Unruly youthes with frickin' engines on their frickin' bikes?

Sh1tbag OToole · 08-02-2013 09:06PM #1

There was some guy on adverts from Clontaaaarf selling kits to put a small engine on an ordinary bicycle recently you may have seen it. Although I have never seen one used in Ireland I used to have something similar before with a 2-stroke engine and did about 15-20 MPH without pedaling but it wouldn't be powerful enough to bring you up a steep hill.

From having a look through the cycling forum they appear to be the most scoffed-at mode of transport around. They see it as cheating or being lazy. There are people in the current anti-cyclist thread in this forum wanting cyclists to pay inshoorance and tax so they must really hate these machines. Peoplw who don't drive anything will complain that the noise interferes with their listening to Liveline or their sleep at 3 O'clock in the afternoon.

What do you think? Good idea or bad? Think of all the fuel we'd save if people started using these instead of cars

antodeco · 08-02-2013 09:11PM

Do they work on exercise bikes?

Sh1tbag OToole · 08-02-2013 09:12PM

antodeco wrote: »

Do they work on exercise bikes?

Ah they would of course. You should fit one for the laugh, post the vid here when you're finished

charlemont · 08-02-2013 09:13PM

T'is all the drugs sure, Makes them too lazy to pedal.

kneemos · 08-02-2013 09:15PM

I've seen a guy going around with one he gets up a fair lick,about twenty miles an hour I would say right enough on a mountain bike,the only thing that struck me was his braking capacity on the thing,otherwise I don't see the problem.

3ndahalfof6 · 08-02-2013 09:16PM

I think your shiittin me, that is all.

kasper · 08-02-2013 09:17PM

Sh1tbag OToole wrote: »

There was some guy on adverts from Clontaaaarf selling kits to put a small engine on an ordinary bicycle recently you may have seen it. Although I have never seen one used in Ireland I used to have something similar before with a 2-stroke engine and did about 15-20 MPH without pedaling but it wouldn't be powerful enough to bring you up a steep hill.

From having a look through the cycling forum they appear to be the most scoffed-at mode of transport around. They see it as cheating or being lazy. There are people in the current anti-cyclist thread in this forum wanting cyclists to pay inshoorance and tax so they must really hate these machines. Peoplw who don't drive anything will complain that the noise interferes with their listening to Liveline or their sleep at 3 O'clock in the afternoon.

What do you think? Good idea or bad? Think of all the fuel we'd save if people started using these instead of cars

it would save even more fuel if they pedalled

kneemos · 08-02-2013 09:25PM

Can't wait for the solar powered model.

Capt'n Midnight · 09-02-2013 05:52PM

Those things require a driving license to use, and must be taxed and insured and insurance might not be too easy since they are DIY.

So they won't save any money if you are prosecuted.

Duggy747 · 09-02-2013 05:55PM

They should be put on shopping trollies.

sinjin_smythe · 09-02-2013 06:00PM

this came straight to mind.

lockon... · 09-02-2013 06:03PM

weedhead wrote: »

this came straight to mind.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TViEzHJrMcM

This came to my mind:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=y44p8srzIew

coke can on the back wheel of bike LOL

09-02-2013 08:40PM

These bikes have been around for years and are particularly popular in Holland.

Best username ever · 09-02-2013 08:58PM

I used to ride a bike naked, foreskin flapping in the wind.

09-02-2013 09:05PM

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tRpMV-Gf0hA

HTML5! · 09-02-2013 09:07PM

What's wrong with an old plastic milk bottle to simulate a motorbike sound?!!

Flash bastardo's!

Tar.Aldarion · 09-02-2013 09:11PM

Link?

09-02-2013 09:13PM

Tar.Aldarion wrote: »

Link?

http://findingtheperfectfit.files.wordpress.com/2010/10/chain.jpg

Sh1tbag OToole · 09-02-2013 09:35PM

HTML5! wrote: »

What's wrong with an old plastic milk bottle to simulate a motorbike sound?!!

Flash bastardo's!

