Does an electric bike really work?

Hi everyone, I was wondering if a 36 volt 600w conversion kit, new, off ebay would really work??!?!? And if I could simply add it onto my bicycle? Please help! are they worth the money?

Answer
The real problem with these conversion kits is the huge variation in quality. Without knowing what brand, what's included in it, and what type of battery is included, if any, it's impossible to tell.

The best conversions kits for the average bike are the ones with a motor in the front hub and a quality controller. These allow you to leave the standard drive-train alone and let it be an assist to normal pedaling. This provides much greater range than running purely electric. You should look up the laws about the wattage allowed in your state. These are listed under motor vehicle laws since this is most definitely a motor vehicle.

Last is the battery.
Good: Lead-acid deep discharge (not your car battery). Not outrageously expensive and decent life.
Better: Nickel Metal Hydride (NiMH). Better range, lighter, safe and durable.
Best: LiFePO4, or Lithium Iron Phosphate, is safer than your laptop battery, has the best range and durability. It is also the most expensive.

Last issue is of course the charger to keep your battery charged. The kit should include one.

All these little details are why the quality of the kit matters. If they have taken care of these and you are expecting a nice assist for the hills and a great range extender, these kits can be absolutely great.

If you are expecting a motorcycle like experience with long range and high speed, you are better off with an electic scooter or the new Brammo motorcycle available at Best Buy. The Brammo has a roughly 40 mile range (real world) and is a real motorcycle without the hassles of gas.

What kind of 250 dirt bike should i get?

j c

I have decided to get a 250 dirt bike next after having my xr 80 for 8 years. i will use it for mainly trail riding and racing the guys around town. what brand should i get, i have no clue what one is the best and what is the worse

Answer
There are a variety of good options for you. I would recommend a 4-stroke for trail riding for the wide powerband, the low end torque allows them to just keep on chugging. Though there are some perfectly capable 2-strokes out there for trails.
For trail riding, I would recommend against a moto-x or "racing" style bike. The gears are too close and the lowest ones are often too high for real technical trail stuff.
Some of the ones I am familiar with (through ownership) are the
WR-250 and the XR-250.
I moved up to the XR-250 from an XR-200 and it is a WORLD of difference. It surprised me greatly, so make sure you start carefully moving up from an 80. The engine is vastly superior, and it can do 3rd gear wheelies without popping the clutch :P. It's among the best off road machines I've ever ridden, the powerband is perfect. It also has disk brakes on both tires (unlike the 200), which you definitely want.

The racing derived bikes, like the WR (based off the YZ), is basically a racing bike with different gearing and a few trail oriented changes. Usually they keep the same high-output high-compression racing motors, which can be finicky. Some of them even recommend a rebuild after every racing season (or more frequent!), though trail riding doesn't put as much strain on it. The XR has an air cooled engine, which I've noticed can get VERY HOT in the summer when your not able to move very fast for a while. The racing derived bikes tend to be liquid cooled, but are a tad more high-strung. I've had issues with both bikes with hot starting, especially after being dropped (the XR not as bad, but sometimes it can be stubborn). If you get a bike that uses a decompress to help start (WR does, XR has one but doesn't need it), it helps if you can get one with an auto-decompress exhaust cam (greatly eases starting), or electric start (though I personally won't ride a bike that ONLY has an electric start). The WR I believe has come with a decompress standard for quite some time now (and I think electric start now too), but I had to retrofit my older model with the cam. 2-strokes do tend to start easier, I will concede that to them ;).

Things you want in a trail bike:
tons of low-end torque
disc brakes, front and back
lower, wide ratio, trail gearing
comfortable (enough) seat
probably more I'm forgetting...

almost all bike manufacturer's make a good trail bike around that displacement class. Hit up the bike forums and reviews and see what people have to say about the bikes your looking at.

best of luck on your decision and have a blast!

edit: forgot to mention, if you like the Honda CRF250, check out the CRF250X model, it is the Honda equivalent to the WR, with the different gearing, etc. from the full out racing bike.

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Electric Motorbikes for kids?

Alex Sundb

I want to get a bike for my friend and he is 1 year younger than me (12) and i found razor motorcycles but they are pretty small. So please any good motorcycles that are road legal and are legal for kids that can fit a kid 5 feet?

Answer
There's no cheap electric bike that would fit you like it should. If you really want a bike, go with a gas powered. Like a Yamaha tt-r 125. Or of you don't want a actual dirtbike, a Baja db30 minibike is a great value. Check out my YouTube I have a modified Baja db30

What do you think of Electric bicycles?

Eartha Q

are they worth the price?
bikernoj ,
Gosh ! Maybe I have a reason for asking besides being fat and lazy???
Me too M R ! It's a simple question for goodness sake.
Dear Lime ..did it ever occur to you that I might have my reasons for asking!! Is that OK with you???
Thanks Bob Lahblah ..I was trying to get some informed information..but it seems the bike enthusiasts are not very nice people.

Answer
Legal Low Powered Electric Assist bikes are now becoming a great alternative for tens of thousands of commuters in the US. Use an ebike for commuting and save the price of the ebike in insurance savings and service costs, And still get a workout- no more time on that dreaded treadmill at the spa.

Some young fit folks may never need one, but, if you are one of the folks that really does not want to take their car EVERYWHERE, especially to just get a loaf of bread, Ebikes may be the thing for you.

They all have on/off switches and a way to control the level of assist. People might use maximum assist going to work, but minimum assist going home for a workout. If you have asthma or arthritis, an ebike makes the bicycling world yours again- on good days- minimum assist, on bad days - you still don't have to get in the car- just use more assist.

Fifty percent of households own bicyles but less than 5% of them use them regularly. Over 50% of households with ebikes use them on a regular basis.

Some people use their $2,000 racing bike as a roof ornament and a badge of being a yuppie. Other people take ebikes every where, saving lots of money, helping the environment, and stayiing quite fit. YOU DO HAVE TO PEDAL, other wise your range is really shortened.

Right now you can get an ebike that will go 30 miles, (with your pedal assist) make it up most any hill in most cities, feels like a normal bike, can bring home 40 lbs of groceries and has no more service issues than a normal bicycle -for about $1500. And have local service in MANY US cities.

There are today some really great ebikes, much better than 3 years ago. The Bionx, www.bionx.ca , has the most bicycle like feel, and great range. Cyclone, www.cyclone-usa.com , has the most power.
Crystalyte system kits have pretty good value
http://www.poweridestore.com .

In most US states, Ebikes are legally limited to 20mph under electric power, must have pedals that work, less than 750 watts of power, and 2 or 3 wheels (not 4), and are legal where other bikes are legal. Check your state though.

For reasons of test riding and long term support, it is highly suggested that you buy your first one from a local dealer, unless you like to work on such things your self.

The average ebike rider puts on more miles than the average regular bike rider. Why? Ebikes are more fun, less hassle, and there are just less excuses to take the car.

Many ebikes are also light enough to be put on many city busses and trains- helping with "multi-mode" commuting.

(But be careful, there is some junk out there)

What is the best kind of bicycle? The one you will ride.

Try the following yahoo discussion group for indepth information on specific ebikes:

http://tech.groups.yahoo.com/group/power-assist/

There are great ebike dealers in Texas, Colorado, Seattle, Georgia, New York, California, Kansas, Illinois, Utah, Nevada; the list goes on and on.

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Which mini dirt bike ?

Kevin

Which one should me and my friend get ?
http://www.ebay.com.au/itm/49CC-MINI-DIRT-BIKE-POCKET-ROCKET-BIKE-PEE-WEE-ATV1-QUAD-MOTOR-BIKE-MOTORBIKE-/320904980572?hash=item4ab76d685c&_uhb=1
OR
http://www.ebay.com.au/itm/NEW-2x-NEW-49CC-MOTOR-ATV-MINI-DIRT-BIKE-TRAIL-QUAD-2-STROKE-ENGINE-POCKET-/321060262894?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_15&hash=item4ac0aed3ee%252
Thanks !

