Summer FE options - Scooter, bike assist, etc

[friedlbug]

So I'm weighing some options for Summer now and considering what would make the most sense for me. I plan to use some of the economic stimulus refund (if it ever actually happens). My options, as I see them, are a small scooter or a bike with assist. The scooter would be a small gas model, as would the bike assist. Electric is probably out because my commute is 30 miles round trip, very hilly, and I think tunnels are off-limits to this class of vehicle. Highways will not be an option, either.

I have a lot to look into. For the scooter, I don't have enough money for a Japanese or Italian brand, and Chinese scooters are known to be junk. I would need to keep it under a certain max speed (30 MPH in PA, I think) to avoid it being considered a motorcycle. I'm overweight, and am not sure if such a scooter could keep me at a reasonable speed on a hill. A bike w/assist might be better since I could help the motor out by pedaling on hills. If pedaling is only needed in an amount I can handle until getting into a little better shape, and I don't end up needing a shower by the time I get to work, this could work out. OTOH, I won't be able to commute on it if I need to pedal too much.

I would only be able to commute on the scooter two days a week due to child transportation issues. The bike could be used for half the commute two additional days if it could be transported on a car carrier, since I can leave my car at the child care (family), and that is half way to work.

Any thoughts, and please let me know if you have any experience with commuting on a small scooter or bike w/assist.

[friedlbug]

PA Law:

MOPED
DEFINITION: A motor-driven cycle equipped with operable pedals, a motor rated no more than 1.5 brake
horsepower, a cylinder capacity not exceeding 50 cubic centimeters, an automatic transmission,
and a maximum design speed of no more than 25 miles per hour, or an electric motor-driven
cycle equipped with operable pedals and powered by an electric battery.
CRITERIA: 1. Engine may not exceed 50 cubic centimeters.
2. Engine may not exceed 1.5 brake horsepower rating.
3. Operable pedals required.
4. Automatic transmission required.
5. Design speed may not be more than 25 miles per hour.
6. Does not require inspection.

Unless it's not possible, it would be nice to stay within these parameters to keep the cost of registration down on a third vehicle and avoid inspection. What might make it impossible is my weight and the hills. For my purposes, both the scooter outlined above and the bike fall under this definition of a "moped" (assuming the scooter has vestigial pedals, which most of this size do). I'm leaning toward the bike, though, since I might be able to transport it by car and I can assist it up hills.

Is anybody on here around 260 lbs and have any experience with taking something like a Golden Eagle assisted bike up a hill?

[friedlbug]

So far, I'm most impressed with this site: www.spookytoothcycles.com They've put an electric assist back into my idea of possible solutions.

[smsimpson83]

that website is actually really sweet.... good luck!

[friedlbug]

I'm not really trying to force this topic - I just figured I'd continue since I've gone this far..

After looking through hundreds of websites and finding a really good resource in http://www.motoredbikes.com, I have settled on using electric, after all. I'll just have to pedal more. After going through the options of the nice electric bikes on Spookytooth.com, all of the various hub motors, and every other type from $300 to $3000, I've decided go with the Currie Electro-Drive-powered e-zip Trailz from Amazon, Walmart, or Northern Tool. I didn't really want to go bargain basement, but the izip Trailz on Spookytooth is the way I was headed, and the electric drives between the two are the same (the difference being the izip Trailz is a nicer base bicycle and costs $250 more). Other options were a cheap bike with a more expensive hub motor, but that wouldn't have gotten my much more power, would have had the disadvantage of being front wheel driven and would have cost more. I still have the option of hacking the system to run it at 36v at a later time.

[friedlbug]

After looking into Pennsylvania's archaic moped laws regarding assisted bikes, and finding incorrect information eveywhere I turned, I reached out to Currie Technologies technical support today. I verified this response, and want to post this incase it may be helpfull to any other prospective ebike riders. Also, this goes to show just how far Currie, as a company, and their CEO is willing to go to provide great service to someone who has not yet even purchased their lowest-priced product:

From: <removed for spambots>
To: <removed for spambots>
CC: <removed for spambots>
Subject: RE: Pennsylvania Law regarding eBikes
Date: Thu, 6 Mar 2008 20:00:23 -0500

Thank you very much for responding to me so quickly, Mr. Pizzi. I greatly appreciate the CEO of Currie Tech responding to my questions, especially within four hours of sending them. I have been posting my registration questions and an excerpt of the email I sent to <head of Tech Support> on a motored biking website. Would you mind if I posted your response so others in my situation can read it as well?

