Which would be better for converting into a street rider, Honda crf450x or crf450r?

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k5mudder

I want it mainly for the street with a little dirt riding. I want to have a dual sport bike but I don't want the xr650 because its just too big and heavy. I know the 450`s are a lot peppier and easier to handle which seems more fun for the street. So out of the crf450x and crf450r, which would be more ideal?

Answer
The bikes have the same cc's.

The CRF 250X has a Bore and Stroke of 78mm X 52.2mm
The CRF 250R has a Bore and Stroke of 76.8mm X 53.8mm
This means the 250R has a longer stroke, which means that it will have more torque.

The CRF 250X is running a carb, the CRF 250R is running fuel injection.

The CRF 250X is running 12.9:1 compression.
The CRF 250R is running 13.2:1 compression.
This means the CRF 250R will produce more power.

The CRF 250X is running larger intake and exhaust valves than the CRF250R, which means it can move more air/fuel through the engine.
This means CRF 250X engine will breath better high higher rpms.

The CRF250X has a wide ratio five speed transmission.
The CRF250R has a close ration five speed transmission.
This means the CRF250X would be better for long straightaways and road use.

The CRF250X has electric and kick start.

Both have over 12" of travel front and rear.

The CRF250X has an 18" rear wheel.
The CRF250R has an 19" rear wheel.
This means that you will have more options with the 18" rear wheel.

The CRF250X has a 1.9 gallon fuel tank
The CRF250R has a 1.5 gallon fuel tank
This means the CRF250R has more fuel so that it can travel farther because of more fuel.

The CRF250X is made to be a cross country racer. This means that it would work better for a dual sport bike.

Which commute bicycle is best for me?

Tara

I am looking for a bicycle for a commute to work of about 8-10 miles and would consider an electric model. Can anyone offer any specific models? There is so much out there to choose from. The area where I live can be fairly hilly, so higher number of speeds would be best, and I'm wondering how often there would have to be battery replacement on an electric bike. Any help would be appreciated, preferably from personal experience, but speculation from an experienced rider would also help. Thanks.

Answer
You can get a good electric assist bicycle - for a few THOUSAND dollars. http://www.trekbikes.com/us/en/collections/electric_assist/models/ Or...you could take the initiative to get a nice entry level "performance hybrid" with the gears to pull hills under your own power. And this bike may just come factory equipped with fenders & a rear rack for under $400! You will get & stay fit. Electric assist bicycles make you fat & lazy. What if the charge in the battery runs low or out at the wrong time & in the wrong place? Then you are faced pedaling an extremely heavy bike home under your own power. See these two links...

http://www.rei.com/product/826111/diamondback-insight-rs-commuter-bike-womens-special-buy
http://www.rei.com/product/826110/diamondback-insight-rs-commuter-bike-special-buy

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What is the best bike light to buy for touring across the united states?

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Christine

I am looking for a bike light that is tough (against rain and hard use), doesn't need to be plugged in to recharge the batteries (because I'll be camping a lot) and is bright as hell. Any suggestions?

Answer
there will not be any light that is both bright and has a solar recharger
you will have to get those 2 separately somehow

i like the magicshine lights for brightness
availlable from dealextreme.com
geomangear.com

strangely, not at bike stores


==oh
i see i forgot the hub generator style lights
never have to recharge
but they cost ###$$$%$$$

and you can;t just move them to another bike fast
and they are heavy
but if you roll, you have light

only question is brightness

i;d consider another solution - *n ot riding at night!*
if you only do that occasionally, you could get by with less money devoted to this minor issue


wle

Can anyone tell me what the battery life on this bike light is?

John

Halfords Super Bright LED Bike Lights.

I picked my bike up today and forgot to ask the management. They fitted the accessories for me as I bought them with the bike, but I have no manual for the lights etc.

Anyone know "roughly" how long the battery will last?
Thanks everyone, and Mick, I did google but couldn't find any information on the life of battery!

Answer
Didn't you already ask this? See link below...

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The Chevrolet Volt claims up to 70 mpg what is the real number?

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Hankm

I would like to know the real comparison between a high mileage gasoline car and an electric or hybrid car.

It would include the cost and environmental impact of manufacturing exotic batteries and rare earth materials for the magnets in the motors. and the costs of the charger and electricity to recharge.
AND don't forget a sinking fund to pay for the crushing cost of replacing the battery pack every so often (they always conveniently forget this one)

Answer
What is a "real" number may depend upon what you want to consider. In an effort to increase the apparent mileage some of the volt advertising only counted the actual gasoline used and not the energy in any electrical charge. This is how they made the "outrageous" claim of 230 miles per gallon. They have since backed off this number and the marketing attempt is not to their credit. More recently they are claiming around 70 to 100+ miles to a gallon. While this is more reasonable and some test drives have determined that they were getting a combined gasoline/electric "mileage equivalency" of around 90mpg, the credit goes to the electric motor and not the petrol engine.

Tesla had calculated their electric drive train at over 6 times more efficient than a petrol engine.1 We say that a petrol engine is around 15% efficient but just starting out, standing in traffic or even in stop and go traffic it would probably be fortunate to achieve this. "Fuel efficient" cars are using the same tricks that an electric vehicle uses to extend its range: lighter vehicles, better aerodynamics, and less rolling resistance. What the gas vehicle does or cannot have is the more efficient drive train or regenerative braking.

So given the efficiency differences of the drive train if the average petrol vehicle gets around 20 mpg then the "average" electric vehicle should get about 6 times this or about 120 MPGe. Present electric vehicles are doing better than this.2

There are a number of ways to consider the cost of the battery pack. I would argue that you should not include it for the initial life of the original pack. When you buy a new electric car, you are paying for the battery pack. It depreciates until its useful life is gone in about 8 to 10 years. Both the Leaf and the Volt are warranty their packs for 8 years. To amortize the cost of a new pack over the initial miles is to consider the cost twice. For a bit of a rundown on the costs per mile you can take a look at my answer here.3 The "crushing cost" of a battery pack is presently down to approximately $9000 and you may be able to find a pack with double the range and half the cost before the warranty runs out: http://electric-vehicles-cars-bikes.blogspot.com/2010/05/nissan-say-leaf-ev-battery-pack-cost.html

Although you are asking for an analysis of battery chemistry's and motors these vary widely. The AC motor does not use rare earth magnets, there are many different battery chemistry's and technology is advancing rapidly. Ultracapacitors are already being used in some buses (4) as a means for energy storage and it is likely that they will increasingly be combined with some battery chemistry to produce a composite energy storage system.5 Such an extensive analysis would have to be compared to refinery pollution, transportation pollution, the overwhelming "oil spill" from improperly disposed of drain oil, gas station and highway run off each year.6

What kind of dirt bike should I get? I want something faster and more powerful.?

