I love getting THAT look.

[happycheapskate]

I'm not sure what you mean. I don't feel mine is any more dangerous than a standard road bicycle. I've gone faster on road bicycles (35 on flats and 40-50 down hills, on skinny little tires and thin aluminum frames). This bike has comfort shocks, fatter tires, v-brakes, and a rack-mount engine. The muffler is far from the legs. Maybe the cagers think it's "dangerous" though.

I've never seen CT when it wasn't covered in snow. Every time I have been there, it was plastered. I didn't stay long, because I was in diesel trucks, and that place is full of cops and low bridges, with no where to park a big truck (not even 1 truck stop that I know of!). I'm sure they see even less bicycles than TX, much less ones with weeder engines on them.

 

[Dan]

I'm not sure what you mean. I don't feel mine is any more dangerous than a standard road bicycle. I've gone faster on road bicycles (35 on flats and 40-50 down hills, on skinny little tires and thin aluminum frames). This bike has comfort shocks, fatter tires, v-brakes, and a rack-mount engine. The muffler is far from the legs. Maybe the cagers think it's "dangerous" though.

I've never seen CT when it wasn't covered in snow. Every time I have been there, it was plastered. I didn't stay long, because I was in diesel trucks, and that place is full of cops and low bridges, with no where to park a big truck (not even 1 truck stop that I know of!). I'm sure they see even less bicycles than TX, much less ones with weeder engines on them.

I certainly did not intend your builds were in any way dangerous Happy. I should have worded that better. I meant my rickety builds only and that I was enjoying them and a less then quit moment.

My bad

 

[happycheapskate]

We are friends, I am not upset. I just didn't understand the post. No problems. It does seem like the addition of a motor upsets some people, who are quick to claim it is "dangerous," even if it is slow (some of these bike kits are geared to go about 25mph, and I don't really think that is fast, but it might be to an inexperienced person.)

I am really saddened by the slow acceptance or spite towards motorized bicycles from a large segment of Americans. I expect them to remain a "niche market" but to become more common, esp among the min. wage workers and single men. For some reason, women just do not seem that interested in the mb yet (at least in USA). I hope it leads to better products too, as there have been enough horror stories about the lollypop tensioner or the ht sprockets gone loose/out of round. I think it was Yamaha that recently introduced an ultralight 125cc motorcycle/moped. I like it.

That is why I started the Dax Friction Drive Fan Club. It may not be the best system ever, but it is easy and versatile.

 

[Dan]

Oh Happy, I meant my builds and no one else's. That I prefered to be low key and as invisible as possible. (other then to motorists)

Is this your's Happy? http://www.hs.facebook.com/pages/Dax-Friction-Drive-fan-club/218445778250153

Purty cool. I had not seen it.

 

[happycheapskate]

Yes, I want to promote mbs and I support www.thatsdax.com because I am happy with the products and packaging, and support from phone/website.

 

[thegnu]

We had a second good day to ride here in pa glad I took advantage of it , an decided to ride over to the bank , while sitting at a red light a guy in a pickup behind me is hollerin out his window "cool bike" an about 3 blocks further on 2 guys working on a car in the street one pointing an pulling the other out from under the hood giving the thumbs up with the biggest grins I hve seen in ages . so I park it at the bank walk in make my deposit an theres this lady snapping a pic of it as I walk out an very curious about it we had a nice conversation an she mentioned wanting one an an that she had a honda rebel an it was too heavy an thought my mb would be a good fit (she was very small build) asked if I knew were she could get one I handed over a buisness card shook her hand an peddled off, started it in the parking lot an away I went .I now understand THAT look especially the ones that dont know what to make of you .
Gary

 

[happycheapskate]

I rode mine around pulling my toddler in her trailer, and she had a good time. Some people asked about the bike, and a happy old couple hollered from their porch, in greeting. I circled back to talk to them, and they said, "I wish someone had pulled me around on a bike when I was a kid." A customer at the liquor store liked the bike, and the mgr. said I could put business cards in his store. (I like to combine trips, I do not drink and drive or drink around children.)

