just getting started...

[rednek_express]

Hi, everyone! Ive wanted to put an engine on a bike for years, & am finally gonna go for it. I live in a rural south-central Wisconsin area with rolling hills. Planning on going with a 80cc engine, but would like opinions on what style of bike to use. Cruiser? Mountain? Want speed of course, but also enough power for the hills.

 

[the willi]

sick bike parts shift kit with any cruizer or mountain bike but be safe that is the whole thing!!!!

 

[Dave31]

Welcome rednek_express, glad you joined us.

When choosing a bike I think the first thing to ask yourself "where will I be riding it?" Will I be mostly on pavement or dirt? Sounds like you will be doing a combination of both I would go with a Mt. Bike.

 

[rednek_express]

Living out in the sticks, Ive been leaning toward a mtn. bike. The bike would be mostly about function, not looks.

 

[Dave31]

If you do not use the shifter kit, with the gearing it is a trade off between speed and torque. Smaller sprocket will give you more speed but you lose low end torque. Bigger sprocket will give torque but you sacrifice speed.

Most kits come with a 44t rear sprocket. After break in you can see speeds from 25-30mph,. I get a top speed of 32-33mph with mine but others say they can go faster.

With my 44t sprocket I have gone up a 9,000ft mountain with maintaining 18mph with some very step grades.

YouTube - Motorized Bicycle up Mount Lemmon in Tucson,AZ

I have added a 36t to my bike and get reach 37mph but I have to pedal to reach that and lost lots of low end torque. A 40 or 41T is a perfect medium between the 44 and 36 but I have yet to try one.