|
Mission Statement:
Reduce transportation costs through efficiency. Provide a
healthy alternative. Reduce highway infrastructure costs. Reduce dependence on
foreign oil. (less offshore drilling!) Improve access within
public facilities. And do it through augmenting the humans ability to propel a
bike on demand as needed. Side effect. Fun Factor of 9.
Motorized Bicycle History
Bicycle engines or motorized bikes became part of the landscape after
WWII. In Europe that is. The need derived from
necessity. Necessity to commute. Truth be known, bridges in GB for instance,
were severely damaged. The country offered tax credits to users because the
speed and the ability to be carried over destroyed roadways and rivers was
needed. This made a huge difference in time going from point A to point B. In
that country a front drive traction engine was the local hero.
The French, the German, the Italians also invested into bolt on power for
bikes. Fuel was of poor quality, yet the engines, while puffing a nasty
exhaust, chugged along. Designs limited use to particular bicycle styles. But in
those days, less than 90% of bikes were made in China, so no ten colors
and ten types. Bikes were made locally. Whether using chain drives, belt drives, front engine, rear engine,
hub motors, mid engine, or traction drive... well, installation
needed a mechanic, maintenance was every day. Traction drive won out because it
was attachable to more sizes of bikes and easier to maintain
However, once factories and bridges were rebuilt,
the economies recovered, motorcycles became popular. At motorcycle trade shows, add-on
engines for pedal
style bicycles to the shows were banned . As it would deter growth of the industry. The shows
only for motorized bicycles lacked interest and a bicycle engine was relinquished as
a recovery tool. The market died.
However as time went on the old friction drives from the French and the
Britain's version drove on and on. Why? Answer: simplicity, aka: low
maintenance. (really what our product is about) They still run. Somebody
kept using it. For thrift, for autonomy.
Motorized Bicycle flair rebounded as a "tickle me Elmo" in the later
50's to early 1960's in the U.S. Got an old Boy's Life"? It's in there...
The WHIZZER:
I took a Whizzer in trade at a show in Oshkosh, WI. 110 cc and will do 35.
But for every 3 hours of use, there is an hour of service. The old heavy designs
fit nice with our relics room. As they show how we took a step back not to
reinvent the wheel, but reinvent how it is built.
It is plain to see that chain and belt drive systems are the predecessor's
attempt at creating a motorcycle. Yet try to circumvent laws that exclude
motorized bicycles from motorized vehicles. Today those scooters, mopeds, and
transmission based chain and belt drives really muddy the water.
It is an attempt to get adolescents on public transportation
roads.( NOT what our shop about.) For whatever appeal they
have, many children have been killed on our competitors shop. Visibility and
knowledge of the average driver's attitude is not sold in a box.
|
