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Review of Livefastmotors chain drive rack mount


Discussion at Motorized Bicycle Engine Kit Forum in the Bicycle Engine Kits forum. I recently bid and won a Livefastmotors 2 stroke rack mount chain drive mot kit on Ebay Gas Bicycle Honda ...
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Old 05-01-2008, 11:10 AM
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Default Review of Livefastmotors chain drive rack mount

I recently bid and won a Livefastmotors 2 stroke rack mount chain drive mot kit on Ebay Gas Bicycle Honda MOTOR Motorized Bike Moped Scooter NR - eBay (item 310039652752 end time May-07-08 12:00:00 PDT)

The pics on the Ebay description is for a completely different motor (ie 4 stroke) and the descriptions says that the 2-cycle kit may vary slightly from picture.

The kit arrived within days with no installation instructions. The kit was packaged fairly well but not well enough for the motor not to have smashed the kill switch. The supplier has promised a quick replacement. In the interim I will try to run without a kill switch.

The installation instructions on the website Livefast Motors: Bike Motors - Instructions are for the four-stroke engine which is significantly different due to the placement of the gas tank. The two-stroke which I received has the gas tank on top and therefore the engine mount is different. About 80% of the website instructions are applicable. However, I did receive a flat piece of metal and there is a braket on the engine which I can't firgure out how they fit. The vendor has promised to get back to me...

If anybody is familiar with this kit I would appreciate hearing from you.
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Last edited by bgoates : 05-01-2008 at 11:12 AM.
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Old 05-01-2008, 02:43 PM
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Default Re: Review of Livefastmotors chain drive reack mount

Thanks for the warning....er, I mean review.

Sorry to hear it's not going all that well. Please keep us posted on future developements.

I will say I for one will enjoy learning about this bicycle motor type right along with you.

What are you having trouble with at the present time?

What kind of two stroke engine is it? Did you order the two stroke, or were you expecting the four stroke? Pictures?

In the end, REMEMBER THE FEEDBACK SYSTEM, that's what it's there for.
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Last edited by Bikeguy Joe : 05-01-2008 at 02:45 PM.
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Old 05-01-2008, 02:51 PM
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Default Re: Review of Livefastmotors chain drive reack mount

100 clams for shipping!?! That is outright thievery! That kit costs about 25 dollars to ship.
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Old 05-03-2008, 02:03 AM
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Default Re: Review of Livefastmotors chain drive reack mount

I spent about 4-5 hrs today assembling the Livefastmotors chain drive 40cc 2-stroke rack mounted kit. It would probably be a 2 hr job if I had the proper instructions or were to do another. I basically ended doing a lot of things twice to get it right. The kit comes with a toolkit which is nice and all the parts (and some that you don't need).

I think the kit looks good and is not as complex as the Chinese frame mount, ie no muffler, carb, clutch, twist throttle, gas tank, wiring or air filter to assemble. It does have a gear box which isn't bad....especially if you had instructions. I used loctite or nylock nuts on all bolts.

Performance: with the centrifugal clutch and only 40cc does not produce the get-up-and-go as the 70cc Chinese engine. It helps to peddle to start and the acceleration is not as quick. I don't know how it would compare to the 50cc Chinese engine. I haven't clocked the top-end speed but I would guess it is slightly slower compared to the Chinese 70cc. I'm running at 5000 feet in Utah which is quite higher than my 3000 feet at home in Alberta. The elevation difference would also have a significant impact on performance. I haven't tried it on any hills...I hope to tomorrow. It sounds about as loud as the Chinese 70cc.

Summary:

weakness:
1) No instructions. The instructions on the internet are for a different motor and the mounting is significantly different due to the placement of the gas tank.
2) The pictures on Ebay are not the same engine. It does say this in the description but it would be nice to have the correct pictures of the engine kit you are actually buying.
3) $95 for shipping and handling is a questionable practice. Obviously the vendor is building in a fixed profit margin through the shipping. It makes the total price to be $185 to $250 depending on what you bid....comparable to the Chinese 70cc total price.
4) Shipping was quick but kill switch was smashed because the engine was laying on top of it.
5) It has a very small gas tank

strengths:
1) The kit would be simple to put together if one has instructions.
2) The kit is less complicated than much of the competition
3) The vendor shipped a new kill switch the same day he was notified...not questions or hassles.
4) Performance is not bad for a 40cc centrifugal clutch unit.
5) I think it looks good.
6) Comes with a tool kit

I built this unit for my college age son for transportation from home to university. He is not mechanically inclined and doesn't have the time to tinker. I think it will suit his needs. I would also recommend it for ladies who don't like working a clutch.

It will be interesting to see how it handles hills.

See YouTube - motorized bike rack mount for video
Attached Thumbnails
review-livefastmotors-chain-drive-rack-mount-imgp0811.jpg  review-livefastmotors-chain-drive-rack-mount-imgp0812.jpg  review-livefastmotors-chain-drive-rack-mount-imgp0813.jpg  review-livefastmotors-chain-drive-rack-mount-imgp0824.jpg  review-livefastmotors-chain-drive-rack-mount-imgp0826.jpg  

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Last edited by bgoates : 05-03-2008 at 02:04 AM. Reason: added video link
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Old 05-03-2008, 05:45 AM
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Default Re: Review of Livefastmotors chain drive reack mount

Exellent review....could you possibly give us an update once your son puts some miles on it?
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Old 05-03-2008, 07:43 AM
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Default Re: Review of Livefastmotors chain drive reack mount

When people put things on ebay with a high shipping cost they can place the item and spend less money because their listing price is less, but the shipping is more in other words it is a strategy so they do not have to spend so much putting item on ebay. I guess, make sure always check shipping cost.
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Old 05-03-2008, 04:49 PM
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Default Re: Review of Livefastmotors chain drive reack mount

I rode about two hours today on this bike. Overall it does a good job. Nice speed and not too bad on the hills. Their are some pretty long steep hills here in Utah and with peddle assist it doesn't do too bad. Utah drivers are the worst I've ever seen and one has to be extremely careful of them.

I got lost of thumbs up..(some from cute young college girls). Overall the kit isn't too bad but for me I prefer the higher power Chinese kit. I might try Dax kit as my next build.
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Old 05-04-2008, 06:55 AM
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Default Re: Review of Livefastmotors chain drive reack mount

Quote:
Originally Posted by sisdavid View Post
When people put things on ebay with a high shipping cost they can place the item and spend less money because their listing price is less, but the shipping is more in other words it is a strategy so they do not have to spend so much putting item on ebay. I guess, make sure always check shipping cost.

Four time the actuall shipping cost is a way to guarantee that there is a large profit made.

If the opening price was .99 then the 100 dollar shipping may almost be justified.

Mostly it takes advantage of people who have never shipped anything and don't have a clue what actual shipping costs are...
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