Rocket recovery vehicle :-)

After lots of walking at LDRS and Airfest, I wanted an easily transported rocket chase vehicle. An atv would take up all the room in my pickup bed, a dirt bike is too heavy for the back of my RV trailer and a mini bike is just - silly. I’m 6’1” 215lbs and mini bikes are still heavy plus little tires just fall in holes. I had an old aluminum frame mountain bike and had a motor kit that I bought years ago when it seemed like a good idea. The entire bike wouldn’t be too heavy, transport on a bike rack and the 26” tire would be ok off road. The motor is 49cc 4 stroke, centrifugal clutch, and a 50 tooth sprocket for better low end performance. After LOTS of getting it setting right and lined up, it’s nearly done. Just waiting on tool to remove pedal crank and replace with new wider one. Old pedals hit motor. Will be taking to Naram in Luscerne next June if shakedown is successful

Motor bicycles are cool! Only thing that might top this could be an e-bike - many states/localities have made e-bikes exempt from just about every rule the can, I/C motor bicycles don’t get the same special treatment. But for running down a drifting rocket I think you’re on to something. Might need some kind of rack or basket though...

Rack on the back, saddlebags for stuff and a padded mount for the gps tracker. And it’s the NSL in California, not Naram. Just gonna get it running and sorted before piling on stuff

I’d love to try a “gasser”. I built an electric recumbent. It can go about 35 miles in a charge and tops out at about 27 mph. If I do it again I’ll use a standard bike. The recumbent is a little too “out there” and not as steady as say a mountain bike. Let’s see if I can get a picture attached.

jrkennnedy2 said:

I’d love to try a “gasser”. I built an electric recumbent. It can go about 35 miles in a charge and tops out at about 27 mph. If I do it again I’ll use a standard bike. The recumbent is a little too “out there” and not as steady as say a mountain bike. Let’s see if I can get a picture attached.

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Maybe I could put some dirt bike tires on my Harley and do the same???...

DM1975 said:

Maybe I could put some dirt bike tires on my Harley and do the same???...

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I am in the process of installing a 80cc motor under the seat . I need to trim off the seat post where it extends thru the frame . It has a three speed rear end I threw together . The basket is about the size of two milk crates. The front end is 30 over and the frame is 6 over . There is a 1-1/4 trailer ball mounted under the basket to the frame for towing a small trailer .

Eric

Wow! Easy Rider crossed with a big wheel! Slick!

alfavulcan said:

Wow! Easy Rider crossed with a big wheel! Slick!

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It's hard to tell , but the front wheel is a 28" and the back two wheels are 22"s.

3stoogesrocketry said:

I am in the process of installing a 80cc motor under the seat . I need to trim off the seat post where it extends thru the frame . It has a three speed rear end I threw together . The basket is about the size of two milk crates. The front end is 30 over and the frame is 6 over . There is a 1-1/4 trailer ball mounted under the basket to the frame for towing a small trailer .

Eric

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Now that’ll be bada**!!

Cool project!


NARAM is in Muncie IN next year, I take it you're referring to NSL?

Nytrunner said:

Cool project!


NARAM is in Muncie IN next year, I take it you're referring to NSL?

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Yea, get em confused. My son lives in California so it’ll be a great place to meet up

I occasionally bring my mountain bike for recovery ops too. I found that it's great for covering grassy areas or dirt roads but on a farm field it's not very useful. Also I need to get a cargo trailer for it. Bigger mid power rockets and above are hard to hold while you're going over rough terrain.

Great if it works for you. Unfortunately, most of my recovery is done on soft, plowed ground, and I would need some seriously wide tires. Let us know how it goes!

Still waiting to replace pedals, but was able to ride the gas bike around the soft back yard and down the street a few tomes. Nothing fell off, had good low speed torque and was surprisingly quiet. Looks like it could cope with some soft ground pretty well

Milk crate on the handle bars and think "ET GO HOME" ,cool

Typically those motorized versions are gutless wonders and have very little torque. Looking forward to your field test with that big rear sprocket.

And some fenders prevent the dirty Pepé Le Pew look

Agreed on the fenders! Lot of guys that build these want to go fast and for that they can barely cope with mild climbing with the approx 2hp available. For me, 15-20 mph on a bicycle is plenty fast and wouldn’t go anywhere near that chasing

This vehicle may be ideal for many, but..

Toward the end of Hawkeye Section's run in Davenport, IA we were privileged to fly at Seven Cities Sod Farm. It was owned by a fun loving family or group of brothers. They had an RV racetrack, and towed hang gliders into the air. They would let us park cars wherever we wanted, etc. The only restriction we had was NO BICYCLES! A bike track would cut the sod when they tried to harvest it.

perhaps something like this 'Rad Rover' electric fat bike would make a nice retriever.
Rex

Nice bike, but I would always worry I would run out of juice when I’m 2-3 miles away! Be a lot less complicated though

I see an electric 'fat bike' (brand unknown) running around town, them are some seriously fat tyres on that bike.
Rex