Isaac

I'm 14 and have been riding for about 6 years. Im about 6 feet tall and about 200 or so pounds, im still growing.I really want to get something faster. Currently I have a Honda 150 that is custom made it is boarded out to about a 200 and has enough torque to do a no clutch wheely in second gear and a small wheely in 3rd. I want about the same amount of torque with a lot more speed, any suggestions?

Answer
Look at the crf250r or the crf250x. The 'r' being the mx race bike and the 'x' more of an enduro/trail bike but still with a lot more power than the basic trail bikes. The 'x' has things like larger fuel tank, electric start and is geared for enduro style riding. If you want the mx version just avoid the 2004 model as that was the first year of production and they had issues with valves and also the 2010 model as that was the first of the fuel injected models and they came with wiring loom issues and a few other small problems.

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

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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.

Can I use many lithium Ion batteries and send them through a controller to an electric motor?

Johnny Fre

This is a complex question I know. I know little about electrical engineering but I want to build an electric bike. I could buy the same materials others have used but I'd like to use Lithium Ion Batteries. So can I connect wires from many bats to a standard controller and then to an electric motor? I assume I can, energy is energy, but what should I look out for. Has anyone tried this?

Answer
This is basically what they do for car batteries in hybrid motors, so yes, this is doable.

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Solar Panel wattage for my Electric Bike?

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www.jkrish

I am looking to purchase an Electric Bike for transport to work. I work on an Organic farm and need to save some energy up those hills.

I need help figuring out what size solar panels would be needed to charge the battery, and whether its plausible.

I'm looking at Ebay in Australia as I am immigrating down there. I prefer to afford the foldable/portable solar panel system: 80 watt, 120 watt, 160 watt, but IF necessary a bit more.

300w 3 PHASE 36v ELECTRIC REAR WHEEL
THREE 12v 17ah SLA BATTERIES (Total 36v)

or

Motor: 250 Watt brush-less DC hub
Batteries: 24V/10Ah pack, valve regulated

can anyone out there help explain to me how to figure this out?

thanks :)

Answer
You will want to have some sort of voltage regulation.
If the panel voltage drops off you don't want to discharge the batteries on your bike.
And you would not want to overcharge your batteries.

Harbor Freight has a fold out 18 to 24 vdc solar recharger.(see link)

For a work/home commute you might not want to haul the charger around everyday.
Ask the folks at the farm if you could set up a solar charging station. They might even help.
I'd suggest a bicycle locker that has the panel on top and a couple spaces for bicycles with charging stations inside, out of the elements. Your employers may like the idea.

Ice-cream process and ingredients?

lol!

What is the process and ingredients used to day to make ice cream commercially?

(links would be fine for answers)

Thanks in advance!

Answer
Before the development of modern refrigeration, ice cream was a luxury item reserved for special occasions. Making ice cream was quite laborious. Ice was cut from lakes and ponds during the winter and stored in large heaps, in holes in the ground, or in wood-frame ice houses, insulated by straw. Many farmers and plantation owners, including U.S. Presidents George Washington and Thomas Jefferson, cut and stored ice in the winter for use in the summer. Frederic Tudor of Boston turned ice harvesting and shipping into big business, cutting ice in New England and shipping it around the world.

Ice cream was made by hand in a large bowl placed inside a tub filled with ice and salt. This was called the pot-freezer method. French confectioners refined the pot-freezer method, making ice cream in a sorbtierre (a covered pail with a handle attached to the lid). In the pot-freezer method, the temperature of the ingredients is reduced by the mixture of crushed ice and salt. The salt water is cooled by the ice, and the action of the salt on the ice causes it to (partially) melt, absorbing latent heat and bringing the mixture below the freezing point of pure water. The immersed container can also make better thermal contact with the salty water and ice mixture than it could with ice alone.

The hand-cranked churn, which also uses ice and salt for cooling, replaced the pot-freezer method. The exact origin of the hand-cranked freezer is unknown, but the first U.S. patent for one was #3254 issued to Nancy Johnson on September 9, 1843. The hand-cranked churn produced smoother ice cream than the pot freezer and did it quicker. Many inventors patented improvements on Johnson's design.

In Europe and early America, ice cream was made and sold by small businesses, mostly confectioners and caterers. Jacob Fussell of Baltimore, Maryland was the first to manufacture ice cream on a large scale. Fussell bought fresh dairy products from farmers in York County, Pennsylvania, and sold them in Baltimore. An unstable demand for his dairy products often left him with a surplus of cream, which he made into ice cream. He built his first ice cream factory in Seven Valleys, Pennsylvania, in 1851. Two years later, he moved his factory to Baltimore. Later, he opened factories in several other cities and taught the business to others, who operated their own plants. Mass production reduced the cost of ice cream and added to its popularity.
An electric ice cream maker

The development of industrial refrigeration by German engineer Carl von Linde during the 1870s eliminated the need to cut and store natural ice and when the continuous-process freezer was perfected in 1926, it allowed commercial mass production of ice cream and the birth of the modern ice cream industry.

The most common method for producing ice cream at home is to use an ice cream maker, in modern times generally an electrical device that churns the ice cream mixture while cooled inside a household freezer, or using a solution of pre-frozen salt and water, which gradually melts while the ice cream freezes. Some more expensive models have an inbuilt freezing element. A newer method of making home-made ice cream is to add liquid nitrogen to the mixture while stirring it using a spoon or spatula. Some ice cream recipes call for making a custard, folding in whipped cream, and immediately freezing the mixture.

