The idea for this project came together after a random evening scrolling through interesting renditions of retro style bikes. Wouldn’t it be cool, I wondered, to craft an aged triple powered (electric, I/C and pedal powered) bike that was road legal and chugged along making lots of noise to attract attention.

And that’s how it turned out, but with a long of designing and engineering. First, I purchased a 1930’s bike frame for which I paid way too much ($250), but these things have become collectibles. This delivered the wheels, hub drum brakes, and appropriate era pedals and gearing.

The pedal shaft is quite complex, having dual shafts running in 4 bearings. The inner shaft carries the pedals and existing drive cogs and chain. The outer shaft is connected to the rear wheel by a secondary chain, and also to a 1000 watt E-bike motor. This system is also connected to the Briggs and Straton motor, which is a 140cc stationary motor from a concrete mixer.

Any, it took a year to put all this together but it goes well, the motor chugging along appearing to drive the bike, but this is illusory. The motor simply charges the 48 volt battery buried in the fiberglass “fuel tank”.

I have now been pulled over on two occasions for having a petrol powered “moped” without plates, brake lights, and the necessary registration. My defense is that it is a pedal powered E-bike that operates fine without the motor running.