MOPED ARMY

Make one that has the capability of being hopped up to 55 with a 50 mile range and make it cost less than 2g's. That's the sauce.

Love that 55mph number, it’s just a high enough speed to keep the cagers at bay, even on 35mph roads traffic goes 50+mph many times,

55mph 90-100 mi range, fast charging with quick and easy battery pack changing at stations available and under 2k$ is what would get my interest,

ugh

this is really just asking to get banished to OT. its not even a moped for starters, cmon.

2 reasons I'm for keeping it in GenFor

1) the electric discussion in general - already from this discussion we can recognize that because of the ease and extremely low cost of speed upgrades in traditional 2 stroke mopeds, people here are expressing the unrealistic demands we would require to make a switch to electric. Very valid, I think a big appeal to mopeds is the low cost of entry and low cost to improve them piecewise and electrics do not come close

2) it's totally a noped. Like there are motorized bicycles which have small engines and pedals and are definitely NOT mopeds

there are scooters which are small 2 wheel bikes, in most states road legal as "mopeds" and subject to the same rules and regulations, and they are definitely NOT mopeds

and there are bikes in between which target that specific in between, pedals preferred but not being the defining characteristic, that we include in the blanket because they occupy the same space, same parts, same audience

.

likewise you got some electric bicycles, electric scooters, and then these sorta in-betweens that occupy the exact same space and target audiences as a new tomos or whatever. And I totally think it's worth sharing, observing, discussing as on-topic considering mopeds in general!

A battery generally lasts 500-800 cycles, which is roughly 3-4 years

Some of these engine builds don't last that long

I get that 55mph with a 50 mile range and a price tag of sub $2k is maybe unrealistic. But I don't know any better. I'm ignorant to a lot of 2t moped tech still, I damn sure don't know what to expect from an electric moped or moto.

But the fact is, that's what it would take for it to be worth it for me. Maybe I would compromise with the top speed or range some, for the sake of progress. But, we can't all be $5000/30mph early adopters. If 2t moped costed a grip when I started and they weren't capable of exceeding stock speeds, you would have never met me.

Unfair expectations of tech don't always equate unfair expectations of that product's capabilities in relation to it's value. Sure, people used to pay $1500 for CD players. But the cost fell eventually because after the honeymoon phase was over, they weren't worth it. The real value ended up meeting the technology half way because of realistic honest expectations.

Electric vehicles are special, because we have to switch or risk irreversible damage to our planet. So I'm more willing to be on board than not.

I sometimes don't give a shit after things are reported. It's discretion.

I do have a pretty strong bias toward including underbone motorcycles too, that was kinda where I really got into this whole thing.

When I first got my cub any time someone called it a scooter or moped I'd be quick to remind then (tongue in cheek) that it was a "motorcycle"

I'm just curious watching this growing field, which ones are gonna really take root. Zero despite a lotta push seems to have floundered while onyx is blowing up all over. Still blogwise it seems the shanghai cub conversion's gotten the most broad attention. but moto blogs been loving al things cub for a while now...

But like, who's gonna be the winner? Is it one of these that really blows up, or one that's not out yet? or will it be one of the big names throwing a hat in the ring (electric cub, rieju/bye nuuk, Harley's whacky lil e-concepts?) - it's changing fast!

Govecs Flexy

That's the new hotness, but who knows if it comes to the USA

We should just make don his own forum.

There are some electric bikes that really would qualify as a moped, not a standard bicycle with motor and not a scooter, but a purpose designed machine, I can't remember the name, but I know where one is, will get pics this weekend if it is still outside, company may be out of business already, advertised on CL for a week or so, this was purchased and from what I can tell never or rarely ridden, shares a parking space with owners car, has fully functional pedals, lights and turn signals, no idea the top speed, has a place for a license plate, but in 2 seasons now has never had one, but if 20mph top speed would not need one in MN. May just leave a note on it this weekend, if it sat outside last winter, (kind of looks like it) the batt pack is prob toast, so it could be cheap/free! :) Electric is the future, if that could go 30 and have a 20 mile range I would rock it, have a limiter switch so it could be governed to 20 for legal reasons, no plate or ins needed. Watch this space...lol.

Stephen ,you keep saying, ` Electric is the future,' …………..but there are many that doubt this.

For the "moped" segment of transportation there is no doubt about it, when our peds were built an electric version was really outclassed, heavy lead-acid batteries, woefully inefficient controllers, thick wires etc, today this has changed dramatically, yes there is still work to be done, mainly on price, but it will and is happening, at a rate that is hard to imagine. People today have no interest in IC engines, (outside of enthusiasts) they just want it to work, and for those without a garage, an electric bike is safe to bring inside. It will take a long time for electric cars to fully mainstream, especially in harsh climates, but a "moped" class vehicle is the IDEAL platform for electric power. I don't know if mopeds will ever be produced in the numbers they once were, but those that will be built will be electric. I love the gas powered ones, have mine reliable to the point of not needing much tinkering, but it sure would be nice to not have to store fuel, or really maintain anything at all. I'm not a "greenie" just interested in ease of ownership of this class of vehicle, and electric whips 40 yo gas powered antiques.(edited)

^ Totally worth 2g if those specs are right.

Car battery, starter motor and minibike frame, nothing but wheelies for days,

My friend, cousin and I built and ran one in my family’s house large basement when I was 10 years old in the winter from plans on mechanics or popular science mag,

Starter motor held up fine, drivetrain was fine and battery held up fine but the wiring and throttle switch was the weak link because of so many amps,

After burns on all our hands from wiring and the basement full of electrical smelling smoke my parents put it a end to that!

We put the 3 1/2 Tecumseh engine back on it in spring!