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Bike built for mileage June 9, 2006 - No reporter cited

By John Miller
Editor

Imagine smiling when going to the gas station to fill up, knowing it will take less than $1 to fill the tank.
Also imagine getting 250 miles per gallon.
Sound impossible? It isn’t. In fact, it’s quite simple and only takes an hour or so to do.
Paul Crabtree, of Holly Pond, Ala., was in Nashville Tuesday, June 6, on his motorized bicycle. This bike gets 250 mpg and runs 35 miles per hour. Crabtree was on his way to Murfreesboro to look for diamonds, after coming to Arkansas via Denver, Colo., where he attended a concert.
Crabtree’s odyssey has taken him 2,000 miles and from Alabama to Colorado. On average, he spends three days on the road, taking the fourth day off for rest. By the time he’d reached Nashville, he’d used a scant eight gallons of gasoline.

The engine on his bike is a two-stroke engine built by Golden Eagle out of Lansing, Mich. Because of this, he has to add oil to his gas when he fills up, just like operating a chain saw or gas powered weed eater.
Golden Eagle uses a patented geared belt, positive drive system. The company offers both two and four stroke engines. The engines are supposed to be easy to install, taking 30 minutes to an hour from start to finish.
The system utilized a trigger throttle on the handlebar so the rider can use either their thumb or finger. The throttle is spring loaded, and gears down automatically when released, just like automatic transmissions in cars.
The geared belt is Kevlar reinforced to give it a longer life. The company recommends the bicycles the engines are put on have both front and rear brakes.
In addition, all the components are made in America.
Crabtree said nine out of 10 of these engines built are being bought by Korea, where they are installed on bicycles and sold.
His adventure began in Coleman County, Ala. on May 19, as he was heading to Denver to attend a concert being put on by a friend. “I rushed to Denver,” he said, “and have been piddling on the way back. I left Denver on June 1.”
Crabtree averages 180-200 miles per day, but said he can do 220 if he pushes himself. He also touts the engine and Golden Eagle, though he’s not being paid to endorse the product.
“I found out about the engine in Popular Mechanics in 2004,” he said. “This thing is unique and Golden Eagle has the patents.”
Crabtree said there are other companies manufacturing motors for bicycles, but none are as good as the ones built by Golden Eagle.
“This shows American ingenuity,” he said. “I tell people the last energy bill had $5 billion allocated for bicycle projects. This is mostly to widen the shoulder of roads. People in the north are taking advantage of it, but they’re not so much in the south.”
Crabtree said states can get some of these funds and promote the use of bicycles. The motorized bikes, he added, can help reduce the country’s dependence on foreign oil.
“I figure I could go coast-to-coast in about 15 days or less,” he said. “I could do it on about $8 a day, camping out along the way.”
Crabtree’s venture into Nashville was purely accidental. While in Lockesburg he planned to go to Murfreesboro via Center Point. However, he took a wrong turn and ended up in Mineral Springs. From there it was on to Nashville and then to Murfreesboro where he will mine for diamonds. He joked saying he will find a diamond to pay for this trip.
When asked the reason behind the bike trip, Crabtree said he’s doing it to prove it can be done. “I’m throwing down the gauntlet to the competition. I’m showing a person doesn’t need to buy a motorcycle or hybrid car, but can use a motorized bicycle to piddle around town with and get exercise.”
According to Crabtree, a person could triple their gas mileage by only using cars for longer trips and riding motorized bikes for jaunts into town. His bike has a large basket attached to the front handlebars, which contains about 40 pounds of gear. He also carries a backpack while he rides.
One of the best things about it, he said, is a person doesn’t need to pay taxes, title, license fees or insurance for these bikes — just put it together and go.
The bikes are relatively inexpensive to build, he said. The engine costs about $550, depending on what size is purchased, and a person will need a bicycle. He suggested getting heavier spokes for the rear wheel to handle the extra torque, and use the best tire possible. Of course, he added, the bikes need to be properly broken in. This takes about 100 miles.
“If 10 percent of the people in this country would get these bikes,” Crabtree said, “gas prices would plummet.”
For more information on motorized bikes and the Golden Eagle company go to http://www.bikeengine.com

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