Answer
If you are looking for a mini dirt bike I would suggest something from the Razor brand. They are electric powered so they're not as noisy. They fully charge in 8hrs, leave it overnight and you're good to go. They are very highly rated on average of 4.2 stars out of 5. If you're looking for a smaller version I would consider the MX350 if something bigger try the MX650.

http://www.minidirtrockets.com

best starter/intermediate moto bike?

Hi, I'm 6'5" and 210 lbs and am looking for a reasonably priced bike to use for some moto (nothing too crazy).

I don't have any experince with dirtbikes, but have ridden mountain trails on mountain bikes & quads for long time and tend to catch on quick. What's a good bike that will have decent power, actually fit me (6'5"), and yet not kill me?

Answer
Here are some bikes that I would go with:

- KTM 530 EXC: Has kick and electric starter, 510 cc, liquid cooled, 6 gears, wont kill ya', big bike for a big guy :)

- Honda CRF 450X: Has electric start and kick start has 13.7 in. ground clearance, 450cc, 3.5 ft tall at seat. Another great bike.

- Yamaha WR 450F: Has electric and kick start, 450cc, both front and rear suspension has 12 in. of travel. Yet again, another great bike.

- Kawasaki KLX 450R: Has electric and kick start, 450cc, liquid cooled, 5 speed, 37 in. seat height, 12.6 in. ground clearance, 12 in. travel on both front and back suspension. 2.1 gallon fuel tank.

- Suzuki RM-Z450: Has electric and kick start, 400cc, front head light, seat is 3 ft. tall, has a 2.6 gallon tank. Not as big, but still a very nice bike.

All of these bike's will fit your height and weight, and all of them are the "off-road" edition's so they are not the "high-performance" get-on-it and-kill-yourself bikes.

Good Luck!!

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Now that China owns the US, how much of their poison will you consume?

this is just 6 months worth....because we owe them virtually everything, we can look forward to decades of this.......




January 2007

* Toxic Overalls: Samarra Brothers recalled Chinese-manufactured childrenâs two-piece overall sets because the coatings on the snaps in the overalls and shirt contain excessive amounts of lead, posing a serious risk of lead poisoning and adverse health effects to young children.
* Fire Hazard Heaters: Family Dollar Stores recalled 35,000 oscillating ceramic heaters that were found to overheat and smoke, which could pose a fire hazard to consumers.
* Bad Wiring In Fans: Holmes Group recalled about 300,000 Chinese-manufactured oscillating tower fans that were found to have bad wiring that creates a fire hazard.
* Dangerous Candles: Sally Foster recalled over 46,000 sets of imported Tea Lights candles after it was reported that the candles have a clear, plastic shell that can melt or ignite, posing a fire or burn hazard to consumers.
* Dryers With Electrocution Hazard: Metropolis Beauty recalled about 18,000 TravelâN Baby Mini Hair Dryers, which were not equipped with an immersion protection plug to prevent electrocution if the hair dryer falls into water. Electric shock protection devices are required by industry standards for all electric hand-held hair dryers.
* Improperly Wired/Flammable Lamps: Hong Ten Trading recalled about 4,000 electric oil lamps that had power cords that were not correctly secured and had no strain relief on their switch housing. The switch housing was also not flame-retardant, which poses a fire hazard.

February 2007

* Overheating Remote Controls: Best Buy recalled about 10,000 Isignia DVD Player remotes after it was found that improper battery placement in the remote could result in overheating and present a burn hazard.
* Lead Poisoning Hazard: 115,000 Claudia Jublot childrenâs rings, which were sold at Big Lots stores, were recalled because they contained dangerous levels of lead.
* Defective Lamps: Currey & Company of Georgia recalled about 2,600 Chinese-manufactured lamps that had defective light sockets, which could pose electrical shock and fire hazards.
* Lead Accessories: Kidsite jewelry sets, which were sold at Kmart stores across America, were recalled for containing high levels of lead.
* Toxic Jackets: Samara Brothers recalled thousands of its outwear jackets for children because the snap closures on the jackets contained excessive amounts of lead, which poses a lead poisoning hazard.
* Lead Bracelets: Imported Chinese bracelets that were sold under the âUltra Gearâ brand were recalled because they contained high levels of lead.
* Hazardous Toy Batteries: JAKKS Pacific recalled over 240,000 battery packs for toy vehicles after dozens of reports of the batteries melting or catching fire.
* Lead Rings: About 280,000 childrenâs Rachael Rose Kidz rings were recalled after they were found to contain high levels of lead.

March 2007

* Breakable Bike Frames: Targetâs made-in-China Triax PK7 and Vertical PK7 bike frames were recalled after it was found that the frames could break rather easily, injuring anyone unlucky enough to be riding such a bike.
* Razor Blades For Kids: Tri Star International recently recalled a made-in-China childrenâs stationary, which contained a dangerous razor blade.
* Shocking Extension Cords: Dollar Stop Plus recalled 15-foot extension cords that had undersized wiring, and failed to connect properly at the plug and receptacle ends. This poses fire, shock and electrocution hazards to consumers.
* Lead Easels: Discount School Supply recalled Elite about 2,500 5-in-1 Easels after finding that the chalkboard side of the Chinese-manufactured easels contained high levels of lead.
* Lead Necklaces: Childrenâs necklaces sold at Accessories Palace were recalled because they contained high levels of lead.
* Toxic Paint: Toys R Us recalled over 128,000 Elite Operations toy sets because the paint used by the Chinese manufacturer of the toys contained high levels of lead.
* Lead Mood Necklace: About 47,000 childrenâs mood necklace imported from China by Rhode Island Novelty were recalled for containing high levels of lead.
* Dangerous Sconces: Home Dectorators recalled about 900 Chinese-produced wall sconces, after finding that many were missing back plates, which exposes consumers to live wires and poses a risk of electrical shock to consumers changing the light bulb.
* Lead Paint On Baby Toys: Stuffed Fun Balls, which were sold at dollar stores and other discount stores from June 2006 until March 2007, were recalled because the paint used by the Chinese manufacturer of the baby toy contained dangerous levels of lead.

April 2007

* Poison Pet Food: Two Chinese companies intentionally exported contaminated pet food ingredients to the United States, killing hundreds of American pets that ate t

Answer
You seem to have allot of time on your hands. Where is your watch made?

now that China owns the US, how much of their poison will you consume?

cheesus

this is just 6 months worth....because we owe them virtually everything, we can look forward to decades of this.......




January 2007

* Toxic Overalls: Samarra Brothers recalled Chinese-manufactured childrenâs two-piece overall sets because the coatings on the snaps in the overalls and shirt contain excessive amounts of lead, posing a serious risk of lead poisoning and adverse health effects to young children.
* Fire Hazard Heaters: Family Dollar Stores recalled 35,000 oscillating ceramic heaters that were found to overheat and smoke, which could pose a fire hazard to consumers.
* Bad Wiring In Fans: Holmes Group recalled about 300,000 Chinese-manufactured oscillating tower fans that were found to have bad wiring that creates a fire hazard.
* Dangerous Candles: Sally Foster recalled over 46,000 sets of imported Tea Lights candles after it was reported that the candles have a clear, plastic shell that can melt or ignite, posing a fire or burn hazard to consumers.
* Dryers With Electrocution Hazard: Metropolis Beauty recalled about 18,000 TravelâN Baby Mini Hair Dryers, which were not equipped with an immersion protection plug to prevent electrocution if the hair dryer falls into water. Electric shock protection devices are required by industry standards for all electric hand-held hair dryers.
* Improperly Wired/Flammable Lamps: Hong Ten Trading recalled about 4,000 electric oil lamps that had power cords that were not correctly secured and had no strain relief on their switch housing. The switch housing was also not flame-retardant, which poses a fire hazard.

