sonofawrench

Okay, i am new here, happy to join the community, recently overcome by e-bike fever

I am looking to start my first e-bike build on this thread as a document and learning adventure for all. I am no expert, i don't have lots of funds at the moment, but i am crafty, and technical, and motivated.

I would like to build an e-bike capable to travel at least 25 miles roundtrip. at the moment my commute is 19 miles one way, but i am hoping to move in a couple months and live no more than 12 miles from work. Hence the 25 miles roundtrip. I want that to be no pedaling at all, complete motor use. I can use most of the battery one way, and charge while i am work for 9 hours.

I want to be able to hoof it i don't want to have to ride for an hour to get to work. I can ride most of the winter, it get's cold but only snow's substantially 3 times a year. I used to ride a fixed gear everywhere when i lived in Savannah GA. Flat roads, no winter, i biked to work, class, friends, shows, grocery, vet, beach, just to blow off steam. ahhhh, i love biking. Now i live in western NC in the mountains

Please join my adventure, i will try to post every day with progress. This is all for now, already a long post, until next time, "Pedal Forward"

NoPhart

So you want to build an eBaike on a budget to commute on that: has a throttle, goes ~20 miles one way and you live in the mountains...

IMHO you need a mid-drive. The fact you want a no pedal throttle option pretty much excludes most prebuilt eBikes, so BaFang BBS## is your best bet. If you don't have a bike already, then it will be at least $800 plus the bike minimum. Really can't be done right for less than $1,200 IMHO.

You didn't mention your weight, but my experience says a 350W-750W BBS-02 will get you there if you are willing to pedal. Otherwise go ~$200 more for the BBS-HD (now you are at $1,400) and will probably need a larger battery too; more $$$.

How are those costs for your budget?

PS: I am currently in the process of completing my first custom bike build. The option of adding electric assist will be kept in mind when selecting the frame and components. It is clear already that the bike itself will be over $2,000. Adding an electric motor and battery will put my build at around $3,000, which is in the price range of a pre-built quality manufactured eBike. The only reason I'm going this route is because of optionality, throttle or boost button, and the ability to add/remove electric assist at will. The bike will be a killer pedal ride all by itself.

NoPhart

Here's a link to MY BUILD for reference. For some reason this new vBull. software won't let me edit/add it to the prior post (?).