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The eBike thread

unkel

A quick look seems that this doesn't really seem to fit in the cycling forum. So starting a thread here about all things eBike

I'll get the ball rolling. I have zero experience with eBikes. But I was going to build myself a battery anyway, for various reasons (like in bringing with me in my EV as a "petrol can")

I'm going to buy a solderless kit to make the battery (with 18650 cells I have removed from dead / old laptop batteries). This kit cah handle 20A max, and I would like the battery pack to produce 1kW constant. P=V*I so 1000W = 50V * 20A

This dictates that my battery needs to be nominal 48V (was thinking of making a 24V battery pack, but that won't be able to charge my car)

A quick browse on eBay and Amazon shows that you could buy a powerful 1000W bike conversion kit with everything needed except the battery for about GBP120 (a bit more from Amazon but peace of mind)

What to buy though, front wheel or rear wheel kit? Pros and cons? Any other advice?

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SlowBlowin

Interesting that they have 119 five star reviews, people happy with their bikes having received them, yet the domain was only registered 2 days ago. Also note that the reviews are not real, there is no third party involved, it is just text on the web page.

[Deleted User]

unkel wrote: »

You're probably right. This really is far too good to be true. Not to worry though, pay with PayPal and you will get your money back (eventually)

You will if paypal themselves pay you back ? if it's a scam the money is unlikely to come from the seller ?

unkel

You're probably right. This really is far too good to be true. Not to worry though, pay with PayPal and you will get your money back (eventually)

[Deleted User]

There's an Old saying, "if it sounds too good to be true , it must be".

Hopefully not the case here, don't want to see anyone get ripped off.

SlowBlowin

I often say "how can they make it for that" when looking at Chinese products, but this takes the biscuit.

I am just too sceptical to believe in this deal. It must be cheaper for them just to re-purpose the battery and bits ?

That said I cant really see how its a scam ? Interestingly if you go to their main site at https://engwe-bikes.com/ they are all sold out, looks like they are out of business.

HOLD ON !!!!!!!!!! WARNING SIGNS - I think it might be a scam. A whois on the domain (https://engwebrand.com/) shows its was registered 2 days ago.... Am I just worrying too much ?

[Deleted User]

Lumen wrote: »

Fat bikes are bloody slow under human power, compared to a decent MTB.

Would definitely want electric assist.

Yes, that and small wheels, on the + small wheels provide more torque and are a lot easier on the motor.

unkel

Lumen wrote: »

Would definitely want electric assist.

Of course. Did you check the thread title?

Lumen

Fat bikes are bloody slow under human power, compared to a decent MTB.

Would definitely want electric assist.

[Deleted User]

That's a mad price, let me know how it turns out.

unkel

There's one of those on adverts.ie, saw it last night

That price can't be right though, it's ridiculous! Ordered one anyway, thanks for the heads up, krissovo! €91 for an eBike with free shipping to Ireland :eek:

krissovo

$100 for this fat boy right now, I ordered one for the craic so hopefully it will fit in my boot.

https://engwebrand.com/?fbclid=IwAR1_e9qi-yZBEXEAmmR-Aeew-Vej4Y4-bFGHfh8yIGS-tWDkpxkR0C6U7kA

unkel

Deleted User wrote: »

For a road bike ? unless doing a lot of off road I wouldn't bother, wheels too thick too, I like to pedal a lot and the tyres would greatly increase resistance.

I'd say I'm going to take it off road :cool:

Used to do a good bit of hiking in Wicklow, would love to do same on a bike. Here's hoping I can get both bike and dog into Ioniq

[Deleted User]

unkel wrote: »

How about

Linky

For a road bike ? unless doing a lot of off road I wouldn't bother, wheels too thick too, I like to pedal a lot and the tyres would greatly increase resistance.

unkel

How about

Linky

unkel

Right. After watching this:

linky

I'm sold. I'm going to get a fat bike. And think about electrification later

Any recommendations? New or second hand, what size frame and tyres would be best for me (a bit over 6'1, a bit under 100kg)?

unkel

eBike sold. What's next?

unkel

Yeah I watch all his stuff, subscribed to his channel. Really like him and the music in his vids is a step up from the pack. And he produces that music himself. I've linked to him once or twice in this thread already.

Not cheap his kits though. GBP739 for a kit with a really cheap direct drive motor wheel, but it has a programmable controller and in fairness a hefty 52V 17Ah (880Wh) battery

Linky

kiely182

I've bought a 52v kit from the youtuber Andy kirby for 900euro I've done nearly 4000miles on it since April.only problem I've had is a few broken spokes. Battery is still going strong with no noticeable degradation

unkel

Hard to take into account crazy sheep jumping on you and your bike

SlowBlowin

unkel wrote: »

And I will get torque arms!

and not arms like mine......

unkel

And I will get torque arms!

unkel

Yeah, I admit I am all over the shop with my thoughts, ideas and plans

I'd like to try all sorts of setups. I know you highly recommend a Bafang mid motor setup as you were very happy with it and you had great craic with it climbing up steep hills. But you do have a tendency to recommend things to other people that work well in your circumstances but might be less relevant to others. There's a bit of that in myself!

I'd like to give a mid motor a try, but it would cost more money than I could justify and it would leave me with a setup that I don't have a need for

I think I'll just settle for a half decent mid price 29er MTB, then when I get that hub motor, I will get my local bike shop to lace it for me in my front wheel. And then just pedal the bike and sent up to a moderate amount of power to it whenever I feel like it, but say rarely more than 1kW, and when so then just for a few seconds, not continuously, and hope for the best.

Current eBike went up on adverts.ie this evening...

