Well, based on recent happenings at court my driving privileges have been suspended. That sucks. I guess the Escort will need to find a new date. Though it feels wrong selling or giving her away.

Shame is that she lives up to her name. Fun, cheap, and any time I use her I get arrested or in trouble. I guess its time for her to go. We had a good run though.

Anyway that leaves me trying to figure out how to get around with out a car. I am going to purchase a bike, but that will get old quickly. I'm too old for skateboarding, gopeds are illegal, and mass transit is a joke in NJ. What's a guy to do?

I sat here bummed about this for a bit until I realized I could power the bike to give me a little more juice and save some wear and tear on my knees. So I looked into motorizing a bike. They have all kinds of kits available. They have 49 cc, 80cc gas kits for bikes but the trouble is they end up being classified as mopeds. Mopeds are a no go in NJ if you are suspended. Though that's a tempting option it would put me right back in the same boat. Get pulled over, go to jail. They also sell electric kits.

Now the statutes on electric kits is thus-

"An electric bicycle is classified as an "Electric personal assistive mobility device" in New Jersey, defined as "a self-balancing non-tandem two wheeled device designed to transport one person which uses an electric propulsion system with average power of 750 watts (one horsepower), whose maximum speed on a paved level surface, when powered solely by such a propulsion system while operated by a person weighing 170 pounds is less than 20 miles per hour. The device shall not be considered a motorized wheelchair, motorized bicycle, motorcycle, motorized scooter, motorized skateboard, vehicle or motor vehicle" Operators must obey all bicycle regulations, and be above 16 years of age or older, except for an operator with a mobility-related disability."

Hmm.... so under 20, no registration, no insurance, nothing about licenses or anything. We have a winner.

I'm going to build an ebike. it'll take some time to tune because I'm a bit heavier than 170 so I'll need some more power to get up to speed un assisted. I keep going back and forth on options though. Do I buy a kit and then buy batteries? Do I piece a kit together and get greater flexibility at the expense of perhaps greater cost? Do I buy a hub motor wheel and start there or do I mount a motor to the bike and run a chain to the additional gears? Where do I put the batteries? In a bag on the back or mounted nicely in the space between the frame? Maybe hide the batteries and components in a pair of saddle bags.

Lottsa thinking going on.

I have a few specs in my head already.

48 volts of SLA battery goodness.
36 Volt motor.
48 volt Speed controller.
Twist throttle like motorcycle.
Integrated charger.

I think I may have to go with a hub motor wheel. A rear wheel if anything. Just for the sake of simplicity. I think I'll put the batteries in the open space in the frame and cover them. The charger and controller I think will fit in there too.

I'll post details as I get them.

Now I gotta find a bike.