February 2007

* Overheating Remote Controls: Best Buy recalled about 10,000 Isignia DVD Player remotes after it was found that improper battery placement in the remote could result in overheating and present a burn hazard.
* Lead Poisoning Hazard: 115,000 Claudia Jublot childrenâs rings, which were sold at Big Lots stores, were recalled because they contained dangerous levels of lead.
* Defective Lamps: Currey & Company of Georgia recalled about 2,600 Chinese-manufactured lamps that had defective light sockets, which could pose electrical shock and fire hazards.
* Lead Accessories: Kidsite jewelry sets, which were sold at Kmart stores across America, were recalled for containing high levels of lead.
* Toxic Jackets: Samara Brothers recalled thousands of its outwear jackets for children because the snap closures on the jackets contained excessive amounts of lead, which poses a lead poisoning hazard.
* Lead Bracelets: Imported Chinese bracelets that were sold under the âUltra Gearâ brand were recalled because they contained high levels of lead.
* Hazardous Toy Batteries: JAKKS Pacific recalled over 240,000 battery packs for toy vehicles after dozens of reports of the batteries melting or catching fire.
* Lead Rings: About 280,000 childrenâs Rachael Rose Kidz rings were recalled after they were found to contain high levels of lead.

March 2007

* Breakable Bike Frames: Targetâs made-in-China Triax PK7 and Vertical PK7 bike frames were recalled after it was found that the frames could break rather easily, injuring anyone unlucky enough to be riding such a bike.
* Razor Blades For Kids: Tri Star International recently recalled a made-in-China childrenâs stationary, which contained a dangerous razor blade.
* Shocking Extension Cords: Dollar Stop Plus recalled 15-foot extension cords that had undersized wiring, and failed to connect properly at the plug and receptacle ends. This poses fire, shock and electrocution hazards to consumers.
* Lead Easels: Discount School Supply recalled Elite about 2,500 5-in-1 Easels after finding that the chalkboard side of the Chinese-manufactured easels contained high levels of lead.
* Lead Necklaces: Childrenâs necklaces sold at Accessories Palace were recalled because they contained high levels of lead.
* Toxic Paint: Toys R Us recalled over 128,000 Elite Operations toy sets because the paint used by the Chinese manufacturer of the toys contained high levels of lead.
* Lead Mood Necklace: About 47,000 childrenâs mood necklace imported from China by Rhode Island Novelty were recalled for containing high levels of lead.
* Dangerous Sconces: Home Dectorators recalled about 900 Chinese-produced wall sconces, after finding that many were missing back plates, which exposes consumers to live wires and poses a risk of electrical shock to consumers changing the light bulb.
* Lead Paint On Baby Toys: Stuffed Fun Balls, which were sold at dollar stores and other discount stores from June 2006 until March 2007, were recalled because the paint used by the Chinese manufacturer of the baby toy contained dangerous levels of lead.

April 2007

* Poison Pet Food: Two Chinese companies intentionally exported contaminated pet food ingredients to the United States, killing hundreds of American pets that ate t

Answer
China does not own America Did the banks own the U S housing market? and did not the banks need a government bail out? and did not the Chinese workers get a taste of how it feels to have an income? and well they not get unset when that income stops? Do you have any idea how many languages they speck in China? How do you think they well feel with 50% un-employment Allowed to have one child and you can't feed that child?

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what do people look for in an electric bike?

Matthew

I am designing an electric bike for commuters to use day in, day out. I am asking you guys who live on the outskirts of cities to give me what you want in the perfect personal transport. This product is made for the masses and made by the masses. Any answers will be appreciated and taken into account. Thanks all!

Answer
1) Price
2) Range
3) Recharging time
4) Speed
5) Battery life
6) Comfort and carrying capacity

Price and range are the most important

Electric bikes, in China?

Matt

How much should I expect to pay for an electric bike in China via Chinese currency?

Answer
That's kind of like asking what should you expect to pay for a car... you may be thinking a Suzuki, and I may be thinking a Mercedes... believe me, prices of bikes vary as there are a lot of different types of bikes. There are some small electric bikes that are very simple, suitable to get from here to there with minimum cargo (a shoulder bag or 5 kg of rice)... and others styled like a proper motorcycle whith the capacity of carrying a passenger or two... and a whole lot in-between.

Bottom end prices for a new bike start around 1200 RMB and go up from there... 5000 RMB and more.

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Electric Bike First Time Buyer Question?

Aiden

I am 14 and want a way to get around town. I came across a youtube video of this bike. http://www.nycewheels.com/a2b-electric-motorbike1.html it requires no license and has a very nice style. Are there any bikes similar in style and good quality in a 1000 to 1500 price range?

Answer
You can get a great bike for that price range.

I would order a kit and install it on a low end full suspension mountain bike.

http://www.electricrider.com/crystalyte/phoenixiikit.htm

http://www.cyclone-usa.com/

http://www.currietech.com/currie-technologies-izip-conversion-kit1.php

Do you have an electric bike? Do you like it? Where did you get it?

Dee~Dee, h

Answer
http://www.schwinnbike.com/usa/eng/Products/Electric/All/

as for the tailwind, it has no price, but ive seen it at performancebike for arround 2,500

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Buying an electric scooter?

Cj

I wanted an eletric scooter for my birthday but heres the thing. It needs to be able to travel 3 miles from my house and back without having to be charged. I would get a gas powered but those are to expensive unless someone knows one thats around $250ish give or take $100. I was thinking of the ezip 500 but im not sure

Answer
First you need to figure out where in the world you are. In California motorized scooter is legal on the streets, but you need to have a driver's license. In most places a motorized scooter is not legal on streets or sidewalks.

A pedal bicycle is legal for anyone on any street ('cept the freeway)

Best electric scooter for a 14 year old?

Kourtney

Hi I'm 14 turning 15 soon and I want and electric scooter that goes at least over 15 mph (10 if the battery last) I don't weigh that much and I'm a girl i don't if that matters or not

Answer
Depends on what you call an "electric scooter" and where in the world you are.

In California an "electric scooter" would be a "motorized scooter", such as a Go-Ped - http://www.goped.com/Products/Iped-ii/default.asp. It will be legal on the streets, but you are required to have a driver's license or permit. As far as I know, it would be illegal in New York City.

"Best electric scooter" would be actually *NONE*. If you want transportation a *far* better vehicle would be a pedal bicycle. If you want motorized, get a small motorcycle such as a Honda Metropolitan.

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a barrel of oil is better cheap or expensive for the economy?

katie

i dnt get it either but in this article for school and it says a barrel of oil will prob cost 300 by 2012 so is that goo dor bad?

Answer
in all of human history p to about 1850 the only way to build or do anything was with human muscle power. that is why there were slaves and workers paid almost nothing by the rich and powerful

machines using fuel, wood or coal or oil for steam, gas motors or electric generators can do much much more. a human muscle work is worth only about $0.50 a Day, less than the cost of the food to feed him

when oil was discovered in american in the 1890s it was so plentiful it cost less than a few dollars a barrel. gasoline was a waste product while making kerosene for lamps

only cheap clean energy produces real wealth meaning stuff. money is just paper to keep score.

in 1970s the america reached "peak oil"we used our won FASTER than we drilled and found new oil so we bought oil from the arabs. they stopped selling it and it almost collapsed the American economy. One of the reasons we had WW II was because America supplied japan with oil and when they attacked China we stopped their oil. they had 6 months to a year at most, to attack us, win the war, attack southeast asia And get oil there. otherwise they would have starved and gone back to planting rice with water buffalo

Today there is a huge and growing demand for oil. all our mid east wars are really about controlling oil.

oil at $75 a barrel we can afford. at $100 it slows our economy. $300 a barrel we would be in a great depression. but we would have an all out war in Saudi Arabia, Iran, Iraq or where ever the oil was found

WE HAVE TO STOP USING OIL. there is no other choice. except coal and coal is VERY dirty and dangerous.

