What is the most powerful bike light i can buy?

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tom90051gu

i'm looking to get some proper big lights for my mountain bike (a felt q620). As i'll be going off road a lot i need some lights that will illuminate quite a distance so i put it to you, what is the most powerful bike light i can buy? some links would be greatly appreciated and money isn't an issue (unless its like £2million each :P)

Answer
Definitely spend the money on an H.I.D. or one of the super bright new generation LED systems. Don't waste money on a halogen light unless you'll be riding at slower speeds on relatively smooth trails that you know well. Halogen just isn't bright enough for fast riding on trails....you'll out-pace the beam and although it makes for a more exciting ride you can really pay the price in blood that way. :o) Even the dual-light 32w-ish halogen systems aren't bright enough for fast riding in my experience.

When shopping, pay attention to lumens output....that's the best way to compare lights. They're all screwy with their marketing because they know people will want to have the brightest light, so there are all kinds of brightness descriptions out there. And watch for the Best "in its class" claims, too. As said above, run time might really matter to you also....you always need to have a secondary backup light with you just in case (even a flashlight will do) but try to pick a light that will last long enough for your rides and keep in mind that batteries will run for shorter periods as they age or when it's really cold outside. If you plan on doing any 24hr races then you'll want a fast charger, too (and possibly an extra battery for an outrageous price).

I have a Light N Motion HID that is fantastic.....I normally ride with it on my helmet. If you plan on doing any jumps or have really rough trails, you'll probably want to use a bright light on your helmet and some other light on your handlebars so that you won't be landing in complete darkness if you take to the air. Otherwise one light is usually enough. For years I used a Niterider 15w halogen and enjoyed it on the road bike, occasionally on the trail....but it was tricky to make fast turns in the trees and tended to wash out the terrain textures in the red dirt we have around here. The HID is way better so long as you don't blind the raccoons or your riding buddies.

I really like Light N Motion much better than Niterider, but in the last couple years Niterider has finally improved their lights and addressed problems. They're both good companies but my money is with the first one. I hear great things about Dianotte, too, but nobody around here has one that I've seen and I have zero experience with them.

Plan on spending $300 and up. Nashbar, Pricepoint, and Jenson often have some super closeout deals on HID lights from Niterider and Light N Motion. I got mine from Nashbar for about $220 with a sale price and a discount coupon...sweet deal.

EDIT: If you really want a SUPER powerful light....a local guy rigged up his bike with two R/C airplane landing lights and a *heavy* 6v gel battery. Crap, that setup was brighter than highbeams on most cars! A bit overkill, though. lol

What is the best light for trail riding and commuting?

mdjdg

I need a bike light for off road riding and commuting to work I have been looking at the exposure lights, but unsure of just how powerful the light needs to be?.
Do I go LED or Halogen and what power (watts/Lumens) should I look at?
Willing to pay for a decent set, any recommendations on brand or power would be appreciated.

Answer
I use a twin halogen set up. This has a 5W wide beam and a 10W direct beam for distance. This is OK for general trails and roads, although there are better systems out there, that will give you higher watts and long life.

There are three considerations when buying a light. Firstly, the brightness, secondly the burn time (Battery life) and thirdly the weight.

My system, Electron, is quite cheap at £42 and has a NiMh (Nical Metal Hydrade) batter. This is qhite light and gives a burn time of 5.5hrs (5W), 2.6 hrs (10W) or 1.6 hrs (Both).

Cat eye do a reasonable entry 10W, but the burn time is 2 hrs dead, with no warning. A friend of mine rides with Lupines (45W for 8 hrs). These are good lights, but cost about £450. Ideal for XC endurance racing or events like "Sleepless in the Saddle", but are a bit of overkill when looking for a general ride.

As far as LED goes, these offer great battery life, however, they are not great at wide beam. However, they offer a good value for money and reasonable performance.

MBR did a review of lighting systems in the November issue. Go to:

www.MBR.co.uk

to read.

However, I would say that you should spend between £40 - £100 on an entry level light. If you are hitting the trails in winter, do not get a light with an integrated battery. Go for a separate bag or bottle cage mount. (Otherwise the extra weight will shake your light to pieces). Also, do not buy from Halfords. They do not know what they are talking about. Try these sites instead (Note: There is a review section for Chainreaction in the forums section of the site):

www.chainreactioncycles.co.uk
www.wiggle.co.uk
www.woolyhatshop.co.uk.
www.evanscycles.co.uk

Luck

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Can we use FI system in place of a carburator ina four stroke petrol engine?

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Chinmaya R

I want to know that can any indian bike which are using carburator will be replaced by a fuel injection system?please suggest me.

Answer
yes. in theroy. if you can find one that will work/adapt to this. but it will need a programed fuel mapping computer and air intake/fuel monitoring sensors to deal w/ advance fuel curves. the fuel advance curve will be typical to spark and cam curves. along with an electric fuel pump that is rated for the app.

"please suggest me."

best to just rebuild the carb. and if this bike is from India, good luck with that. finding a kit in N. America.

what is the Future for motorcycles that haven't changed in style for years and same style motors?

stardancer

China makes a 3 wheel car that seats 4 and is a 4 door.India makes ans Selle's 3 wheel cars
that gets over 50 miles Gal.

Answer
Given that the internal combustion engine is so inefficient, even the most efficient lose more energy in radiation (heat) than they transfer to the back wheel, I think the next major step will be in electric motors with the advent of light(er)weight batteries. Of course these are not necessarily more environmentally friendly â creating the electricity creates greenhouse gases, even manufacturing the batteries is a dirty industry â but they have instant huge torque, have few moving parts, are reliable and simple, and can use forward movement and braking to claw back some charge. Would increasing the number of wheels or seats improve motorcycles? In many cases the compromise will enlarge the bike so much that it loses many of its advantages especially in towns.

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Can anybody tell me how is the performance of electric bikes & cars .How much economical differece?

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ROCKY

is there as compared to petrol bikes & cars

Answer
"Performance" has several factors. We generally think of this on the basis of an IC engine. As a result we tend to think of acceleration, handling and fuel economy. With battery electric vehicles there is also a reference to the vehicle range on a charge. While "range anxiety" is not usually a consideration in an ICE vehicle I do recall a time in the Australian outback where I would have given almost anything for a petrol station.

