[Thor] sent in an awesome motorized bike build he found coming from the fruitful workshop of [Jim Gallant]. It’s an incredible piece of work built nearly entirely from scratch.
[Jim] welded the frame together on a home-built jig that keeps all the chrome-moly tubes in alignment before they’re pieced together. With the jig, the frame was kept extremely straight making a bike that turns very well and can be ridden no-handed.
All of [Jim]’s previous motorized bikes used small Honda engines, but after hearing Robin Subaru engines are more reliable he decided to give one a go. The motor is attached to the derailleur gears with a continuously variable transmission usually found in scooters. [Jim]’s earlier motorized bikes didn’t have indexed shifting and disc brakes like modern motorized bikes, but he decided to throw them in anyway. Everyone who rides his new super grocery getter comments on how smooth the ride is with these additions.
While [Jim] doesn’t have an official speed or MPG rating, he’s guessing this bike can carry three bags of groceries at 30 mph at 170 miles per gallon. A very efficient mode of transportation that is much safer than the other motorized bikes we’ve seen before.
That bicycle chain is very thin and will most likely snap or wear out very quickly. There is a reason real mopeds use thicker chain (415/420)…
Other than that, it looks like great build!
I doubt it. It looks like he used a 1 to 1.5 hp engine. That’s 700 to 1000 Watts of power, something pro cyclists can maintain for an extended number of minutes. If the chain can take a 1000 Watt load from a cyclist, it can take it from a motor…
Plus, you only need at most 400 Watts to travel at 20mph… Its probably closer 200 Watts
I’m no motor specialist, but a gas engine will have transients that you wouldn’t see from a person.
I’ve built numerous motorized bikes with standard bicycle chain. They have lasted years with no issues. They are more than strong enough due to lack of torque from those little engines. Human legs have MUCH more torque!
nice!
What an interesting design!
How many days of food (and for how many people) does that haul on one trip?
Is he interested in selling them? how much would he charge?
In investigating the jig that Jim Gallant constructed, He *was* interested in building motorized bikes for sale,that was until he learn the cost of liability insurance. Perhaps he could fill a demand and make a few coins by publishing plans that included full sized templates for the tubing ends fish mouth cuts.
would this be road legal?
I know that in NYS it’s illegal to ride one of these on a public roadway (no motorized bikes, skateboards, or just about anything due to lack of proper safety equipment)
how are the Riquimbilis not as safe?
Looks like just the standard 3rd-world construction issues; the assembly would be from whatever’s available, with the inherent quality issues. This should give a much smoother ride and be less likely to catch on fire.
Maybe selling the bike as a kit would get around the liability issues. That way all he does is supply the parts, frame, gears, motor and chains.