2 Wheels Maybe

A lot going but not a lot of posts lately, so I figured a little update and let you know what you might see in the future. I rebuilt my first wheel. This one needed a new hub, so I replaced the old one with a disc-compatible hub. After watching three youtube vids, I spent about 90 minutes lacing it up. The next day I spent an hour straightening, truing, and tightening it. It may sound weird, but it was one of the most satisfying and calming projects I've tackled in quite a while. I can't wait to tackle my next one. (Spoiler alert, it will either be a rear hub motor or a front drum brake into a 26" rim. Stay tuned!) Farewell, Old 9917 The black Worksman klunker unexpectedly found a new home. (Remember - lock up your bike - even at your local coffeehouse. I hope it went to someone who needed it.) A new Worksman to build! (Woohoo!) So, I purchased another frame from my favorite seller on Rat Ride Bikes . Coincidentally, it came with a terrible paint job that matches the reb...

[A new minipost series - it seems like every week I'm tempted by a new bike that just came out, but I don't find time for a full post - so let's go mini!!!!!] I've been a big fan of Monday Motorbikes since April of 2015 (when they were still called Bolt Motorbikes).Through each generation of the M-1, I 've watched the bike grow more impressive (and less expensive) and as a plethora of new e-mopeds have become available lately, Monday has kept pace by upgrading the original, by launching a step-thru model in 2019 - the Gateway , and this week they have announced a new top-tank model - the Anza! (Woohoo! This thing is cool and pretty darned affordable!) Find it on the Monday Motorbikes site I love that they've taken the old Puch-Magnum-style frame and adapted it to be a lightweight hardtail e-bike with a rear hub motor. Where the original was more of a motorcycle with pedals, this one is better equipped to compete with newcomer e-mopeds like the RadRunner, the Ju...

Black Tea -  they didn't hook me with the name, but the price, the stats, and the simplicity - goodness... The BlackTea website I'm blaming this one on Greg and Micah. Greg's been talking to me about converting an old Allstate Puch Saber to electric and Micah Toll already ordered a BlackTea citing non-buyers-regret from the Onyx launch. Just like Greg and I had been discussing - 72 volts and 3000 watts seem to be the sweet spot for small electric motorcycles. It should be able to cruise easily at 45mph and have a 35-mile range on just one battery. (BlackTea gives the option for a second battery to double the range.) It's been an ongoing discussion around here - a smallish electric electric scrambler. It was a growing flame in my project list that really heated up with the Fly Free Smart campaign . Back in the early 1970s, little gas-powered scramblers were everywhere and they were great fun and very economical transportation. From Honda to Hodaka , dozens of co...

[First, the mini-rant - every bike with a motor and pedals is a moped. Whew, I got that out of my system.] This post is about electric bikes that closely resemble those gas-powered mopeds of the early '70s. I both love those bikes (they have wheels!) and I hate them (all those nasty two-stroke gas/oil emissions). I have fantasized for years about converting one to electric, but now I don't have to. Woohoo! The Five Four Big Contenders (No more CTY) Okay, I admit it - I have a positive bias for each of these machines even though I've never seen any of them in person. I've been watching and admiring the Monday for several years now and I find the dual voltage setup very interesting. I ride and enjoy a Juiced bike several times per week and I'm amazed at the Scorpion's introductory price. Rad makes the Radwagon - 'nuff said! And Onyx is the little-known underdog that's making it happen with two one sweet 'ped. One of our earliest ...