The Moped Build

The Motorized Pedacycle (aka Moped) has been something of great interest to me since I got my first up close look at one in college. There were always a few people riding them around campus, and I loved the rough and vintage look, and the fact that they had pedals! So keeping in theme with this blog being about bicycles, in their countless forms, I think this passes the criteria check.

The story of the moped build started in early December 2009. Learning my friend from work Matt Bengy was a moped fanatic, and after me telling him about my desire to build one, it began. There is not a whole lot of actual bicycle riding to do outside, in the dead of winter, in Chicago, on weekdays after work, so I set aside some time each week to work on the moped at Matt's garage. This consisted first of making a complete parts list of everything that I would need to build a moped, from the bottom up, then acquiring. Matt's garage was pretty much a shop combined with a moped graveyard, so there was a multitude of used parts to utilize which helped tremendously in curbing the overall cost of the build. About half the components I used were used, and half I bought new. The new stuff was all purchase from www.treatland.tv (which by the way is a hilarious website, that does not actually having anything to do with TV) I did want to put a new engine on it, so almost all the internal workings of the engine were purchased new from treatland, and then built into a used engine casing.

Below is the parts list and a slide show of some pictures I took of the build. It runs awesome, and tops out at about around 35 mph. Hopefully with some more fine tuning this summer I can break 40mph! I will include a video sometime soon.

Oh and another reason why mopeds are an integral part of bicycle racing, and why I like them; Motor pacing anyone?

Parts List
Frame
Internal Gas tank
Petcock
Wheels (Front and Rear tubes and tires)
Rear wheel tensioners
Brake shoes
Pedals and crank arms
Fork
Fork Bearings
Seat
Handlebars
Levers
Hand throttle
Start Lever

Brake Levers
Grips
Front Fender
2Stroke Engine
bearings and seals
Kit
Crankshaft

Clutch
Clutch Bell
carburetor
intake
air filter
Pedal Chain
tensioner
Drive Chain
Flywheels
Stator Plate (w/flywheel w/ignition coil)
Head Light and Tail light
Electrical Wiring
Head Lamp
Kill Switch
Tail/Running Light
Cables and housing
Brake
Throttle
Starting
Kickstand
Exhaust Pipe
Rack

The MUSE background music is because I just went to their concert. Which was awesome by the way.