The sun is the natural source of almost all energy on earth. it is just expensive to make solar electric systems. and we have stupidly let China manufacture them all. Our company just went out of business due to costs and cheap Chinese products.

at $300 a barrel oil you will ride bicycle and have to grow your own food in your back yard, or starve. Farmers need oil for all their machines, fertilizer and for trucking the food hundreds of miles to the cities.

Pay attention to this news it is VERY important to YOUR future.

2012 is much too soon but 20 50 maybe?

Can I use student loan for apartment?

Joshua

I will be starting college in fall and I have been blessed with free tutuion because my mom worked at university for 10 years. However room and bored is not free it's 10,000 a year. I was wondering instead of taking out a loan to cover that I could room with a buddy for a shared apartment at 473 a month. Thats a little less then half the price with utilities included. Also if I wanted to spring up to nicer places in 900 range it's still cheaper. Can I do this and how can I if I can
Im interested in a loan from CITI bank or Wells Fargo not goverment loans

Answer
From the Federal Student Aid Handbook, 2011-2012. U.S. Department of Education, vol 4, chapt. 1, page 4-12:
[Quote]
The law allows a school to credit a studentâs account with FSA funds only to pay for institutionally provided housing.
[End quote]
Source: http://ifap.ed.gov/fsahandbook/attachments/1112FSAHdbkVol4Ch1.pdf

"FSA funds" means both Pell Grant money and Federal student loan money.

If, after all of your school costs: tuition, course fees, books and class supplies are paid for out of your FSA, there is money left over, you may use it to apply for your housing off-campus. However, because of U.S. Dept. of Education rules and the school's policies and procedures you will probably not receive any refunded FSA (if there is any unused funds) until weeks and weeks after school has started. Therefore, you will still need money (yours) to pay for your rent, food, and other household expenses - electric/natural gas utilities, internet service, cable/dish TV service, telephone service - before school starts and for several months into the semester or longer.
++++++++++++++++++++++++++

Added: When planning a budget for off-campus living expenses, also include an estimate for entertainment (going to movies, concerts, etc.) and meals/snacks at restaurants and for clothes an personal care expenses. Also, if the apartment will not be close to campus so you cannot walk or bicycle to/from school, plan on transportation costs. Plus, plan on the cost of transportation to/from campus/the place where your college is located at the beginning and end of each semester and at holiday and break times. Also, realize that unless it is a month-to-month tenancy lease, an apartment will require at least a 1-year lease (12 months - plan for paying rent and other household expenses for 12 full months) plus an initial security deposit (often the same amount as 1 month's rent.)

I see your Additional Details. If you will be eligible for a private student loan, with or without a co-signer (you or a co-signer will need an excellent credit rating for one thing), figure in the accruing interest rate (about 12% per month) on the loan amount. Plus, be aware that with private loans you will need to start repaying them (with the accruing interest) shortly after you sign the loan documents (that means while you are still at college.)

Student financial aid experts advise against private student loans for undergraduates, in general, and definitely advise against them to pay for living expenses. Do you really want to have to pay for your college housing, meals, etc. (with accrued interest) for about the next 20 years?

I do hope you currently are working at a part-time paying job and you can take on more work hours after graduation, during this summer so you can save as much of your earnings as possible to cover your living expenses at college (minimum estimate of $1,000 per month), so you will not feel you will need to take on a tremendous private loan debt you will live to regret. Also, I hope you plan on working at least part-time while enrolled at your college so you can earn money to pay for your on-going living expenses. Many colleges offer on-campus jobs for just their students. Ask an adviser at your school fin. aid office about those.

Librarians--Ask Us, We Answer!
Find your local Public Library at:
http://www.publiclibraries.com/
Find your College/University Library at:
http://lists.webjunction.org/libweb/Academic_main.html

Best wishes

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Do I need a license to drive this Electric Bike in NYC?

John

I received this 100% electric motor cycle called a "Brammo Enertia" as a gift, however I'm 18 years old and only have a driver's permit, and I live in New York city. Will I need a special permit to drive this? Or can I drive this without a license? By the way I would be taking it on highways, and roads where mainly cars drive, also would I have to buy insurance for it?

Here's more info on the bike
http://www.motorcycle-usa.com/17/1609/Motorcycle-Article/2008-Brammo-Enertia-First-Ride.aspx

Answer
No and yes. As of now electric bikes with pedals that can NOT go faster than 18 miles per hour have no legislative laws in NY. This may or may not change in the near future. They are considering the issue in the NY State Senate as of now. Bikes, especially those without pedals, that can go faster must be registered and insured as if they were motorcycles. You will need a motorcycle licence. Besides it not a bad idea to have insurance anyway.

Market size and growth scooters, electric scooters and E-bikes?

Paul L

Hi, I am desperate for help on this, I have spent many, many hours I cannot spare and am all searched out, I am desperate to find market details for unit sales (totals and growth rates) for Europe, China and Taiwan for gas powered scooters, electric scooters and e-bikes, also need USA figures for dirt bikes, I am trying to plug these figures into a very small part of my thesis and it sure seems no one will give this basic information unless I pay 3 grand or so to a market research company, it cannot be as hard as I am finding surely. I also need the details for reference on where the numbers came from.

Any help will be very much appreciated.

Best regards

Answer
you have two sources:
1- in the USA, check out the dirt bike magazines, they usually have the kind of info you are looking for
2- Out of the US, you have to call the marketing and sales departments for each manufacturer and ask your questions. Some of them post their numbers of their web sites
good luck

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

Q. 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.

I'm looking for small(not pocket Rockets or really small) motor bikes that will be under $1000 with taxes.

Twilight R

I saw one up at my local TSC store and was wondering if anyone had any othrs they knew of, or a list or site ,but I'm also tring to find one that can be used on the street(not even legal,lol) but have head lights and I'll need the CC of the engine and the tank capacity,not looking for Electric.

please reply here and in an E-mail at currinbrandon@yahoo.com

Answer
You can get some reasonable used motorcycles in that price range, especially if you wait until October or November.

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whitch dirt bike should i get?

Vicki

i live in michigan and i want to motor city motor-sports and they had a very nice 2011 yamaha 125 electric start for 3100 dollars but said i could get about 2800. there is a nice on on craigslist for 1500 but it looks a little less "great" condition.. what is better?

Answer
buy Craigslist and spend some money to make it great ,with the money left buy a nice dirt helmet repaint the bike ,buy a nice jacket ,shoe , which look good with Ur bike .

Are there any upgrades for a yamaha ttr. 110 dirt bike?

jacek

It's a 2011 model electric start

Answer
yes you could put exhaust on it, bore it out, anything really but your not gunna compete with a stock mx bike no matter what you do to it.

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Which is the best buy? YO Bikes or Scooty Pep+90cc in India?

spaharionl

Answer
The YO because it is an electric bike can not be compared to the TVS Scooty Pep gas bike.

I believe the Scooty Pep is better because it has petrol motor.

i want to buy a electric bike ranging between 30000 to 40000 rs . it should be electric moped with no pedals.?

ashu

it should be economical.no need to wear helmet and need no licence

Answer
I don't know how close you are to a Walmart in india, but you can order a izip or ezip electric bike for around 25000 to 45000 rs.

Order it off their website and have it shipped to the nearest store location for free. It does have pedals but it is actually better transportation then an equally priced scooter.