Commercial delivery
A bicycle-based ice cream vendor in Indonesia

Ice cream can be mass-produced and thus is widely available in developed parts of the world. Ice cream can be purchased in large cartons (vats and squrounds) from supermarkets and grocery stores, in smaller quantities from ice cream shops, convenience stores, and milk bars, and in individual servings from small carts or vans at public events. In Turkey and Australia, ice cream is sometimes sold to beach-goers from small powerboats equipped with chest freezers. Some ice cream distributors sell ice cream products from traveling refrigerated vans or carts (commonly referred to in the US as "ice cream trucks"), sometimes equipped with speakers playing children's music. Traditionally, ice cream vans in the United Kingdom make a music box noise rather than actual music.

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Can the pedaling energy charge the battery of an electric bike?

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Drowzzy

Can the mechanical energy of pedaling be stored as electrical energy to be utilized later to run the bicycle automatically? I'm not talking about pure electric bikes that need regular charging, and not even about those that you pedal for a while as the bike stands still and then run it on electric power. I mean can you ride a bike and store the mechanical energy simultaneously? Will it be efficient? If so, then are such e-bikes available in the market, and what are they called so that I may Google for them?

Here's the scenario: I need a bicycle for regular commute, may be even for covering long distances. It's not feasible for a layman to pedal continuously for more than 5 to 10 miles. So I'm looking for a bike that you pedal for sometime, and when you're exhausted, you simply flick a button to make it run on electrical power which has been converted and stored from the mechanical energy of pedaling the bike; and then pedal again and auto-ride again and so forth. Will something like that be technically efficient, since you're moving the bike while pedaling as well as storing your spare energy?

Hope I haven't confused you. Thanks :)

Answer
You will have to pedal extra hard to keep the bike going and to charge the battery. It could be done, but it would be easier and more efficient to pedal a regular (lighter) bike.

Maybe you could use a large solar panel to power the bike

Can the pedaling energy charge the battery of an electric bike?

Drowzzy

Can the mechanical energy of pedaling be stored as electrical energy to be utilized later to run the bicycle automatically? I'm not talking about pure electric bikes that need regular charging, and not even about those that you pedal for a while as the bike stands still and then run it on electric power. I mean can you ride a bike and store the mechanical energy simultaneously? Will it be efficient? If so, then are such e-bikes available in the market, and what are they called so that I may Google for them?

Here's the scenario: I need a bicycle for regular commute, may be even for covering long distances. It's not feasible for a layman to pedal continuously for more than 5 to 10 miles. So I'm looking for a bike that you pedal for sometime, and when you're exhausted, you simply flick a button to make it run on electrical power which has been converted and stored from the mechanical energy of pedaling the bike; and then pedal again and auto-ride again and so forth. Will something like that be technically efficient, since you're moving the bike while pedaling as well as storing your spare energy?

Hope I haven't confused you. Thanks :)

Answer
Yes, it can!

Electric cycles are readily available. You normally charge them from a mains supply and then you can part-pedal / part-drive them on your commute. You can often adjust the amount of assistance to be supplied by the motor enabling you to go faster but less far or vice versa. If you want to pedal the bike and store 50% (say) of your energy for later you can do so but you will be doing double the work when pedalling, so your commute will be, so to say, twice as hard or half as fast and take twice as long. That doesn't seem to make much sense, especially since electric cycles are heavy and pedalling them (with no motor assistance) even without any of your energy going to storage, will be quite slow and tediously tough.

What an electric cycle does do is re-charge the batteries when you go downhill giving you back at least a good fraction of the energy expended in climbing up. But that produces a braking effect and the speed of descent is reduced. What inevitably goes lost is the energy taken by friction and wind resistance. Storing and using later is also subject to a degree of loss.

In short, if you don't want to use a commercial energy source to "fuel" your bicycle, get a conventional one - you'll do vastly better.

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Want To Predict Future Motorcycle Inventions?!?

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Candid Chr

Been riding for a long time, seen a lot of changes that 50 years ago would have been deemed close to science fiction but here they are in most mainstream use, like computer activated fuel management and now Polaris has come out with an airless tire that is actually usable without being beat to death by rock-hard rubber.
So, what do you see in the future?
What would you like to see in the future?
I'd love to live and ride long enough to see a solar-powered electric bike that had around 90 BHP and weighed in at a whooping 200 lbs. High-output gel batteries ('solar' rechargeable even by starlight) and fully carbon-fiber, ceramic motor (or whatever may be better material in the future).
The list goes on.
Help me out here, I want to keep dreaming!!!!
And no flying motorcycles, they're like Flying Monkeys, just more sh!t falling out of the sky.
@ fuzzy- Like the HUD bike alert idea or a law that allows riders to mount 'vaporizers' to make cars 'disappear, LOL.
@ curmudgeon- You're full of it, but in a good way! But dreaming with coffee?!? Stand back folks, we'll need a geiger counter. LOL!
@ ninebad- Asked for no Flying Monkeys, the 'air' I get on my dirt-bike is high enough, thank you!
@ Jason- You're too young to have grown up on B

