Building a Better Motorized Bicycle

toyotaboy writes "Saw this in 'design news' magazine. It's a bicycle using an engine that looks like something pulled off of an R/C airplane. He uses a gear reduction system as well as a overrunning clutch to keep the engine running while stopped. Claims to get 20 mile range from its 1/4 gallon gas tank (80mpg). If you figure most engines like that are 30k rpm with 1:100 gear reduction, and an average bike rim is 26", you should get potentially 1,458,000 inches per hour, or 23mph! He goes on to say that similar devices in electric form (segway) fail because of their heavy 80lb weight and limited 10-15 mile range (and where do you recharge?) This thing can be filled back up at any gas station."

Comments

Re:Mmmm.. fat people..

[Pharmboy]

Fat and lazy people will be overjoyed that they do not acually have to push the petals.....


Don't worry, someone will put a starter on it for the lazy people, adding to the wieght, so you need a bigger gas tank, adding to the weight, and since its so heavy, you need a heavier frame. oh shit, we just invented the moped.

Reminds me: Every time I pass someone on a moped, I just want to yell out the window of my truck "Sorry about your drinking problem!".

2 stroke engines are filthy

[Zog The Undeniable]

...and likely to be banned in the next decade, even for chainsaws and the like. This is a serious backwards step. A fuel cell powered bike should be possible, though.