isn't covered it has no compression. It was part of the original carb which I destroyed. That would work if I had a way to cap it off when I was riding. I'll have to give that some thought one day.

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visit my blog for Riding in the hood,... The home brew bike journal....http://frictiondrivebicycles.blogspot.com/ The deacon's fiction

Motorized Bicyclist struck by DUI driver
Watsonville,CA

DUI suspect drives crash victim to hospital
Posted: Friday, Aug 8th, 2008
BY: REGISTER-PAJARONIAN STAFF

The driver of a pickup truck, who reportedly struck a man on a motorized bicycle early Thursday, was arrested on suspicion of driving under the influence after he drove the victim to the hospital.

California Highway Patrol officer Jason Morgan said the incident occurred at 12:34 a.m. on McGregor Drive near New Brighton Road in Aptos. Morgan said Erik Kayden, 28, of Soquel was driving a 1983 Chevy Silverado pickup at New Brighton Road. He collided with another 28-year-old male of Santa Cruz who was riding a motorized bicycle. They were both traveling westbound on McGregor when the collision occurred, Morgan said.

When fire and ambulance personnel and CHP officers arrived, they could not locate the vehicles or drivers, Morgan said.

Then, at 12:54 a.m., the CHP was alerted that Kayden had taken the bicyclist to Dominican Hospital in his pickup. After interviewing Kayden, he was arrested on suspicion of driving under the influence, Morgan said. The bicyclist suffered serious injuries.

Register-Pajaronian Online

Senior Sent to Hospital after Crash
Monday, 08 September 2008
A 76 year old man was sent to hospital yesterday after a crash between a gas powered motorized bicycle and a car. His injuries were not life threatening and he was charged with Failing to Yield.

Police remind everyone that gas powered motorized bicycles are not approved for road use becuase they do not meet basic safety standards and can't be lawfully operated on public streets. Many of these vehicles can actually get up to 70 km/h. If you want to purchase or drive a gas powered motorized bicycle then just check with police and they can give you some tips. (vmf Sept 8/08)

Saskatoon Homepage.ca - Its All About Your Community. - Senior Sent to Hospital after Crash

Motorized Bicycles Gets Teen Around Town and In Business
Ride This! Motorized Bikes

CHARLOTTE, N.C. --
Scott Alsop has been getting around on his homemade motored bicycle for three years. After years of people asking him questions, Scott opened his own shop, "A lot of people are like 'Wow, I could come here and fill my tank up for 2 dollars all week.'"

Video: Scott Alsop, of Charlottetown Motor Bikes, Talks about Motorized Bicycles (MyFoxCharlotte)

Scott opened Charlottetown Motor Bikes a month ago, "I build them all and test drive them and get them ready for people to ride."

The store has three types of motors. The latest edition is the electric bike. It takes two to four hours to charge and will take you as fast as 25 miles per hour. It runs by powering the front wheel.

The gas bikes go about 30 miles per hour. One model has the engine in the middle of the bike. Another model has the engine on the back and cranks up by hand.

Scott says the best part about all these bikes, "It's really great to ride around and see the reaction from people. That's really something."

The bikes run between $600 and $900. You can also bring in your own bike to be outfitted and save some money.

MyFox Wausau | Motorized Bicycles Gets Teen Around Town and In Business

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Fort Wayne,IN

Police to crack down on mo-peds
Safety concerns produce plan to tow unlicensed, uninsured scooters

The two teenagers on the mo-ped with the taillight out at 2:35 a.m. July 12 made a 180-degree turn so close to Fort Wayne Police Officer Pete Mooney that he nearly struck them with his cruiser.

Mooney, who had responded to a non-life-threatening crash involving a mo-ped a couple of hours earlier, warned the riders about the light and made them walk the vehicle home. Officers like Mooney have traditionally given mo-ped and scooter riders the benefit of the doubt, but as motorized bicycles proliferate the streets because of high gas prices, so have accidents involving them, and police are planning a crackdown.

“We want the people who are currently in violation to get those vehicles registered, get those things taken care of before we start enforcement,” Police Chief Rusty York said Wednesday. “We’re seeing more and more of them out there, more and more accidents, more and more serious accidents.”

On June 3, a mo-ped rider was killed, and on Aug. 27 Christopher Kirtman suffered serious head and back injuries after being struck by a hit-and-run driver. Amanda K. Tyler, also known as Amanda K. Hollingsworth, was charged Wednesday with failure to stop after an accident.

York and Deputy Police Chief Marty Bender said many parents who buy scooters for their children may not realize that any vehicle designed to go faster than 25 mph is considered a motorcycle and riders must have driver’s licenses and receive specialized training known as a motorcycle endorsement. Both mo-ped and scooter riders under 18 must wear a helmet and goggles or a face mask. Riders must be at least 15.