Answer
The future of motorcycles depends some on laws, some on technology. Look at current car and truck engines, compare to 2 years back- then figure the current motorcycles on road will get some of same features and the expensive ones already have them- ABS, fuel injection, cats, variable valve timing. At the same time the emerging markets want simplicity and reliability, maintainability- India has some of latest Honda technology in some of their cycles--while at same time the Baja Chetek is a copy of old Vespa and the 1950s Enfield Bullet is still selling. Some details can go to low end market- better battery option, better tires, better lights as price comes down to the old pattern price. Older Honda pushrod engines out of trademark and patent protection-and the Chinese and Indians, Indonesians are using that 'old' technology to make a low buck usable engine for various applications- quality control varies- but even the worst are improving just to sell in varied markets. Laws vary- we've seen the post from UK about the limits on engine and power size the first time riders have to go through, the US has some graduated license laws coming in various states- California with its under 150cc limit for beginners as example. Fuels vary- the diesel cycle will show up some places, the CNG/LP in a few others like India Mumbai now will spread to some other dirty cities over time. Economics factors- the Honda Cubs or derivatives running around many markets- some the 'emerging' markets like Africa, others like the large cities where the small scooter or cycle is step up from pedal bicycles but affordable to some unlike a car that requires a license to purchase,park or a owned/leased parking space like some Japanese cities and Singapore- there the students and workers who don't take a bus or cab will be on the little Cubs- some times with sidecars. The 3 wheel Samlors will be a type to watch- the legal status of 'motorcycle' lets them get away with lack of expensive car required safety features like airbags and safety bumpers- but still haul 1/2 ton of cargo or 2,3,5 people as some of the 3 wheeled Asian taxis do. A solar powered Samlor with a top of solar panels, high capacity batteries-or a low cost lead acid battery pack option for lower income market-, regenerative braking and 50cc engine extra assist drive- but 1/2 the weight of expensive Prius- would be logical in India, Singapore, New York City. your 90 hp electric cycle at 200 pounds might be in distant future- but a 25 hp 'hybred' samlor capable of maintaining a minimum 45 mph might be in next ten years- the start is running around Asia now doing 15 to 25 mph as LP gas 'tuck-Tuck' with a small battery pack for the areas where it has to shut off engine and use electric motor and as a straight electric with quick change battery packs- sort of like English Post office delivery vehicles 10-20 years back in the London and other town areas and the Ford commercial electric lorries. a 700 dollar electric bicycle is available in couple markets- top speed of 15mph, 20 mile range on battery and 40 miles on economy pedal power with electric boost at start, batter recharge at braking- and the front of frame has enough room for a 50cc engine and generator with a extra chain to pedal front sprocket- Harbor Freight has small generator for about $250.00 that looks like it might fit, they have a 79cc/3hp engine for $89.00 and the 6.5hp 212cc engine goes for $99.00 on special sales at times- so next year could maybe have a $1000.00 hybred moped available at Wallmart.. 5 years later a 125cc equivalent, 10 years later a 350/500 cc variation capable of highway travel cross country. OR economy collapses and Harley brings back the WL in partnership with Briggs and Stratton. We can both dream- but I think I need some coffee..

dirt bike for a 13 year old girl?

Q. i only know a little about them and i really want to ride them. my parents had them when they where younger and at my dads cousins house they have a track because he races. i don't want something slow and i don't want anything super fast just something in the middle. im about 5`2 if that helps at all. could you tell me the basics of riding and what do you think would fit me best by the way it would probably be used from craigslist and under 1000 i was looking at like something from 1997 or up but i wouldn't really trust one that old. also what gear would i need.

Answer
Since you have never had a dirtbike, I HIGHLY recommend you stay away from 2-strokes...they are cheaper in price...but they are harder to learn on and more difficult to get the hang of. You are one inch shorter than me...I am 5'3 and I ride a crf150rb. There are two types of 150's...the race and the trail. I'm not sure which kind of bike you are looking for to start on, or if you are even wanting to race. This bike is not cheap...but you can find them used and they are amazing to start on. The crf150f is the trail version, it will have an electric start and not be as fast as the race bike. It will also have a smaller price tag. The crf150r or rb ( note that they are the same bike...the rb is just a little taller...) is a race bike. It is a pretty fast bike, but since it is a 4-stroke it does not demand being on the powerband 24/7 making it also a pretty good bike to learn on. These bikes are also excellent for your size. The bike first came out in 06 for the race version, and I'm not sure about how far back the trail version of the bikes goes.
Besides the bike, you will need some riding boots. Try some Thor Women's or Fox Comp 5 boots.
You will need a helmet. Any major mx manufactuer makes a wide variety of helmets.
You will need mx gear ( pants and jersey, gloves, googles.) You can pick whatever brand you like best for these items. There is Fox, Thor, One Industries, Answer, O'Neal, MSR, etc.
Have fun girl! Welcome to the dirtbike world! Hope you enjoy whatever you decide to get!

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Where's the cheapest place to buy an electric bike in the UK?

best electric bikes uk image

azmatick

Or can i get an electric bike kit add on for my bike?

Answer
Try these two groups, they have some significant UK content:

http://uk.groups.yahoo.com/group/electricbikes/

http://endless-sphere.com/forums/index.php

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

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.

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Can I save on electricity by hooking up a generator to a car battery?

best battery powered bike light image

QnA

If I made a simple generator powered by a bike, would I be able to hook it up to a wet cell battery to recharge it, and then use the battery to power various appliances (lights, fans, microwave, computer, etc...?) How long do you think it would take to charge such a battery and how long would it last?

Answer
You could hook one up. It could only be used to power items which run on 12 volt DC, unless you use an inverter. Any battery you use would not last but a few minutes when powering more than a light or two. The effort you would have to expend in charging the battery would greatly outweigh the usefulness you would get out of it.

Why do people suggest new bikers start with a bike with lower engine displacement?

Dd

*Before anyone makes any assumptions, I am not looking to explain why I want a more powerful bike as my first. I haven't even taken a class yet; I've just been doing some reading to educate myself on the proper way to get into biking. I am not really considering any kind of bike until I take a class and see if I even enjoy riding, but I am leaning towards a small, light, low powered used bike to practice on first.

Virtually everything I have read has said first time bikers should stick to small, light bikes with lower cc. I've heard from a few people it depends on the person but the vast majority of the literature I've got my hands on has said its an accident waiting to happen because the bike is too "powerful" but they never elaborate on what they mean by "powerful". I understand that smaller and lighter bikes handle more easily in terms of making turns, but what exactly do they mean by "power"? Is it speed? Acceleration? Both?

I have gathered that bigger bikes tend to accelerate faster, and the logic is that if a beginner is on one of these more powerful bikes and accidentally accelerates too quickly, they could panic and lose control. Whereas if they were on a bike that accelerates slower, they would be able to recover more easily. Is that the concern, or am I misunderstanding something?

Other people who say it depends on the rider seem to believe that so long as the rider isn't trying to intentionally race or show off on the road they will be fine with a more powerful bike. Am I correctly understanding their argument?