Generally it takes longer for electrons to flow into a battery than for gasoline to fill a gas tank. Electrons will flow into an ultracapacitor far more quickly and development of ultracapacitors that can hold sufficient charge will resolve the issue. Alternatively if they can be made cheaply enough they could be included with batteries and will extend the life of batteries and enable the vehicle to be quickly charged with energy (from ultracapacitors at "fueling" stations. Presently the best that an electric vehicle can offer is less concentration on fueling. You fuel at home. It takes seconds to start and stop a charge. The rest of the time you can be doing other things. Alternatively you must make special trips to fueling stations where someone must pay attention to the fueling process.

Batteries in an BEV (battery electric vehicle) are typically low in the vehicle. This improves handling as it lowers the center of gravity. Acceleration in electric vehicles is better than ICE vehicles due to full torque starting from 0 RPM in electric motors.1

Under present economic conditions an electric vehicle can save its owner approximately $1000 to $1400 per year in fueling costs in addition to the increase in performance.2 The vehicle except for batteries has a projected life many times that of ICE vehicles, possibly as much as 80 years as compared to the life expectancy of an ICE vehicle of about 10 years. Present batteries have a life expectancy of between 5 to 10 years and may represent 1/2 the investment in the vehicle. Ultra capacitors would have an expected life that exceeds the rest of the vehicle. There is some question about whether the electric vehicle will depreciate very rapidly with little residual value or if the addition of newer battery packs or even ultracapacitors would be like adding an addition to real estate and possibly restore or even exceed the original value of the vehicle. It may be possible that the vehicles will appreciate rather than depreciate like a very few of the classic ICE vehicles. 3

Could a person under 16 operate a motorized vehicle on a roadway or sidewalk?

Culley

my son is 14 going on 15 and I was wondering if it was legal for him to operate one of the following vehicles on the road or sidewalk:
- Go cart
- Moped (less than 50cc)
- Motorbike (less than 50cc)
- electric motorbike
- A bike converted to run off a chainsaw engine

Just for reference we live in Loudon County, Va. in a suburban bordering on rural area. Also if you know any other street or sidewalk legal vehicles he could operate, could you suggest them? I have a price limit of around $1000, but willing to spring for something if you recommend it. Thanks!!

Answer
Motor vehicle laws are local and this forum is National with international visitors. Your best source of information will be you state DMV which may have some FAQ you could check on a website like this one: http://www.dmv.state.va.us/drivers/#teen.asp

You also might look for your specific question relative to your state

Go carts seem to be available for off road use: http://answers.yahoo.com/question/index?qid=20090707204036AAnwhK5 contact those in business for the relative regulations

Mopeds in Va: http://www.scootrichmond.com/shopping-tools/virginia-moped-and-motorcycle-laws

motorized bicycles at less than 49cc would come under the moped exemptions/restrictions: http://www.motoredbikes.com/showthread.php?36692-Motorized-bikes-in-Virginia

Electric bikes seems to also fall under moped rules: http://www.electricvehiclemall.com/pdf/Virginia_E-Bike_Law.pdf

The fatal exclusion is that your son must be 16.

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What can we do about rising gas prices? Is there a way to protest?

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Mariposa

I can ride a bike and walk but there are some places you just can't walk to. What do you do? What can we do?

Answer
despite what people think, USA has cheep gas compared to the world... even tho its outrageous (expected to hit 7 USD's this summer). If you live in town and do not have kids, consider buying an electric assisted bike. ( http://www.thegostore.com/cosoxbelmo.html ) there; cheep to buy, street legal, can be driven on the side walk, do not require a license, and you don't have to pay any taxes on them.
if you have a family and kids and live in the city. consider buying a electric converted Geo metro.( http://e-volks.com/index.html ) They cost as much as the average used car. They cost less to operate ( less then .06 USD a mile) and are perfect for in city driving

if you travel more then 70 miles a day.....
you should buy a fuel efficient car.. like a Honda that gets 70 mpg

Does the government have alternate sources of energy that they are not disclosing?

NortDaddy

The worldâs economy is based on petroleum products. Every known alternate or hybrid source of energy is only a stop-gap for oil, not a replacement. Everything we know only prolongs the supply, or shifts it from the current means. If the government can still make money on oil, are they hiding the solution until we run dry?

Answer
Yes and No.
There will always be oil, petrol for the Elite.
While they ruin the planet with lear jets and motor yachts, we will be using electric technology that was used in the first part of the 20th century.
One of the first working automobiles was an electric car.
One of the first Internal Combustion autos, Henry Fords Model T , got 24 MPG, that is better than any hummer.
That was 100 years ago.
Mr Stanleys Steamer used coal, or whatever would burn, horse droppings, cattle pooh, dead limbs of trees to generate Steam Compression. It worked then, it works now.
The current gov makes a TON of revenues from Petrol products. They levy taxes on the purchase of the vehicle, they levy taxes on the use of the vehicle, they levy taxes on the fuel it uses to operate, then they levy taxes on the destruction of the vehicle. It is a win/win for them.
Solar Power, developed by NASA with Tax $, is now a private industry. It is a known fact that if 1/16 of Nevada was used as a solar collection area, it could generate enough electricity to power 1/2 of the nation, 24/7.
Add wind and Tidal collections you would have the country covered in renewable, safe, clean energy.
Look at an interstate highway, if one could have a train transport there personal vehicle, and take buses , 80 people not driving 80 vehicles could travel across the country in three days and there cars would be waiting after they arrived.
The interstate highways and other infrastructure is collapsing around us while we rebuild some other country that we were responsible for partially destroying.
If more cities and towns used buses that ran on hybrid or bio diesel, that would save a mass of oil and environment.
I ride a bike, I take the buses, or I sail.
I choose to.

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How can I live a more environmentally conscious life?

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Q. I am learning more about global warming and the impact a family of four has on this earth versus 250 people in an undeveloped nation. Things like this really make me want to get more involved and lessen my footprint on the earth, but how? Where do I start? I want to vote for the right laws to help this but I don't understand them all. I can't afford an electric car or to start using a solar panel for energy, so how can I help?