<friedlbug>


> From: <removed for spambots>
> To: <removed for spambots>
> CC: <removed for spambots>
> Subject: Pennsylvania Law regarding eBikes
> Date: Thu, 6 Mar 2008 16:07:49 -0800
>
> Hi <friedlbug>,
>
> Thanks for your email. I am not certain what the acronym "MSO" refers to
> however, I have attached some information that may be helpful to you. Also,
> you may want to contact the Electric Drive Transportation Association in
> Washington, DC to answer your questions about the law.
>
> As you can see from the Federal law that passed in January 2002, that low
> speed electric bicycles (all our products meet these qualifications to be
> defined as such) are to be considered consumer products and NOT motor
> vehicles. The law also states that it supersedes any State law that may be
> more restrictive or stringent.
>
> In Pennsylvania, the law on the books was written to address gas powered
> Mopeds that were popular in the 1970's and the Federal law was written this
> way specifically to address State Moped laws.
>
> I hope this helps and that you will be enjoying one of our electric bicycles
> very soon.
>
> Best regards,
>
> Larry Pizzi
>
> President
>
> CURRIE TECHNOLOGIES

_______________________

February 3, 2003
ELECTRIC BIKES RECLASSIFIED AS CONSUMER PRODUCTS
In December, President Bush signed into law legislation introduced by Representative Cliff Stearns (R-FL) that transfers jurisdiction over low-speed electric bikes from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) to the Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC), which already regulates consumer products such as bicycles. The law (Public Law 107-319/HR 727) defines a low-speed electric bicycle as a two- or three-wheeled vehicle with fully operable pedals and an electric motor of less than 750
watts (1 horsepower) and a maximum speed of 20 mph when ridden by an operator weighing 170 lbs. Further, the law clarifies that a low speed electric bicycle shall not be considered a motor vehicle, and therefore is not subject to motor vehicle safety standards and enforcement, but shall be subject to CPSC regulations. Under the law, CPSC has authority to promulgate new or additional regulations for such products. Finally, the new law supercedes any existing State laws that may be more stringent than the federal guidelines for such products. If you have questions about this issue, contact EDTA at 202.508-5995.

This deserves a

[99HXCivic]

Electric bikes stink, are heavy, slow, and have limited miles. Get a strap on bike engine from bikeengines.com - do 30+ mph and get 200 to 250 mpg!

[toastblows]

I had a 2004 and a 2007 Honda Ruckus last year. I sold the 2004 in May and bought a 2007.

Specs:
49cc
4.1hp
43mph top speed
220lb load capacity
100-102mpg over 4000 miles

I live 26 miles from work by car. The scooter actually took 27.5 miles because of restrictions on where it could be used (i.e. no highway). My round trip was 55 miles a day.

It took about 70-75 minutes to go one way. I used sidestreets and roads with lower speedlimits, 55 mph max. I was able to use 2 freeway bridge sidewalks due to the law allowing a non freeway vehicle like a scooter to use sidewalks when there is no alternative. It was the best commuting fun i ever had. I wouldnt hesitate to check it out.

You may notice my "moped" has a top speed of 43mph. Its up to you to report to your state its top speed. No one will verify this...so its in your interest to say "30 mph". In MN they caught me under the 2hp max restriction for a moped and classified it as a motorcycle...so i registered it in a neighboring state as a recreational vehicle that didnt have a hp restriction and its a moped classification. Interesting huh? P.S. i told the DMV in MN that my push lawn mower had a 6 hp engine....so do i need a special license for that?....they laughed and told me to write to my state rep.

[aca2983]

I just took a part-time "for fun" job which is 10 minute walking distance to my house. It pays 30% more than my previous job, and doesn't require a 30 minute drive and gas.

[DejaBlue]

I catch the train alot because my truck guzzles gas. Haven't drove it in a while for that reason. Looking into trading it in for something else. For now train and bus it is for me.