It only slows you down

zom · 09-02-2013 10:20PM

I was always tempted to buy one of whis and install in my mountain bike:

http://www.aliexpress.com/store/product/48V-1000W-Rear-Wheel-e-bike-e-bicycle-ebike-electric-bicycle-electric-bike-conversion-kits-with/602797_358348093.html

Sh1tbag OToole · 09-02-2013 11:53PM

zom wrote: »

I was always tempted to buy one of whis and install in my mountain bike:

http://www.aliexpress.com/store/product/48V-1000W-Rear-Wheel-e-bike-e-bicycle-ebike-electric-bicycle-electric-bike-conversion-kits-with/602797_358348093.html

I'd be afraid with 1000W that it might break the part where the wheel goes onto the bike. Huge rotational force on the axel of that wheel. I have seen one installed on the front wheel of a bike before and the guy had to weld a piece of metal onto the fork to stop it from spinning. I would not use the front wheel version I'd be afraid it would break the fork

Fulton Crown · 10-02-2013 10:03AM

Sh1tbag OToole wrote: »

I'd be afraid with 1000W that it might break the part where the wheel goes onto the bike. Huge rotational force on the axel of that wheel. I have seen one installed on the front wheel of a bike before and the guy had to weld a piece of metal onto the fork to stop it from spinning. I would not use the front wheel version I'd be afraid it would break the fork

Bust your hoop more likely pal...them things is dangerous !

Ray Palmer · 10-02-2013 11:58AM

I use an electric bike. They are actually called pedelecs and you have to cycle for the engine to kick in. Limits on speed and the requirement to cycle class them as bicycles on our roads.
In other countries the laws are different hence there are more powerful versions that require insurance, tax and a licence here.
Not sure but is the OP trying to suggest Clontarf is some rough area?

Sh1tbag OToole · 10-02-2013 12:04PM

Ray Palmer wrote: »

I use an electric bike. They are actually called pedelecs and you have to cycle for the engine to kick in. Limits on speed and the requirement to cycle class them as bicycles on our roads.
In other countries the laws are different hence there are more powerful versions that require insurance, tax and a licence here.
Not sure but is the OP trying to suggest Clontarf is some rough area?

You could just short a few wires together to get rid of the requirement to pedal I'd say but its probably only 200 or 250w.

I'd take my chance with a friction drive or chain drive petrol engine before I'd install an electric hub motor from China. Maybe there's more chance of getting in trouble with De Law but at least I won't kill myself

UCDVet · 10-02-2013 01:27PM

Assuming they are selling street-legal kits; the maximum speed is ~15mph (25kph).

At 25kph the motor's assist will cut-off.

I'm not a cyclist. I don't have fancy gear or a high-end bicycle. I don't train to go fast. I'm not young and I'm not particularly fit. I spend 45 hours a week sitting behind a desk and I use my bicycle to get from home, to work, and back. I don't cycle for fun. I only do it because I'm too poor to get a car.

I regularly travel at speeds greater than 15mph*...and while I'm doing it, more serious cyclists will zip past me like I'm standing still.

Unruly youthes are in better shape than I am.

Giving them an underpowered motor isn't going to have any sort of impact on anything.

* I started tracking my speed while looking into purchasing an electric motor for my bicycle. The salesman was telling me that '25kph is *really fast* for a bicycle'. I'm very, very glad I took the time to verify that on my own. It's not fast. I've since read reviews of electric bicycles in places that impose the speed limit on motors and most of them complain that it is too low and makes the bicycle not worth the extra cost. At least not for normal, healthy riders. If I were 60? Maybe it'd be worth it.

zom · 10-02-2013 07:06PM

UCDVet wrote: »

The salesman was telling me that '25kph is *really fast* for a bicycle'. I'm very, very glad I took the time to verify that on my own. It's not fast.

It's not a question of "how you feel" but how fast are you able to pull back (with additional few kg of electric devices onboard), and how do you manage to survive collision with car/wall/ground with 25kph...

kneemos · 10-02-2013 07:16PM

zom wrote: »

It's not a question of "how you feel" but how fast are you able to pull back (with additional few kg of electric devices onboard), and how do you manage to survive collision with car/wall/ground with 25kph...

It's not fast on the open road but streets with pedestrians and car doors opening it's lethal for all concerned.

Sh1tbag OToole · 10-02-2013 07:45PM

Ray Palmer wrote: »

Not sure but is the OP trying to suggest Clontarf is some rough area?

Ah sh1t, no. Sure Joe Duffy lives there, that's bound to have an over all calming affect on the area. I've never been there and always imagined it as a fairly quaint civilised upmarket place. I was actually surprised to see that someone doing something as risky as selling motorised bikes would be based there

Unruly youthes with frickin' engines on their frickin' bikes?

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