Answer
The four corner stones of the current environmental movement are Reduce, Recycle, Re-use, and Re-purpose with a theme of Sustainability. The good news is that most of us have plenty of eco-friendly opportunities available to us with equally commiserate financial rewards. In some cases, it does take an investment of time or money before the savings can be realised.

I often suggest that people start scouring the "frugal living" sites and boards for as whole host of money saving ideas. Money is but one resource we use. What we spend our money on involves a whole host of additional resources. Saving resources is what the Reduce, Re-use, and Re-purposing cornerstones are all about. For a personal inventory of opportunity, start by peering into your garbage, recycle, and waste cans and bins. Do you see paper napkins, paper towels, disposable wipes, or individual serving containers in your waste stream? What types of chemical based items do you see in terms of cleaning, garden, and other non-food items? Start with those things that are easy to remedy even if they are a small, over all portion of your waste stream.

Another area to take a personal inventory from is your budgeting system, check book, credit card receipts, cash receipts, bills, etc... These also tell you what you spend your money on, buy, and consume. You may want to address utility bills and/or the resources used that generate those bills. This could be things like using less electricity or water, using less vehicle fuel through combined trips, and so on. Or you could discover that maybe off-road racing could be replaced by pedle bike racing for both an economic and an environmental savings. Some people take up visiting their local library more often for both an economic and environmental savings.

Reviewing one's spending habits also brings up the idea of doing more active purchasing decision making which can also reduce certain types of consumption and hence resource use. Doing things like taking an closet inventory before hitting the mall can help one realise that what they really need is a coordinating piece to something they already own versus a whole new outfit. Developing honest needs criteria and purchasing decisions on tools, equipment, and supplies for either the home or garage; you can add additional environmentally conscious criteria such as durability as you choose too.

For many, minimalist living is not particularly functional for most of us trying to also be environmentally conscious. You may see the need for better window treatments, different landscaping, or some just plain caulk even if you are "only a renter". Cloth linens like napkins, towels, and scrub rags may be an investment opportunity for both financial and enviornmental returns. Individual glass serving containers, a stainless water bottle, and so on may work for you. To be able to honestly Re-use and Re-purpose, most of us need some tools of the trade, to learn some skills, and be able to think outside of the box within the Do-It-Yourself (DYI) frame of mind too.

Start small and with the easy stuff; what may be easy for you is not necessarily going to be easy for me. It's a whole life style change with a number of economic and health benefits that simply happen in the process. And, the opportunities simply keep on coming in easier and easier modes as the rest of the community comes on board.

What does is mean to green: like recycleling and stuff?

My mom wants us to start being more environmentally aware and asked me to look some things up. Can anyone give me any pointers and such? Thanks! ^-^

Answer
show your mom my answer

In Your Home â Reduce Toxicity


Eliminate mercury from your home by purchasing items without mercury, and dispose of items containing mercury at an appropriate drop-off facility when necessary (e.g. old thermometers).
Learn about alternatives to household cleaning items that do not use hazardous chemicals.
Buy the right amount of paint for the job.
Review labels of household cleaners you use. Consider alternatives like baking soda, scouring pads, water or a little more elbow grease.
When no good alternatives exist to a toxic item, find the least amount required for an effective, sanitary result.
If you have an older home, have paint in your home tested for lead. If you have lead-based paint, cover it with wall paper or other material instead of sanding it or burning it off.
Use traps instead of rat and mouse poisons and insect killers.
Have your home tested for radon.
Use cedar chips or aromatic herbs instead of mothballs.

In Your Yard


Avoid using leaf blowers and other dust-producing equipment.
Use an electric lawn- mower instead of a gas-powered one.
Leave grass clippings on the yard-they decompose and return nutrients to the soil.
Use recycled wood chips as mulch to keep weeds down, retain moisture and prevent erosion.
Use only the required amount of fertilizer.
Minimize pesticide use.
Create a wildlife habitat in your yard.
Water grass early in the morning.
Rent or borrow items like ladders, chain saws, party decorations and others that are seldom used.
Take actions that use non hazardous components (e.g., to ward off pests, plant marigolds in a garden instead of using pesticide).
Put leaves in a compost heap instead of burning them or throwing them away. Yard debris too large for your compost bin should be taken to a yard-debris recycler.

In Your Office

Copy and print on both sides of paper.
Reuse items like envelopes, folders and paper clips.
Use mailer sheets for interoffice mail instead of an envelope.Use mailer sheets for interoffice mail instead of an envelope.
Set up a bulletin board for memos instead of sending a copy to each employee.
Use e-mail instead of paper correspondence.
Use recycled paper.
Use discarded paper for scrap paper.
Encourage your school and/or company to print documents with soy-based inks, which are less toxic.
Use a ceramic coffee mug instead of a disposable cup.

Ways To Protect Our Air


Ask your employer to consider flexible work schedules or telecommuting.
Recycle printer cartridges.
Shut off electrical equipment in the evening when you leave work.
Report smoking vehicles to your local air agency.
Don't use your wood stove or fireplace when air quality is poor.
Avoid slow-burning, smoldering fires. They produce the largest amount of pollution.
Burn seasoned wood - it burns cleaner than green wood.
Use solar power for home and water heating.
Use low-VOC or water-based paints, stains, finishes and paint strippers.
Purchase radial tires and keep them properly inflated for your vehicle.
Paint with brushes or rollers instead of using spray paints to minimize harmful emissions.
Ignite charcoal barbecues with an electric probe or other alternative to lighter fluid.
If you use a wood stove, use one sold after 1990. They are required to meet federal emissions standards and are more efficient and cleaner burning.
Walk or ride your bike instead of driving, whenever possible.
Join a carpool or vanpool to get to work.






Ways to Use Less Water

Check and fix any water leaks.
Install water-saving devices on your faucets and toilets.
Don't wash dishes with the water running continuously.
Wash and dry only full loads of laundry and dishes.
Follow your community's water use restrictions or guidelines.
Install a low-flow shower head.
Replace old toilets with new ones that use a lot less water.
Turn off washing machine's water supply to prevent leaks.

