Mini bike WITH pedals (CA law issues) Stingray project

[Socal_machinist]

Well I have a ton of free time and I think I have a nice and complex project to keep me busy. This project according CA law has to have functional pedals to qualify as a motorized bicycle. I love these Schwinn Stingrays I keep seeing on youtube and want something I can ride legally on CA streets.

Now heres the goals:
under 400$
keep working pedals
5 hp+
Streetable*

*as in the 1982 honda civic behind me doesn't have the urge to honk at me when the light turns green

Heres where I'm starting

the basic schwinn stingray

The plans:

obviously engine is #1 ( ANYONE NEAR LA WITH A 5HP engine lemme know ) a used 5Hp engine with a mated clutch or torque converter would be ideal I'd like to keep it under 125$ I want to the put the engine as far forward as convenient.

From there the simplest thing I see is a 72T sprocket welded to the left hub with a basic chain to the engine.

to keep the pedals but keep them far away from the engine I have a "sacrifice bike" ready to got and I think welding a pedal axis JUST behind the seat tube would get them away from the engine but reatain function all I'd have to do is shorten the chain and check chain clearance.

SO.... so far Im in for 75$ with a remaining budget of 325$ for an engine, drivetrain, gas tank, throttle asembly

 

[landuse]

Welcome to the forum Socal_machinist. I made a friction drive bicycle a little while ago with a weedeater motor. It is a blast.

Post some pics of what you are working with.

You can also get more detailed help over at www.motoredbikes.com and www.motorbicycling.com. They focuss on Mab's

 

[OzFab]

A friend of mine had one of these (or similar) motorised. Give me a day or two & I'll see if I can get some pics

 

[Socal_machinist]

Thanks for the links heres my first video

http://youtu.be/WCC5B6x3FAM

 

[SCK]

5hp is going to be to much. To make it street legal you need a lot lower cc!

 

[Socal_machinist]

well my goal is to govern the engine either with a throttle limiter or some kind of restrictor plate. They were doing it with the pocket bikes for a while and CA considered that good enough make them legal. Meanwhile on private property/out of state I can remove said device and go full throttle.

 

[tundrabeagle3]

50 cc and up is not street legal in California a 49cc motor would be the largest you could get.

 

[Doc Sprocket]

according CA law has to have functional pedals to qualify as a motorized bicycle.

Inscrutable logic!!!

as in the 1982 honda civic behind me doesn't have the urge to honk at me when the light turns green

Screw him! Why? 'Cause there's somebody like me right behind him, listening to every bolt in his dang car rattle loose (because he can spend $5000 on a stereo system, but can seem to scrape together the $ to fix his POS car), while I'm laying on the horn waiting for him to get his speedbump-scraping butt outta my way!

 

[tundrabeagle3]

im with socal machinist, drivers in LA are ut:

 

[tundrabeagle3]

this would be legal it has around 2 hp

http://www.kingsmotorbikes.com/grub...dard_finish_slant_head_bicycle_engine_kit.htm

 

[Doc Sprocket]

im with socal machinist, drivers in LA are ut:

Can't be any worse than Toronto. In fact, I have heard that Toronto has surpassed LA for traffic woes. Now there's something to be proud of!

 

[Socal_machinist]

I'm reading it over it talks about POWER and speed but nothing about engine size, my plan is to do the math (thank you DIYgokarts speed calculator ) and find out what 2 hp looks like speed wise or just follow the CA 30 MPH law whichever is less. Then I just make a restrictor plate that matches that performance it can be done in one afternoon. I'm basically neutering my engine but should I find private track I can disassemble the air filter and go full throttle. Its not a bad idea to make a big @$$ sticker that says "2 HORSEPOWER!" and stick that on the engine.

the latest pics :

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WQs6WvI3bwM&list=UUCSOAGMWCHrPrYV05cZegIA&index=1&feature=plcp

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=96mygBLZd6U&list=UUCSOAGMWCHrPrYV05cZegIA&index=2&feature=plcp

 

[Socal_machinist]

I'm getting my info of the CA DMV page, the sad truth is it all depends on the cop who might be pulling me over and if anyone annoyed him that day . I have friends in my local PD so I'm going to test the waters locally and see what happens. The good news is if I find out theres no way to keep my monster 6hp machine the way I'm building this bike an engine swap is not hard.

