[James Romeyn]

http://www.motorcycledaily.com/2013/08/motoped-a-new-kind-of-hybrid/

My favorite current "motorcycle/moped."  Only criticism I see is too-tight seat to pedal spacing resulting it too-little knee extension while pedaling.  Maybe that's fixable by simply raising the seat? 

What a Jeckyl-Hyde machine!  Wild, wild, wild! 

Make sure you click on the video at the bottom of the article!   

[WGH]

The MotoPed looks a lot cooler than what I've seen around Tucson. These 2 stroke motorized bikes are street legal here and you don't need a driver's license (DUI anyone?) They are real screamers, you can hear them coming blocks away. Prices as low as $450.

http://www.spookytoothcycles.com



Wayne

 

[Bob in St. Louis]

I'm trying to resist this.......... 

[James Romeyn]

The difference in the street vs. dirt persona of that "bike" is ridiculous.  First he's pedaling like an old lady, waving to people as he passes by slow as molasses, next he's terrorizing the trails and city landscapes like a bat out of you know where.  I wonder what version of the Honda motor is in that thing.  To think there are states not requiring a plate on that bike!!!  It's nuts. 

[Rocket_Ronny]

Great thread.

Hard to believe it's a 50cc 4 stroke pulling wheelies from 20 miles an hour. Must be a bigger slammer in that bike.

I want one. Then I can ride the bike paths legally. Not like the guy riding his motorcross on the bike paths the other day.

Rocket_Ronny

[Elizabeth]

If you go read about the op bike it costs way too much to even consider for any ordinary person.
The kit is the few parts, no bike included at $1K..
Add in parts and you are at $3K and you still have to build the bike yourself, and this is NO KIT with easy instructions.. It is a custom made machine needing way too much capability to customize stuff.
The other bike stuff posted in the second post are way more sensible. $450 to $700 and only basic assembly skills needed.
The biggest issue with the second bikes is the cheap motor options. The two stroke listed cannot be run for more than a half hour without issues of over heating? not acceptable.

[James Romeyn]

I used to do the Marin Sunday Morning Ride with the author of that article, Gabe Ets-Hokin. 

The ride starts at the SE corner of Mt. Tamalpais (Tam Junction in Mill Valley), CA Highway 1 northbound.  Mostly slow hair pin turns up and over and around the mountain for several miles with the Pacific Ocean on your left, finally long downhill to Stinson Beach, then fast to very fast long sweepers for several miles just a few feet from Bolinas Lagoon. 

About one mile after turning inland from the Lagoon is an uphill section about a half mile long, through the eucalyptus grove, fast turns if you know the road, with a sweet "wheelie bump" near the top where even an almost 600 lb '00 BMW R1150GS gets a lot of air for a good long time at speed.

That's a fun ride if it still happens.  The CHP seemed to have decided to put an end to it, and they might have succeeded by now.

Just to prove a point, about 30 years ago local club racer Craig McClean appeared on some type of scooter and creamed just about everyone except a small handful of the fastest guys.     

[Bob in St. Louis]

The two stroke listed cannot be run for more than a half hour without issues of over heating? not acceptable.

Yea, I caught that as well. In this day and age can't they build an engine that isn't designed to over heat?   

[James Romeyn]

If you go read about the op bike it costs way too much to even consider for any ordinary person.
The kit is the few parts, no bike included at $1K..
Add in parts and you are at $3K and you still have to build the bike yourself, and this is NO KIT with easy instructions.. It is a custom made machine needing way too much capability to customize stuff...

I sympathize. 

I presume my mechanical skills are ordinary.  It looks like it might take a bit of time to assemble that kit.  But having disassembled and assembled several large air cooled DOHC bikes, and similar number of liquid cooled DOHC shim over bucket models, it doesn't look that daunting. 

The fact that no such vehicle exists ready to purchase only increases its value.  Never ever passing one on the street or trail?  Priceless!  No plate required in several states including the one in which I reside?  That's plain nuts, and a bargain for $3k plus elbow grease.

I'll take a stage 2.5 150cc version, please.  A member/moderator here built with his own hands a street 400cc Yamaha Supermotard with 14:1 CR that did not pre-ignite on Pemex gas!  He's your motor builder!