Electric Bikes - Working Backwards
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If you knew you wanted a direct drive hub motor kit and Lithium batteries, but needed a bike to work with too, can you give me a few things the bike SHOULD and SHOULD NOT have? So far I know: it shouldn't have a lot of complex gears nor a twist shifter. It probably shouldn't have a front shock unless it's of high quality. The forks should be about 4 inches apart. How about wheel diameter? Thanks again!
If you knew you wanted a direct drive hub motor kit and Lithium batteries, but needed a bike to work with too, can you give me a few things the bike SHOULD and SHOULD NOT have? So far I know: it shouldn't have a lot of complex gears nor a twist shifter. It probably shouldn't have a front shock unless it's of high quality. The forks should be about 4 inches apart. How about wheel diameter? Thanks again!
What?
I have a direct drive hub motor with lithium batteries.
I also have:
- Twist shifter
- Front shocks
I don't know where you got this list of "shouldn't haves" because it's just wrong.
Perhaps I've been reading a bit too much at once.....getting the info all mixed up. It's kinda hard to dive right into the middle of all of the info that's out there. + all of these people have different ideas about what works. Basically what Im trying to do is get a mountain bike and kit combo that works. How bout any advice on the original questions?
Well, first decide on which kit you want. Then decided on which bike you want.
I had to go the other way: I had a bike and I had to pick a kit that works. Bionx was the one I picked because it works on almost every single type of bike out there.
http://us.itselectric.ca/Conversion_kits_s/21.htm
I was gonna go with BL 36, but they are in fact currently out of stock. He's recommending the Outrunner instead, so I guess I'll go that way. I was just out back messing around with my old Wal Mart 15 speed and considering whether or not I want to put the motor on that bike. It is aging and beginning to fall into disrepair which is why I was just gonna go with a new bike....not necessarily top of the line....but something new and decent. My old one is down to the 3 front gears since the rear shifter system is FUBARed, I've already primered it to combat advancing rust, and the wheels are not in the greatest shape either. I don't feel too bad about it considering I paid like $80 for it and used it pretty hard over the past 3 years.
I was just wondering, should I go with that motor, what's a decent bike to compliment it? and more importantly, what features should it have???
Kermit 43
07-24-08, 06:18 PM
You'll want to decide if you want a mountain bike or road bike. I'm putting a Bionx on my road bike just to see how fast I can go since I can do mid 30's with just my own power.
If you get a mountain bike or road bike I think brakes are very important (v's if it's a mountain, canti's if it's a road, unless you can find either with a GOOD disc brake setup), you'll be going faster and will have more weight than the average bike.
A bike that "fits" will be safer as well, you don't want a bike with a super short top tube because you'll flip over the bars faster, and it won't be as stable at higher speeds.