 

[thegnu]

Put a bunch of the greatest fun miles on it today took a long ride out to the country an back into town stopped at a nice spot an got these pics for yall ,almost every bike that passed or slowed to ride beside me an check it out gave me the biggest grin an a thumbs up one harley guy stayed with me for almost a mile an a half chatting an riding .
Gary

 

[takeitez]

Thegnu that is a fantastic lookin bike. I know I have seen it before and I might have already said this but that looks great. Could you post or pm me a link to the build thread. (there is one right? Im sure I have seen it around)

 

[iflyos]

Thegnu that is a fantastic lookin bike. I know I have seen it before and I might have already said this but that looks great. Could you post or pm me a link to the build thread. (there is one right? Im sure I have seen it around)

+1

 

[Tinsmith]

Nice pics Gary. SB and I got the "look" yesterday coming by the bowling alley. Folks were coming out spotted us coming and just turned and watched us go by. A week or two ago SB had a flat outside of town and a couple old Harley guys in a pickup stopped to help. I happened to know one of them and They were interested enough they came by the house later to see SB's Hiawatha and my bike. We see a good number of the spandex crew and I would say most ignore us. We are lucky to have a good place to ride and really enjoy riding together.
Dan

 

[Motorized Bike Guy]

Yesterday I went out for the first ride of the season and while I was approaching the stoplight it stalled. So i waited for the light to turn green, pedaled hard, engaged the clutch and flew. The looks are great from others, everyone I passed had to look!

 

[Len455]

Yesterday i was out riding and breaking in the new engine so i was only doing about 15 when 2 road bikers in full spandex passed me the first one juststared with 'that look' and the girl said 'thats awsome'

 

[billy b]

why would you wanna be noticed huh. I for one and i know a binch of others that try to ride under the radar we are leagel we dont draw attention to our selves the less people see us or hear us the less regulations are placed on us .

 

[Dan]

I really do know what you mean Billy. When I first got in to this crazy, I was hoping to be invisible. (I'm not real social by nature) Odd thing about the conversations that MBs create, seems to make folks happy to see and chat. Where I live folks keep to them selves. First month riding think I met more folks then I did in a year of living here. Just kind of fun.

Even the local cops are great when they see me or when we have group rides.

 

[Allen_Wrench]

I discovered an interesting thing, in addition to "getting that look" and meeting people at my destinations who want to talk about the bike: having a vintage-looking/antique - looking motorbike serves an ulterior purpose. Most motorists who seem to recognize it as such don't really expect it to go that fast. I'm getting less honking with this one than I did with my first one. (There will always be those who don't care who you are; if you're in front of them, they'll honk.) Most people now just pass me without issue and some wave as they do. I'm getting to like that.

 

[happycheapskate]

Was it this look?

http://voices.blogs.wesleyan.edu/files/2011/05/sneer.jpg

http://www.jayespace.com/facial-expressions/images/1871_112_352-sneer-cartoon-expression.jpg

http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_5aRdIoThFIk/TT2Vxx5gCYI/AAAAAAAAA3o/5mvM433LYX0/s1600/WR_Tommy-sneer.jpg

http://365daysofvocab.files.wordpress.com/2010/11/sneer2.jpg

Yesterday i was out riding and breaking in the new engine so i was only doing about 15 when 2 road bikers in full spandex passed me the first one juststared with 'that look' and the girl said 'thats awsome'

 

[tooljunkie]

this lil ol lady drivin a hyundai left her lane,into oncoming lane and onto the shoulder i was driving on?scared the crap outta me.first trip into town.
going home i almost ran over a dog,he looked confused too.didnt know what to do.
i have since had many looks and thumbs up from all kinds of people.a few relatives tried it out and i had to write the site addy down.
the po-lice havent caught up with me yet,but i'm expecting it will happen soon.
most of all i really enjoy riding it.

 

[thegnu]

this lil ol lady drivin a hyundai left her lane,into oncoming lane and onto the shoulder i was driving on?scared the crap outta me.first trip into town.
going home i almost ran over a dog,he looked confused too.didnt know what to do.
i have since had many looks and thumbs up from all kinds of people.a few relatives tried it out and i had to write the site addy down.
the po-lice havent caught up with me yet,but i'm expecting it will happen soon.
most of all i really enjoy riding it.

I just wish some would give you the look an realize your doing the speed limit an look an not pull out short in front of ya .

 

[wbuttry]

I have been riding these things for 3 yrs. And so far i'm the only one who has one. That i have seen and thats the way i like it. I ride with people on 4 wheelers and dirt bikes in our town you can ride 4 wheelers and anything with a motor even golf carts. No worries about tickets i live in new madrid mo home of the new madrid fault. And you know how it goes you get a lot of people out on motorized bicycles and they start making arses of them selves tearing up yards getting hit by cars. And then it is a huge cluster buck then they half to ban them and there goes my transportation . I have no problem with people seeing me or asking about them. I'll even build them one but i exspect them to be civilized on them. And not make a fool of them selves on them cause then it looks bad on me cause people will think i'm like that...