Electric Bikes - dilemma

I've already got the recumbent with a Bionx kit. I'm struggling with the bent in terms of commuter flexibility. It won't load on a bus or even in most smaller cars. If I catch a flat, I've got no recourse aside from walking or repairing on the road (which is actually a big hassle for a verbally and not mechanically oriented person like me). If I damage the bike (which I did last week when I crashed myself), I have to figure out how to get it to a bike shop for repairs. (Fortunately, I can still ride, but I just can't use all the gears.)

So, I'm thinking that I actually need to scale it down in terms of bike. I need to get a normal sized bike with a motor. I checked out some multi-speed cruisers and "comfort bikes" today.

Dilemma is what configuration? I like the bent. it's just givng me some practical commuting problems. it's still fun for joyriding. But then again, I can joyride on my single-speed, non-modified Beach Cruiser, too. Should I switch the Bionx to a new bike? Or should I get a whole new set-up with bike and motor? And, if I opt for a new set-up, should I try a new motor? I was just reading here about the BMC motors. First time I ever heard of them.

Well, there are bikes out there which have very near the comfort of recumbents, without the downsides. Electra and Rans crank forward bikes are good examples. You'll be nearly as comfortable on them, while being able to use body motions more, have a smaller more bus rack friendly bike, a more noticeable riding position for traffic, and they're able to both have good leg extension and allow putting your feet down while seated at the same time.

They're the closest thing you'll be able to get to a recumbent, without actually getting a recumbent :)

The design is very user friendly. The largest downside to the crank forward is in the low aerodynamics, followed by some models being difficult to stand on the pedals with. Personally, the trade off is worth it to me, especially since I have a very weak right knee and need a bicycle that suits that - with an electric xtracycle townie, a bike which is really able to facilitate allowing me to ride even with an injury that would normally remove that ability. No coming off the saddle fast onto the legs, no overstraining during climbs, its nice.

As for the motor, the BionX is a nice kit. Unless you've been disappointed somehow, I wouldn't worry about it.

One thing you might think about is getting a bike like the Rans Rocket. It can fit into most places where a regular bike would fit - bus, car, and taxi should be workable. If you can find a small recumbent bike like the Rocket which has an easy-to-remove seat, that might be even better.

Thanks for the suggestions. I'm starting to look around (internet) at the makes and models mentioned.

One more thing. There are some requirements for a bike to be Bionx compatible. 1) Must have a freewheel and not cassette style shifter. I'm finding that this rules out some brands. 2) Must go on a bicycle with 7, 8 or 9 gears (or multiples of).

So far, it appears that a Raleigh make might work. Any other ideas?

There isn't really such a clause as a freewheel/cassette shifter. Match the number of speeds, and it'll work with whatever. The Townie 21 is an easy convert, I didn't have to touch or change a single thing on the bike, really. Just pulled the freewheel off the rear wheel and reused it on the motor, done!. A lot of bikes can be converted without too much effort. For my RMB Fusion, I just changed the shifter from the 9sp to an 8sp, readjusted the LX derailleur, and purchased an 8sp freewheel (XLyte is <9sp)

Can't give you any other suggestions other than that, as thats the only bike in this category i've converted.

That said, I think you should try a crank forward before looking at regular comfort bikes. The level of comfort can't be touched, I find.

If I damage the bike (which I did last week when I crashed myself), .

How did the crash happen? Car or something got in your way? We can all learn from it, if you want.

There isn't really such a clause as a freewheel/cassette shifter. Match the number of speeds, and it'll work with whatever. The Townie 21 is an easy convert, I didn't have to touch or change a single thing on the bike, really. Just pulled the freewheel off the rear wheel and reused it on the motor, done!. A lot of bikes can be converted without too much effort. For my RMB Fusion, I just changed the shifter from the 9sp to an 8sp, readjusted the LX derailleur, and purchased an 8sp freewheel (XLyte is <9sp)

Can't give you any other suggestions other than that, as thats the only bike in this category i've converted.

That said, I think you should try a crank forward before looking at regular comfort bikes. The level of comfort can't be touched, I find.

Is it a Bionx conversion? I'm going by the Bionx instructions, which say that. On my current conversion, the freewheel stays on the rear wheel. What I've read indicates that a cassette shifter is inside the wheel hub and can't be used with Bionx, which is self contained within its own wheel hub. I've also read that it's hard to change a bike back to a freewheel from a cassette type gearing.

When you say you pulled off the freewheel, and used it on the motor, well, where did you put it? My freewheel is still on the back wheel. The only thing that's changed is the wheel itself.

How did the crash happen? Car or something got in your way? We can all learn from it, if you want.

Crash happened from me riding in the dark and anticipating a turn too early. I was riding at night on a road that's rarely used at night (kind of an industrial street). There's a point where the single lane splits into two lanes. One of them is for turning. I turned right and unexpectedly rode off the asphalt (which had an abrupt drop-off), was struggling to maintain control in the gravel and dirt, and then hit the point where the asphalt really began (another several inch high uprise), and then totally lost control. ...Add all that to the fact that I was a little indecisive about the turn to begin with, and it was just a loss of control on my part.

No cars involved (except for the one guy who came down the road and asked if I was OK).

This wreck and the one I had 6 years ago both had to do with my own lack of foresight while riding under slightly different circumstances than usual. From what I understand, this type of thing happens from time to time with many riders. It's more likely when a person is getting overconfident, and I probably was getting overconfident with the bent, which I've had for about 5 months now.

I wrote about it in the commuting section, if want more bloody details. :D

It sounds like what you are describing is an IGH (internal gear hub), thats where the gears are self contained within the hub itself.

Yes, those would be incompatible. I've only ever heard about one hub motor which used IGH technology, and that is the SRAM Sparc, which really seems to be an unknown orphan product.

On cassettes,

http://www.sheldonbrown.com/free-k7.html

Basically, cassette (freehub) is a method of attaching the sprockets to your wheel. What BionX uses is freewheel, which is the thread on method also shown on that page.

The spacing is the same, and cassettes/freewheels of the same number of speeds can both be used with the same drivetrain.

What I mean is, when I electrified my Electra Townie, the only thing that had to be done aside from installing the kit, was that I simply removed the sprockets from my old wheel and put them onto my motor wheel. Reused them. Didn't need to adjust anything else.

The spacing is the same, and cassettes/freewheels of the same number of speeds can both be used with the same drivetrain.

What I mean is, when I electrified my Electra Townie, the only thing that had to be done aside from installing the kit, was that I simply removed the sprockets from my old wheel and put them onto my motor wheel. Reused them. Didn't need to adjust anything else.

So can I replace the cassette with freewheel gearing if necessary? What would be the cost?