Would you drive a moped?

[chesspirate]

Here I am getting all excited about this stuff even though I probably wouldn't have regular use for something like this, then on Ebay i read this:

"Don't pay too much! Buy it now while supplies last as after January 2006 dealers will no longer be able to import 2 cycle engine kits into the US so prices on the remaining kits will go higher and higher."

What is going on? Are the oil companies doing some weird stuff to get efficient anything thrown out?

And on that enclosed moped, if gas doubles (been predicted a number of times, not happened yet) then you'll see these around for sure.

[Matt Timion]

Originally Posted by chesspirate

Here I am getting all excited about this stuff even though I probably wouldn't have regular use for something like this, then on Ebay i read this:

"Don't pay too much! Buy it now while supplies last as after January 2006 dealers will no longer be able to import 2 cycle engine kits into the US so prices on the remaining kits will go higher and higher."

What is going on? Are the oil companies doing some weird stuff to get efficient anything thrown out?

And on that enclosed moped, if gas doubles (been predicted a number of times, not happened yet) then you'll see these around for sure.

I'm not sure I buy the fact that the 2 cylinder engines won't be imported any more. Doesn't make sense to me.

While I'd love to ride a moped around (it's been a dream of mine for years actually... since I was 15) I'll probably not be doing it any time soon. I'd much rather ride my bicycle or my n600.

The more I think about it though, the more I think I might want to get one of these conversion kits, even if most people think they are butt ugly.

[MetroMPG]

the problem with the 2-strokes is their emissions (something i'm unmistakably reminded of every time i start my boat's motor).

i haven't heard anything about the import restrictions, but if they're real, i suspect that's part of the motivation.

even less wealthy countries that traditionally use a lot of 2-strokes for transportation are taking action for air quality reasons: pakistan has stated it plans to ban heavy diesels and 2-strokes in its major cities by 2012.

[Matt Timion]

Originally Posted by MetroMPG

the problem with the 2-strokes is their emissions (something i'm unmistakably reminded of every time i start my boat's motor).

i haven't heard anything about the import restrictions, but if they're real, i suspect that's part of the motivation.

even less wealthy countries that traditionally use a lot of 2-strokes for transportation are taking action for air quality reasons: pakistan has stated it plans to ban heavy diesels and 2-strokes in its major cities by 2012.

If that's the case maybe I am better off converting it to electric. At least we have a push lawn mower so we don't pollute when we mow the lawn.

[GasSavers_Ryland]

A freind of mine has a few mopeds, the sweetest one of course is an Indian, they show up on Ebay every few weeks, I've worked on his, and they are pretty nice, they are also 4 stroke engines, meening you will get slightly better mileage, and you will not be mixing, or burning any 2 stroke oil! he doesn't have his regesterd yet, so I'm not sure what kind of real life mileage it gets.
I recently got a 1985 Tomos moped, pretty commen, reliable, easy to get parts for, and I'll be checking to see what kind of mileage it gets, I'll also of course be loaning it to my mother for getting to work on insted of starting up a 4 door car, driving a few miles... it's hell on her car.
I have owned a ZAP electric bicycle kit, and used it for about 3 summers in a row, the battery is compleatly shot now, heavy lead acid gel battery, for about $80 I think I could replace it with NiMH battery and get the same range as when it was new, the main draw back was that it's motor rolled on the tire, unefficent, and wore the tires out quickly, CurrieTec sells one that mounts on your hub of your bicycle, other compenys sell whole hubs with motors in them, I like dirrect drives like that alot, as they are going to last longer.

[JanGeo]

2 stroke "Moped" type motors put out more than 100 times the polution than a car. Europe is working on computer controlled injection of the 2 stroke oil and are getting them a lot cleaner to pass emissions but they are not ready yet.

[Sludgy]

Evinrude 2 strokes now have in-cylinder fuel injection, and are clean enough for EPA. It's only a matter of time before they ICFI is applied to motorcycles and cars.

[Lapdog4]

Can you tell me where you found, or where I can buy a 2 wheel coveted scooter like in your pic?