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Bad battery? I was riding my motorcycle when all of a sudden, no power or lights and...?

Sass

the batter smells almost like rotten eggs.
also when i turn the key to on the lights flicker (if they even come on) and it make a high pitch humming noise.
would you say this is a bad battery?

thanks!

Answer
The smell you are detecting is sulphuric acid gas cooking off from the battery. The lights flickering SOUNDS like loose cables. From the sounds of things, I am going on experience here, because I can't physically check out the bike, your battery cables are loose and vibrating when riding, also, it sounds like you have an old fashioned screw-top or (maintenance free) lead acid style battery. They are ancient history, out-dated junk technology.
Go get yourself a Factory HD battery or DEKA AGM battery---Absorbed Glass Mat (Deka, manufactured by East Penn Mfg, who is also the company that manufactures HD's batteries). They will come pre-charged and are totally sealed...EXTRA HEAVY DUTY that no other battery on the market compares to. You will also want to get a BATTERY TENDER, hook up the "pigtail" to the battery and plug it into the charger whenever you are not riding, it will maintain the battery for you and keep it fully charged at all times. NEVER USE A STANDARD TRICKLE CHARGER ON AN AGM BATTERY----IT WILL KILL IT!!!.....Use ONLY a Battery Tender!!! Agm batteries require a very special type of charging procedure that only a Battery Tender (or similar "float" charger) can provide. ALSO...NEVER load test an AGM battery...let a HARLEY DEALER do this for you, AGM's do not use the same load testing procedures as the old-style lead/acid batteries. Properly maintained, an AGM battery will last 4-6 years as compared to 1-2 years for old-style batteries, and they also have a higher Cold Cranking Amp rating.
Once you have a new, fresh battery installed, check your charging system output with a voltmeter on the battery terminals. At 2000 rpm and above, you should read around 14.2 volts. Any lower than 14, you have an issue with either your regulator, stator or rotor, or a combination of all three...this can get involved in repairing and recommend letting a shop do it. If the stator is bad, the primary drive must come off in order to replace it.

http://www.eastpenn-deka.com/

http://batterytender.com/?SID=4668b310602955d5e8debe51240eb9d3

Where can I buy a bike-powered generator?

Sexy

I'm looking for either one of the following 2 things:

1. A bicycle light that is powered by the wheel but has a battery that kicks in if you're going too slow for the light to be bright.
-OR-
2. A bicycle generator that can store the generated electricity in a battery that can then be used to power a light.

Thanks.

Answer
Generators disappeared from bikes once batteries were commonplace. Now, with LED lights, a couple batteries will last 1500 hours. In any case, here you have a few.

http://www.amazon.com/s/?ie=UTF8&keywords=bike+generator&tag=mh0b-20&index=aps&hvadid=21136447&ref=pd_sl_62ahlq2m8_e

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What do you think of Electric bicycles?

Eartha Q

are they worth the price?
bikernoj ,
Gosh ! Maybe I have a reason for asking besides being fat and lazy???
Me too M R ! It's a simple question for goodness sake.
Dear Lime ..did it ever occur to you that I might have my reasons for asking!! Is that OK with you???
Thanks Bob Lahblah ..I was trying to get some informed information..but it seems the bike enthusiasts are not very nice people.

Answer
Legal Low Powered Electric Assist bikes are now becoming a great alternative for tens of thousands of commuters in the US. Use an ebike for commuting and save the price of the ebike in insurance savings and service costs, And still get a workout- no more time on that dreaded treadmill at the spa.

Some young fit folks may never need one, but, if you are one of the folks that really does not want to take their car EVERYWHERE, especially to just get a loaf of bread, Ebikes may be the thing for you.

They all have on/off switches and a way to control the level of assist. People might use maximum assist going to work, but minimum assist going home for a workout. If you have asthma or arthritis, an ebike makes the bicycling world yours again- on good days- minimum assist, on bad days - you still don't have to get in the car- just use more assist.

Fifty percent of households own bicyles but less than 5% of them use them regularly. Over 50% of households with ebikes use them on a regular basis.

Some people use their $2,000 racing bike as a roof ornament and a badge of being a yuppie. Other people take ebikes every where, saving lots of money, helping the environment, and stayiing quite fit. YOU DO HAVE TO PEDAL, other wise your range is really shortened.

Right now you can get an ebike that will go 30 miles, (with your pedal assist) make it up most any hill in most cities, feels like a normal bike, can bring home 40 lbs of groceries and has no more service issues than a normal bicycle -for about $1500. And have local service in MANY US cities.

There are today some really great ebikes, much better than 3 years ago. The Bionx, www.bionx.ca , has the most bicycle like feel, and great range. Cyclone, www.cyclone-usa.com , has the most power.
Crystalyte system kits have pretty good value
http://www.poweridestore.com .

In most US states, Ebikes are legally limited to 20mph under electric power, must have pedals that work, less than 750 watts of power, and 2 or 3 wheels (not 4), and are legal where other bikes are legal. Check your state though.

For reasons of test riding and long term support, it is highly suggested that you buy your first one from a local dealer, unless you like to work on such things your self.

The average ebike rider puts on more miles than the average regular bike rider. Why? Ebikes are more fun, less hassle, and there are just less excuses to take the car.

Many ebikes are also light enough to be put on many city busses and trains- helping with "multi-mode" commuting.

(But be careful, there is some junk out there)

What is the best kind of bicycle? The one you will ride.

Try the following yahoo discussion group for indepth information on specific ebikes:

http://tech.groups.yahoo.com/group/power-assist/

There are great ebike dealers in Texas, Colorado, Seattle, Georgia, New York, California, Kansas, Illinois, Utah, Nevada; the list goes on and on.

Are electric bicycle conversion kits worth it?

Filip N

I understand 750Watts and/or 20mph speed without pedaling is the limit in most U.S. but, if I have a kit like that, is it worth it? Is the quality very bad? Who are trusted/reliable vendors of such kits? If I am guaranteed that speed and reasonable distance to get to school and back 20+20mi should i do it? Gas is $3.49 here, even a 250cc bike is like, expensive :(

Answer
Worked on these for a few years in different shops.
Have seen some very sketchy products marketed from china that offgas chemicals
I would only recommend http://www.bionx.ca/en/ then http://crystalyte.com/

The Bionx kit is now built into a bike marketed through Trek,
http://www.trekbikes.com/us/en/bikes/electric_bikes/
They will do what is advertised but the batteries will not last long. I would honestly rather point you at a gas motor kit for the mileage your planning. It will be cheaper in the long run

http://motorbicycling.com/

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Are electric dirt bikes safe for 10 year olds?

Aaron

i want to know if electric dirt bikes are safe for 10 year old boys

Answer
Yes, they are very safe they have a top speed of 10-15 mph and they are very low to the ground and you can out run one easily. They are very good training bikes to get them ready for the bigger ones. But i would suggest them to a 10 year old.

How reliable are electric bikes?

bob

Answer
the biggest problem with electric anything is battery power. The technology is coming, but its not there yet, and the big reason is cost, it takes millions of dollars in research to make something small enough, with enough power that is stable (not likely to EXPLODE) THAT YOU CAN make portable, Right now range equates to wieght , and who wants to carry 1,500 lb battery packs around? not me.
The technology is coming, its not quite there yet, the next 10 years should be interesting, as the greedy oil strangling govornments fight over dwindeling oil supplies, where will the battery powerd technology take us Especially in the UNITED STATES. WE are making big advancements every day, but this must be met with caution, we are not where we need to be with battery technology yet.

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

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.

Save for first car or go through with electric car build?