Ways to Protect Our Water


Revegetate or mulch disturbed soil as soon as possible.
Never dump anything down a storm drain.
Have your septic tank pumped and system inspected regularly.
Check your car for oil or other leaks, and recycle motor oil.
Take your car to a car wash instead of washing it in the driveway.
Learn about your watershed.


Create Less Trash


Buy items in bulk from loose bins when possible to reduce the packaging wasted.
Avoid products with several layers of packaging when only one is sufficient. About 33 of what we throw away is packaging.
Buy products that you can reuse.
Maintain and repair durable products instead of buying new ones.
Check reports for products that are easily repaired and have low breakdown rates.
Reuse items like bags and containers when possible.
Use cloth napkins instead of paper ones.
Use reusable plates and utensils instead of disposable ones.
Use reusable containers to store food instead of alum

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How often should I charge my 12 volt motorcycle battery in the winter?

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2 legit 2

Took battery out of bike and inside house. Battery is new.

Answer
About once a month I put my battery on an automatic charger set to 2 amps. I leave it on the charger for an hour or so.

VERY IMPORTANT: Never charge a motorcycle battery at more than 2 amps.

See the link below for an excellent article on motorcycle battery care.

Will a battery eliminator work on my bike?

Lightnin Q

My bike has been customised slightly, various parts have been taken off and there is no longer space for a battery. the bike is a 1976 Honda CB125J, with a 6 volt electrical system and Points ignition. i've seen a few things on the internet called battery eliminators, but apparently they're for magneto ignition. can anyone tell me a bit more about them, and if one would work on my bike?

Answer
If my memory serves me the bike has a NON self exciting alternator with remote points on the cam shaft it therefore doesnot have a generator ( dc) or a magneto.
As it has this type of alternator you will need some form of battery to give you the initial impetus to fire the coil.
A battery elliminator isn't much space saving over a small sealed for life rechargable battery in fact there isn't any.
The battery you will require does not need to be that high an output especially if you are driving the lighhts directly off of the alternator or doing without lights completely

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why gas prices are so high?

best electric bicycle 2012 image

ronilo

we have a car and we suffer of this gas crisis. Im wondering why, nature does not get money from those oil miners, they get gases underground for free!!!!and why do they increase the prices of these FREE gases underground???

high demand??? what a heck, why the dont suck gas underground to make millions and millions and billions of gallons of gas. or get a underground gas-sucking device???

im mad of those high prices.

or, mother nature makes it high to reduce global warming??? oh men, go back to bicycle...

and i expect that the prices WONT get down when it higher.

Answer
we cant do anything but to reduce the usage. china and other countries use more gases and we pay for it. bikes? electric cars are better. if the gas prices become low, i think it will be in 2012, or something like that.... and i think that we already sucked the rest of the underground gas. go electric!!!!

Do i need emission test on my car in Ct?

william r

i am buying a 1997 car,do i need a emission test to bring to DMV,someone told me since its over 10 years i dont need it.I live in Connecticut

Answer
You will have to get this done for your vehicle.

Exempt Vehicles

There are some exemptions to the program, particularly newer models, many older vehicles, motorcycles and other specialized vehicles:

New vehicles that are four or less model years old (as of 1/1/12, model years 2010, 2011, 2012 and 2013).

A motor vehicle twenty five-years old or older, (C.G.S. 14-164c © âtwenty-five or more years agoâ shall mean the number of years arrived at by subtracting the model year of the motor vehicle seeking the exemption from the current calendar year).

Vehicles with a gross vehicle weight rating of more than 10,000 pounds.

Composite Vehicles (Effective July 1, 2007) (vehicle must be registered as a composite vehicle).

Electric-powered vehicles

Bicycles with motors attached

Motorcycles

Certain vehicles registered but not designed primarily for highway use

Farm vehicles

Class-1 School Buses

Vehicles with Dealer, Repairer, or Transporter Plates while official tests are obtained

http://www.ctemissions.com/exempt.html

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Can Bill Gates show the world how to get cheap energy?

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Tom S

He can't even produce an affordable, reliable, and secure (protected against viruses, spam ware etc) version or Windows. We're still paying a fortune for Windows with it's service packs.

How can he show the world how to get cheap energy. He claims what he really wants is clean energy at half its current cost. To do that, he said, we'll need new technology.

Answer
That man is an island unto himself, i don't care how much money he has.
the greatest inventions, and world changing ideas into reality came from people,
with scientific morality and God sence of purpose. Anybody who would hire
Balmer, is not on the side of righeousness, and the american dream
of cheap energy. Hogwash, that is a wolf in sheepskin. I'll bring you
cheap energy and hire balmer too deliver it. There is no energy that exists on this
planet or any other planet that is cheap. Try converting the sun/EXPENSIVE,Nuclear/EXPENSIVE
Wind?THERE IS NONE OR ENOUGH,Hydroelectric/EXPENSIVE>FISH,oil/EXPENSIVE and
running out,electric cars or hybrids/EXPENSIVE.

unless he's teaming up with Opera winfrey, too buy us all pedal bikes,
he's out of touch with reality. He going too give, other countries his philantrophy,
with our money,CHEAPLY! did I say that right. He is a nut case. he has no concept
of reality, behind a lcd too long.

What is the first Harley Davidson bike that makes the brand popular worldwide after World War 2 ?

KPKonliner

Name the model of the bike.Which year and why was it the first famous Harley worldwide after WW2 ?

Answer
after world war two the main competition was Indian and triumph,Indian killed themselves with to much research and Development.Indian was far ahead of Harley with new things like electric start but reliability suffered. Triumph gave H.D. a run for their money by building smaller,lighter,faster bikes. Harley responded to Triumph by making the sportster which came from the K model. The sporty at that time had its shifter on the right side and a straight seat just like a Triumph. The 45 cubic inch motor was still in production and was used in the three wheel servicar that police departments liked to use as well as being used by corporations such as Good Humor ice cream.

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What is the next most likely fuel for cars?

best electric bikes 2011 image

Axel

I've heard of hydrogen, solar powered and ethanol powered cars, but is there another one? and is there any that could become standard within 15 years?

Please star this cause I want the most answers for this.

