These Happy Time engines arn't too bad!

GoldenMotor.com

Roadwarrior

New Member
Apr 23, 2010
12
1
0
Ontario
Hello all,

I picked up a PK80 from Zoombicycles last winter as something to fool around with and keep me busy during the winter months. Of course I found this (my favourite) and other forums on motorized bicycles and my interests perked. The quality of the kit at first looked bad, due to the rough castings, but after tearing the engine apart I was impressed. For $120 shipped (smoking deal at the time) this thing seemed put together all right. I went ahead and put locktite on all the bolts, and upgraded ones I felt might need it. I bought a brand new decent quality wheel from a bike shop, then I trued the wheel and tensioned their spokes, mounted the sprocket and rag joint, then trued and tensioned again. The sprocket and rim still run dead true today. I rigged the clutch to the left grip shamano trigger shifter because I didn’t want to mess with two leavers. I setup the bike as a single speed, and kept the detailer just to tension the pedal chain. Since the frame I used had horizontal dropouts, I didn't use a chain tensioner for the engine drive chain.

When I first got it running I was unimpressed. It was very difficult to start, vibrated badly, fouled plugs, and used up a lot of fuel for such a small engine. The project sat at the corner of the garage for a wile.

Then I began to tinker with it a little, and once it loosened up a bit, and I got the mixture so the plug was just right I started riding it. I put a cardboard cut-out behind the clutch cover and that quieted it down a bit. Then the more I rode the bike, the better it ran. I've got about a gallon and a half of gas though it (24:1 from day one) and its starting to run like a top. It has smoothened out substantially, and it starts up right away. It has the power to pull my 260lbs up the steepest hills around here without even trying.

Non-electric motorized bicycles are very much illegal around here so I've been a little worried to ride it around, but so far so good. I guess a middle aged man putting along at bicycle speeds or slightly faster (15-30km/h) doesn’t look menacing enough. I passed a police officer sitting in his cruiser in a school parking lot. My heart raced as I putted passed him at maybe 25km/h but he didn’t flinch. Lets hope the attitude doesn't change.

All I can say for now is so far so good!


 
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fm2200

New Member
Nov 16, 2008
258
1
0
new york city
Roadwarrior here where I live the police don't even know there legal status, or their use for public roads. So I figured I would have lots of explaining to do at least once in a while, but not even once have they ever so much as really observed me. I believe the principal reason may be that the sound of the engine is so slight that it hardly makes anyone really notice.
 

kipharley

New Member
Jul 9, 2009
646
2
0
Sanford,Maine
Welcome,Mr,Warrior.Can I call you Road?
The first 10 motorized bikes I built had Zoombicycle engines on them.

I thought the same thing when I first opened the box!What a pile of JUNK!
But they are what they are.How can any one expect any thing better for $120.

The first Harleys had tomato cans for carbs.Look at them now!
With these kits we are at the developement stages of the industry.

Two years ago I didn't even know that there was motorized kits out there.
I have built 20 motorized bikes this year and counting.

That's a nice looking ride you've built there.
When I ride past the cops I just smile and wave"They like that"
If you or any one else that reads this thread would like to see some of the bikes I've built
e-mail me and I will be happy to send you some pics.
[email protected]
 

Criminal Lawyer

New Member
Jul 29, 2010
22
0
0
Bozeman
You should always be skeptical of the man, especially if you are having fun, because the man typically does not approve. I had an encounter with a cop that I know at a stop light; I was in the turn lane and he was going forward. He looked at me and stated that he got me going at a little more than 30 mph. I smiled and allowed that my speedometer must be off. He told me he was jealous (of the bike) and the light turned green and he drove off.