Alex King

I cannot decide if I want to wait one more year and get a car, or convert another car to electric like I had planned to do. I am afraid that if my dad and I buy the car for conversion, he will not be as willing to put in as much money for my first real car (we have already decided that he will help pay). Which way should I go?

Answer
What do you want to achieve? How much budget do you have? What sort of driving do you do?

If most of your journeys are long distance, or high speed, then forget electric cars right now: they're not the right power source for the job. If most of your journeys are short and on slower roads, then an electric car is in its ideal environment.

If you are converting a car, you'll probably end up with a car with a range of 40-60 miles and a top speed of 55-60mph (depending, of course, on what budget you have). You will end up with something that is unique, but it will probably be fairly slow.

If most of your driving is in a built up area, then that probably isn't an issue for you. In which case, you can go the self-build route if you want an electric car. If you are using new components, then budget $3-4000 for the conversion, on top of the price of the car: more if you want the latest lithium batteries (between you and me, don't go there: they're troublesome. Stick with lead acid batteries which are a lot easier to implement for a home conversion).

If you want a more practical car, that will have great performance and a decent range, you'll have to go the purchase route. Mitsubishi will have their 'i' electric car out in the US very shortly. I've used one in Europe for a year and it is a very good car. Nissan have their LEAF electric car out now, and again that is a superb car: in Europe, it won 'European Car of the Year' award, as voted by the top automotive journalists across Europe.

I've been driving various different electric cars over the past five years, and before that ran a company selling electric bikes. I am the author of 'The 2011 Electric Car Guide'.

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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.

looking to go camping june 2013 in tennessee?

kgln81

looking at the smoky mountains/ Gatlinburg area. tent camping, but with electric hook ups and bath houses with showers.. in the mountains, near water. anyone familiar with camping in this area with a nice campground to recommend would be a great help!! thank you :)

Answer
Cades Cove combines the feel of primitive camping with the modern convenience of flush toilets, drinking water and electric hook-ups. A camp store provides visitors with basic necessities as well as bike rentals.

The Great Smoky Mountains are a hikers paradise and visitors to Cades Cove Campground love the 5-mile roundtrip hike to Abram Falls. From Cades Cove Loop Road, follow the signage at the turnoff for directions to the trailhead.

Although Abrams Falls is only 20 feet high, the large volume of water rushing over falls more than makes up for its lack of height. The long, deep pool at its base is very picturesque. The trail to the falls traverses pine-oak forest on the ridges and hemlock and rhododendron forest along the creek. The waterfall and creek are named for Cherokee Chief Abram or Abraham whose village once stood several miles downstream.

A nearby horse stable provides one-hour horseback rides as well as hay rides and carriage rides from March through October, offering recreational activities for the entire family.

Campers can also enjoy high-quality backcountry fishing in the cool waters of the countless streams and rivers that snake through the mountains, with trout available in abundance.

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What do you think of Electric bicycles?

Eartha Q

are they worth the price?
bikernoj ,
Gosh ! Maybe I have a reason for asking besides being fat and lazy???
Me too M R ! It's a simple question for goodness sake.
Dear Lime ..did it ever occur to you that I might have my reasons for asking!! Is that OK with you???
Thanks Bob Lahblah ..I was trying to get some informed information..but it seems the bike enthusiasts are not very nice people.

Answer
Legal Low Powered Electric Assist bikes are now becoming a great alternative for tens of thousands of commuters in the US. Use an ebike for commuting and save the price of the ebike in insurance savings and service costs, And still get a workout- no more time on that dreaded treadmill at the spa.

Some young fit folks may never need one, but, if you are one of the folks that really does not want to take their car EVERYWHERE, especially to just get a loaf of bread, Ebikes may be the thing for you.

They all have on/off switches and a way to control the level of assist. People might use maximum assist going to work, but minimum assist going home for a workout. If you have asthma or arthritis, an ebike makes the bicycling world yours again- on good days- minimum assist, on bad days - you still don't have to get in the car- just use more assist.

Fifty percent of households own bicyles but less than 5% of them use them regularly. Over 50% of households with ebikes use them on a regular basis.

Some people use their $2,000 racing bike as a roof ornament and a badge of being a yuppie. Other people take ebikes every where, saving lots of money, helping the environment, and stayiing quite fit. YOU DO HAVE TO PEDAL, other wise your range is really shortened.

Right now you can get an ebike that will go 30 miles, (with your pedal assist) make it up most any hill in most cities, feels like a normal bike, can bring home 40 lbs of groceries and has no more service issues than a normal bicycle -for about $1500. And have local service in MANY US cities.

There are today some really great ebikes, much better than 3 years ago. The Bionx, www.bionx.ca , has the most bicycle like feel, and great range. Cyclone, www.cyclone-usa.com , has the most power.
Crystalyte system kits have pretty good value
http://www.poweridestore.com .

In most US states, Ebikes are legally limited to 20mph under electric power, must have pedals that work, less than 750 watts of power, and 2 or 3 wheels (not 4), and are legal where other bikes are legal. Check your state though.

For reasons of test riding and long term support, it is highly suggested that you buy your first one from a local dealer, unless you like to work on such things your self.

The average ebike rider puts on more miles than the average regular bike rider. Why? Ebikes are more fun, less hassle, and there are just less excuses to take the car.

Many ebikes are also light enough to be put on many city busses and trains- helping with "multi-mode" commuting.

(But be careful, there is some junk out there)

What is the best kind of bicycle? The one you will ride.

Try the following yahoo discussion group for indepth information on specific ebikes:

http://tech.groups.yahoo.com/group/power-assist/

There are great ebike dealers in Texas, Colorado, Seattle, Georgia, New York, California, Kansas, Illinois, Utah, Nevada; the list goes on and on.

What is your take on the electric assist bikes?

mark_hensl

Giant and Trek are on my radar and I plan to purchase one of the two within the next 6 months. I want to lessen my dependence on my car and stay out of the doctors office. I am looking at two riding options for different purposes. The previous question refers to the low end Raliegh and Trek series bikes. The upper end ride assist is attractive when you are not fat, but a former college athlete and the wear and tear creeps up on you certain days. lol.

Thanks.
Old Hippie,

Lithium Ion batteries power the very laptop you are typing on. They last for 4-5 years based on charge cycles. I will get a regular bike, and not replace the exercise, I have lets say a fondness for bio-mechanics. I certainly respect your knowledge and your view as a purist. You will find, in Europe, and Asia their are high numbers of electrically assisted bikes, even high performance bikes. The US, dumbs down the electrical system to peak at 20 mph, not the case elsewhere. They are "runnin" 30-70 mph electrically assisted bikes out of the box, in some cases added to the existing bike a German company is the lead on this, Pro...tech, I can't pull it, a Canadian company by the name of Bionix, Panasonic and others are much further downstream than given credit. I can't say I am a believer, but I see an alternative solution on the way. Mark my words.

Answer
Mark

I used a similar idea when I retired. I use a bike daily for exercise and a motor scooter for running errands.

I do not like the electric assist bikes. Especially, for healthy riders. Make the effort if you want the health! I see a lot of kids and seemingly healthy adults using them. I can see a time when bike lanes in popular riding areas are clogged, and made unsafe, by these vehicles.

When I retired I bought a Vespa type scooter as my 'green machine' just to run errands instead of using the car. It carries a large bag of groceries in a basket in the rear, and gets well over 75 mpg.

Soccerref

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i am 47 male, active, buying an electric bike is a good idea? what kind you would recommend, is used one good?

einstein

Answer
Active 47 year old male & an electric bike? What a waste. Get a real pedal powered bike from a real bike shop. If not new - used is OK too, but only in the major brands like Raleigh, Trek, Specialized, Giant, etc. Best place to look is on craigslist.

