May 30, 2015

          The first day of my senior project was a productive one. Campbell and I started off the day with second period class, and then moved our work to the library. It still felt like a school day, just with a sprinkle of freedom. We began working immediately by researching the different kits we can purchase. Since shipping may take some time and we wish to begin building the bikes next week, Campbell and I need to find the kits and order them as soon as possible. Looking at the fine details of parts of our project we ran into some bumps, but were able to get over all of them.

          Campbell and I then began researching questions we needed to answer in order to make an educated decision on the kit. We distinguished the difference between a 2 stroke engine and a 4 stroke engine for the gas powered bike, and began researching what value wattage has on the electric bike. Looking at pros and cons of the 2 stroke vs. the 4 stroke, we decided that the 2 stroke engine best fits our needs. It is cheaper, more powerful, and more fun than the 4 stroke. It is light weight and, with less parts, easier to assemble and tinker with. We also were able to choose the 48v 1000w electric powered bike so that Campbell and I are able to build a bike powerful enough to compare to the gas powered motor.

          We immediately realized that money was an issue. Getting in contact with Mrs. Switzer, we discovered that money did not have to be a problem. The equipment is expensive, but will be worth it in the end. The price for the kits alone ends up costing around 450$-500$. Campbell and I whipped up a proposal for Mrs. Switzer, who quickly responded saying that she does not think that will be a problem.

Looking into the details of each kit, we realized that the kits might not come with all parts that we need for the assembly process. Some kits specifically say that it comes with everything needed to mount to a bike. However, even with this assurance we are not positive that it will fit perfectly onto a bike we are able to get our hands on. We will make adjustments to the bike or kit when we receive all the parts.

            Overall, Campbell and I were able to do a lot of research on motorized bicycles. We now know how they work and what to look for in the kits and motors. We also have a better idea of how the project will go and what we need to do to make that happen. Hopefully, we will be able to visit some bike shops that will give us some professional information about the kind of bike we can use for this project. We plan to further research kits to make sure we are putting our money in the right place. I am excited to continue this project and learn more about the construction process of the bicycles. Tomorrow we will be looking into emissions. It should be a blast.