Author Topic: about bikes....  (Read 7428 times)

PAstash

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about bikes....
« on: September 04, 2015, 06:51:08 PM »
so i just got done reading the electric bike article.

I want to get a conversion kit. First i need the bike.

So i need a bike that i can cruise for fun on mostly flat street terrain and i need to be able to haul some groceries. So should i get a trike with a basket on the back. Is there a cruiser with good enough suspension to hook up a small trailer to? can anyone point me in the right direction? i haven't rode a bike since i was a teen and can't wait to get back into it. also this bike needs to be electric convertible when the time comes.

Thanks in advance!

Faraday

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Re: about bikes....
« Reply #1 on: September 04, 2015, 07:00:50 PM »
so i just got done reading the electric bike article.

I want to get a conversion kit. First i need the bike.

So i need a bike that i can cruise for fun on mostly flat street terrain and i need to be able to haul some groceries. So should i get a trike with a basket on the back. Is there a cruiser with good enough suspension to hook up a small trailer to? can anyone point me in the right direction? i haven't rode a bike since i was a teen and can't wait to get back into it. also this bike needs to be electric convertible when the time comes.

Thanks in advance!

You can do one of those high-sitting trikes, but you have to go for a slow front-wheel motor and you can't turn curves very fast at all or you run the risk of falling over.  Plus, those trikes are heavy as hell.

Also, you don't need a rear suspension to pull a small trailer. I have three bikes, none with suspension, and I'm building a trailer to pull behind any or all of them.

Two questions for you:
1) How old are you, and do you have any difficulty riding or balancing a bike?
2) Where do you live - is it PA, and what part of the state? That could definitely affect the type of bike you might consider.

I'll suggest desirable bike characteristics and a couple bikes that meet those characteristics in the next posting...

Faraday

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Re: about bikes....
« Reply #2 on: September 04, 2015, 07:25:01 PM »
Desirable bike characteristics for electrification:

1) Big steel frame. Aluminium is OK, but steel is stronger and more durable.
2) You need "flat dropouts" if you plan to go with a rear hubmotor.
3) Big, flat handlebars so you can mount stuff on 'em like a throttle and/or the control head for the electric motor.
4) A relatively big main triangle to hold the battery. You don't want to put the battery on a rear rack or front rack, you want it in the central triangle as low as it can go.
5) Good lighting: most bicycle lights are insufficient for ebikes because they don't illuminate enough distance in front of you. I'd say any headlight you choose should be 250 lumens at the minimum, and 500-800 would be satisfactory. You want the biggest, brightest taillight you can get, too. If you are handy with 12 volt electrical systems, it's not beyond possibility that you could make your own headlight and taillight systems from materials you could source at WalMart or an auto parts store.

Suggested Bikes:

Electra Townie 7, "Balloon 7D" or "Original 21D" would all make nice ebikes:
http://www.electrabike.com/bikes/townie

Electra actually makes their own ebike, if you want a complete one:
http://www.electrabike.com/bikes/townie-go

If you prefer a step-through frame, this is a decent bike to convert:
http://www.performancebike.com/bikes/Product_10052_10551_1186084_-1___400863
Got those nice flat dropouts on the rear wheel, usable suspension seatpost and front forks. Nice bike.

Pretty decent pre-built "metro" electric bike:
http://www.performancebike.com/bikes/Product_10052_10551_1177386_-1___000000

synonym

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Re: about bikes....
« Reply #3 on: September 04, 2015, 09:18:27 PM »
I can second the Electra Townie. I have one that I put a front wheel kit on. Putting it on the front had the downside of having to grind out the dropouts a little to fit the larger axle that electric kits have. Shouldn't be a problem with a rear kit.

I got a 21 speed, but 7 would have been fine. Just make sure your gearing allows you to hit say 20mph to be able to keep up with the motor.

I really like the townie for handling and comfort. I've had a few 60 mile days on it without a problem, though a new rider will probably be sore on any bike?

I also tow a trailer behind it and it's fine for that too. The long wheelbase probably suits electrification and trailers

Tyson

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Re: about bikes....
« Reply #4 on: September 04, 2015, 10:33:31 PM »
Townies are nice, but expensive!  I went with a 3G Beach Cruiser for $399 from my local bike shop.  Comfortable seat, upright handlebars, 7 speed, love it.  Of course I'm not in super shape, so I got a front wheel electric motor/kit from Clean Republic.  $799 gets you the wheel and the battery that can do 20 miles if you need it.  I only use it on hills and only if I really need. it. 

PAstash

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Re: about bikes....
« Reply #5 on: February 27, 2016, 11:19:44 PM »
so i just got done reading the electric bike article.

I want to get a conversion kit. First i need the bike.

So i need a bike that i can cruise for fun on mostly flat street terrain and i need to be able to haul some groceries. So should i get a trike with a basket on the back. Is there a cruiser with good enough suspension to hook up a small trailer to? can anyone point me in the right direction? i haven't rode a bike since i was a teen and can't wait to get back into it. also this bike needs to be electric convertible when the time comes.

Thanks in advance!

You can do one of those high-sitting trikes, but you have to go for a slow front-wheel motor and you can't turn curves very fast at all or you run the risk of falling over.  Plus, those trikes are heavy as hell.

Also, you don't need a rear suspension to pull a small trailer. I have three bikes, none with suspension, and I'm building a trailer to pull behind any or all of them.

Two questions for you:
1) How old are you, and do you have any difficulty riding or balancing a bike?
2) Where do you live - is it PA, and what part of the state? That could definitely affect the type of bike you might consider.

