[Cyclepath]

The frames on these look way overbuilt. I'm wondering to what extent they could be drilled out & still retain structural integrity (i weigh 175). How would you determine size of holes & spacing?

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[sch]

Are you referring to the bike that looks like a moped with an electric motor?
I doubt that a significant change in weight would come from drilling out the frame. Why not switch to lithium cells to save weight? Steve

[Cyclepath]

Hi Steve. This is the recumbent (human-powered) with the simple box beam frame. It's fairly massive. Of course this may be a crazy or silly idea - i certainly wouldn't consider it with a conventional bike frame, but i'm a tinkerer by nature.:->

[meb]

I think he has misplaced his E.
BikeE (bankrupt recumbent) vs. ebike (Lee Iacocca's 24V & 36V electrics-uprights and folders).

[meb]

ebike already went to Lithium ion batteries on their folder, but they still use lead acid on their other models. NiMH is lighter.
I believe Ford's Th!nk Bike had lithium batteries as well before they pulled the plug on that program.

[Enginerd1959]

You might not save as much weight as you think. Aluminum weighs .11 lbs per cubic inch. Lets say you cut 20 holes, 1.5" dia. in a 1/8" wall square tube. All that work and you only save .48 lbs.

[Gary D.]

You won't save enough weight to notice it. A better option is to not supersize those fries. ;^)

[meb]

I think these hilarious pics should remove that notion that the BikeE frame is overbuilt.
Note the frame bent rather than the chain snapping.

http://joesacher.com/cycling/motorbikee.php

[sscyco]

However, if you do put the holes in your frame you can brag about how you transformed the bike frame material from aluminium to Drilleium .

[madpogue]

Now that's getting sillium!