First decide where & how the bike will be ridden - strictly on the streets, off-road, a little of both? I still recommend going to a real bike shop just to determine what type of bike you want. Browsing around cost nothing but time. Pick the brains of a bike salesperson. They can answer more questions there than anyone can here - given the short amount of space we're given. Ask questions at the bike shop...lots & lots of questions. The more you know, the better decision you will make.

how can i get free electric bike manufacturer directory of Europe?

Tammy

this is my site,and i want to export to foreign,but i have no free electric bike manufacturer directory .
what i have in hand is totally out of useat all.
http://www.aurora-bike.com/products/ebike/EB03-26.html

Answer
http://www.ev-info.com/en/electric-bicycles-manufacturers.html

I think this site (link) will best suit your needs.
SHORT EXCERPT:

Quote:


".....The new Dutch bike brand Urban Arrow makes smart urban bikes. Our 1st electric transport bike is designed for families with young kids that want a green, affordable and time saving alternative for their city cars.

We re-invented the transport bike: a fresh design, composed out of light, safe and comfortable materials, equipped with
a powerful German made electric pedal assist and built with
A-branded components.

The modular frame makes it possible to attach a different front frame, resulting in a regular transport e-bike or in a 3 wheeled cargo e-bike.
Urban Arrow will be distributed and serviced via selected independent bike dealers.wwww.urbanarrow.com
....
Christina Bikes - NetherlandsGreen power

Christiania goes electric! De Green Power heeft een krachtige motor en een afneembare 9 Ah Lithium Ion accu op de bagagedrager. Dat is lekker licht fietsen! Nu in twee uitvoeringen, met lange en korte bak.www.christina.nl
....
Malaguti - ItalyMalaguti and the environment

The production of motor-vehicles offering design and performance combined with a reduced consumption and a lower environmental impact is among the main targets of Malaguti, always caring about the environmental issues.
On the threshold of the new millennium Malaguti was already one of the first companies worldwide to market an electric bicycle as well as conceive and create an electric scooter, in order to offer effective solutions for both the urban commuting needs and the pollution issues.

In fact, in the year 2000 two brand-new products were introduced: CIAK Electric Power, a zero-emission electric scooter, and Pedalight, an electrically assisted bicycle, two different ways to offer an alternative urban mobility solution.

By now environmental sustainability is essential for a product to be successful.

The consciousness that our planet needs our moral and active engagement found fertile ground at Malaguti especially with regard to engines, with the introduction of alternative dual drive vehicles.

In November 2008 Malaguti presented at EICMA (International Bicycle and Motorcycle Exhibition) its first prototype of a scooter with HYBRID ENGINE. ...."

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Electric Scooter or a Mountain Bike?

SpaceCowbo

I'm a soon-to-be community college attendee, and I can't decide whether to get a bike or electric scooter for basic transit in the hillish areas of Reno. I loved my bike back home, but it was pretty much destroyed by a reckless friend of mine after I let him borrow it (he's making a speedy recovery). I don't have near enough for a car yet, and my license is invalid since I just moved. I just need something reliable and good for short-medium range transit around town.

Answer
Why is your driver's license invalid? Anyway, you need a driver's license for a motor scooter. And anyway, a mountain bike isn't the best commuter bike, a road bike is. If you're going to be riding gravel trails as well consider a cyclocross bike. If you primarily mountain bike on rocky singletrack a mountain bike can still be a commuter but you'll never be as efficient on roads as you would on a road bike. Of course the bicycle, whichever kind you decide you need, is the most efficient and cheapest form of transportation.

I like to know what is your thought on the Prodeco electric bicycle?

ChevalierC

I recently have an interest in mountain bike. I want to get a bike to commute to work on the weekday and use it for mountain biking on the weekend. Any feedback is greatly appreciated.

http://www.prodecotech.com/

Answer
Not only are you comparing apples to oranges. You're comparing apples to oranges to bananas!

A "commuter bike" will have no suspension parts. Suspension parts are needed only on off-road trails.

A mountain bike would make for a terrible commuter bike. The suspension parts weigh the bike down & absorb or zap part of your energy with every stroke of the pedals. Nice off-road. Terrible on the streets. The knobby tires also slow you down.

Electric bikes or electric assist bicycles are B-A-D for any situation. #1) The high initial cost. #2) The high replacement cost of a battery. #3) Makes you fat & lazy. #4) What if the charge in the battery runs low or out in the wrong place at the wrong time. Then YOU get stuck pedaling a VERY heavy bicycle home.

Buy a real bicycle from a real bicycle shop. Get fit & stay fit. R.E.I. sells a nice "commuter bike" on their outlet website. Link below. See 2nd link too - How to Choose a Bicycle

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I live on a hill and need transportation to school/ Electric Scooter?

Joe M

I live on a hill and its is very difficult to come home. I can't drive and there are no bus or train stops near me. Biking isn't an option because coming home is the worst. Do you need a license to drive an electric scooter? Do need a helmet as well? How do they do on hills? How heavy are they? I was thinking about an electric or kick scooter. If I get a kick scooter I can carry it home because it only weighs 5 pounds. Please help me pick or suggest something new, by experience only please.

Answer
I've never owned an electric scooter, but I think it would be way too weak for your hill. Right now I ride a 70cc Honda scooter, and even that's a little weak for hill climbing. It'll get up the hill I have to climb, but everyone else is doing the speed limit, 45, while I'm doing 35 or 40. You might be lighter and more aerodynamic than me, but you should go with 100cc or more. And buy a Honda, Yamaha or Suzuki if you can afford it. Stay away from the Chinese garbage.

Electric Motorcyle Issue?!!??!?

Josh

I'll be using 4 lead acid deep cycle batteries that put out 875 CCA and 205 amps continuous and so forth but the motor only uses 133 amps and 48 volts, just want to know if the controller should be rated at 300 amps, 400 amps, 550 amps? I'm wanting to get a curtis controller off ebay and found all three but which one!???

Answer
In my opinion, any one of those would work fine. The main difference is in the level of performance you want out of this bike. A higher amp controller will give you let you climb hills faster, and give faster acceleration in general. The top speed is the same unless you go to a higher voltage. The trade off is, when you are running more amps through your motor & cables, they will heat up and fail if the motor doesn't have some means of cooling (usually a blower forcing air through it) and the cables need to be thicker.
If you have mostly flat land where you live, and an easy-going driving style, a 300A controller would be fine.
Once you are up to speed, you'll probably draw less than 200 amps cruising on flat land.
Definitely install a good ammeter and keep an eye on your motor amps. You might want to avoid several-mile uphill climbs and similar situations that will draw a lot of amps for extended amounts of time. If you draw 500A for more than about 2 minutes at a time, it's very likely that stuff will start burning up. If you anticipate a lot of hill climbs, you should have a blower forcing air through the motor, and a good heatsink/fan combo for the controller as well.

A 48v controller is appropriate for your system. The engineers at Curtis know that a fully charged 48v pack is more than 48v and they have built in the appropriate tolerance for over-voltage. The controller also is capable of feeding more current to the motor than it draws from the batteries, so even if it's giving 400 amps to the motor, it will be pulling much less than that amount of current from the batteries. If you want to have the option to add more batteries and run a higher voltage system, you could get something like a Curtis 1209B or an Alltrax 7245... both of those are rated from 48v-72v so you can run it on 48v now, and add more batteries later if you want to have a higher top speed. Those controllers are a lot more expensive than a regular 48v one, and also physically larger and heavier.

