Community Project: Designing the Coolest Bike

"Joshua "Dr. Science" Gilbert" (joshuagilbert) 09/03/2014 at 18:15 • Filed to: Bikes

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I need help from you Oppos.

So I'm moving to my college in a week or two so I stop commuting an hour to school everyday. I'll be parking my 5.0L guzzler in the school garage and using a bike to go everywhere around the collegetown and campus.

I'm trying to design the coolest, most versatile bike ever (with intentions to keep it for the next 5 or 6 years at least.)

My bike needs three things:

A base, not fixed but geared. (The actual bike) Not a cruiser. Not too long. I'm 6'0 and possibly 6'1 within this year. Needs to be able to endure some trail but not mountain biking. Good tires, smooth, but with grip. NOT A MOUNTAIN BIKE.

(some of my candidates so far include the Fuji '14 Absolute 3.0 LE Road Bike and the !!!error: Indecipherable SUB-paragraph formatting!!! )

A light kit (headlamp and taillamp. I want to avoid anything battery powered. I would like to keep something rechargeable, solar, or kinetic.)

A seat for my fat ass. A comfortable weight one that doesn't add too much weight.

A basket. Something that can hold a box or a backpack. Rear mounted, preferably.

Secondary Objectives:

A light gas engine. I know there are hoards of websites selling these things but I want the best and/or reliable one. I need advise from experience. I'm actually super excited about this. !!!error: Indecipherable SUB-paragraph formatting!!! caught my eye. Something also, I hope, that can be shut off and I can use my pedals if I'm in an area where the engine shouldn't be used.

Something that charges my iPhone.

The perfect chain lock.

!!!error: Indecipherable SUB-paragraph formatting!!! wheel lights.

END GOAL: Perfect Commuter Bike with a few kicks. Flashy at night. Incognito during the day. I will bike several miles a day to various coffeeshops to study, grab groceries and dash between campus buildings.

Yes, I'm perfectly aware that a Vespa or a actual motorcycle might be better, but I have a car and I want/need a swiss army knife on wheels ;)

Anon > Joshua "Dr. Science" Gilbert 09/03/2014 at 18:34

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If you want a reliable engine, if you can find an old Shindawa weedeater engine it'll last you for a long as the earth exists (but for the love of god put a muffler on it!). Also don't get too attached to your rear tires, any motor is going to decimate your rear tires if driven through friction on the wheel.

As far as a saddle goes, Brooks makes wonderful ones!

Vince-The Roadside Mechanic > Joshua "Dr. Science" Gilbert 09/03/2014 at 18:44

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Make this.

Joshua "Dr. Science" Gilbert > Vince-The Roadside Mechanic 09/03/2014 at 18:48

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that's dope. Where did you find it?

Also this? http://www.bikemotorkit.com

Vince-The Roadside Mechanic > Joshua "Dr. Science" Gilbert 09/03/2014 at 18:51

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Screw that mine goes 40mph and cost me $80. I bought the bike and got the motor from the dump the motor mounts are made from scrap and everything else was cheap stuff I pulled from older bikes at the dump. So I only paid for the bike itself.

Joshua "Dr. Science" Gilbert > Vince-The Roadside Mechanic 09/03/2014 at 18:52

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Do you have time to make a how-to? A brief one? Or at least a manifest of parts?

Eazy-O > Joshua "Dr. Science" Gilbert 09/03/2014 at 18:54

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The coolest, most versatile bike is an old mountain bike with a decent lock. :) Just sayin'.

Bought this GT Avalanche 3.0 for 100eur about 6 years ago. Hasn't missed a beat.

Also, all your shit would get stolen where I'm from.

Vince-The Roadside Mechanic > Joshua "Dr. Science" Gilbert 09/03/2014 at 18:56

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I was going to in the future. Basically one weedeater motor, a BMX bike peg, angle iron, a brake and brake cable and a door spring. You should be able to see how I made the mounts by the pics.

promoted by the color red > Joshua "Dr. Science" Gilbert 09/03/2014 at 19:36

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Take a 17" and up '90s steel frame MTB (Specialized Hardrock/Rockhopper/Stumpjumper), throw on a good LED light or two, 1.5" wide slicks (my favorite is the Serfas Drifter), your favorite rack, and decent front and rear fenders, tune it up, and ride the hell out of it.

You said you don't want a mountain frame, but they provide a real good bang for your buck. I can buy these bikes for $50 and change and you could have one up and running for well under $200. Take the left over money and buy a good Kryptonite u-lock and learn how to use it.

I rode/built up a bike like this during college (I had an aluminium frame) and it was pretty damn fast and nimble. Not as fast as my friend's $1,000 Cannondale CAAD 10, but the 8 AM freshman slalom was a great way to start the day.