Answer
Some people think that natural gas could be the fuel of choice in some countries in the future as it burns cleaner and is more abundant in the US and others. Bio-butanol could also be one potential source...it's compatible with current engine designs and infrastructures and is renewable using bacteria.
http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2011/03/110317102603.htm

Synthetic gasoline can be produced using nanopellets of hydrogen which flow like liquids and burn clean.
http://news.discovery.com/tech/synthetic-gasoline-for-150gallon-and-no-emissions.html

Hydrogen-powered bike..
http://news.discovery.com/tech/magic-powder-fuels-electric-bike.html

Renewable bio-fuels from algae...
http://www.biofueldaily.com/reports/Joule_Unlimited_On_Track_To_Beat_All_Known_Biofuel_Processes_999.html
http://discovermagazine.com/2010/jan-feb/37

Thermal conversion processes or microwaves can turn garbage, wastes, plastics, old tires, etc.. into oil and fuels...
http://www.popsci.com/popsci/flat/bown/2007/innovator_2.html
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CWf9nYbm3ac&feature=related
http://www.i-sis.org.uk/WPIO.php?printing=yes

Food wastes account for a lost 350 million barrels of oil per year in the US alone...
http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2010/10/101003081627.htm

Cleaner fuels using plasma..
http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2010/03/100322121100.htm

I dont know what is wrong with my dirtbike crf230f 2011. Can someone please give me any tips/advice, thanks.?

josh

So I was riding with some mates in the local river, bike was running fine all day oil and fuel was all topped up. There was a deep part in this river we had to cross and one thing lead to another my bike fell in the water and was completly submerged under. We got my bike out and turned it up so the water would run out of the exhaust. After a few minutes we tried to start it and a few minutes it started but it wasnt running good at all. It was real soggy, ran with hardly any power at all. About 20 minutes later it ran like it used to before I drowned it and I thought everything was okay. We went back to my house because sand was stuck in the throttle. I took the grip off cleaned all the sand out and removed a plastic part in the throttle that I didnt put back in. After this the throttle was loose but it didnt bother me. 5 minutes later I started the bike and went down my road and went to take off with some power and I heard a pop and the bike stopped working. My bike is an electric start only it makes a weird buzzing sound when I try start it. Also the biggest mistery is that you can push the bike forward when its in gear like its in neutral but takes a little more effort, however it will not go backwards the back tire locks up as it should in gear. The oil was still good so im not sure its seized? Can someone please help thanks

Answer
buy yourself a multimeter, a service manual. replace all the fuel in the tank and carb with fresh. get someone to check that you did ok with throttle (and left the right amount of slack in it) and didnt crush a wire to the kill switch for instance..

the starter isnt engaging ???? that could be a low voltage / failing battery situation which you will have to work through.


then check the fuses and this time try to put all the part back on - muppet.

gear/neutral etc is normal.

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What happens when you don't tighten the battery terminals on a bike and start it?

best battery for bikes image

Candace

I trickle charged the battery on my bike and put the battery in just to see if it would start but I didn't tighten the terminals. The dash lights turned on and when I went to hit the ignition, it sparked and then absolutely nothing. The dash lights will not even turn on now.
No fire! I didn't fry anything did I??
Thanks guys! I got it figured out! Just needed it to be tightened and it was able to start.

Answer
If you didn't tighten the battery terminals:

The small area of metal contact between the battery post and your battery clamp carried the small amperage current required to light your dash lights. When you engaged the small amperage circuit running to the starter relay it had enough amperage to momentarily close the relay but when that high amperage circuit to your starter closed that high amperage load heated the small contact area between your battery post and battery clamp melting the contacting metal area and leaving oxidized metal behind.

When you remove and wire brush the melt pitted and oxidized affected battery post and clamps and firmly tighten them all should return to normal.

When finished buy some battery terminal sealer, it's no more costly than a can of spray paint, less frustrating and messy than smearing grease over the posts and clamps and if you watch it will make water bead up around the terminals instead of soaking in or dampening the post / battery area.

How do I check to see if my stator is working?

hoggiedoo

I have a 1982 Nighthawk 650 and the battery isn't getting a charge. The stator is new as well as the battery. The bike has been dormant for almost 2 years so the battery is questionable. I can jump it but I think it's just running off the battery. How do I check to see if the stator is putting out?

Answer
This simple series of tests with a voltmeter across your battery terminals will give you some insight into the health of your battery and charging system. Charge the battery an let it stand for an hour. A good one will read 12.6-12.8 v. (I know you have a new battery, but they have been known to be bad right out of the box.) Crank the starter. Your battery's voltage reading should not drop below 10 v. Once your bike is idling, it should read somewhere in the neighborhood of 13.1 v. The exact figure is not important, but it should be significantly higher than the voltage at rest. As you raise the revs, voltage should increase to around 14.1-14.5 v., at which point it should level off or drop as the regulator shunts current to ground.

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where can i get one of the electric bikes from tonights amazing race?

best electric bikes on market image

paul b

in tonights episode of the amazing race they were in china and at one point they had to ride these electric bicycles through beijing, i googled it but all i found were inferior looking electric bikes or kits you have to build yourself, can anyone tell me more info about the bikes from tonights episode and a website where i can get one? thanks
i really just want to know about the specific chinese bikes i saw on the show, if anyone saw the show and knows about them let me know

Answer
The chinese and US ebike markets are significantly different. Our laws differ, our people are bigger and heavier than the typical Asian person, our roads are hillier

Below are sources for some of the best ebikes in North America.

Is there a bike in the market that looks like Kaneda's bike from Akira?

Arron J

I've been wondering, I saw Axle Corporation's EV-X7 concept and it looks pretty cool, but unfortunately they're planning to make the consumer product just a scooter, it looks like any other Vespa. Does anyone know of an electric or gas-operated bike that looks like Kaneda's?

Answer
There are some custom bikes that have been made but no production bikes. Try doing some searches on "feet forward bikes" or ff motorcycles, etc...

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Any one know Gladway electric bike? How can i find an electric bike shop?

best electric assist bike image

Gladway Eb

I want to find someone who are in the field of electric bikes, or a dealer or distribuotr
Macha, Are you a dealer of electric bikes?

