Mountain Bike Living

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I have these two old mountian bikes that i cannot use anymore, and i was wondering how I could make a one seating four-wheeled vehicle out of the scrap from the other bikes. Any ideas? I would also like some help on how to get the chains off of them. Anyone have any ideas?

It’s difficult to build a four-wheel pedal cart out of two bicycles.

Remember that on a four-wheeled vehicle, the wheels on the outside of a turn will spin faster than the wheels on the inside of a turn, so you will need to incorporate some sort of differential into the back axle if you want both wheels to be powered by your driveline.

If you used just one solid axle, you won’t be able to turn (both wheels will spin at the same speed all the time and force you to go in a straight line only).

Also while calculating price of the bike, how do they get about pricing a bike? Is there a KBB kind of a thing in India? Most of bikes I was planning to ship to India are the ones which are not in India.
More, I am from US and KBB is a book value of the vehicles based on the age and features for cars and bikes sold in US.

You cannot send bikes to India - just by paying tax.

India does not allow a free import of bikes; cars; trucks etc. (except a car as a personal baggage - if that will clear the environment laws).

To make it a business - you will need an importer.
Importer has to get the usual import approvals.
For bikes - there will be additional approvals of the local homologation authorities. Usually that is not easy.

After all these - the tax will be approx, 40% of CIF.

To sell in India - then there is a need of service and spare as well.

Also to consider - India produces about 10 million bikes per year it self, and a 100cc bike is about USD 400 - all paid and on road.

Or, I guess a better way to word it is what are some dirt bikes that can be MADE street legal in california? I’m not buying a brand new bike, im planning on rebuilding one,so yeah. I know pretty much what mods need to be done, and the whole registration/licensing process, etc etc. So all I need is a list of bikes that are acceptable. Thanks very much, your help is greatly appreciated.

C.A.R.B.. Dirt only motorcycles have different emission requirements. Equipment such as lights is a trivial problem. You think you are better than Suzuki Motorcycle Corporation? The new TU250X is not allowed in to California because of the C.A.R.B..

Unless you are better than 99% others, it will be easier to find a currently registered ‘dual prupose’ motorcycle.

Also, how much does it cost on average to buy a bike there? And seeing as dutch people use bikes as their primary method of transport, do most towns, even small towns have bicycle shops?
Thanks.

It depends on the bike, and if it’s new or second hand. Anywhere from €150-€900 is the best indication I could give because it completely depends on where you are buying it from and what you are buying - bog standard basic bike to top of the range one

If you just want a simple one and you don’t mind it being second-hand then you would do as well to look on Marktplaats for 2nd hand bikes being sold in the area you live. It’s a site where you can place (and react to) free adverts for pretty much anything http://kopen.marktplaats.nl/fietsen-en-brommers/c445.html

Otherwise you can look for a local "fietswinkel" close to you http://www.telefoonboek.nl/zoeken/fietswinkel/amsterdam/ and yes most towns will have at least one bike shop located there

As for if there are bikes for smaller women then yes there are e.g. http://fietsen-brommers.marktplaats.nl/fietsen-dames-sportfietsen-en-toerfietsen/367127514-lichte-sportfiets-van-9kg-voor-kleine-vrouwen.html?return=eJwtjuEKgzAMhN9F0J9aq4KryJhvUrRisdpg4uY29u5LNyGQ%2B%2B4OEq1y9bZKNKikrFWERm%2F91ExEoLJs9mDWdNHbTOC0JkxXl%2F0rKUxwPVybJwO25OPiFhcd7LwFi8GeBpyGIxYvy9jhOCBDHmI64yX01n0xm%2B1D%2BwgFUVZFEejJVFYXHqb5wTRaQxjLSorZGbuan7xvfuew8xiuywRgb0VCyD%2BCR%2Br9YFpZijpqPl8Af0rP&df=1&fta=eNotkV1u4zAMhO8iYPOsX1uikCv0CoEsUq1RJxYiO8lu0bsv5RbQwweRQw6GCUb4auBB7Pfl8khLE7GBMhrEazmrE7bztkKsO8iIM0NlWDb4N9fYCnJrrBt%2FXSvc9ivd5xyXFyhpnTFx%2BQvWBX7×8wllpq390fJzoflGDI%2F7uj%2Fj2mbQp1r3szxtjTfWtW15RTprK303Y0HU9E4izrysgQEx4%2BFSay4pRyMab18MA2LGA1RQE0PCZIvrP4omTAwY5GAkQw5UFP3ANPgD%2FGSnA5xTfWAenQulgxl0OEpSauoDE8t87uDzKLs86eJC3×6U8q7LxzKgGzrkwY%2B9×00BrWEwpZDucySSHBksO1TEcptlysTGODZCK3%2FOAWJba8J2Wej2vn30LCQXAohrel16PJwIHvnw5dJTxLdffIiYQMLX9%2Fd%2FDdGTfw%3D%3D&fta_ind=5&fs=1 but you can best get advice from the local bikeshop for how easy or available these are.

Im 19 and just passed my bike test. Im looking for my first ’sports’ bike (fully faired) with quite a led down riding position. I will be restricting the bike to 33bhp (but DON’T take that into consideration). Around the 600/650cc mark. So as a question again.. What sports bikes are cheapest to insure? Thanks.

Insurance companies aren’t interested in whether the bike is restricted or not.

A quick google shows the Honda CBR, Kwack ZX-6R & Suzuki GSXR are group 14, the Yamaha R6 is group 15.

The older you go, the cheaper it should be. (In theory!)

You could try the Suzuki SV650, great bike, sporty riding position, and considerably cheaper to buy / insure. Insurance group 10! Plus you might find one second hand that is already restricted?

You could consider a naked bike instead? With it being your first bike it would a shame if you dropped it or sent it down the road - plastics are expensive to repair / replace.

I am learning to drive and am taking my test soon, but me and my family are going to centre parcs before my test and obviously i want to get the practise in! So, i was wondering whether learners can drive with bikes on top of the car. They will be laid flat on roof racks and tied down. I hope someone can help!
Thanks for the answers, just wanted to know whether it was legal!

It takes no special skill to drive with bicycles attached to a rack on the roof. It is very legal. There are no restrictions for this.
Don’t drive into the garage with bikes on top of the car.
I block the entry into the garage with a gas can. No way will I knock over a gas can, so it forces me to move the can and oh, yea, I need to get the bikes off the roof of the car.
Good Luck

I found some Huffy and Schwinn brand bikes on Craigslist for cheap ($75-150), but I don’t know enough about bikes to know if it will hold up to some rugged trails.

Trek, Gary Fisher, Raleigh, Giant, Specialized, etc. Anything from a real bike shop. Discount store bikes on a hard (rugged) trail will crumple in a short period of time.

I really want to start riding dirt bikes this summer, and I’m a 14 year old. Where is a good place to learn how to start? And what type of gear do I need to buy? Please add any tips or good information I might need. Thank you so much!(:
What kind of dirt bike is good to start out on?

You need a running bike, the will to ride (even knowing you’re GOING to wreck a few times learning), protective riding gear, and an open field….theres lots of those around….you might have to have parents that are going to let you do it as well.

Im am starting to look for a good mountain bike that is under $1000. Do you know any good brands? Or even specific bikes?

Very subjective question. There is no "best brand" because what I like may not be what you like. ALL the major brands are good once you get into that price range. The best way to judge any bike is go try it. What feels best to you? Which bike shop has the better service dept.? Who gives the most/better follow up service after the sale?

Raleigh, Trek, Giant, Gary Fisher, Specialized…all good.