J
johns
Guest
I'm reading everything I can find on bicycles with electric motors.
I've come to the conclusion that 99% of what is being done is
not great. A lot of it is just tinkering without actually seeing the
"nitch" that an e-bike could fill best. I want to build one, but I
want it to work ... not be an unsafe toy. So far here's what I
see:
- Most guys doing this are mechanics, but not designers.
- Most of these guys think an e-bike needs speed. They are
not looking at the e-bike as safe transportation.
- They add too much weight, and so the bike is not a hybrid.
- Many of them have an off-road bias, and don't realize that
the bike can't take the beating.
- Almost none of them seem to understand what is really
meant by pedal-assist.
What I want to build is this:
- I don't want to add more than 12 pounds to the bike.
- I don't want to increase unsprung weight, but at the same
time, I don't want a really complicated setup trying to
prevent that.
- So, I think I want a front wheel hub motor that is very
light weight .. 5 - 6 pounds tops. I want that motor to
be both speed / rpm and torque controlled by a simple
pull lever next to the grips, but not defeat the gear
changing grips. I don't want a throttle grip. I just want
a lever that is sprung normally-off for safety. Also, I want
the lowest wattage for my needs. I just want to be able
to engage the motor when pedaling up steep but short
hills ... nothing more. I think 250 Watts might do that,
but I don't know. I would like for the battery pack to weigh
no more than 7 pounds, and not be an awkward pile of
**** on the back of the bike. And it should be water
proof and safe when out in the sun. I don't want a pack
that can overheat and explode right behind my butt.
- I think a rear hub motor will be a complicated gear-
wrecker. Frame motors are too heavy and complicated.
So, my idea of a useful e-bike that I can use to get to
work year around is a pedal-assist motor that I will only
use briefly on hills, and not put more than about 1/2
mile use on it per day. I would expect that motor to
need recharging maybe once every 3 weeks .. possibly
once every 6 weeks ... giving me a battery lifetime of
several years. I have a nice Giant 27 inch Comfort Bike
that I would like to kit. Do any of you have experience
with this, and know of a good quality kit for a reasonable
cost ?
- I've spotted the scammers in this business ... selling
kits for $1200 .. a joke. And even one bike going for
$4500 ... not me.
johns
I've come to the conclusion that 99% of what is being done is
not great. A lot of it is just tinkering without actually seeing the
"nitch" that an e-bike could fill best. I want to build one, but I
want it to work ... not be an unsafe toy. So far here's what I
see:
- Most guys doing this are mechanics, but not designers.
- Most of these guys think an e-bike needs speed. They are
not looking at the e-bike as safe transportation.
- They add too much weight, and so the bike is not a hybrid.
- Many of them have an off-road bias, and don't realize that
the bike can't take the beating.
- Almost none of them seem to understand what is really
meant by pedal-assist.
What I want to build is this:
- I don't want to add more than 12 pounds to the bike.
- I don't want to increase unsprung weight, but at the same
time, I don't want a really complicated setup trying to
prevent that.
- So, I think I want a front wheel hub motor that is very
light weight .. 5 - 6 pounds tops. I want that motor to
be both speed / rpm and torque controlled by a simple
pull lever next to the grips, but not defeat the gear
changing grips. I don't want a throttle grip. I just want
a lever that is sprung normally-off for safety. Also, I want
the lowest wattage for my needs. I just want to be able
to engage the motor when pedaling up steep but short
hills ... nothing more. I think 250 Watts might do that,
but I don't know. I would like for the battery pack to weigh
no more than 7 pounds, and not be an awkward pile of
**** on the back of the bike. And it should be water
proof and safe when out in the sun. I don't want a pack
that can overheat and explode right behind my butt.
- I think a rear hub motor will be a complicated gear-
wrecker. Frame motors are too heavy and complicated.
So, my idea of a useful e-bike that I can use to get to
work year around is a pedal-assist motor that I will only
use briefly on hills, and not put more than about 1/2
mile use on it per day. I would expect that motor to
need recharging maybe once every 3 weeks .. possibly
once every 6 weeks ... giving me a battery lifetime of
several years. I have a nice Giant 27 inch Comfort Bike
that I would like to kit. Do any of you have experience
with this, and know of a good quality kit for a reasonable
cost ?
- I've spotted the scammers in this business ... selling
kits for $1200 .. a joke. And even one bike going for
$4500 ... not me.
johns