Thanks for any clarification. One thing that stinks about books is you can't ask a question if the author isn't clear enough in their explanation.
@Candid That's exactly what I do not understand. What exactly do you mean by "limit"? I understand how physically larger and physically heavier bikes are harder to turn, so that makes sense. But can you explain why engine displacement matters? Hope that makes more sense, thanks

Answer
All the above good answers have there points. but I would like to add:

A larger displacement bike presents more opportunities for disaster. These potential disasters are overcome by acquired recovery skills. Either I've become more skilled or more mellowed out with age but; in my past I didn't come back from a ride on a 1,000cc sport bike without a recovery . (Now I can't recall a recent recovery.)

When I take the wife's 250 Ninja out to fill up the tank, charge battery, transit, etc. I in my memory have never had the power to break traction forcing my recovery skills into use. (that may just be fair weather or chance?) Years ago I gained recovery skills on a even smaller dirt bike but it required a wet surface.

Now I have experienced rides that I really don't care to repeat; being caught in the rain up in mountains and having to choose between going as fast as I can vs. deteriorating sunlight, being caught in snow and recovering, add loose debris on surfaces catching me by surprise and slipping and recovering. Throttle control and instinctive reactions must be correct! A larger bike has a wide window of error that isn't even present in a smaller displacement motorbike.

So what choice are you going to have for your introduction to a sport bike? A large displacement bike that will require finely honed skills to prevent or to recover from any slight speed or throttle error? Or will you choose to learn on a milder bike that will but rarely does present these issues that require fast correct responses to prevent a complete disaster?

I don't care how careful, cautious, mature,or responsible you are or call yourself you will place yourself in these situations that will require recovery skills. Wouldn't you prefer to experience them on the outside of the riding envelope instead of at every corner you enter too fast , apply too much throttle too early,or unseen surface debris on a turn with excessive throttle and need recovery skills to prevent a disaster?

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What is the cost to own a nissan leaf vs. the cost of my own motorcycle?

best electric bike for hill climbing image

Wesley!!!

my motorcycle(07 gs500) gets about 44 in winter and 55-maaaaayybee 59mpg. it cost me 250 dollars a year in mileage services.

i live in central Texas, our electric company is atmos energy that charges 0.13 Kwh.
I drive 55 miles per day 6 days a week. I drive an average of 70 miles per hour to sometimes 75mph.
there is one hill In Nolensville Tx that is only a long climb but not steep.
I also have a Nissan d21 pickup that gets 24mpg and it costs me 60 dollars a year for oil changes
I also have a Nissan d21 pickup that gets 24mpg and it costs me 60 dollars a year for oil changes

Answer
You are comparing a far lighter but very inefficient vehicle (motorcycle) to a far heavier but very efficient vehicle (Nissan Leaf,) and I am left to wonder what you want.

Your bike is getting 60 mpg on a good day. The Leaf will get a little less than twice that with no oil changes or other maintenance.

As a heavier and enclosed vehicle the leaf will give you more protection from the elements.

The motorcycle insurance is cheaper than that of a car because the smart people there have noticed it is more likely that you will be killed on a bike than you will kill someone. This will probably make the motorcycle cheaper with more personal risk...

and lets face it ... thrills... although the first time I drove an EV it reminded me of the acceleration of a 750cc bike.

what are fun activities for couples to do 10 points to who ever has the most activity?

Jon R

what are fun things to keep me and my girlfriend busy id like to know hobbies. games sex games all that

Answer
On rainy days

1. Clear out the garage, attic, cupboards or wardrobes* - it really doesn't matter as long as you do it together.

2. Go charity shopping. While away the hours browsing for books, CDs, games, retro clothing, bric-a-brac. You could try a carboot sale or trawl round some antique shops.

3. Get some exercise. Go swimming or ice skating, or enjoy a walk in the rain.

4. Enjoy a movie marathon.* Visit the video shop, stack up on snacks and spend the day being film critics. And if you're stuck for inspiration, take a look at bbc.co.uk/films to find out which new releases should be top of your list!

5. Visit an art gallery. Find an exhibition in your area.

6. Step back in time and visit a museum. Many of the buildings themselves deserve a look and you never know you might learn something at the same time!

7. Improve your memory. Try our online memory test then spend the day testing each other's powers of recall.

8. Discover yourself. Bookshops and the internet offer a wealth of personal-profiling tools, which can help you find out your personality type, your IQ or your relationship style.

9. Make something,* such as a coffee table, some shelves, a bird table, pottery dishes, vases, face sculpture, candles or soap. Craft shops are full of ideas.

10. Go to the football or rugby.* Even if you're not into the sport, you'll find the atmosphere electric. Especially if your team is playing their arch rivals! Take a look at the fixture list before you go.

11. Have an evening of pick'n'mix. Take a look at the TV listings and create a night of entertainment.
On sunny days

12. Go for a stroll* - anywhere you like.

13. Take a hike. Find a nice big hill and see who can fall into an exhausted heap at the top first.

14. Go for a bike ride.* Like walking, cycling can be energetic or gentle - it's up to you. But either way it's sure to give your health a boost!

15. Hire a boat. Choose from an energetic canoe ride, a romantic row down the river or the wind in your hair in a sailing boat.

16. Visit the park.* Spend the day on the swings or play a game of tennis. If you're really adventurous, you could even try out your skateboarding skills on the half-pipe.

17. Take to horseback. Look in your local directory for places that offer riding lessons (you may need to book in advance). Or better still, along a beautiful beach!

18. Be risky. Try some exptreme sports - skydiving, rock climbing, potholing, ballooning, motor racing... the list is endless. (You'll definitely need to book ahead, though.)

19. Visit a stately home.* You might even get some inspiration for your own love nest!

20. Obey your animal instincts by visiting a zoo or farm.* Relax as you wander round the park. And if you don't like spiders you can always go and talk to the monkeys!

21. Remember the picnic.* To make all the above even more enjoyable, don't forget to pack some gorgeous food and wine. Let BBC Food help you choose the perfect tipple!
At the weekend

22. Walk this way - the Pennine Way, the Cotswold Way, the South Downs Way, the Milky Way...

23. Go youth hostelling.* There are more than 100 youth hostels around the UK catering for individuals, couples and families - and they're cheap. Can you guess where?