[Deleted User]

unkel wrote: »

Re-read my post. I'm talking about direct drive

Jaysus, hard to keep up, either way, time for torque arms.

unkel

Deleted User wrote: »

You should be able to pedal a geared hub without motor power easy enough, much easier compared to direct drive hub.

58 v x 30 amps is 1.7 Kw, that will be probably too much for those little hubs , go easy on the throttle and definitely install torque arms.

Re-read my post. I'm talking about direct drive

[Deleted User]

unkel wrote: »

Maybe I should just go another wheel kit with a direct drive motor. RWD this time. It will handle all the power I will throw at it (up to say 30A * 58.8V battery or who knows even a higher voltage battery) with ease, so I won't have to worry about the health of a geared hub motor

The main drawback is that if the battery is gone, it will be hard to cycle home but not impossible? And I can still cycle normally on it by pedalling, if I keep at least a bit of throttle open at all times?

You should be able to pedal a geared hub without motor power easy enough, much easier compared to direct drive hub.

58 v x 30 amps is 1.7 Kw, that will be probably too much for those little hubs , go easy on the throttle and definitely install torque arms.

unkel

Maybe I should just go another wheel kit with a direct drive motor. RWD this time. It will handle all the power I will throw at it (up to say 30A * 58.8V battery or who knows even a higher voltage battery) with ease, so I won't have to worry about the health of a geared hub motor

The main drawback is that if the battery is gone, it will be hard to cycle home but not impossible? And I can still cycle normally on it by pedalling, if I keep at least a bit of throttle open at all times?

[Deleted User]

unkel wrote: »

I hear ya. No hills here though to speak off though. And realistically I only use the bike as a local runabout, for a local commute (5km each way) and for taking the dog out.

Also mid drive is well outside my comfort zone to set up, I don't even have the tools to take the bottom bracket out.

And the mid motor setup makes it looks like an eBike in the most obvious way. A Garda probably wouldn't even recognise a bike with a small geared motor as an eBike if you have the battery somewhere discreet (like in a back pack) - stealth!

Taking out the bottom bracket is dead easy.

Tools are readily available.

Guards, couldn't care less, just don't make a nuisance of yourself and you'll be grand.

A hub is find alright if you have no hills and yea , Lucan is dead flat, compared to here anyway, I got a lot of steep hills.

Just don't forget your torque arms if going above 1 Kw !

unkel

Deleted User wrote: »

Bear in mind, you have less torque with a 29er than with a 26 and it puts more stress on the motor.

So I'd highly recommend a Mid drive such as BBS02 or BBSHD from Bafang, best thing about chain drive is that you have the torque in any gear and you need less power, it's easier on your batteries too on the hills.

I hear ya. No hills here though to speak off though. And realistically I only use the bike as a local runabout, for a local commute (5km each way) and for taking the dog out.

Also mid drive is well outside my comfort zone to set up, I don't even have the tools to take the bottom bracket out.

And the mid motor setup makes it looks like an eBike in the most obvious way. A Garda probably wouldn't even recognise a bike with a small geared motor as an eBike if you have the battery somewhere discreet (like in a back pack) - stealth!

[Deleted User]

unkel wrote: »

Got two of these babies in the post today

I used these before on my direct drive motor kit and they weren't as suitable as that motor / controller drew 930W out of them at full throttle, which was far too much for them to survive doing that for a year or so

They are however, very suitable for my current bike as the 7A controller only makes it draw 250W. And a 100% legal pedelec setup. Tempted to sell it with the battery as a completely working eBike (without butchering it) and use the proceeds to start a new built of a more mid range bike. Tempted by a 29er setup. New or second hand. I'm a bit under 6'2 (1.87m) and fairly heavy at 100kg, so a big bike would suit me

Thoughts of a setup? I have 30A controller and throttle on the way and can make basically any size / voltage battery from 18650s (and maybe later upgrade to the lipo that Mad_Lad suggested)

How to motor it though? I like the geared hub setup, but would need a motor that can take 2kW without going up in flames or melting its gears

Bear in mind, you have less torque with a 29er than with a 26 and it puts more stress on the motor.

So I'd highly recommend a Mid drive such as BBS02 or BBSHD from Bafang, best thing about chain drive is that you have the torque in any gear and you need less power, it's easier on your batteries too on the hills.

You'll never look back, hubs are grand and continuous uninterrupted power is great but chain drive is the way to go to be honest.

I wish I could go back to ebiking but I don't get the time and no cycle lanes for Kids in the country , dangerous roads etc it's just horrible, I'd take the lads to School no problem if I had proper cycle lanes and they were safe, country lanes that you have to stop and pull in to allow another car pass is just not good and the speed of drivers on these roads is ridiculous, People just don't think and worse, they don't care.

Having said that, I wouldn't take them on Dublin cycle/Bus/taxi lanes either, ridiculous !

unkel

Got two of these babies in the post today

I used these before on my direct drive motor kit and they weren't as suitable as that motor / controller drew 930W out of them at full throttle, which was far too much for them to survive doing that for a year or so

Deleted User wrote: »

I'd keep your current bike to be honest

They are however, very suitable for my current bike as the 7A controller only makes it draw 250W. And a 100% legal pedelec setup. Tempted to sell it with the battery as a completely working eBike (without butchering it) and use the proceeds to start a new built of a more mid range bike. Tempted by a 29er setup. New or second hand. I'm a bit under 6'2 (1.87m) and fairly heavy at 100kg, so a big bike would suit me

Thoughts of a setup? I have 30A controller and throttle on the way and can make basically any size / voltage battery from 18650s (and maybe later upgrade to the lipo that Mad_Lad suggested)

How to motor it though? I like the geared hub setup, but would need a motor that can take 2kW without going up in flames or melting its gears