Answer
Where are you located? There are several electric bicycle dealers around the country. You can find a good list at http://e-bikedealers.com/ or at electric-bikes.com, or bicycle-power.com. Each dealer will carry a variety of lines and products. Options for electric-assist bicycle products include 1) electric bicycles, 2) do-it-yourself conversion kits to put on your existing bike, or 3) the motorized trailer that attaches to your existing bike when you want propulsion, then remove it in seconds when you just want to pedal. If you're interested in utility biking (using a bicycle for transportation rather than a car), any of these is a good solution.

What do you think about people riding their bikes instead of driving cars?

crystal sp

well i am 21. i dont have my license. i dont want a car unless it doesnt need oil. i dont mind riding my bike, but some places i cant ride my bike. i dont know how to chain up my car when i'm going to the mall, movies, or the grocery store. i feel in ways i am trapped into buying a car. anyone else feel like this? riding my bike helps with saving gas, but i can't ride my bike 30-40 miles. i can't ride my bike to work either.

Answer
At 21 Years old, insurance is going to be real expensive. At a point in your life when its hard to make decent money, Real smart people watch the value they get for their expenditures.

So, here are some tips:

consider bimodal transportation, using mass transit coupled with bike riding, either along with biking or instead of biking.

carpool and pay more than your share.

Make friends at the retailers you frequent, so they are supportive of you riding your bike.

Don't take your bike to the movies or any event schedule for multiple hours.

Join a bike club where people have learned how to overcome some of these obstacles. Tell your bike shop your goal, ask them to put you in touch trying the same things.

Dress nice, keep your hygiene outstanding. Have a little " travel care kit" for emergencies, (handy wipes, deodorant, even some cologne)

Share with your friends what you are trying to do as an experiment. gain their support.
Barter for combined shopping trips with them, maybe buying a lunch or a couple beers.

Make car shopping trips with them for heavy items, or frozen items. Make it easy and entertaining for them to support your efforts.

If this doesn't work take a cab or public transport for big/heavy items.

Learn bike mechanics and work on friends bikes for barter.

consider an electric assist bike, consider a trailer.

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Is electric bike easy for someone who has never ride on a bike before?

best electric bikes to buy image

Mark

Is electric bike easy for someone who has never ride on a bike before?

Answer
NO! The extra weight of the battery & motor will just make it more difficult to learn balance. For the price of just one electric assist bicycle - you could buy three to four really good pedal bicycles.

Electric assist bike - http://www.trekbikes.com/us/en/collections/electric_assist/t80_plus_gl/#
Fitness bike - http://www.trekbikes.com/us/en/bikes/road/fitness/fx/7_2_fx/#

$2,099.99 or $549.99? Your choice. I'd take the $550 bike. It'll last longer too.

I recently bought a Sansi Electric bike in Shanghai. Does anyone knows how to remove the speed governor?

hotelcalif

This is a Sansi electric-bike. I can not understand the manual since all are written in Chinese characters. I am a foreigner living in Shanghai.

Answer
Many ebikes do not have an actual 'governer'.

its just the fastest that combination of gears, motor and batteries will go at top speed.

See if one of your local Chinese bilingual techno buddies can do some translation for you. might cost you lunch.

you want to know about Brushed vs brushless motor, motor and battery voltage, wattages, etc.

good luck

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Using hybrid cars is one of the ways to prevent global warming?

best hybrid electric bikes image

riqzi

Its is a known fact that cars are one of the major contribution for green house gases. So recently the car manufactures come up with a new Eco friendly car, which is the hybrid cars. So my question is, if the global population adopt to hybrid car, can global warming be prevented?
http://preventglobalwarming.brighterplanet.org/

Answer
No. Hybrids are a step in the right direction, but while they emit less CO2, they still burn gasoline and they still emit carbon dioxide, which causes global warming.

If everyone drove a hybrid instead of a regular gas car, we would reduce worldwide greenhouse gas emissions, but not nearly enough to stop global warming.

Electric cars would reduce emissions even further, although they also are responsible for some CO2 emissions because some of our power comes from coal power plants, and burning coal emits CO2 as well. However, electric cars create less CO2 emissions than even hybrids.

In addition to switching to hybrids and electric cars, we need to take more steps. For example, becoming more energy efficient, swithing to renewable power plants and getting rid of coal power plants, biking and using public transportation, etc.

what is stopping people from just replacing a gas engine with an electric engine?

Q. What is stopping people from just replacing a gas engine with an electric engine. I know a little bit about cars but not enough to know this answer. What makes an engine go from 8000 rpm or so down back to like 1 or 2 thousand rpm when you shift gears. Could you do the same thing with an electric engine?
Where would i be able to look at find motors with the type of power a car would call for?

Answer
If you want the equivalent of a golf cart, there are companies that will make the conversion for you. It will cost you thousands of dollars and you won't be able to go from L.A. to Anaheim on a charge.

The biggest barrier is batteries.

Gasoline has an energy density of about 46.19 Newton-Meters per kilogram (energy units per unit of weight).

A lead acid battery (the cheapest kind) comes in at 0.11 NM/Kg. That means it takes more than 400 times as much lead-acid battery to get as much energy as the same weight of gas.

The next generation of battery, the nickel-metal-hydride (NMh) they use in most hybrids, has a better energy density, but it's still only twice as dense as a lead acid, or 200 times more weight for the same energy as gasoline. On an energy per cubic centimeter basis, it's a lot better, but still takes 100 times as much space per unit of energy.

The newest batteries, used in laptops and the all-electric Tesla sports car, are lithium-ion. An experimental Japanese sedan, the Eliica, with eight wheel motors and lithium-ion batteries ran 230 mph a few years ago, but it cost a fortune, and we haven't heard from it since. These batteries have an energy density by weight three times that of an NMh, and 5 times by volume. So gasoline is only18 times as dense by volume. Still, imagine having to find room for 18 gas tanks in your car!

As to gears, you need gears for mechanical advantage (like a lever) to allow the engine to remain in its most efficient operating range at varying speeds.

Most gas engines do their best work between about 2,400 rpms and 5,000 rpms. A high performance engine's range will be higher, but they all need gears, or else they either couldn't get going from rest (geared too high) or would run out of breath before they reached freeway speed (geared too low).