24. Take a city break. Look at UK options as well as those in Europe and the US.

25. Book a themed weekend break. There are plenty of options, from murder mystery tours to salsa dancing to yoga.

26. Go camping,* either in your own back garden or at one of the hundreds of specialised sites around the country. Staying put will give your children the chance to learn more about their surroundings...

27. Visit friends or relatives.* Take the chance to spend time with people in another part of the country. If they can't put you up for the night, book into a B&B.

28. Indulge and pamper yourself at a health farm.

29. Pick any room in your house and give it a complete makeover.

30. Spring clean the house or give your garden a serious sort out. Make sure you take regular breaks and treat yourself to a delicious takeaway or meal out in the evening.
When the children are in bed

31. Play games, whether they're board games, computer games, card games or naughty games...

32. Work your mind with brain-teasers, jigsaw puzzles, crosswords or quiz books. See how your IQ rates against the rest of the nation!

33. Pamper each other. Give your partner a massage, manicure and pedicure. We all need a little pampering sometimes!

34. Rent a film to suit your mood, be it a comedy, weepy, romance or horror movie.

35. Star gaze. Lie in the garden and see if you can name the constellations.

36. Have a blind food tasting.

37. Enjoy a romantic dinner for two: light those candles, put on some soft music and get out the posh crockery. As if you needed an excuse to indulge!

38. Have a picnic in the garden.

39. Put on a themed evening. Try a little Eastern promise or

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Can I use many lithium Ion batteries and send them through a controller to an electric motor?

best electric bike buy image

Johnny Fre

This is a complex question I know. I know little about electrical engineering but I want to build an electric bike. I could buy the same materials others have used but I'd like to use Lithium Ion Batteries. So can I connect wires from many bats to a standard controller and then to an electric motor? I assume I can, energy is energy, but what should I look out for. Has anyone tried this?

Answer
This is basically what they do for car batteries in hybrid motors, so yes, this is doable.

Can an electric motor take different voltages?

SILVRSWT

I am interested in buying an electric bike that has 2 batteries that opperate at 12v @ 10 amp hours. They are designed to work together to deliver 24v to a 450 watt (peak) motor at the front wheel. Unfortunately these are heavy SLA batteries, and I would like to replace them with state of the art Nanophosphate Litihium Ion batteries.

Now the kicker: I can only find 36v versions for use in DeWalt power tools (though they are very energy dense).

So what I am wondering is if I can buy 2 / 4 of these and wire them to deliver no more than 36v continuous to the 24v motor and will it improve performance or just burn up the components.

Also as an added question, if it is not possible to run 36 volts directly is there a controller that could accomplish this.

Thanks!

The motor is from Currie Technologies, specialists in electric bikes.
I should add that the motor is DC as will be the current delivered to it.

Answer
Just replacing the 24V pair of batteries with a 36V group will very likely cause something to fail. It is possible that a controller could be designed to allow a 36V group of batteries to work with the motor, but it isn't something that you are likely to be able to easily find and mate up to the existing motor.

Additional information:
If you get a 36V PWM controller and set the current limit to the maximum continuous rating of the motor, that might keep you out of trouble. If the motor has a higher short-time current rating that you want to utilize, that might be difficult to set up.

Look at: http://www.dartcontrols.com/

More additional information:
It looks to me like Currie Technologies offers some models with a 3X12V 36V battery package, 36V controller and 450W motor.

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what is the advantage of having an electric motor on the hubs of electric bikes?

best hybrid electric bikes image

Q. aiming to modify my bike during the summer.

Answer
1. it looks better, neater
2. it is easily engineered to regenerative braking. On such a light vehicle it means less. If you are a more weightier rider it may mean more.
3. There is no shifting or gears on the motor.
4. efficiency due to fewer drive train losses.

An entirely different alternative is to make your ebike a series hybrid instead of a parallel hybrid and it is then also chain-less:
http://www.hupi.org/HPeJ/0015/SeriesDriveHybridVelomobiles.pdf
http://deepblue.lib.umich.edu/handle/2027.42/57937

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

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.

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where can I find an e-bike conversion kit in india?

the best electric bikes in india image

Alternate

I'm not looking for an electric bike, rather a rear-wheel conversion kit for a reasonably priced rear wheel conversion kit for a mountain bike which is available or ships to India.

Answer
Pardon my unfamiliarity with the Indian market BUT, in North America at least:

BIONIX is one of - if not THE - best of its kind. Rear wheel conversion kit thats compatible for almost all adult bicycles. Most advanced technology even if compared on a global scale. Electrical assist and Full electrical power modes.
Excellent reputation, representation and service in all areas.

The kits start at approx. 1199CAD

Yes, i work for a BionX dealer... :)

How is the maintainance of electric bikes in india?

Answer
I put U.S.A. questions only and I gotta see habibs question? will some one please tell him to park his camel somewhere else?

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What is your best advice for an electrical bicycle?

best electric bike hills image

Tryphon To

Friends

I have an aluminium bicycle and was thinking of adding an electric wheel. However, I fancy those bikes that that recharge downhill.

Besides I am looking to pedal at constant speed and let the electric motor adjust to increasing demands.

What kind of bike is suitable for this?

I was thinking of outfitting my own bike, because I am tall and have the feeling that the electric bikes may not fit me, or, do these come in large sixes?

Thanks

Rehman of Multan

Answer
recharge downhill?
that doesn;t work

no electric bike is really powerful or long range

if the batteries die, they are too heavy to pedal up any hill at all

what is a 'multan'?

wle.

whats the difference between these types of bikes?

Landon

Mountain Bikes
Comfort & Cruisers
Road Bikes
Electric Bikes
Tandem Bikes

Im looking for a bike that i can just ride to and from school and go around town on which would be best and whats the difference between these bikes?

Answer
Mountain bikes are designed for off road trails. Many people buy mountain bikes & ride them strictly on the streets - dumb. Road bikes are designed for strictly the streets, designed to go fast, but usually not very comfortable. Electric bikes are designed for people that need a little extra help getting uphill. Tandem bikes are a bicycle built for two. Fun, but takes some practice before the 2 riders get into sync.

