Electric Bikes
- Thread starter sKiZo
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sKiZo
Hates received: 92644 43.20°N 85.50°W
Like the motorized shoes ... have to get me a pair so I'm ready if the bike breaks down. Do they come with pop wheels? <G>
Goes without saying, any tech that can be used will be abused. Starting to see reports of professional bike racers using motor assist now that the motors have gotten small enough. Some are hard to spot even on a production bike.
The motor fits inside the seat post tube, and the battery is disguised as a water bottle. Direct drive motor hides inside the pedal crank tube, and most any racing bike with standard size frame components can be modified to use one. The stripped down version uses hidden sensors to control the boost, and there are no gauges or controls. Can't say what they cost ... hard enough getting someone to admit they used one, much less what they paid.
Goes without saying, any tech that can be used will be abused. Starting to see reports of professional bike racers using motor assist now that the motors have gotten small enough. Some are hard to spot even on a production bike.
The motor fits inside the seat post tube, and the battery is disguised as a water bottle. Direct drive motor hides inside the pedal crank tube, and most any racing bike with standard size frame components can be modified to use one. The stripped down version uses hidden sensors to control the boost, and there are no gauges or controls. Can't say what they cost ... hard enough getting someone to admit they used one, much less what they paid.
sKiZo
Hates received: 92644 43.20°N 85.50°W
Google "vivax assist" ... They actually advertise them for stealth racing ...
PS ... I actually looked at mid drive kits that fit into the pedal crank tube. Dug a little deeper and found a lot of concern about them being hard on the drivetrain, especially the derailleurs, so I passed.
Besides ... most of those were aimed at the Euro crowd, which limits the motors to 36v 500 watts - in many countries, only 250 watts. US horsepower happy USers are good to 48v 750 watts for a whole lot more grunt (insert Tim the Toolman grunt here).
Obviously nothing stealth about those ...
Last edited:
usedto
Lunatic Member
There was a segment on TV the other night (60 Minutes maybe?) about those tiny motors on bikes. The "inventor" came up with it in the late 90s, and sold them on the QT. He wouldn't name names, but basically said he knew they had been used in competition. They showed one clip of a bike racer who fell, but his bike kept spinning around in circles on the ground.
sKiZo
Hates received: 92644 43.20°N 85.50°W
They've even got a name for it now ... "mechanical doping" ...
This the one you're talking about? What's fun is watching the conspiracy theorists go on with how it is, and isn't, motorized. I'm sure there's one or three going on about how it's obviously fake because the shadows are all wrong ... <G>
This the one you're talking about? What's fun is watching the conspiracy theorists go on with how it is, and isn't, motorized. I'm sure there's one or three going on about how it's obviously fake because the shadows are all wrong ... <G>
Hmmm, use these hubs, feed back into the battery - LOL, if you could get efficiency over 100%, you could go forever. Be Rich.
Bah. Humbug.
But the hubs are cool, a guy here in town builds wheels around them, they are the rage amongst some endurance and long distance riders. Basically a way to charge your light\phone\gps\ect while riding.
https://www.biketiresdirect.com/pro...8W51Vhei0WsnEtner__y31JSRTx9bRvRfsaAqcF8P8HAQ
Bah. Humbug.
But the hubs are cool, a guy here in town builds wheels around them, they are the rage amongst some endurance and long distance riders. Basically a way to charge your light\phone\gps\ect while riding.
https://www.biketiresdirect.com/pro...8W51Vhei0WsnEtner__y31JSRTx9bRvRfsaAqcF8P8HAQ
sKiZo
Hates received: 92644 43.20°N 85.50°W
Ah, yes ... the perpetual motion machine!
I built one, and I'm sure it will work, but I'm having trouble getting it started ...
Some of the eBikes tout "regenerative recharging" as a feature, and yes, it apparently CAN increase range between charges, but don't get your hopes up too high. Interestingly enough, most of those also offer "regenerative braking" which means the motor is actually used to help brake the bike (AKA "jake braking"), which uses more energy, so if you're lucky, you brake ... er ... break even.
I built one, and I'm sure it will work, but I'm having trouble getting it started ...
Some of the eBikes tout "regenerative recharging" as a feature, and yes, it apparently CAN increase range between charges, but don't get your hopes up too high. Interestingly enough, most of those also offer "regenerative braking" which means the motor is actually used to help brake the bike (AKA "jake braking"), which uses more energy, so if you're lucky, you brake ... er ... break even.
Bob Price
Active Member
Really? Limited to 20mph at full assist? SWEET!! I must have bought a faster model before the 20mph rule, or there is a early release software issue that allows a faster speed. I am not worried too much though, I have not been pulled over by the electric bike police yet! By the way, here is a link to the model I purchased on Amazon. Yes... I know it is Chinese, and I wish I could support an American company, but there is such a huge difference in price that I could not afford it. Plus, I think the American bikes share some parts anyway, since the source is Japan for at least part of the electronics. I really love this bike. It runs great, looks cool and gets good comments wherever I go. And I do not think it is "cheating" The battery and controls are hanging out there for the world to see. It is not like those stealth systems the pros cheat with.
https://www.amazon.com/Addmotor-Upd...=UTF8&qid=1486683429&sr=8-5&keywords=addmotor
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sKiZo
Hates received: 92644 43.20°N 85.50°W
Nice machine ... looks very comparable to what I got. Lot of similarity on the parts - the Bafang motor seems to be THE go to drive train for these things. If anything, I MAY have a bit more pickup off the line with the 750w vs your 500w, but it's not like I plan on racing the thing, and you probably get a bit better mileage with medium boost. I'd guess the electronics are almost identical as well.
