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...I just bought one....

well, built one....


this in red...



80cc.

will do about 50mph or so....

thoughts?

(yes I already considered how gay I might look on it, I don't care, its so fun....I live downtown and its all I need to get around)

Why?

If you can't be arsed to pedal, then buy a moped or motorbike; why the in-between version?

For fun!

It looks awesome. Do you have to get it inspected and approved and stuff? I assume you need a driving licence.

In Japan lots of people use these electric motorized bikes.

http://knowledge.allianz.com/nopi_downloads/images/electric_bicycle_z.jpg

great question..

1. I used to be really into both mountain biking and urban biking, I was the guy bombing through traffic on a 1000 dollar bike at 40 mph down hill, or bombing through the woods, doing neat tricks and what not...2 years ago I had an accident which cased me to tear my ACL and MCL, I am not sure your knowledge of anatomy, but it was bad...like, knee cap moving 3 inches away where it's supposed to be bad. I could not bike(nor walk without my trusty gandalf cane/crutches) for 4 months, then a year ago, while biking, I re-injured it....another 2 months...now, unless I am in low gear, I cannot bike up hills or do anything strenuous...unless I get a beep boop robotic knee replacement....

2. Seattle is a city that is composed of primarily hills. Downtown is one huge hill, then there is Queen Anne Hill, Capitol Hill, First Hill, etc...you get it.....this equals a lot of strenuous biking....

3. parking is ridiculously expensive, with monthly parking, gas, and insurance, I am looking at close to $1000 dollars a month for a car...a little less for a motorcycle...

4. Here is the kicker....it requires no license, permit, or insurance to operate...I can drive it literally ANYWHERE I want, legally.

5. 150 miles to the gallon....gas is pushing $3 per gallon for regular grade here....

6. it's a 2 stroke motor, so it has incredible torque....

Well I know what you mean with regards the ACL - I ruptured mine playing football a few years ago and ended up having the bionic knee option.

What you say makes sense I guess. I wouldn't do it myself personally; I have seen too much of city traffic and city driving to place myself unprotected on a bike, motorised or otherwise. If I had to go into the city, I would either cough up the cash and travel (relatively) safer in a car, or take the bus.

Horses for courses, I guess.

I've lived in the city my whole life, if it's my time to go, it's my time to go. if I am meant to remain here, I will. I have lived through multiple biking accidents, a high speed head on collision (car vs car), and getting blind-sided by a truck (car vs truck)....I think somebody wants me around...


really I think it's all about being aware of your surroundings.


and yeah, dude....the knee thing sucks, doesn't it?

IG_urban wrote:great question..

1. I used to be really into both mountain biking and urban biking, I was the guy bombing through traffic on a 1000 dollar bike at 40 mph down hill, or bombing through the woods, doing neat tricks and what not...2 years ago I had an accident which cased me to tear my ACL and MCL, I am not sure your knowledge of anatomy, but it was bad...like, knee cap moving 3 inches away where it's supposed to be bad. I could not bike(nor walk without my trusty gandalf cane/crutches) for 4 months, then a year ago, while biking, I re-injured it....another 2 months...now, unless I am in low gear, I cannot bike up hills or do anything strenuous...unless I get a beep boop robotic knee replacement....

That fething sucks. I used to ride breakless BMX without a helmet, in some ways I am just lucky that nothing terrible ever happened. On the other hand, knowing how to ride breakless saved my life once; not that riding w/o a helmet ever did anything for me... besides making me a stupid kid at the time.

2. Seattle is a city that is composed of primarily hills. Downtown is one huge hill, then there is Queen Anne Hill, Capitol Hill, First Hill, etc...you get it.....this equals a lot of strenuous biking....

Mopeds are pretty damn awesome, I have thought about putting one together on several occasions.

3. parking is ridiculously expensive, with monthly parking, gas, and insurance, I am looking at close to $1000 dollars a month for a car...a little less for a motorcycle...

1000$... really? That is some seriously expensive car insurance and parking. Do you have a horrific driving record or something? I know parking and car insurance are generally expensive, but a thousand bucks a month is some serious freaking cash.

4. Here is the kicker....it requires no license, permit, or insurance to operate...I can drive it literally ANYWHERE I want, legally.

I'd be careful thinking about Mopeds like that, they aren't allowed to go literally anywhere. At the very least you'll be prohibited from driving on the freeway.

5. 150 miles to the gallon....gas is pushing $3 per gallon for regular grade here....

6. it's a 2 stroke motor, so it has incredible torque....

Really makes me wish I didn't need a truck.

lol I didn't mean the freeway.... I am well aware of WA state's laws. I meant that it is a bicycle and so it can go anywhere a bike can, and also on 40mph and under roads....

sorry for not clarifying that.





I used to street race (and track race), when I was younger...I have a few speeding tickets and reckless driving tickets from back in the day that I took awhile to pay off....they stay on my record for three years AFTER they are paid off...

but yeah, monthly parking in the Seattles is around 250-400 per month...the cheaper the lot, the lamer the security and what not....

with a clean record, as a WA state male under 25, (Im 23) liability only with state farm (the only insurance I would hold) would be around 450....but for me uis more around 6.... so yeah, pushing 1000 with gas like I said.

Sucks about the cost of parking, I take public transportation to downtown areas because there usually is no street parking either way. Parking garages have to be some of the most profitable businesses imaginable, unless I am totally missing something. Supply and demand, I guess.

I am a bit shocked at the cost of your insurance, my basic liability insurance runs me like a hundred a month, and I could switch to AAA for 20-30 bucks more. 450 dollars is mind-numbingly high, unless you are getting quotes for sports cars. I'm in the same demo you would be, unless you have a spotty driving record.

I'm not arguing that having a car isn't expensive, mind you. I have just found that I don't have enough of a reason to get myself a fourth type of transportation. Relying on public transportation and not being able to bike around makes a moped a really cool option for you. If you needed a car, I would say that having one is important, but if you don't need it they can be a total waste of money.

Nice ride! I could use on of those. How did you do the gears for that? Or does it have more than one gear?

Im gla i dont have to drive yet.An the more money for gas the better,becuase my dad makes more money then.

This is how I foresee this ending:

I have been riding in the city long enough, and have ridden a real motorcycle enough, to know to be aware and hyper vigilant. Those will go a long way as to assuring my safety on the road....if you are paying enough attention for yourself and the people that aren't, you going to be ok...

...like I said before...if it's my time, it's my time.

I think that is a cool ass bike. Id ride it for sure