 

[Socal_machinist]

OUCH, what was the exact violation? Ive got my plates in the mail.

More videos

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MWhHagI_n1k&list=UUCSOAGMWCHrPrYV05cZegIA&index=3&feature=plcp

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=H7gaUxzuhi8&list=UUCSOAGMWCHrPrYV05cZegIA&index=2&feature=plcp

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wtQi_xQiMbk&list=UUCSOAGMWCHrPrYV05cZegIA&index=1&feature=plcp

 

[Socal_machinist]

Yeah I sent in the paperwork with the serial number for that engine on it. As you can see its going to registered as a modified bicycle with a motor. its only 19$ and my class C license covers its operation as its NOT a motorcycle as defined by the DMV.

www.dmv.ca.gov/forms/reg/reg230.htm

2 wheels, check
going to have working pedals, check
centrifugal clutch, with carb restrictor plate, check
restrictor plate limiting to 30 MPH, check

I plan to keep a copy of the registration form, some photos PRE-motor, and a copy of VC 406 with the bike at all times. Like I said I'm just worried about someone else making the traffic cop mad that day and him taking it out on me and my bike. I don't wanna sound like a prick but I'm REALLY good at talking cops into doing what I want.

As far as pedals go I'm going to put in an axel or jackshaft right behind the engine on the plate, I want to have two detachable pedals or a "one way gear" because I dont want the pedals flying around on their own while I ride this thing. That would be extremely dangerous. The problem is I would have to connect them at a SUPER LOW ratio like 1:4 for a bicycle thats SLOW>>>>>> but the DMV says they have to "function" not function well.

 

[tundrabeagle3]

thats sounds pretty legit

makes me want to try and register my mini bike

 

[Socal_machinist]

Thanks, I know its weird huh? its like the vehicle CA forgot about. I've only seen ONE other registered moped, it was in santa monica total chop job like what I have going. I guess its a loophole because CA doesn't expect the average Joe to be able to build something like this. Sooner or later they are going to change it so nobody can register/drive these. Do you recall the 2-cycle pocket bike craze? like 6 months later totally illegal on city streets. I actually have handguns that are only legal because I myself built them. Everything else is yearly registration, and costs at least 400$ between registration taxes and insurance just for a motorcycle. Being the cheap SOB I am 19$ rocks.

I'm no attorney but you MIGHT be able to call your bike a motorized bicycle if you add some functional pedals and limit the power. For 19$ it might be worth it, the wait time is apparently like 3 weeks plenty of time to brainstorm alternative pedal drive system. Someone told me if you get a money order from the post office to pay them it cuts way down on the wait time.

 

[tundrabeagle3]

yea i was thinking about making a motorized bike but didnt know how to solve the problem of the pedals spinning

 

[Socal_machinist]

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Freewheel

Practically every bicycle ever made has one of these in it. Its just a one-way clutch meaning the wheel cant make your bicycle pedals turn but your pedals can force your wheel to turn. I have no doubt both of us could find these on any trashed bicycle complete with housing. I'm gonna go dumpster diving in the local bike shops trash dumpster tonight and see what I can find. I really don't know how it would hold up under high speed but they are designed to function with minimal maintenance for hundreds of miles. The biggest issue would be putting it on the jackshaft after that attaching pedal arms wouldnt be hard at all. I'm planning on making removable pedal arms. My plan is to have hex nuts welded to the outside of the jackshaft and use some cheap sockets that fit over them that are welded to pedal arms. Its a really "wonky" idea but this is only going to be functional for moments where the engine cant be used, really just to keep CA satisfied its still legally a bicycle with functional pedals.



My pedal idea, the yellow pedels depicted would snap on and off the jackshaft behind the engine. I didn't plan on putting a jackshaft in but as mentioned previously I'm concerned about my final gear ratio and take-off torque a jackshat opens the door wide open to all kinds of gear ratios for top end/take off or even a derailer with two or even three gears just like a bicycle. I have NO idea if that would work but if I'm unsatisfied with the powerband I explore it later on.

 

[Socal_machinist]

http://youtu.be/oUpBPz-mQXY it RUNS!