Recumbent - Electric Recumbent ?

I would love to hear your opinions on this idea. Typically this frame builder uses a 20" wheel on front. The electric front wheel assy. is 24" though. It would work, just put a 24" fork on it.

Start with this

http://www.radiks.net/%7Eladue/plans.html

And then put this on the front

http://www.largoscooters.com/stealthkits.html

Wouldn't that be a cool ride?

I think if my hips or knees ever gave out I would go with something like this, at 52 I'm still going strong.

I would love to hear your opinions on this idea. Typically this frame builder uses a 20" wheel on front. The electric front wheel assy. is 24" though. It would work, just put a 24" fork on it.

Start with this

http://www.radiks.net/%7Eladue/plans.html

And then put this on the front

http://www.largoscooters.com/stealthkits.html

Wouldn't that be a cool ride?

There seem to be more 20" electric wheels available than 24" anyway-why change to 24?
If Crystallyte is what you are after, you can surely find 20" Crystallyte wheels.

Thanks for the replies so far. This just seemed like the best so far. (crimped AND soldered AND heat-shrink tubing covered connections really hooked me in) I don't know one brand from another though.

Is it correct to assume that as the wheel sizes gets smaller you get more torque and less speed? So a 24" wheel would give more speed than a 20" wouldn't it?

I'm hoping to buy in the next month or so before the money's gone (or the wife finds it) hehehe.

Time to do a lot more research... there are more options out there than you think. Front AND rear wheel drive are possible, using either separate or hub motors. At least two different types of throttle, a hundred different battery combinations, and then the legality of even riding one in your city... Yup, a lot of research.

As mentioned, there are lots of electric power assist options.

Other things being constant, yes, as you decrease wheel size, electric assist speed decreases and torque increases. Pre made hub motor wheels are frequently available in 20, 24, 26 inch models front and back.

However, some have different models of hub motors to better match wheel size to the motor. Some models also make higher voltage available to increase power and top speed.

Many recumbent riders are looking for e-assist mainly for hill climbing assistance, not top end. also realize that many rear hub motors are limited to a 6/7speed spin on freewheel.

Newer models incorporate newer light weight batteries.
Check out Bionx for the top of the line with regen But expensive.

Some motors are more efficient, some controlers have more features, some systems dont work from a dead stop (pedal first).

try http://groups.yahoo.com/group/power-assist/ files for details. Or contact several dealers for different views. Largo, Seattle, NYC, MASS, Kansas and other geographies have some really good dealers.

Dick In colorado (e-assist recumbent, e-asssit trike, 2 e-assist DF, picking up an e-asssit semirecumbent bionx this week)