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View Full Version : RevoPower Turns Your Bike Into A Moped



WildBoarMouse
10th May 2006, 07:45
Mostly related...

Not a bad idea for the daily (short distance) commuter!!

http://www.ohgizmo.com/2006/05/08/revopower-turns-your-bike-into-a-moped/

The good folks at RevoPower (http://revopower.com/) claim they’re re-inventing the wheel. And, let me tell you, I’m wanting to believe them. Here’s the deal. You take your current bicycle (be it a mountain bike, a cruiser or a commuter bike), you remove the front wheel, and replace it with RevoPower’s. A little wiring here and there, nothing too hard, and you’re set. Then, you go out biking, as usual. But, say you’re growing tired, or you hit a slope and you’re just lazy… well, press a button, and the integrated commercial grade, 23cc two-stroke engine will kick in. You get 1.1 HP (http://www.ohgizmo.com/2006/05/08/revopower-turns-your-bike-into-a-moped/#) or 0.8 KW power output with a maximum rpm 7500 to help you along the way. On a flat surface, the engine will even take you up to speeds of 20mph, with a merciful 200mpg.
Sure, this is pretty much a moped, but the beauty really is that parts have been miniaturized to the point that they can fit within a standard 26 inch bicycle wheel. The entire engine is less than three inches thick! Evidently, the setup adds some weight: about 12 lbs more than a regular wheel, without taking the 3.8 liters of gas it can store into account. But that’s still decent, especially if all you do is commute.
Its targeted price is $400, and will be out in late 2006, or early 2007. Now, if only these guys could re-invent their website (http://www.ohgizmo.com/2006/05/08/revopower-turns-your-bike-into-a-moped/#), because it’s sadly crapalicious…

Rosie
10th May 2006, 08:11
With your front wheel weighing 6kgs more you'd probably need the little motor to propel you up hills that you used to ride up with ease.
Still, it would have uses.
Do you suppose they would deliver me one before the moonride this weekend?

erik
10th May 2006, 08:37
http://www.cybermotorcycle.com/euro/brands/megola.htm
http://www.wholepop.com/features/motorcycles/images/Guggenheim_exhibit/magola504x419.jpg
http://patentpending.blogs.com/photos/uncategorized/capture816200595633_pm.jpg

I wonder what it handles like with all that extra weight in the front wheel?

Motu
10th May 2006, 08:52
As Erik shows,the idea has been around since the dawn of history.The BSA Winged Wheel was another bolt on pushbike power unit,but went on the rear wheel.A friend of mine had a Honda with an engine in the rear wheel,dunno what that one was called...
http://freespace.virgin.net/stones.ukp/cyclemaster.htm

Blackbird
10th May 2006, 08:55
Nothing new in that technology apart from hopefully a bit more power and reliability. When I was in my early teens (cough....over 4 decades ago:gob: ), there used to be a couple of variations owned by people in our village. One of them had an engine in the hib as per the photo and the other had an engine at the back which had a roller pressing on the tyre itseld to drive it. I think one of them was a Cyclex made in France. The horsepower rating must have been abysmal because I remember the hapless owners standing up and pedalling furiously on even the slightest incline.