Motorized bicycles have been around since the late 1800s, with a spike in demand in the US and China. They are considered environmentally friendly and come in electric or internal combustion engine varieties. Newer batteries are longer lasting and lighter, and there are hobbyist clubs for modifications.
The concept of the motorized bicycle has been around since the late 1800s. Taking the basic bicycle frame and adding a motor to do some or all of the pedaling for you has made the biking experience easier. Initially inventors were crazy about the motorized bicycle and by the 1800s there were several patents for a variety of motors. Most of these engines would not be tested again until the early 1990s, about a hundred years later.
The motorized bicycle is considered to be environmentally friendly which may add to their popularity. They are sometimes called light electric vehicles and may be listed on your license as such. They are different from motorcycles as motorcycles do not have pedals to fall back on to power the vehicle. Mopeds have pedals, but there may be legal restrictions on using the pedals, so check with your local DMV or automotive authority.
The US is seeing a spike in demand for motorized bicycles. Countries where bicycles are already popular had nearly as many motorized bicycles as other vehicles in the mid-1990s. Electric bicycles are the most popular and China has been selling them by the millions since the beginning of this century.
While the motorized electric bicycle is the most popular around the world, there are one or two motorized bicycles that use the internal combustion engine to get going. Bolt on Bike engines saw a boom in popularity in the 1960s. A variety of manufacturers, including Sears, produced the engines which they continued to sell into the 1970s. Cleaner and more efficient engines are making these engines popular again.
Motorized electric bicycles are nearly overwhelming in the varieties of motors and batteries available. Newer batteries are longer lasting and lighter, giving the rider a range of around 25-30 miles (40-50km). There is a distinction in the energy source that an electric motor bicycle has available. On-demand power is usually found in dumbbells. Pedelec is sometimes called power steering, as you will have to pedal to control the motor.
The motorized bicycle won’t outsell conventional vehicles, at least in the United States, anytime soon, but they’re popular. Check your area for hobbyist clubs and groups. As a hobby, motor bikes are hugely popular and allow people to share information about modifications. Some unique modifications include steam engine bikes or solar powered bikes.
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