4 stroke recommendations

[melissa.mcl]

I want to complete my first build, and am looking for 4 stroke kit recommendations. I've heard they're quieter, a bit more reliable, and from the speed tests I've watched on youtube there's not a huge difference in speed. I need something cheap and easy for a daily commuter, 11 miles to work and then back each day.

There seem to be a lot of engines that look exactly like this on amazon, but it's hard to believe they're real with the small quantity of reviews they've got. Has anyone heard of one in real life? Are they legit?

There are also many of these on ebay, which I do see some YouTube videos about.

I've also heard of people making a predator engine into a bike motor. Perhaps there are good instructables I haven't found out there on this? I worry that a non-kit build would be too advanced for a first time. I fix my own car and am relatively handy, but don't really actually know all that much about what I'm doing when I work on my car.

Am I wrong in considering a 4 stroke over 2 strokes? The whining noise in the videos is pretty obnoxious, and the 4 strokes sound much nicer.

Thanks for any and all advice!

 

[Sidewinder Jerry]

I want to complete my first build, and am looking for 4 stroke kit recommendations. I've heard they're quieter, a bit more reliable, and from the speed tests I've watched on youtube there's not a huge difference in speed. I need something cheap and easy for a daily commuter, 11 miles to work and then back each day.

There seem to be a lot of engines that look exactly like this on amazon, but it's hard to believe they're real with the small quantity of reviews they've got. Has anyone heard of one in real life? Are they legit?

There are also many of these on ebay, which I do see some YouTube videos about.

I've also heard of people making a predator engine into a bike motor. Perhaps there are good instructables I haven't found out there on this? I worry that a non-kit build would be too advanced for a first time. I fix my own car and am relatively handy, but don't really actually know all that much about what I'm doing when I work on my car.

Am I wrong in considering a 4 stroke over 2 strokes? The whining noise in the videos is pretty obnoxious, and the 4 strokes sound much nicer.

Thanks for any and all advice!

The Staton Inc 4 stroke kit I have is 15 years old with more than 5000 hours of use on it. The kit is on its second bicycle the one I currently ride the Sidewinder.

 

[Tom from Rubicon]

Welcome to the forum Mellisa, I did not look up your location so I will just make general recommendations. My neighbor bought a 2-stroke powered bike that is very quiet so there is that. FB market place in my location (Wisconsin) has many prebuilt bikes fairly priced.
An 11 mile one way commute would be better with a low cc motorcycle. That is unless you don't have a valid drivers license.

The Amazon kit you posted would in of it's self be OK though the generic engine mounts leave much to be desired.

Tom

 

[melissa.mcl]

Thanks, y'all! I feel like the biggest consideration for me is price - I love the look of some of the ebike kits, but I'll be spending close to $400 at least, if not more like $1000. And the 4 stroke cheap kits look to be around $300 total, or even less for 2 stroke. I'd probably get a motorcycle but they're even more.

 

[Sidewinder Jerry]

Thanks, y'all! I feel like the biggest consideration for me is price - I love the look of some of the ebike kits, but I'll be spending close to $400 at least, if not more like $1000. And the 4 stroke cheap kits look to be around $300 total, or even less for 2 stroke. I'd probably get a motorcycle but they're even more.

Sadly, with most of these cheap 4 stroke kits you get what you pay for. The transmission's in most of the cheap 4 stroke kits are pure crap and quickly begin to give you problems. The rear wheel rag joint can be another issue as well. Then there's the choice of bike you wish to put it on. Some bikes aren't very good for being motorized. By the time you built a bike that can be reliable transportation you'll spent more than a $1000 USA.

I'm not telling you all of this to discourage you but just giving you a realistic expectation before you invest your time and money. To conclude if immediate reliable transportation is what you're in need of, spend the money to get a moped or ebike.

I only recommend someone getting any kind of cheap kit if they're into this as a hobbyist and can do upgrades over a period of time.

 

[curtisfox]

What Jerry said.
I'm not telling you all of this to discourage you but just giving you a realistic expectation before you invest your time and money. To conclude if immediate reliable transportation is what you're in need of, spend the money to get a moped or ebike.

I only recommend someone getting any kind of cheap kit if they're into this as a hobbyist and can do upgrades over a period of time.
This is so true, and then you can take your time with good parts, you are never going to get it right frome the start, you will be always redoing and chainging, till you get it right. But what fun it is........Curt

 

[Sidewinder Jerry]

Another issue to consider is legality. In the USA laws on motorized bicycles and moped like vehicles can vary. If you don't know the legal statute numbers then you don't know the law. My state Tennessee statute is 55-8-101(35). Some places are very strict on enforcing their guidelines. While other places may be more lenient as long as you obey all the other traffic laws. There are places who's laws don't allow any kind of self-built motorized vehicle on their public roadways at all and are very strict on enforcing it.

Also consider, do you have the tools/equipment and skills to build a safe vehicle? You're in the right place to be taught skills you may be lacking.

Whatever your decision is on getting a motorized bike/moped, be aware from a distance you look like a pedal only bicycle and people will pull out in front of you not realizing how fast you're going. Riding safely in traffic requires good cycling skills since you're faster than a bicycle but not as fast as a motorcycle. Being a good MB'er starts with being a skilled cyclist first. All too often, new MB'ers transfer unsafe cycling habits over to their MB. Then the newbie MB'er either gets hurt and/or pays hefty fines.