If you ever rode a ten-speed bike, you'll know that you need low gears for going up hills and high gears to keep up with the pedals going down. Same with a car.

the Tesla now has only one gear. That's because an electric motor produces its maximum torque (the force to move the car) at zero rpms (from a dead stop). If you want one, they are taking deposits. They only cost around $100,000.

BTW, if you want to avoid sounding uninformed, technically the electric unit is called a "motor" while the internal combustion one is called an "engine." It's an engineering distinction.

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Would a bike that can be pedal or engine powered be feasible?

best electric bikes in india image

Q. I think a motorcycle that is a combination of gas, electric and pedal(last resort) powered would be the ultimate money/environment saving vehicle. What do you think?
I looked up moped images and didn't see any pedals

Answer
Yes, they have been around since the 1940s, maybe even earlier. My father had one, it had a small petrol motor on the back, and it was just used to help get up hills, it had a pulley that contacted on the side of the wheel. They still make them somewhere, mainly in countries like China and India.

How to earn carbon trading units/CER from existing or proposed plantation projects.Plz guide me?

sriki

I am also looking to start plantations on large scale in order to gain carbon trading units/CER s.What is the nodal agency in India for this purpose?

Answer
This cooling has already killed hundreds of thousands of people. If it continues and no strong action is taken, it will cause world famine, world chaos and world war, and this could all come about before the year 2000. -- Lowell Ponte "The Cooling", 1976

If present trends continue, the world will be about four degrees colder for the global mean temperature in 1990, but eleven degrees colder by the year 2000...This is about twice what it would take to put us in an ice age. -- Kenneth E.F. Watt on air pollution and global cooling, Earth Day (1970)

What we've got to do in energy conservation is try to ride the global warming issue. Even if the theory of global warming is wrong, to have approached global warming as if it is real means energy conservation, so we will be doing the right thing anyway in terms of economic policy and environmental policy. -- Timothy Wirth, former U.S. Senator (D-Colorado)

If radical environmentalists were to invent a disease to bring human populations back to sanity, it would probably be something like AIDS -- Earth First! Newsletter

Human happiness, and certainly human fecundity, is not as important as a wild and healthy planets...Some of us can only hope for the right virus to come along. -- David Graber, biologist, National Park Service

The collective needs of non-human species must take precedence over the needs and desires of humans. -- Dr. Reed F. Noss, The Wildlands Project

If I were reincarnated, I would wish to be returned to Earth as a killer virus to lower human population levels. -- Prince Phillip, World Wildlife Fund

Cannibalism is a "radical but realistic solution to the problem of overpopulation." -- Lyall Watson, The Financial Times, 15 July 1995

ALL USEFUL IDIOTS of GREEN PARTY

SO the ANSWER to YOUR QUESTION IS THEY WANT a CARBON TAX to tax evil OIL Corporations DEM Senator DODD. that means trickle down to you $8.00 a gallon Gas Higher food prices TRUCKS deliver food run on FUEL,higher electric they will build NUCLEAR POWER PLANTS its a low carbon foot print .
90% of France runs on Nuclear .SO the ANSWER to YOUR QUESTION IS THEY WANT a DODD. that means trickle down to you $8.00 a gallon Gas Higher food prices TRUCKS deliver food run on FUEL,higher electric they will build NUCLEAR POWER PLANTS its a low carbon foot print .Carbon Tax will go to build these also if you donate to Blue Sky thru power company the $ goes to build new nuclear plants they say its clean low carbon foot print,Be careful what we wish for

ANSWER: ask teachers What happen to the polar bears during the last 5 ICE AGES?.
Al Gore JET do you agree Al needs to drive a bicycle instead of a Jet his power bill is $3,000 a month for 1 of his houses

Step it UP We want a carbon Tax,Carbon tax on internet, it would increase gas $8.00 a gallon increase food and goods because of shipping cost .and a increase in electric price ,Its a problem lets fix it by Shut off all electric 6 days a week,only turn water on city for 1 hour a day, We have to SAVE the EARTH ,ride bikes outlaw driving except politicians, 1 gallon of gas a day , mandatory jail think live green ! EU Carbon Tax paid by the Workers,Bush Al Gore & Hillary Trust the UN carbon Tax


We are living in strange times. One exceptionally warm winter is enough--irrespective of the fact that in the course of the twentieth century the global temperature increased only by 0.6 percent--for the environmentalists and their followers to suggest radical measures to do something about the weather, and to do it right now.

Rational and freedom-loving people have to respond. The dictates of political correctness are strict and only one permitted truth, not for the first time in human history, is imposed on us. Everything else is denounced.

NewsAccording to the new data published by NASA, 1998 is no longer the hottest year ever. 1934 is.

Four of the top 10 years of US CONUS high temperature deviations are now from the 1930s: 1934, 1931, 1938 and 1939, while only 3 of the top 10 are from the last 10 years (1998, 2006, 1999). Several years (2000, 2002, 2003, 2004) fell well down the leaderboard, behind even 1900. (World rankings of temperature are calculated separately.)

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Where is the best place to buy an E-bike?

best electric bikes in europe image

jvclassic

I'm thinking if going into the E-bike business and need a source of good E-bikes, preferably at a good price for a quality product. And suggestions?

Answer
Think real hard about it first.

IMHO, the market is not mature enough yet. Gas is too cheap, battery tech is not there yet (too expensive, not powerful enough) and too many people are too lazy to ride. The bikes available from China are cheaply made and not reliable, incredibly heavy and very single purpose (they are all impossible to ride without the motor). The ones from Europe, etc., are too expensive with the same problems.

In short they are cheap, underpowered motorcycles with lousy range.

I know a couple who started an electric bike business here in DC. They did everything right. Great location on a major road near a bike trail, Insanely low overhead through cheap rent, careful retailing and no labor costs. Plus they were terrific, intelligent very personable folks with a history of successful businesses. It tanked after six months. They said the reason was the poor quality and high expense of the products they could get from China and Italy.

The folks below make the BEST, most powerful electric bike out there but it ain't cheap.They've laid out lots of bucks on R&D and they have a great organization in place with good marketing. They're fairly new and they are looking for dealers. It can't hurt to give them a call.

Have you considered a business retrofitting motors to customer-supplied bikes? That seems to me a better bet for a mom and pop operation.

