Motorized bicycles are a great way to go green

A motorized bicycle includes a drive system which can be fitted quickly and easily onto an existing bicycle in such a manner that the bicycle can be pedalled in a free-wheeling mode in which the motorized system does not significantly increase the force needed to pedal the bicycle. The motorized bicycle includes a wheel onto which is mounted a drive gear, a driven gear connected to the drive gear, and a drive device connected to the driven gear. The drive device includes a motor adapted to rotate an output shaft, a rotatable drive shaft, a first drive device detachably connecting the output shaft to the drive shaft, and a second drive device detachably connecting the drive shaft to the driven gear. The second drive device is centrifugally activated via rotation of the drive shaft by the first drive device. The drive system is mounted on a base which can be adjustably mounted on the bicycle's frame.

Motorized bicycles are a great way to go green, save money and get some fresh air, but there are many options and restrictions to look at when purchasing one.Find out what the restrictions are in your state. The laws on riding motorized bicycles vary greatly from state to state.Decide on an electric or gas motor. Generally speaking, quality gas motors are more expensive and require more maintenance but will travel faster and farther while electric motors are less expensive and require less maintenance and travel shorter distances at lower speeds.You also need to decide on whether to purchase a kit to add a motor to an existing bicycle or just buy fully built Motorized bicycles .

This invention relates to a motorized bicycle and, more particularly, relates to a motorized bicycle which has driving power which can be supplied by pedalling only, motor operation only, or a combination of pedalling and motor operation.  Motorized bicycles have been designed which include a drive gear driven by either an engine or pedals. Early designs typically included chain or gear mechanisms which were driven by a motor and which were in constant contact with the bicycle's drive sprocket and with the pedals. While these motorized driving mechanisms did provide a means of supplying auxiliary power to a bicycle, they suffered from several disadvantages. For example, the motor and its drive system were typically in direct communication with the pedals at all times, requiring the bicyclist to drive the motor when pedalling. The drag of the motor significantly increased the force needed to pedal the bicycle. Moreover, the drive systems of these early motorized bicycles were extremely difficult to retrofit onto existing bicycles because they required complicated driving arrangements which necessitated extensive modifications of the bicycles onto which they were mounted. As a consequence, these systems could not be used on multi-speed bicycles.

U.S. Pat. No. 2,575,873 to Henney discloses a motorized bicycle manufacturer which was designed to avoid some of the above-mentioned drawbacks. Henney's bicycle can be powered by pedalling only, by motor operation only, or by a combination of pedalling and motor operation. Henney also discloses the use of a clutch which allows the motor drive unit to be disengaged mechanically from the rear wheel. Once the motor unit is disengaged, the bicycle can be pedalled without the added resistance of the motor drive elements. For example, if the rider desires some light exercise, he can put the clutch in neutral and pedal the bike as if it were non- motorized. While Henney is desirable from this viewpoint, it also has several disadvantages.

source:townhall|motorized bicycles