Fuel-Efficient Bicycle Engines
Gas Engine Kits Save Money on Gas and are Cheaper than Mopeds
Mar 25, 2008
With the price of a gallon of gas expected to reach $4 a gallon this summer, it becomes even more important to find economical means of transportation. Many people turn to scooters and mopeds for their work commute, but there is another option that is cheaper than scooters and mopedsand does not require a special license in many US states and Canadian provinces. The reader at this point may be wondering what this device is, but it is far from a new idea. The solution is to attach an engine to a bicycle.
The idea of attaching engines to bicycle is what lead to the creation of motorcycles, but what would be a full-fledged motorcycle today is a distant cousin to modern bicycle engines. Bicycle engines can achieve a fuel efficency of 150 miles per gallon and have a top speed of 35 miles per hour, depending on the weight of the rider.
Finding a Bicycle Engine
Many bicycle engine kits are sold on E-bay for about $200 dollars with shipping, but it does take time and mechanical skill to assemble these kits. Buyers from the United States should be wary of buying a bicycle engine kit from sellers whose address is outside of the United States. The engines can be confiscated before they arrive at the buyer's door. In 2005, the EPA placed a ban on the import of two-cycle engines to the United States, but the two-cycle kits remain popular despite the EPA's importation ban.
The ban on two-stroke bicycle engines is not a problem if the seller resides in the United States where it can be assumed they received the item legally. Four-stroke bicycle engines get about the same gas mileage as the two-cycle kits and are more environmentally friendly.
How Much Time Will a Bicycle Engine Take to Install?
A bicycle engine kit can be installed on most bicycles within a few hours. Such a kit does not mean that the user can no longer pedal the bike, but the bicycle engine forums do suggest there is a slight drago on the pedals when the engine is not running. If the bicycle engine is a two-cycle motor, the user will need to mix oil with gasoline acccording to the instructions of the manufacturer. Most two-cycle bicycle engines have a break in period where the user must mix in a higher oil to gasoline ratio.
Bicycle engines are a great way to save money on gas and commute costs, and are cheaper than a moped or scooter. A person who purchases a bicycle engine and installs it on his bike should check the laws of the state or province laws where.
The disclaimer on bicycle engine kits from the manufactures and sellers remains that putting an engine on a bicycle increases the risk of riding a bicycle by itself. The person who buys a bicycle engine kit or a bicycle with an engine mounted should make sure he has all the safety equipment he needs.
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