BIKETOO® A New Era for Cycles

We at BIKETOO® have created an entirely new concept in transportation which offers a new level of exhilarating performance of a bicycle.

The standard in the industry has been to provide for an automatic freewheel. The drive or driven sprocket can be engaged in one direction, but turn freely in the other, automatically. There are two inherent problems with this arrangement. The first occurs when the throttle is released. The freewheel device allows the motor to return to idle with the final drive components slowing to a complete stop. In this instance, the motor provides no braking for the drive assembly.

Second, when the throttle is advanced, the motor must bring the transmission and all the drive components up to the speed of the wheel. The freewheel device then engages so abruptly that an unacceptable level of shock occurs throughout the entire driveline. This same shock could also impact the ability of the operator to maintain control of the vehicle at any speed.

BIKETOO® is a somewhat conventional, pedal-powered bicycle with single or multiple speeds which also has a motorized mode. The frame is suspended both front and rear. The front suspension is traditional with two down tubes, internal springs and hydraulic dampening, supported by a set of triple clamps.

The rear suspension, however, is entirely unique in its design. The gasoline-powered drive motor is mounted longitudinally, and is inverted. The motor, the transmission, the differential, the rear swing arm and wheel, are all an integrated unit. The location of this assembly allows the weight to be distributed equally between the front and rear wheels with heat and noise behind the operator.

The transaxle assembly is connected to the frame in two locations. The first location is the rubber-insulated hinge point, and the second is the mount for the spring-loaded hydraulic shock. This configuration allows the geometry between the drive sprocket of the transaxle and the driven sprocket of the rear wheel to remain unchanged during the operation of the suspension. The pedal crank arms and the operator's seat are mounted to the frame of the cycle. This positioning retains rear wheel/swing arm movement while allowing the geometry between the pedals, operator's seat, and handlebars, to remain constant.

With the initial start of the motor, no components are engaged. A dry crankshaft-mounted, centrifugal clutch provides easy starting and prevents unnecessary wear to the transmission and driveline while idling. When motor RPM increases, the centrifugal clutch engages and begins to turn the transmission. The transmission consists of two wet centrifugal clutches and two gear clusters. These gear clusters provide for two different gear ratios: first and second speeds. The output of the gear clutches is transmitted to a right angle gear assembly, which puts the output shaft of the transaxle on the same plane as the rear axle. The chain drive sprockets attached to the transaxle output shaft can be manually deactivated to provide "freewheel" operation when the cycle is being pedaled and not under power. The manual release allows the cycle to be ridden in pedal power mode without energy loss through the transmission.

The cycle can be ridden using motor power only.
The cycle can be ridden using pedal power only, without energy loss through the motor drive components.
The cycle can be ridden using a combination of pedal power and motor power simultaneously.
The cycle has a headlight, a tail light and a brake light, all of which can be operated in pedal or power mode.
The cycle can be ridden off-road.
Cycle suspension is fully adjustable, allowing changes in operator size and terrain applications.
The cycle can propel an adult rider from 0 to 30 MPH, off-road, without pedaling.
The motor is easily removed and can be serviced off the vehicle. While the motor is being serviced the cycle retains pedal capability.
The motor is inverted and longitudinal with the crankshaft parallel to the operator's seat adjustment post.
The motor is directly connected to the transaxle, which provides multiple speeds and final drive.
The transaxle is an integral part of the rear suspension.
The cycle provides for a full-time driveline with no freewheeling in power mode, or in any throttle position.
The frame and cycle are vibration-isolated through rubber bushings at the transaxle mounting points.
Rear wheel hub accommodates:
- An automatic freewheel sprocketed cluster on the pedal power side (right side).
- A permanently mounted split sprocket on the power drive side (left side).
- Internal drum brakes and sealed bearings.
Without removing the rear wheel from the swing arm, the rear wheel split sprocket is easily removed, allowing ratio changes for multiple riding applications.
Chain guides are an integral part of the swing arm and provide rough terrain capability.
Chain adjusters are an integral part of the swing arm axle bolt.

Variations

The frame can be suspended or unsuspended.
The fuel tank can be an intricate part of the frame.
Powered drive can be provided by gasoline two-stroke, four-stroke or electric motor.
Pedal driveline can accommodate multiple drive sprockets front and rear, allowing for one to twenty-one speeds.
A pedal-driven, internal, multi-speed rear hub can be utilized.
A shaft-driven pedal system can be used in either a frame mount, or a transaxle mount location.
Brakes can be cable or hydraulic, disc or drum.