Texas Riding Blog

[biknut]

Last evening I ran across an eBiker riding home from work. He was riding a kit bike made from a Sick Bike Parts kit. He said he was a math/science teacher at Pinkston high school, and his commute is 34 miles round trip. He charges his battery during the day when he's at school.

That makes 8 eBikers I've met in the last year since buying my eBike. In the three years before that I met 8 people on gas bicycles.

So far only 1 of gas bikes was being used for commuting, but counting my own, 4 of the eBikes are used to commute more than 20 miles on.

 

[Bill42]

Hello all,

I was riding to work every day in Bandera from Wharton dock area a 10 mile ride each way. I am now in Kerrville and the roads are much more level.

I have gone from Bandera to Kerrville a 32 mile ride each way. nice.
there have been the long rides and nothing happens to I get out side the yard and the tire goes flat, one one bike its about 2 years old new head and piston and cylinder and gas tank a few tubes and one set of tires it gives me little trouble, then there is the bike I like the best it eats chains each side wraps rims but w2hen its running its one of my best bikes, then I have the jack-shaft bike it pulls a co-pilot or a trailer, it came with a bottom bracket that off set the chain (bike chain) that would break the chain after some work and test rides I put the old one back in and it runs get nice to be able to change gears. So far I have 4 bikes each have there own feel.

 

[biknut]

Hello all,

I was riding to work every day in Bandera from Wharton dock area a 10 mile ride each way. I am now in Kerrville and the roads are much more level.

I have gone from Bandera to Kerrville a 32 mile ride each way. nice.
there have been the long rides and nothing happens to I get out side the yard and the tire goes flat, one one bike its about 2 years old new head and piston and cylinder and gas tank a few tubes and one set of tires it gives me little trouble, then there is the bike I like the best it eats chains each side wraps rims but w2hen its running its one of my best bikes, then I have the jack-shaft bike it pulls a co-pilot or a trailer, it came with a bottom bracket that off set the chain (bike chain) that would break the chain after some work and test rides I put the old one back in and it runs get nice to be able to change gears. So far I have 4 bikes each have there own feel.

It's been a few years, but I've ridden my motorcycle down there before. It's some of the most interesting, and pretty country in Texas. One time I attended a motorcycle rally in Hondo. I envy you getting to ride there everyday.

 

[Semaj]

This is James checking in from Austin,I ride a beach cruiser
e-bike that I've been piecing together for a while now. I haven't had any issues with Any police, although i usually ride between 30 and 40 mph. If anything I expect them to ask me about my ride :]

 

[biknut]

This is James checking in from Austin,I ride a beach cruiser
e-bike that I've been piecing together for a while now. I haven't had any issues with Any police, although i usually ride between 30 and 40 mph. If anything I expect them to ask me about my ride :]

Thanks for the report James. What about other motor bicycles? Do you see them very often riding around? There's supposed to be a lot of them in Austin, and San Antonio.

 

[Semaj]

honestly I have not seen too many, but I usually ride at night. I'm up in North Austin so I don't really see what goes on downtown, I suspect there's more action sown there what with all the pedicabs. Recently I have spotted another motorized bicycle putting a longin my neighborhood so iT seems more people are joining the ranks

 

[sunshinebiker]

I used to live in Missouri, where anything <50 cc required no tags, no title, just a standard Missouri operators license. I built a moto-bike with a Schwinn Sanctuary and a Super Rat motor from BGF. I put several hundred miles on it before I decided to sell it and move to the Texas coast (I have a thing for mosquitoes, I guess...) I sold it because of the expected hassle of inspection, titling and registration.

Anyhoo, after reading this thread, I'm looking to build another bike to run on the Bluewater trail and on the beach. I want to deal with a Texas company for the motor kit. The California guys are way too hard to understand. I found a guy in McAllen who calls his kit MexiMoto (www.meximotos.com). I looked there and on his FB page and his stuff looks pretty good since casting appearance seems to be a good indicator of engine quality. Has anyone had dealings with them or knows anything about them?

 

[biknut]

I used to live in Missouri, where anything <50 cc required no tags, no title, just a standard Missouri operators license. I built a moto-bike with a Schwinn Sanctuary and a Super Rat motor from BGF. I put several hundred miles on it before I decided to sell it and move to the Texas coast (I have a thing for mosquitoes, I guess...) I sold it because of the expected hassle of inspection, titling and registration.