A cruiser is different than a comfort bike. It usually has but one gear, sometimes 3. Often called beach cruisers because that's where they originated...on the boardwalk of beaches to ride on flat land - not needing any gears.

Comfort & Hybrid bikes are similar. The main difference being a comfort bike usually has the traditional 26" tires. Hybrids have taller & thinner 700C tires that roll easier & go a bit faster. Hybrid bikes have become very popular because they are versatile. You sit in a comfortable upright position, have many gears to handle hills, yet can go slightly off road on trails of packed earth or finely crushed gravel/stone. With a hybrid, you're basically getting a combination of a road bike, a mountain bike & a comfort bike. The best of all three. That's what I ride & recommend for most people looking for an all around good bike.

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What are some effective but easy ways people can save energy?

best electric bikes reviews image

ksenia

Answer
Monitor your electricity use by buying a Kill-A-Watt or other such monitor.

http://the-gadgeteer.com/review/kill_a_watt_electric_usage_monitor_review

'An average household uses about 4300kWh of electricity each year. This results in emissions of over 2 tonnes of CO2 per household, or ¾ tonne per person - just for domestic electricity supply. In comparison, total CO2 emissions per person in the UK are around 10 tonnes, and emissions per person in India are about 1 tonne. Luckily, it is possible to cut domestic electricity use in half with simple energy efficiency measures.
'This table shows how electricity use is divided up in an average house (excluding electric heating):

Lighting 19%
Cold Appliances 18%
Wet Appliancs 15%
Cooking 15%
Consumer Electronics 19%
ICT (computers, etc) 9%
Other 5%'
(source Centre for Alternative Technology)
http://www.cat.org.uk/information/catinfo.tmpl?command=search&db=catinfo.db&eqSKUdatarq=InfoSheet_SavingElectricity

EASY WAYS to save energy

â Don't use standby on tv or computer.
â Switch off when not in use.
â Use energy efficient lightbulbs.
â Lower you thermostat.
â Install timers.
â Heat only what is needed.
â Turn down the water heater.
â Insulate your property.
â Turn air conditioning and heating down
â Sign up to a green energy supplier.
â Dress appropriately. When itâs cold put on a jumper rather than turn up the heating, when itâs warm take it off again rather than use the air con.
â Wash full loads.
â Wash at lower temperatures.
â Dry washing outside.
â Avoid dishwashers.
â Reduce draughts.

Use rechargeable batteries..
â Donât leave (re)chargers on for longer than is needed
â Only boil the water you need.
â Buy local produce.
â Reduce reuse and recycle - in that order
â Work from home. If possible work from home, it saves time and fuel travelling.
â Eat less meat and dairy products. Modern farming methods produce large quantities of greenhouse gases.
â Shower instead of bath.
â Conserve Water The less water you use the less energy is needed to pump it to your home or office and to deal with the waste at a sewerage treatment works.

â Drive a fuel efficient vehicle, if you have more than one vehicle use the most economical one more often.
â Walk or cycle to work or when taking the kids to schools, if you have to drive consider car sharing.
â Use public transport where possible
â Take a coach or train instead of using domestic flights.
â When replacing your vehicle look at diesel and liquid petroleum gas models.
â Combine multiple journeys into one and do your weekly shopping in a single trip.
â Stagger journeys where possible to avoid rush hour traffic and hold ups.
â Avoid harsh braking, accelerate gently, drive at a steady speed.
â Keep tyres properly inflated.
â Remove bike and ski and roof racks when not in use.
â Carrying unnecessary weight wastes fuel, declutter your vehicle.
â Use the correct gear, use cruise control if your vehicle has it.
â Keep your vehicle regularly serviced.
â Turn the engine off when stopped or waiting.

Source Trevor a climatologist , who used to be Top Answerer in Global Warming.

How to protect the environment?

swmiyah

what are some examples of sustainable practices and stewardship that can protect the environment?

Answer
In Your Home â Conserve Energy
Clean or replace air filters on your air conditioning unit at least once a month.
If you have central air conditioning, do not close vents in unused rooms.
Lower the thermostat on your water heater to 120.
Wrap your water heater in an insulated blanket.
Turn down or shut off your water heater when you will be away for extended periods.
Turn off unneeded lights even when leaving a room for a short time.
Set your refrigerator temperature at 36 to 38 and your freezer at 0 to 5 .
When using an oven, minimize door opening while it is in use; it reduces oven temperature by 25 to 30 every time you open the door.
Clean the lint filter in your dryer after every load so that it uses less energy.
Unplug seldom used appliances.
Use a microwave when- ever you can instead of a conventional oven or stove.
Wash clothes with warm or cold water instead of hot.
Reverse your indoor ceiling fans for summer and winter operations as recommended.
Turn off lights, computers and other appliances when not in use.
Purchase appliances and office equipment with the Energy Star Label; old refrigerators, for example, use up to 50 more electricity than newer models.
Only use electric appliances when you need them.
Use compact fluorescent light bulbs to save money and energy.
Keep your thermostat at 68 in winter and 78 in summer.
Keep your thermostat higher in summer and lower in winter when you are away
Insulate your home as best as you can.
Install weather stripping around all doors and windows.
Shut off electrical equipment in the evening when you leave work.
Plant trees to shade your home.
Shade outside air conditioning units by trees or other means.
Replace old windows with energy efficient ones.
Use cold water instead of warm or hot water when possible.
Connect your outdoor lights to a timer.
Buy green electricity - electricity produced by low - or even zero-pollution facilities (NC Green power for North Carolina - www.ncgreenpower.org). In your home-reduce toxicity.

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.

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 loco 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 van pool to get to work.

Ways to Protect Our Water

Re vegetate 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.

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Can the pedaling energy charge the battery of an electric bike?

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Drowzzy

Can the mechanical energy of pedaling be stored as electrical energy to be utilized later to run the bicycle automatically? I'm not talking about pure electric bikes that need regular charging, and not even about those that you pedal for a while as the bike stands still and then run it on electric power. I mean can you ride a bike and store the mechanical energy simultaneously? Will it be efficient? If so, then are such e-bikes available in the market, and what are they called so that I may Google for them?

