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Post by esabatino on Nov 13, 2009 22:06:36 GMT -5
We're interested in doing this. A good group of people are building bikes. I'm not really sure what the proper angle is/who to talk to to get a separate moped class going. We're looking to bring this: www.polinitalkusa.com/poliniusacup.php up to the PNW. Help me make it happen. |
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Post by JJ on Dec 14, 2009 13:06:06 GMT -5
I posted something on the moped army site today to let everyone know about the upcoming season.
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Post by nerdspeed on Dec 14, 2009 14:34:25 GMT -5
The early response from the Seattle moped guys has been overwhelmingly positive.
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Post by esabatino on Dec 14, 2009 17:12:32 GMT -5
Seattle sounds excited.
I think we can easily expect 6 racers from seattle and 6 from portland.
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Post by Dayn on Dec 15, 2009 1:42:52 GMT -5
That's great news! What bikes are people planning on bringing?
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Post by paddyfitz on Dec 15, 2009 1:52:15 GMT -5
Sounds like JJ might bring a few  Pepsi challenge? |
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Post by jstephenson on Dec 15, 2009 20:56:18 GMT -5
I went ahead and volunteered to spearhead tech inspection and defining the rules for the moped class for the season. I've been in contact with quite a few people about defining the moped class but for the most part it will be pretty open. Here is a list of the main rules for the class but they are open for discussion as I would like feedback from those who actually plan to race.
1) Has to use a moped engine case originally designed for a moped.
2) Has to be a fully automatic transmission
3) Cylinder, pipe, carb, intake, ignition will all be open
4) Frame must be at least 50% of an original moped frame (the idea here is to keep me from putting a derbi engine inside of a YSR or some other purpose built frame)
5) Suspension and brakes are open, wheels must be 16" or 17", any width
I'm not sure about pedals. Polini Cup does not require them and I know some bikes have been designed to not even allow pedals any more, but I personally like the idea of having to have pedals on the bikes. All general safety rules would apply to the bikes as well. Eric was saying that somebody was building a custom frame for a Peugeot drivetrain and swingarm which I guess would be ok. I know it won't be very competitive here at first as far as build go, but from watching California after 1 year, and knowing what is built in Europe if people are allowed to go completely crazy I'd just like to sort of curb the nuclear arms race a tad. And I think having to use a moped frame is a good way to keep it reasonable. I like leveraging the rules as much as the next person so this is why I'm thinking about all the angles. I know what could be done with lax rules and for the people that don't necessarily care about mopeds but just want to race in another class. I think it should be well defined enough to still be recognized as mopeds in couple of year. Please discuss.
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Post by JJ on Dec 16, 2009 3:21:00 GMT -5
sounds like you have covered all the major stuff.
I hope pedals don't become a requirement, i'd like to try to race the magnum and it is a kickstart.
I will be bringing out both my puchs and a motobecane. I'd be curious to hear what others will be riding.
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Post by esabatino on Dec 16, 2009 23:26:28 GMT -5
I'm looking to make a purpose-built racing motobecane for the track, but considering the amount of Peugeot stuff I have, i'll probably end up building one.
There should be a lot of Peugeot, Motobecane, Derbi, and Honda bikes on the track. A couple Puchs will certainly show up and as long as they can maintain corner speed, should be fine to compete.
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Post by jstephenson on Dec 17, 2009 15:57:48 GMT -5
For the most part, I'd prefer it to be with pedals since it is a moped and all, but I know that it would disqualify current Polini cup racers from bringing their bike up. JJ, you can still put pedals into the frame of the magnum, the kickstart is just the engine. So really it's not a big deal for that engine, but say a garelli or minarelli kickstart would be more difficult (not that anyone is going to track one down and race it but whatever). i still stand behind the frame part though. Dan Kastner referred to racing without pedals as winning without pride or something to that effect. I also understand that non moped riders don't know what to do with pedals under their feet so it would make then ride all weird and slow, same way I couldn't race a smallframe. Just wouldn't work. There was only a couple of bikes in Atwater that were pedalless and only one that I can remember that made his bike incapable of having pedals on it.
Anyways, I have no idea what I am going to build. We shall see.
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Post by nerdspeed on Dec 17, 2009 18:14:57 GMT -5
As it stands, Pedals would only be able to turn about 270 degrees on my moped, as my carb/intake would be in the way. I was planning on building a new subframe anyway, to correct the twist in the current one so I guess its a moot point. I like having pedals required as an 'identity' thing, but racing hard enough you'll find yourself racing around the limitations of the pedals.  |
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Post by JOEL on Dec 19, 2009 11:48:09 GMT -5
Yeah I agree that at least having pedals on the bike should be required. I would go so far as to say that operable pedals (as in can propel the bike under pedal power) should be required but I understand that often expansion chambers play a direct role in preventing pedals from spinning all the way around.
Another thing that I heard down in atwater was that people think that pedals work to the riders advantage because they can lift the inside pedal on the curves.
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naz
New Member
Posts: 19
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Post by naz on Dec 19, 2009 13:56:26 GMT -5
you could make it real rough on the racers and require 50cc's and pedals. Mine meets one of the requirements at 50cc's... I've been thinking more lately about the whole what is in the spirit of a moped. Seems like like it should be more about the displacement of the engine and that they frame has functional pedals on it? Anyways....
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naz
New Member
Posts: 19
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Post by naz on Dec 19, 2009 14:02:24 GMT -5
 and photo of my bike as of this last summer. unfortunately I knocked a hole in the piston so it needed a replacement.  Used a YSR50 std bore piston and machined the crown and cut the skirt a bit and drilled some holes in the bottom of the piston to feed the bridge on the exhaust port.  |
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Post by jstephenson on Dec 20, 2009 12:52:10 GMT -5
The problem with forcing them to 50cc is there just aren't that many 50cc kits. Moby and Peugeot have the most powerful ones and just the shear most. There are some for puch (metra 50, tccd 50, athena 50 reed valve ect.) and one for derbi (metra cast iron 50cc) unless you get into adapting scooter kits. You can't even get 50cc kits for most bikes and the difference in rules from the Polini cup and that would keep a lot of people from racing. You would have high power 50cc moby and puegeots vs. a stock cylinder a55. Not really fair.
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