a little help for a newb?

GoldenMotor.com

kingofgreens

New Member
Feb 9, 2011
8
0
1
planet Earth
Hello all. I'm planning on doing a build & wanted to ask some questions before I stared spending some loot.

I plan to use an old moantain bike bike I have. It's Huffy Helix (from the early 80's I think)

It has a nice sturdy steel frame & 26" wheels.

I want to get a kit & try to do the build for 200 - 300 USD if possible.
I live in Florida so hills aren't an issue. I think I'd rather have a 4 stroke for reliability & the fact that I think they'd be much quieter, but a quatliy 2 stroker would do the job as well. I Have good mechanical skills & a fair ammount of small engine knowledge.

I guess what I want to know is if I plan to ride this unit to work 23 miles round trip every day, What kit should I get & where should I look to order it?

I'd like to get everything I need in in 1 shot so what should I look for & beware of?
 

matthurd

New Member
Dec 13, 2010
817
2
0
manchester NH
thatsdax.com does 4 stroke kits, mostly friction drives, never used em personally but the vibe i get here about them is they're pretty good.

mite want to check out their site or pm thatsdax here on the forums, he's usually pretty good about replying to people here.

i was talking to him about the new GT50R motor he has and he said he preferred it to even his own 4 stroke motors, mite want to reconsider where you stand after talking to him about his XC50S vs his GT50R and kit pricing.

good luck and welcome to the forums.
 

Sideshowbob

New Member
Dec 26, 2010
64
6
0
Salem OR
4 strokes are generally 100 bucks more than 2 strokes, I've had good luck with the 2 strokes, 49 & 66cc I tend to like the older carbs better they are simpler. 4 strokes can run all day in the FL heat but you will have to replace the crank with an extra wide one, most 4 stroke kits come with these. So the 4 will run all day but they are huge, pretty gutless with centrifical clutch and they are no quiter than the 2 strokes. (different but just as loud unless you build a modified super big muffler).The 2 strokes are much narrower and fit bike frames much better (& balanced). My 2 stroke mufflers are really pretty quiet and stock as opposed to getting an expansion chamber. I have plenty of power. My ride is a land yaught with baskets and all kinds of goodies. I can cruise at 30 but I like about 25 better, top end is 40 but to mutch vibration. I'm not a speed freak but I ride 5 miles each way to work no problems 10 or 12 each way is easily do-able but I wouldn't go more than 30 or 40 miles without letting it cool down good between rides.. You can get ebay or internet 2 strokes for $135 sometime shipping included. 4 strokes are about $299 for the kits. Whatever you decide use locktite on every bolt, and check everything often.. Good luck, have fun and be safe..bld.
if you want a cheap 4stroke I saw a 4 cycle mitsubishi weedwhacker for under 100 bucks at Lowe's but you would have to build parts for the drive line and drill up some mouting plates from strap and sheet steel. Friction setups work good but the side mount style has really bad balance, even when riding a regular kit 4 stroke it seems like I have a watermelon between my legs, I like the bikes feel much better with 2 strokes.
 
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kingofgreens

New Member
Feb 9, 2011
8
0
1
planet Earth
Thanks for the fast replies & the good info!

For this 1st build , I think I am now leaning towards a 2 stroke & I just discovered that a friction drive is what I want here in Florida as the chain driven units are viewed as motor vehicles & require regestration which is what I want to avoid.

Like I said , I want to get everything in 1 shot. I don't want to be wishing I'd spent the extra 25 bucks for this or 30 for that after the fact. I want to get it all right with my 1st go around as this will be my primary conveyence for the next year.
 

matthurd

New Member
Dec 13, 2010
817
2
0
manchester NH
Thanks for the fast replies & the good info!

For this 1st build , I think I am now leaning towards a 2 stroke & I just discovered that a friction drive is what I want here in Florida as the chain driven units are viewed as motor vehicles & require regestration which is what I want to avoid.

Like I said , I want to get everything in 1 shot. I don't want to be wishing I'd spent the extra 25 bucks for this or 30 for that after the fact. I want to get it all right with my 1st go around as this will be my primary conveyence for the next year.
while his site may not show it very well, duane will basically give you a full kit if you ask for it, even including his shiny new high performance 2 stroke motor, pm thatsdax here on the forums i'm sure he'll be able to get you squared away nice n easy.
 

kingofgreens

New Member
Feb 9, 2011
8
0
1
planet Earth
I could get my hands on weedwacker motor easily enough if there is a kit I could get to make the conversion. I just don'rt want to have to fabricate a bunch of parts & then tinker with them every day to make it work.
 

Allen_Wrench

Resident Mad Scientist
Feb 6, 2010
2,784
26
36
Indianapolis
...I guess what I want to know is if I plan to ride this unit to work 23 miles round trip every day, What kit should I get & where should I look to order it?

QUOTE]

I gave this careful thought, and about all I can say - for what it's worth: get the kind of engine that YOU are most comfortable with, that you won't mind working on too much. Some of us here are die-hard two-smokers, some adore the four. But we each tend to really stick with what we know best, and that's how we get better at maintaining them and dealing with the engines unique quirks.

As to where to buy: for the most part the companies who advertise to your left and right on this page are generally pretty good about customer service. I have dealt with DAX and Pirate (and Spooky Tooth -*sigh*) and can recommend them (except for the extict Spooky Tooth, I'll miss that site). SBP too. Most are very good about making sure you get what you paid for, and that it works. Try to pick a vendor who'll stick by you, and back up what they sell. Good customer service can pay for itself in the end.