As far as top speed goes, I think most any of these can be tweaked to get some more boost. I saw a video on YouTube that shows you how to almost double the top end just changing the tire size in the computer. Your speedometer won't read right, but you can always have the eBike police confirm your speed with a radar gun ... or not. <G>
PS ... like the rubber ... does the BFT stand for Big F'in Tire? <G>
As far as top speed goes, I think most any of these can be tweaked to get some more boost. I saw a video on YouTube that shows you how to almost double the top end just changing the tire size in the computer. Your speedometer won't read right, but you can always have the eBike police confirm your speed with a radar gun ... or not. <G>
PS ... like the rubber ... does the BFT stand for Big F'in Tire? <G>
29 ibs is pretty good for an electric bike: https://budnitzbicycles.com/bicycles/view/titanium-ebike
Interesting how they use a cogged belt rather than a chain for the pedal drive...
I wonder what that feels like while pedaling.
Bert 1100
Super Member
That's my e-bike. (mine is black, and I fitted mud guards....)
Bulls SIX50 E2. Bosch CX central motor, 400Wh battery, 10 speed (11 to 36 teeth) limited to 25 km/h
In 1 year and 3 months I've driven nearly 4000 kilometers, which in my case means 120 vertical kilometers DOWN and 120 vertical kilometers UP.
Going to work with it 4 days a week, one way is 10 km with an altitude drop of 600 meters, then back up in the evening.
From sun to rain, 38°C to -15°C. I sold my car, we now have "only" one in the family, I'm happy.
One charge will take me up an altitude difference of 1000 meters at the highest assistance level.
So one charge a day is fine, but I wouldn't be able to go to work and back twice without charging.
Icy roads no problem thanks to my Schwalbe Ice Spiker Pro tires.....only in winter though, because they are sooooo noisy...
In summer I use the Schwalbe Marathon Mondial
total time (to work and back) in the car was 35 minutes.
total time on the bike is 45 minutes....
Bulls SIX50 E2. Bosch CX central motor, 400Wh battery, 10 speed (11 to 36 teeth) limited to 25 km/h
In 1 year and 3 months I've driven nearly 4000 kilometers, which in my case means 120 vertical kilometers DOWN and 120 vertical kilometers UP.
Going to work with it 4 days a week, one way is 10 km with an altitude drop of 600 meters, then back up in the evening.
From sun to rain, 38°C to -15°C. I sold my car, we now have "only" one in the family, I'm happy.
One charge will take me up an altitude difference of 1000 meters at the highest assistance level.
So one charge a day is fine, but I wouldn't be able to go to work and back twice without charging.
Icy roads no problem thanks to my Schwalbe Ice Spiker Pro tires.....only in winter though, because they are sooooo noisy...
In summer I use the Schwalbe Marathon Mondial
total time (to work and back) in the car was 35 minutes.
total time on the bike is 45 minutes....
That's what I was thinking. My everyday road bike has 27 speeds. So one speed with a belt must feel real smooth. I'm guessing the Model E uses the motor power based on effort. It would be cool to try.
sKiZo
Hates received: 92644 43.20°N 85.50°W
Winter riding is new to me, so I'm taking it slow. The fat tires seem to be quite capable and haven't let me down yet.
This is about the halfway point in a little trail trip a couple days back. Where the eBike shines is getting up the VERY steep grade going down from the trail to the trestle ... crank the throttle and barrel right up! Kewl Beans!
PS ... got a rear rack and metal baskets coming so I can do my grocery shopping ... I did make sure they're big enough to handle a twelve pack. <G>
This is about the halfway point in a little trail trip a couple days back. Where the eBike shines is getting up the VERY steep grade going down from the trail to the trestle ... crank the throttle and barrel right up! Kewl Beans!
PS ... got a rear rack and metal baskets coming so I can do my grocery shopping ... I did make sure they're big enough to handle a twelve pack. <G>
I'm wondering if it would feel like a rubber band. Although those belts are used in industrial drives, in applications much larger than a bicycle, so it's probably quite strong regardless.
Is that one of the rail trails out your way?
sKiZo
Hates received: 92644 43.20°N 85.50°W
Yup ... the White Pine runs right by my house.
Little better view of the trestle, which dates back to the 1890's or thereabouts.
That's the trail running over the top. Either asphalt or groomed gravel from Grand Rapids to Cadillac, with some neat scenery along the way.
Last active railroad was the Michigan Northern. Last run was a passenger train put together to commemorate the event - with me as one of the guest conductors ... all aboard!!
** Beautiful day today, so I ended up putting about 12 miles on. Peddled most of the way, so I got plenty of exercise, but ... that's NOT a trip I would have been making without the power assist! The twist throttle is the chit for powering off stops when crossing streets. Wohoo! Came back with a couple plastic grocery bags hanging from my neck - can't wait for the back rack and baskets I ordered to get here.
Next time you walk by a bunch of motorcycles, check out how many use belt drives now. If they can handle 1800cc's I'm pretty sure they can handle anything an eBike can throw at them.
Little better view of the trestle, which dates back to the 1890's or thereabouts.
That's the trail running over the top. Either asphalt or groomed gravel from Grand Rapids to Cadillac, with some neat scenery along the way.
Last active railroad was the Michigan Northern. Last run was a passenger train put together to commemorate the event - with me as one of the guest conductors ... all aboard!!
** Beautiful day today, so I ended up putting about 12 miles on. Peddled most of the way, so I got plenty of exercise, but ... that's NOT a trip I would have been making without the power assist! The twist throttle is the chit for powering off stops when crossing streets. Wohoo! Came back with a couple plastic grocery bags hanging from my neck - can't wait for the back rack and baskets I ordered to get here.
Next time you walk by a bunch of motorcycles, check out how many use belt drives now. If they can handle 1800cc's I'm pretty sure they can handle anything an eBike can throw at them.