Anyhoo, after reading this thread, I'm looking to build another bike to run on the Bluewater trail and on the beach. I want to deal with a Texas company for the motor kit. The California guys are way too hard to understand. I found a guy in McAllen who calls his kit MexiMoto (www.meximotos.com). I looked there and on his FB page and his stuff looks pretty good since casting appearance seems to be a good indicator of engine quality. Has anyone had dealings with them or knows anything about them?

Welcome to Texas. I'm sure you'll love it here, and you'll find no one will hassle you for riding a motor bicycle as long as you're not riding stupid. Just remember to pedal away from stops, and if you're ever ask if your bike is self propelled, be sure and say no, you have to pedal it from stops to get going. You won't have any problems if you remember to do that, but I doubt anyone will ever ask.

 

[biknut]

Monday I was sitting at a light, and looked over in the lane next to me, and there was a Dallas cop eyeing me like I was the last pork chop at a dog convention. He was making me kind of nervous. I was on my electric bicycle, and I think he was following me riding about 30 mph, on a 40 mph street. Seemed like the light was taking forever to change.

But then he made a right turn and drove away. I think that might have been the closest I've come to being pulled over on my eBike, for what, I guess we'll never know.

 

[Semaj]

they may have just been making sure you were lit up.the officer that frequents my Work in the morning was telling me how he gave a ticket To an unlit cyclist who Was riding on the road.

 

[sunshinebiker]

Well, I bit the bullet and bought the 48 cc kit on 12/23 from Meximoto in McAllen. $139 shipped and it arrived today. I'm pretty excited to be getting ready to start a new project, and am hoping I can use my aluminum frame LaJolla, since it only weighs 26 lbs. to start, and with the kit, it would weigh in at less than 50 lbs!

I'll post pix along with successes and challenges. Wish me luck!

 

[biknut]

Well, I bit the bullet and bought the 48 cc kit on 12/23 from Meximoto in McAllen. $139 shipped and it arrived today. I'm pretty excited to be getting ready to start a new project, and am hoping I can use my aluminum frame LaJolla, since it only weighs 26 lbs. to start, and with the kit, it would weigh in at less than 50 lbs!

I'll post pix along with successes and challenges. Wish me luck!

A LaJolla is kind of tricky. It will fit, but you'll have to use an offset intake manifold.

 

[Semaj]

Im going to ride today, just to see how far my batteries will take me. I might turn around when I see the battery meter symbol drop, but we will see. Peddling does help me appreciate having a motor that much more

 

[biknut]

Im going to ride today, just to see how far my batteries will take me. I might turn around when I see the battery meter symbol drop, but we will see. Peddling does help me appreciate having a motor that much more

I'll probably ride around a little today too. It's sunny, and is going to be 56 degrees this afternoon, the warmest day for the next week and a half. After today it's not supposed to get out of the 30s for a week.

 

[biknut]

This winter is turning out to be pretty crappy so far in North Texas. I can't even remember what the sun looks like. It's been in the 30s for a week.

 

[Semaj]

bouncing between 30 and 40 for me here too. Shant last long. Then 2-3 weeks of ok weather and then HOT till it gets COLD again. But thats just my south texas mentality.

 

[Dirt Road Cowboy]

This winter is turning out to be pretty crappy so far in North Texas. I can't even remember what the sun looks like. It's been in the 30s for a week.

Yeah, I'm just east of you, so I know what you mean. Wet, cold, nasty, dripping fog right now.

It could be worse, like freezing rain!

 

[biknut]

Yeah, I'm just east of you, so I know what you mean. Wet, cold, nasty, dripping fog right now.

It could be worse, like freezing rain!

Yeah, it's not as bad as it could be. We've had a lot colder. It's just consistently crappy this year, but not record cold. We get one good day, and then a week of cold.

 

[ElGallo]

here in san antonio is it not only cold but rain.
i would ride in the cold, done it a few times to work and to visit a friend. but the rain, mist is killing the mood.

 

[Semaj]

Its a beautifull sunny 57 Degrees out here in austin today, couldn't be nicer!