| Lets face it: gas is just too darn expensive. When gas | | | | parts. I ordered three individual replacement parts as if I |
| hit $4.00 a gallon in my town, I decided it was time I did | | | | was replacing them on my kit. They never asked what |
| something. No, I couldn't bring the price of gas back | | | | I needed with three random parts, and I never told. For |
| down, at least not directly. However one thing I could | | | | someone like me with a slightly smaller budget but still |
| do was decrease the demand by not using so much | | | | a lot of technical know-how, this is definitely the way |
| of it. I thought, "I should find a much more fuel efficient | | | | to go. Here is what I am planning: I have purchased |
| way of getting around town." I decided that I wanted a | | | | from their site the only parts from the kit that I can't |
| Vespa! | | | | make myself. Those parts are: |
| However, after a quick price check I no longer wanted | | | | 1. Drive Ring |
| a Vespa. At least not if I was going to have to shell | | | | 2. Drive Belt |
| out a few thousand dollars for it. New plan. It was time | | | | 3. Drive Gear |
| to break out my old bicycle. I started doing a lot of | | | | Everything else can be done by yourself. These parts |
| riding for my short trips. However, I forgot how much | | | | all together cost me $108, with shipping. In addition, I |
| hard work biking is, especially when hills are involved. | | | | needed to get an engine. If you or someone you know |
| Don't get me wrong, I love riding my bike now, but I just | | | | has an old string trimmer, leaf blower, chain saw or |
| wish I could make it a little easier on the legs, and thus | | | | any other lawn tool with a horizontal crank shaft |
| allow me to ride further distances. That's when I got | | | | engine, try using that. However, I needed my string |
| the idea to put a small engine on the bike. I don't want | | | | trimmer for the lawn, so I went to Lowes and picked |
| to turn it into a motorcycle or anything, but just to give | | | | up a Troy-Bilt 25 cc string trimmer for $100 (I'm also |
| me a little extra power and speed to make it easier to | | | | selling the left over shaft after I remove the engine on |
| use my bike as a daily commuting vehicle. | | | | eBay to recoup some costs). Just make sure that the |
| I've done some research on the web for methods and | | | | engine you use has a centrifugal clutch. If you don't |
| full kits to retrofit bicycles with small engines. A | | | | know for sure, try spinning the end of the string |
| company called Golden Eagle Bike Engines appears to | | | | trimmer. If it spins freely and you don't hear the engine |
| be the best of the best. Sort of the Cadillac of | | | | turn over, then it has a clutch. |
| motorized bicycles. However, to purchase their kits will | | | | Now I have everything I need (plus some parts laying |
| run you between $500 and $700, not including the bike. | | | | around in the garage) to add this engine to my bike. |
| That's still out of my budget. But hey, if you can afford | | | | Total estimated cost: $208 dollars. Estimated mileage: |
| it, a kit from GEBE is the way to go. Currently they | | | | 200 mpg (based on GEBE kit mpg estimates). |
| have suspended orders for entire kits until the | | | | I will be working on this project over the next couple of |
| company can meet the high demand (I guess | | | | days. I'll update my steps along the way so anyone |
| everyone had the same idea, but more money than | | | | can follow along, and include pictures as I go. Have a |
| me), but they are still taking orders for replacement | | | | great day. |