Here I thought I was the only one?I have to ride around in circle, otherwise I'd get lost.
I agree, it is a good thought to think about. I would believe anyone here thinks that these engines are a replacement for a "reliable" motorcycle/scooter. To me this is a hobby, I don't have the garage space or time to do the thing I would really want to do, so I choose this hobby to make me happy in the mean time. In addition is low start-up cost. So if all I ever do is take it for spin around the neighborhood/work. Then I am happy with what I put into it and if the worst should happen..........then there is nothing I can do about it. I have been riding a motorcycle for over 9 years, this to me is how Harley Davidson "kinda" started out.....one difference is I doubt anyone would see our china-girls running around in WWI.long thread...lots of thoughts...good thoughts...and brucemg51 is still posting...good to see it.
Ok. I feel the need to chime in here. First of all, I have plenty of opportunities to come to a complete stop when my head slams into the pavement without the engine attached. I mean, I can wreck a bike whether or not it is motorized. It all comes down to how the operator takes care of his equipment and how the operator operates his/her equipment.If you're lucky, you'll stop safely. Or, you may come to a stop when your head slams into the pavement.
>>if the engine falls off the bike stops. It might be a rough stop but it will stop. <<
If you're lucky, you'll stop safely. Or, you may come to a stop when your head slams into the pavement.
Bruce, I'm glad you were not injured, I realize you must have been quite traumatized by the engine coming loose. I also realize you are trying to protect the rest of us from such an exprience, and I think most of us would agree and appreciate the thought... I find your vehemence almost "vendetta like" regarding these motorized bicycles, you are slamming a product that we all know could get us killed, but this is true of ANY motorized vehicle; I reflect on the posters that suggest that we take the bull by the horns and do all we can to minimize the risk of such a catastrophic event. Don't take this personally but most of your posts have to do with sprocket problems, and you seemed to marginalize the importance of getting it perfect. I also took the opportunity to look at another photo of your Kulana. I noticed that the front tube was drilled and the engine attached via a single bolt which by the way does NOT look like it is "perpendicular" to the drilled hole, this would put an extraordinary load on the front mount, Combining these factors with the fact that you removed the front crank and pedals and decided that this "machine was adequate for 30 mph in local traffic was the accident waiting to happen.... If you were building and selling these bikes and the first question you got from a potential customer was "how fast will it go"... if that question was posed to me my answer would be .. "as fast a bicycle should go" but ya don't have to pedal it all the way.... I am not trying to "flame" you but the horrific pictures your paint are not going to dissuade folks from enjoying a hobby that is resonably safe when you know the limitations of it and use the product responsibly and sensibly....Thanks for the heads up it's good info and food for thought....
Couldn't have said it better myself.I think after a day's reading on this forum, you should walk away with the idea that the STUDS need to be replaced with the highest quality you can get. best would be to get some grade 8 bolts and cut the heads off. We all (mostly) know this. Have I done it yet? No. Will I? Absolutely.
I'm one of the many people here that do not see this as just a hobby or "toy." I use the bike for my daily transportation.
You're definitely entitled to your opinion. But just because yours failed, doesn't mean these motors are going to kill everybody. No offense, but honestly to me this sounds like a person that has the brakes fail in their car randomly is now running around "OMG DONT DRIVE CARS YOU WILL DIE THEY ARE UNSAFE"
How did you have the motor mounted in the front? It's hard to tell in the pics, but it looks like you drilled through the frame.
So you mounted a cheap Chinese motor kit on a cheap Walmart bike (probably made in China). Looks like you compromised the integrity of that cheap bike frame by drilling it, and you removed the pedals and associated hardware thus improperly using said cheap motor and bike, and you're surprised something went wrong?
I'm sorry it happened to you, and you're right, it could have been much much worse, and I'm happy it wasn't. I think quite a few people here have had motor mounts break on them. But I think we all know that riding a bicycle (especially an $80 walmart special) at 30mph is dangerous and could end up with your untimely demise. That's a risk we all take and try to minimize.
Just my $0.02.
I couldn't have said it better myself....Now we are going around in circles.