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What are disadvantages and advantages for electric cars, & solar energy cars?

mskee0409

Answer
first why do you need sound the world is too noisy anyways. when I'm riding my bike I check the mirror every 20 seconds so why can't everyone else. second probably 75% of the population drives less than 50 miles a day in their commute so an all electric is perfect for them. A pulse charger can charge a lithium ion battery in 20 minutes, and there not that expensive if you know where to look. I bought a container of 200 LI's 300AH 24v from Hihon corp in china a few months back for 10k including shipping about $50 a piece. I finished converting a 85 dodge Omni for the wife. I just started an 86 Fiero for me, next will be something for my son, daughter, and son-in-law, and I'll still have enough to do another 20 cars plus replacement batteries. and as already stated solar is fine for a house supplemental system, I have 10kw on the south roof of my house as well as 4 vertical axis wind turbines on my garage roof. but neither will work on a car. Electrics are small and light, they can't be large trucks but bio diesel is renewable and relatively clean especially if they make up a small percentage of the vehicles on the road.
I'm keeping my gas and diesel cars and trucks I just won't drive them around town when an electric will do.

Power Assist Bikes?

LAL

I am 60 years old, just finished chemo and do not have alot of energy left. I was thinking of getting a power assist bike so I could get some exercise because the bike I have takes more energy then I have. I need a simple bike that will allow me to pedal, but will also assist. I have read alittle bit and probably the electric would be better then gas, for the speed and noise. But any assistance will be appreiated. Thank you.

Answer
There are two ways to go: A purpose built electric/pedal bike or trike or an add-on kit to a regular bike.

Electric is much more useful than gas, since electric assist bikes can still be used on trails (gas, even mopeds are almost always prohibited). Plus they are quieter, lighter, less smelly and, most importantly, more bike-like.

Consider a trike too, especially a recumbent. They are much more comfortable and easy on the butt. More stable (they can't fall over), you can carry a lot more (basket in the back) so they are more useful for errands and they can stop on a dime. The big penalty has always been the extra weight, but if you are planning from the start to use a motor assist, then weight isn't that big a concern is it?

Good luck. Biking is the best exercise in the world!

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Child trailer with an electric bike?

Jennifer H

Can you attach a child trailer to an electric bike? Or a scooter? I'm trying to find something for me and my son, who is four and 40 lbs, that will work with me. I have been walking the 3.5 miles for the last month and just want to find something that will cut down my time. I just think using a regular bike with a trailer will be too much and I will be stuck pushing the bike with the trailer up hills. I've also found child carriers, look very similar to car seats, that can be attached as well. Can those be used? They are actually on the bike, not trailing behind

Answer
Think you're bogging down now on a bike you pedal yourself? It'll be worse with the added weight of an electric assist bicycle. Learn how & when to shift gears. Learn about "spinning" the pedals at a high rpm or "cadence" in lower (easier) gears climbing hills. See links...

http://sheldonbrown.com/saddles.html#height
http://sheldonbrown.com/gears.html

Ebikes, Electric bike motors, Electric scooters...?

Mantis

Anyone own one? Know what's good or bad? Where's the best place to buy? Pros and Cons?

Answer
Don't know much about scooters, but, know ebikes and ebike kits pretty well.

For DIY kits, Cyclone-USA has a great chain drive kit that gives the best range, top speed and hill climbing., but it is a difficult installation.
http://www.cyclone-usa.com/

For value try a crystalyte kit, a hub motor which is always an easier install.
http://www.ebikes.ca/

For great features and reliability try Bionx kits.
http://www.birdrv.com/electricbike.php


A pretty nice prebuilt ebike is the Ezee series.
http://www.electricvehiclesnw.com


I am a support person for all of the above.

I personally own 7 ebike systems, including all of the above except for the EZee, which i get as a loaner.

for demanding applications, like tough terrain or heavy loads, got to have a chain drive cyclone. the variable gear ratio going thru your normal chain is really helpful.

But hub motors are an easier install.

Stay away from Lead batteries if you have hills to climb.

Some folks swear by the new Life04 batteries, I like NIMH, Nicad is showing very good value.

If you get an add on kit, out it on a quality comfort bike. No big box clunkers, they don't last the years of heavy high speed use.

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upgrading an electric scooter any advice?

darkstar11

I drive a 500 watt TaoTao ATE 501 and it only has a top speed of 20 to 21 miles per hour and only drives 10 miles per charge(I think) Is there any upgrade parts I can get for this scooter so that it can drive 30 maybe 35 miles per hour and get better battery life? I'm tired of being on a street legal scooter/moped and not being able to keep up with average city traffic flow. I hate being tailgated because I'm driving slower. I think it runs on 48 volt batteries and uses three of them. Not sure about the control box because its kinda hard to get to.

Answer
First you have to realize that those 500 watt electric scooters are really just heavy cheap electric assisted bikes. The TaoTao ATE 501 weighs about 200 lbs and that's why it's so slow. If you want any reasonable performance, you use the fold out pedals at least for acceleration, it also recharges the batteries slightly.

I suspect you have a 36 volt system with three 12 v lead acid batteries wired in series. It would be a good idea to have each of those batteries checked out separately. Lead acid batteries can be tricky and it only takes one to be in poor shape for the whole bike to suffer.

The most obvious upgrade you could do is wire in another three lead acid batteries in parallel. Nothing else would need changing but you would have to find a location to put the batteries.

The next possible upgrade is to replace the batteries with expensive lithium ion or lithium polymer batteries which are convenient because they are available in similar voltage levels. Their charging procedures are similar but not identical so you may be able to get away with not changing any of the charging mechanisms. The biggest problem with this is the cost.

A larger motor probably won't do you much good and may require custom fabrication of the motor mounts but you may be able to find a more powerful motor in the same form factor. In general, most electric motors can be operated at higher voltages with the only consequence being overheating of the motor and wires, the wires can be increased to thicker wires and you could try to get more cooling to the motor but this would really only allow you to have short bursts with the possibility of burning something out. Of course doing so means changing the battery layout and adding more batteries.

The best solution would be to upgrade to a proper light weight electric assisted bike but they run about $2,000 or more, roughly double what the scooters cost. Maybe find a used bike and put in a 500 watt conversion kit... At least with the bikes, everyone expects you to be slow.

The 500 watt scooters are not what I would call street legal, just exempt from regulations. It takes a 150 cc scooter to be freeway legal and a 250 cc scooter to actually be safe at freeway speeds and any scooter with more than 50 cc's must be licensed and registered as a motor vehicle. Those I would call street legal once licensed. You might be better off with a 50 cc gasoline scooter, those are usually exempt from regulation too. The old smoky two cylinder ones had a lot of power, about double what the new four cylinder ones have but even the new 4 cylinder ones would be four times the power of the 500 watt electric scooter. If you want to be environmentally friendly, make ethanol from rotten fruits that you get from the grocers for free.

what is a good electric assist bicycle?

Rambo

Im kinda plump and find it hard to ride a reg bike, makes my legs/back hurt...anysuggestions?

Answer
There are no "good" electric assist bicycles. Th cost is astronomical, the price of battery replacement is also sky high & the charge in the battery may run low or OUT at the wrong time at the wrong place. Then you are stuck pedaling a VERY heavy bicycle home under your own power.

Please don't give me that "I'm kinda plump" routine either. I started out several years ago at 315 lbs. I also have degenerative disc disease in the lower back and arthritic knees. By using the proper cycling posture & "spinning" the pedals at a "cadence" of around 70-90 rpm (if not more) at all times, you can do it too. If I can - anybody can.

Trek Electric Assist Bicycles - lowest priced one - $2,299.99 - http://www.trekbikes.com/us/en/collections/electric_assist/models/

My 2011 Raleigh Touring Road Bike - cost - $1,200 - http://www.raleighusa.com/archive/2011-steel-road/sojourn-11/

Started off on a straight hybrid with the upright sitting/riding position. Switched to road bikes about a year ago. Love 'em!!! Today I rode 26 miles! Again...don't give me that "I'm kinda plump" routine. If I can get fit & shed pounds - anyone can. Links below from the late Sheldon Brown. Please read.

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