Engine-powered bicycles are one of the latest crazes when it comes to two-wheelers, fast gaining in popularity across the globe. A new American start-up is taking this concept to new heights, transforming your old Honda pit bike into a fun and affordable moped.

Half BMX, half motocross, this is the Motoped, a strangely cool hybrid bike that appears to be fit for just about anyone. In essence it is a Frankenstein’s monster built from the parts of a too-serene mountain bike and a small four-stroke engine from a Honda CRF50, all tied together by a custom spine. Yes, motorized bicycles have been around for a long time, but it isn’t often that they’re as cool as the off-road-oriented contraption shown here.

The Motoped uses a 49cc to 155cc 4-stroke horizontal OHV motor and downhill mountain bike parts mounted to a custom frame and swing arm. Motopeds are street legal in most states as a motorized bicycle and can be easily modified for more speed and power to your liking. Why would you want one? Easy, they are fun to ride, affordable, powered by an environmentally friendly 4-Stroke motor, very quiet and require minimal maintenance.

The Motoped has a patented system (patent 7,753157) that combines the engine drive with the pedal drive through a jack-shaft located in the swing-arm pivot. This means that the rear wheel drive chain is not loosening and tightening as the rear suspension travels through its arc. Also, this allows for one chain going to the rear wheel unlike most motorized bikes that use two chains to the rear wheel.

Materials Courtesy – Motoped