Good luck with whatever you choose. E-bikes are a solution waiting for the problem to catch up.

What motorcycle gear do I need for all weather riding?

Gregg F

Hi, I have just got a hyosung 125gtr and I don't have any gear yet atall. what I would like to know is what gear I need, where to get it and how much it costs? Links to items would be great!

Also any starter riding tips, stuff to look out for and maintenence would be great!

Please only people from the UK answering as American websites and currency is no help to me! Thanks alot.

Answer
Hi Gregg F

Your local bike shops maybe alot more help with the riding gear you need.
But in saying that I spend half the year living and riding in Europe and there is one place I source most of my riding gear from www.louis.eu
They are a German company and on there site you will find a link to there catalogue of products which is very extensive. There may be a agent for Louis in the UK. I suggest you order the paper back version of their catalogue.

I have a little experience with the weather in the UK and as such would advise you to buy a pair of waterproof textile pants, a waterproof textile jacket, a pair of waterproof boots and 2 pair of gloves. If you intend to ride in the winter get a pair of electric heated gloves or at least some handle bar warmers. The problem with most winter gloves is that if they get soaked in the rain and you go to remove them they pull the lining out and it is a hassle to get the lining back in and feeling right.

Hope this helps

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Who is the best name brand electric bike supplier that can ship anywhere in the world?

best brand of electric bikes image

I have a chain of 20 bike shops and I'm looking for a very good, reliable electric bike supplier.

Answer
You can also try http://www.wholesaledeals.co.uk if you are looking for wholesale deals to resell on eBay UK and Amazon UK. They basically research for you which current wholesale offers are selling successfully and at good margins on eBay and Amazon, and you can join their service to find out where you can buy those deals today.

Since you are looking for electric bike,

try this page: http://www.wholesaledeals.co.uk/search-suppliers/electric_bike-suppliers.html

Hope this helps.

What are the steps to make an electric bike out of items that are not 100$?

teal289

How do I make a motor for a electric bike what pieces do I need ?

Answer
To make a high-quality one that can go fairly fast, you probably couldn't.

On the other hand, if you don't want to go above 15-20mph, you could probably make one for under $100. Buy a cheap broken electric scooter. Chances are the motor on it still works and you can use that. Those motors can get you going close to 20mph with the right gear ratios.

A motor controller could also be obtained from a scooter, or, if the motor you are using is not significantly powerful (<36v), you could probably buy a brand new controller for fairly cheap.

Batteries may cost a little more, but you could get sealed lead acid batteries for under $100 for sure.

Plus, their are the little things like the throttle, which is generally a potentiometer. These can be very cheap on Ebay.

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Can anybody tell me how is the performance of electric bikes & cars .How much economical differece?

best electric bikes under �1000 image

ROCKY

is there as compared to petrol bikes & cars

Answer
"Performance" has several factors. We generally think of this on the basis of an IC engine. As a result we tend to think of acceleration, handling and fuel economy. With battery electric vehicles there is also a reference to the vehicle range on a charge. While "range anxiety" is not usually a consideration in an ICE vehicle I do recall a time in the Australian outback where I would have given almost anything for a petrol station.

Generally it takes longer for electrons to flow into a battery than for gasoline to fill a gas tank. Electrons will flow into an ultracapacitor far more quickly and development of ultracapacitors that can hold sufficient charge will resolve the issue. Alternatively if they can be made cheaply enough they could be included with batteries and will extend the life of batteries and enable the vehicle to be quickly charged with energy (from ultracapacitors at "fueling" stations. Presently the best that an electric vehicle can offer is less concentration on fueling. You fuel at home. It takes seconds to start and stop a charge. The rest of the time you can be doing other things. Alternatively you must make special trips to fueling stations where someone must pay attention to the fueling process.

Batteries in an BEV (battery electric vehicle) are typically low in the vehicle. This improves handling as it lowers the center of gravity. Acceleration in electric vehicles is better than ICE vehicles due to full torque starting from 0 RPM in electric motors.1

Under present economic conditions an electric vehicle can save its owner approximately $1000 to $1400 per year in fueling costs in addition to the increase in performance.2 The vehicle except for batteries has a projected life many times that of ICE vehicles, possibly as much as 80 years as compared to the life expectancy of an ICE vehicle of about 10 years. Present batteries have a life expectancy of between 5 to 10 years and may represent 1/2 the investment in the vehicle. Ultra capacitors would have an expected life that exceeds the rest of the vehicle. There is some question about whether the electric vehicle will depreciate very rapidly with little residual value or if the addition of newer battery packs or even ultracapacitors would be like adding an addition to real estate and possibly restore or even exceed the original value of the vehicle. It may be possible that the vehicles will appreciate rather than depreciate like a very few of the classic ICE vehicles. 3

Could a person under 16 operate a motorized vehicle on a roadway or sidewalk?

Culley

my son is 14 going on 15 and I was wondering if it was legal for him to operate one of the following vehicles on the road or sidewalk:
- Go cart
- Moped (less than 50cc)
- Motorbike (less than 50cc)
- electric motorbike
- A bike converted to run off a chainsaw engine

Just for reference we live in Loudon County, Va. in a suburban bordering on rural area. Also if you know any other street or sidewalk legal vehicles he could operate, could you suggest them? I have a price limit of around $1000, but willing to spring for something if you recommend it. Thanks!!

Answer
Motor vehicle laws are local and this forum is National with international visitors. Your best source of information will be you state DMV which may have some FAQ you could check on a website like this one: http://www.dmv.state.va.us/drivers/#teen.asp

You also might look for your specific question relative to your state

Go carts seem to be available for off road use: http://answers.yahoo.com/question/index?qid=20090707204036AAnwhK5 contact those in business for the relative regulations

Mopeds in Va: http://www.scootrichmond.com/shopping-tools/virginia-moped-and-motorcycle-laws

motorized bicycles at less than 49cc would come under the moped exemptions/restrictions: http://www.motoredbikes.com/showthread.php?36692-Motorized-bikes-in-Virginia

Electric bikes seems to also fall under moped rules: http://www.electricvehiclemall.com/pdf/Virginia_E-Bike_Law.pdf

The fatal exclusion is that your son must be 16.

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