I'll suggest desirable bike characteristics and a couple bikes that meet those characteristics in the next posting...


Hey! sorry about the super delay in response. i couldn't figure out how the reply system works i am not very PC savvy.

So i am 31 in great shape. I have no diffculty at all.

I am in SW PA below pittsburgh. some hills. in my local town tho it's mostly all flat.

Faraday

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Re: about bikes....
« Reply #6 on: February 28, 2016, 09:41:43 AM »
so i just got done reading the electric bike article.

I want to get a conversion kit. First i need the bike.

So i need a bike that i can cruise for fun on mostly flat street terrain and i need to be able to haul some groceries. So should i get a trike with a basket on the back. Is there a cruiser with good enough suspension to hook up a small trailer to? can anyone point me in the right direction? i haven't rode a bike since i was a teen and can't wait to get back into it. also this bike needs to be electric convertible when the time comes.

Thanks in advance!

You can do one of those high-sitting trikes, but you have to go for a slow front-wheel motor and you can't turn curves very fast at all or you run the risk of falling over.  Plus, those trikes are heavy as hell.

Also, you don't need a rear suspension to pull a small trailer. I have three bikes, none with suspension, and I'm building a trailer to pull behind any or all of them.

Two questions for you:
1) How old are you, and do you have any difficulty riding or balancing a bike?
2) Where do you live - is it PA, and what part of the state? That could definitely affect the type of bike you might consider.

I'll suggest desirable bike characteristics and a couple bikes that meet those characteristics in the next posting...


Hey! sorry about the super delay in response. i couldn't figure out how the reply system works i am not very PC savvy.

So i am 31 in great shape. I have no diffculty at all.

I am in SW PA below pittsburgh. some hills. in my local town tho it's mostly all flat.

You don't seem quite like the "big tricycle" type. Most folks who go for the big upright tricycles have balance or health problems and often need to carry stuff in the basket behind the seat between the rear wheels.

You talk about pulling a trailer, that's a good option, especially for occasionally getting groceries, hauling stuff from the store or hauling off trash.

Can I suggest you take a look at this bike?
http://www.performancebike.com/bikes/Product_10052_10551_1163741_-1_400321__400321
This is the platform on which REI is selling an electric bike:
http://www.rei.com/product/896388/diamondback-trace-exc-bike

However, I've seen that same bike on sale at Performance for close to $1000. But they don't list it on their website or in any official capacity - you just have to go to the store, ask 'em about it and see if you can find one.

They had two of these at my local Performance Bike Shop for around $1100-$1200 or so, I believe. I'm sorry I missed out on 'em.

GhostSaver

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Re: about bikes....
« Reply #7 on: February 28, 2016, 11:53:32 AM »
You probably don't want a trike.

If you join your local imba affiliate, you can get a very healthy discount on diamondback bikes through promotive.com. imba does great things! Give them 50 and save way more than that on your diamondback. The one mentioned above looks nice.

Syonyk

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Re: about bikes....
« Reply #8 on: February 28, 2016, 12:48:54 PM »
You don't want a trike.

They're great, if you have some medical condition or reason you can't ride a bicycle, but if you can ride a bicycle, you don't want a trike.

If you're going to be hauling a lot of groceries, look into some of the long tail cargo bikes.  You can stick a rear rack on pretty much anything for moderate carrying, though.

5) Good lighting: most bicycle lights are insufficient for ebikes because they don't illuminate enough distance in front of you. I'd say any headlight you choose should be 250 lumens at the minimum, and 500-800 would be satisfactory. You want the biggest, brightest taillight you can get, too. If you are handy with 12 volt electrical systems, it's not beyond possibility that you could make your own headlight and taillight systems from materials you could source at WalMart or an auto parts store.

There are a wide range of "ebike headlights" on eBay that work from pretty much any voltage (usually 12-80v) and are quite good.

I can second the Electra Townie. I have one that I put a front wheel kit on. Putting it on the front had the downside of having to grind out the dropouts a little to fit the larger axle that electric kits have. Shouldn't be a problem with a rear kit.

Try to avoid a front wheel kit if you can.  The handling gets properly weird at higher power outputs and front forks simply are not designed to take that type of torque loading.  A rear wheel drive bike (either with a mid-drive motor or a rear hub motor) is a much better idea.

Faraday

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Re: about bikes....
« Reply #9 on: February 28, 2016, 07:11:16 PM »
You don't want a trike.

+1 to everything Syonyk said. I just thought I'd see if you came to that conclusion. :-) :-) :-) 

Le Poisson

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Re: about bikes....
« Reply #10 on: February 28, 2016, 08:51:38 PM »
I wish i could get some kind of kickback for all the folks I've referred to www.DX.com for bike lights. Seriously, go look. Super bright, super cheap.  For example... 900 lumens for $30 CAD and free shipping: http://www.dx.com/p/t6-waterproof-xml-t6-3-mode-1200-lumen-white-led-bike-light-with-battery-pack-set-82510

Syonyk

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Re: about bikes....
« Reply #11 on: February 28, 2016, 09:19:26 PM »
Not a bad light, but pretty picky about it's voltage.

It has a VERY tight beam, though.  Good for far throw, not good for closer in lighting - it's just too bright.  I think you can get a diffuser for it, though.

If you're curious about what makes it tick, I tore one apart.
http://syonyk.blogspot.com/2015/05/cree-2000-lumen-bike-light-disassembly.html

You can't run it from an ebike pack unless you throw a DC-DC buck converter inline.  Which... I also did. :)
http://syonyk.blogspot.com/2015/11/building-dc-dc-converter-to-run-cheap.html

 

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