Here's the scenario: I need a bicycle for regular commute, may be even for covering long distances. It's not feasible for a layman to pedal continuously for more than 5 to 10 miles. So I'm looking for a bike that you pedal for sometime, and when you're exhausted, you simply flick a button to make it run on electrical power which has been converted and stored from the mechanical energy of pedaling the bike; and then pedal again and auto-ride again and so forth. Will something like that be technically efficient, since you're moving the bike while pedaling as well as storing your spare energy?

Hope I haven't confused you. Thanks :)

Answer
There is already such a motor on the market. The name escapes me right now but it is a hub built into the rear wheel and it costs about $2000... not the Erbike hub motor... I think it is Electricrider or something like that.

To your request, yes, it is possible and a project I am working on right now. No, I can't and won't divulge details but CAN tell you that you'll see it relatively soon and it WILL be expensive- more expensive than a small motorcycle at this point.

By the way... I typically commute 24 miles (one way) to work on a bicycle, no problem. 5-10 mile commute is simple for most committed riders.

Can the pedaling energy charge the battery of an electric bike?

Drowzzy

Can the mechanical energy of pedaling be stored as electrical energy to be utilized later to run the bicycle automatically? I'm not talking about pure electric bikes that need regular charging, and not even about those that you pedal for a while as the bike stands still and then run it on electric power. I mean can you ride a bike and store the mechanical energy simultaneously? Will it be efficient? If so, then are such e-bikes available in the market, and what are they called so that I may Google for them?

Here's the scenario: I need a bicycle for regular commute, may be even for covering long distances. It's not feasible for a layman to pedal continuously for more than 5 to 10 miles. So I'm looking for a bike that you pedal for sometime, and when you're exhausted, you simply flick a button to make it run on electrical power which has been converted and stored from the mechanical energy of pedaling the bike; and then pedal again and auto-ride again and so forth. Will something like that be technically efficient, since you're moving the bike while pedaling as well as storing your spare energy?

Hope I haven't confused you. Thanks :)

Answer
Yes but you will go slower because you are turning the motor so basically there is no piont unless you modify it yourself

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What do I need to do and what should I know about moving out?

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Danny

I'm 19. I'm living with my parents. I don't go to college. I make about $180 a week from my job. I desperately want to move out within the next few months. When I do move, I'll probably want to go to another state. I don't have my license until June 15th or so (it was suspended). Even when that happens, I don't have a car I could legally take to move with me as the one I use is in my dad's name. Basically, I'm wondering what I need to do and actually take action on. I'm also asking for any knowledge I should have going through this. Any tips. That sort of thing.

I know I'll need money. I've barely started saving but it's happening.. slowly. I can wait on getting a car if it's someplace I don't necessarily need one. I could use other modes like taking the bus or biking. Or walking, if I'm in a city.

Something big that I have no idea about is health care and insurance and all that. Any information for someone who knows nothing would be great.

Sorry this is so scattered and disorganized. I'm just trying to figure out exactly what I need and what I need to do to move out. I'm tired of my living circumstances and I need to be around non-stressful people who can understand me, and I can understand them. I can't do that here, so I'm trying to change what I can. This is mainly aimed at people who have moved away from their parents, without the help of their parents. But any help at all is appreciated. Thank you.

Answer
Well, first let me congratulate you on your employment. It's not much, but it shows initiative.

First thing I would advise you to do (besides saving every penny you can) would be to get a job in the area in which you want to live! Do you currently work for a company where you could transfer to another one of their facilities? You may have to actually formally apply, and then show up for an interview, but with the economy the way it is, going into an unknown situation while unemployed is (or should be) a scary idea!

Do you have relatives or friends who currently live in an area where you'd want to relocate to? Having a safety net is a really good thing!

I wouldn't count on getting a place with an incredible walk score. Cost of living in cities with great public transportation are expensive. And on your budget, you'll probably have to look for something cheaper a little further out. And that is going to require a car. I'd also like to hedge a guess and say, no more underage drinking, k? :-) If you want to move out and live on your own, a valid license is mandatory. And lets think a head a little bit. What you do to your record AND credit rating now is going to be oh sooooo much more important to you ten years from now. So HUGE piece of advise here. Dont screw up your credit rating!

Now lets talk housing. You'll need a good credit rating for this. Landlords check all 3 credit bureaus now days. You'll also need proof of employment with a wage sufficient to satisfy the landlords requirement. Although they are talking about Boston, this theory holds true anywhere these days. http://charlesgaterealty.com/2013/renting-advice/how-much-can-i-afford-in-rent-each-month/ Don't forget, just to get into a place you'll need first months rent, last months rent, a security deposit, and some landlords also request key deposits, garage door opener deposits, pet deposits, etc. Then there are the utilities. Between electric, heat, water, sewer, garbage, internet, phone, and whatever else it can easily be equal to rent. Some landlords may include things like elec, water, sewer, garbage and you may get lucky and find one with heat included too. But you're still going to have to cover phone, cable and internet. Basically, what I'm saying is; in the DC/MD/VA area you're not going to find much for $720 month.

Health care. That comes with a real job. Not usually when your working at McDonalds (although I could be wrong - never worked there!)

Now. With ALL THAT SAID! What I'd like to see you do is take that $180 week and march your butt down to your nearest community college and sign yourself up. If you cannot do that, then turn around and head over to your nearest Recruiters office and cross your fingers they'll take ya!

Good Luck in your future endeavors.

when do the 2013 dirt bikes come out?

Linda

im looking to get a new 250 dirt bike and i want to know when the 2013s come out. I am looking at honda, kawasaki, suzuki, ktm, yamaha...all the major brands.

Answer
All the bikes come out the same time, around the end of 2012. All the bikes are very similar, you're going to have to ride each of the bikes to find your preference.

KTM is way too much money, currency between Austria and the US isn't good. Yamaha is too advanced, their 2013 models are going to look like a futuristic robot, and it might even have electric start, which adds around 20 lbs.

Kawasaki is great as the 2012 model almost dominates the other bikes. I prefer the Suzuki, but it's all rider preference. Suzuki isn't over designed, it's the best bike in my opinion. Next years bikes could go from $8,000, but the KTMs... (Keep Throwing Money). Could go up to $10,000.

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