I remember these from the 70s, after the energy crunch. “Motobecane” was either a manufacturer or a trademark for motorized bicycles which were purported to get nearly 140 mpg. Are they still being made? Did anyone ever see one (other than on TV)?
Isn’t Lee Iococa (sp?) peddling (get it?) them these days?
I just saw one here in NYC a few weeks ago; they’re starting to make a minor resurgance here along w/ the motorized scooters/skakeboards.
Over here you still have to wear a lid to ride one, not very cool at all.
Oddly enough if it is electric powered you don’t but you will get a lot of interest from the police, it upsets them no end when they try to prosecute you and they lose - which is “A Good Thing”
There is a nice picture of one (bright red yet) at:
http://www.americansolex.com/ and there is information at:http://velocruz.com/home.htm
They caught on pretty well in Japan a few years ago, mostly as a product for the elderly so they can do their daily shopping without having to use taxis or buses. Yamaha, Honda and Suzuki all produce electric models, IIRC. No helmets are needed, since they don’t go any faster than ordinary 1-gear bicycles (helmets aren’t required (or aren’t enforced) for cyclists, either).
I went to a bicycle show at the state fair grounds a few months ago and one company was selling them. Most were the electric versions and i was not impressed by them because the charge was said to only last 30 minutes.
Oddly enough, just last night I saw a guy on a motorized little scooter. (the kind you stand up on). It seemed to go at a fair clip.
In case you thought I was joking with my Lee Iococca quip:
They’re called mopeds.