Police plan to give riders 30 days before they start towing unlicensed and uninsured mo-peds and scooters and citing riders. Bender said most dealerships inform customers that scooters need to insured and licensed, but many of the vehicles causing problems are being sold by unlicensed dealers.

Robert Itt, a House of Honda salesman, agrees, saying his dealership on North Wells Street is being undercut by backyard salesmen who don’t play by the rules or inform customers of the rules of the road.

“I’ve got to hold a business license out here, pay the tax money and they don’t have to,” Itt said. “(It’s) Joe down the block who’s buying 20 or 25 at a time, sells them outright, doesn’t collect tax, doesn’t tell the customers what they need to have or do, sends them on the road and on their happy way.”

Itt said sales of scooters are up about 20 percent from this time last year due to high gas prices and are no longer just being bought by teenagers and college students, but people of all ages. He accused Indiana State Police of harassing some of his customers, something State Police spokesman Sgt. Ron Galaviz denied, insisting his agency’s goal is voluntary compliance with state laws.

“We’re not out to try to dissuade anybody from selling, purchasing or operating these machines,” Galaviz said. “I know gas is almost $4 a gallon. I want to save money, too.”

Bender said the Bureau of Motor Vehicles in 2006 better clarified the definition of motorized bicycles, but police weren’t made aware of it until recently. Bender and York emphasized riders who refuse to comply will pay a high cost, but enforcement is designed to reduce the human cost. “Hopefully we’ll stop another fatality from happening,” Bender said.

Police to crack down on mo-peds | The News-Sentinel - Fort Wayne IN

Boonville,MO

City council meeting permits 16-year-olds to drive motorized vehicles in Pilot Grove

Boonville, Mo. -
The following is a brief of the story. For the rest of the story, see the Tuesday, Sept. 2 print edition of the BDN.

At Monday night’s Pilot Grove City Council meeting, the council approved an amendment to its ordinance regarding use of bicycles and motorized bicycles, changing the acceptable age of anyone referred to in the section from 17-years-old to 16-years-old.


The new section now states the following: “Any person sixteen (16) years of age or older who violates any provision of this Chapter is guilty of an infraction and, upon conviction thereof, shall be punished by a fine of not less than five dollars ($5) nor more than twenty-five dollars ($25).


“If any person under sixteen years of age violates any provision of this Chapter in the presence of a Peace Office possessing the duty and power of arrest for violation of the general criminal laws of the State or for violation of ordinances of Counties or municipalities of the State, said officer may impound the bicycle or motorized bicycle involved for a period not to exceed five (5) days upon issuance of a receipt to the person riding it or to its owner.”

City council meeting permits 16-year-olds to drive motorized vehicles in Pilot Grove - Boonville, MO - Boonville Daily News

E-bike industry flourishes in Punjab

Chandigarh, Sept 2 (ANI): The low-cost, low maintenance and cool, electric-motorized bicycles (e-bikes) are ready to replace motorcycles and scooters.


E-bike manufacturers in Punjab are gearing up for what they call a second wave of growth, of these 'plug' and 'ply' bikes.


With inflation at more than 12 per cent and fuel prices zooming northward, electric-run-bikes are an easy way to cut expenses.


Its popularity among all-age groups, has grabbed the attention of two-wheeler manufacturers.

We have given preference to e-bike. The rising petrol and diesel prices are now unaffordable for the common man. The prices of e-bike are comparatively less then petrol-run-bikes," said Paramjeet, a resident.


Among the 80 manufacturers of e-bikes in India, ten to twelve are big players.


The world's largest bicycle-maker Hero, in a joint venture with UK-based Ultra Motors Company, is manufacturing e-bikes branded as 'Hero Electric', with the 'ultra-powered' technology tag."I think there is a huge potential for e-bikes because of the prize difference not only in the purchasing power, but also in the prize of fuel and electric. It is only ten paisa per kilometer running cost as compare to any other scooter or motorbike, which costs around one rupee per km running cost. There is no servicing required for these products and although we provide service. They all are less than 25 km per hour speed. There is no license, no registration and no road tax," said Gaurav Mungal, Dy. Chief Executive, Hero Cycles Ltd.


Taking China as its role model, the Ludhiana-based e-bike manufacturer is out to tap the unexploited Indian market.


Available in several variants, e-bikes come with a price tag of 400 to 700 USD. The annual demand is growing from 500,000 e-bikes at present.


Propelled by a perfect tailwind of technology, high oil prices and the trend for all things green, global sales of bikes driven by battery-powered electric motors have climbed nearly 20 per cent since 2005, a trend projected to accelerate especially in developing countries, where there is increase in middle class population.


Already a hit in China, Japan, Australia and United States, e-bikes are now catching the fancy of Indians. y Karan Kapoor (ANI)


E-bike industry flourishes in Punjab