Bicycle motor

Electric Hub and Gas Motor Bicycle Kit

Bicycle motor

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Motorized bicycles are powered by a motor, either attached to the rear or the front of the vehicle. This attached motor is convenient as it assists the pedaling. The motor can be either electric or a small internal combustion engine. While some of these motors work automatically, without requiring the rider’s effort, others function when the rider pedals.

Electric Bicycle motor: The development of an electric engine became necessary when the demand for a slicker and sturdier vehicle arose. Electric engines have rechargeable batteries to provide power. The batteries can be recharged through a utility supply to the mains. If emergency brakes are applied on the bicycle, the engine uses the maximum power of its battery to avoid mechanical failure. The battery used in the electric engine can also be powered by solar cells and fuel cells. Rare earth magnets, pulse width modulated electronic control, and regenerative braking is also included in the electric engine to improve its efficiency. Lead-acid, nickel cadmium, NIMH or lithium ion batteries are also used for traveling short distances. These acid-batteries are more expensive, but are of a lighter weight and have an incredible storage capacity.

Electric motorized bicycles come in two categories:

  • The power-on-demand electric bicycle: In these bicycles, riding does not need any effort, as the motor is activated with a handlebar-mounted throttle
  • The pedelec electric bicycle: The pedelec is similar to the moped. In this bicycle, pedaling activates the electric motor. A mechanism called the crank sensor or a torque sensor is used to detect whether the user is pedaling.
Electric bikes have a long shelf life, and it can be used for longer distances compared to other motor driven bikes. Its life can also be affected by factors such as the motor efficiency, battery capacity, efficiency of the driving electronics, aerodynamics, hills, and the weight of the bike and rider combined. The range of an electric bike is usually somewhere between 7km to 70km for each battery life.

Gas Bicycle Engine Kit: The first internal combustion engine was produced in 1900. The engine was known as Singer Motor Wheel, and it could be positioned at the front wheel of the bicycle. In 1914, a new Singer Motor Wheel was developed, which could be conveniently placed at the rear of the bicycle with the help of an outrigger arm. In 1960, the internal combustion motorized bicycle called the ‘Velosolex’ was produced on a large scale. The Honda P50 motor engine ceased to be produced in 1988. This bicycle used an in-wheel IC engine.

A 26-inch speed cruiser or a multi-speed mountain bike can easily be converted into a motorized bike with a bicycle engine kit. These bicycle kits have an 80cc motor with 3.5 h.p. The motor has enough power to get around 150 miles on a gallon of gas. As the engine is internally combustible, it can start and stop rapidly. The twist-grip-handle throttle of the bicycle controls speeds of up to 40 mph. The engine kit also has a 44-tooth Chrome racing Sprocket, with 9-hole rear wheel mounting. The 26-inch cruiser coaster brake type of bikes that are sold in stores all over the US can be used to make a motorized bicycle.

Hub Bicycle Motor: Built on the hub of the wheel, a hub motor is an electric motor that does not need an additional transmission system. A single transmission system increases the efficiency of the motor. Comparatively, electric motors are more efficient than hub motors as they have higher rates of revolution.