"Now is the time to sell bicycles."
Not quite yet, but getting really handy and modding a bike is a good idea. I have looked into those conversions before both electric and gas, pretty slick. there are several fun looking schwinn occ choppers on youtube if you haven't seen them. Too small for most people though...
I rode an old yamaha dt100 enduro during high school and beyond as a daily driver in all weather for about 2 years or so, so yea I know what it's like. Loads of fun in good weather, mobile sufferring in bad, but liveable given the right gear.
I got sideswiped by a car on a freeway offramp with my gf on the back of that thing one day. We both survived fine, but that was the end of that bike.
Most recently I had a honda 250 enduro, but it needed too much work and was really beat up and past its prime so I sold it and then got a couple new china bikes that needed repairs for a bargain. a 250 rebel clone and 150 scoot both 08's.
I got the scoot running, still haven't tore into the rebel clone yet to fix it's transmission. Both are in the 60-70mpg range if I can just keep them running. Parts are super cheap though and plentiful, so that's a plus. scooters look kind of silly but oh well, it's sure fun to ride and practical.
People sell them broken on cl all the time for next to nothing when they break down, usually it's a quick fix like ignition module or something easy, not much work to troubleshoot.
2stroke bicycle sounds cool, except the laws will kill you in most places they aren't legal to ride street or sidewalk or aywhere. What motor?