MOPED ARMY

Every once in a while a kit shows up for attaching a motor to a regular bike on ebay. It might take a while, but that's probably the easiest way to go.

i'd be cautious about bicycle frames. no one seems to pay any attention to this when it comes to speeding bikes up and such ... but it's important. i learned it from my brother, who is an engineer and designs cars and such for a living:

different designs and materials have different stress tolerances. pushing them beyond their ability is dangerous at best.

ok, so if you take a bicycle frame, keep in mind that it was designed to carry the weight of a human and perhaps a bit more at the speed of your average cyclist (and perhaps a bit more). so imagine that a bike frame (a modern one made from light metals or even carbon-based materials) was designed to cary 200-250 lbs at a maximum speed of 20-25mph (for short bursts, let's say 15mph max for cruising speed). basically, what do you think the stress tolerance of such a frame is? not much, that's for sure.

if you but an engine on the bottom, you will have dramatically shifted the center of gravity and balance, and the higher speeds of a moped will strain the stress tolerance of the vehicle. the bike also has a more upright steering mechanism (and bigger wheels), which means it won't handle too well on turns, since it wasn't designed (again) w/ that level of stress tolerance.

solexes and whizzers have engines on them. but look at the solex. it has a heavier metal frame designed to carry the weight of the motor. a schwinn frame is heavier and could probably carry a whizzer designed engine. these, however, are expensive.

if you want to build a moped from scratch, you will need a moped frame and a moped engine. those are available. daveb has a franken bike that he pretty much built from scratch. the thing is hideous, but runs well. so the project is possible. but not w/ a standard bicycle frame. you're asking for suicide if you do that.

Check out www.webcom.com/sknkwrks/powrbike.htm for ideas...

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