YonathanZ

Hi,

Do you think that bunny hopping with a 20 inch electric bike, in order to get from the asphalt road to the side walk, is safe for the engine? What about raising the front wheel (which is all I can do now) and letting the rear wheel (which is where the engine is) impact with the sidewalk? Do any of these damage the frame/wheel/engine?

EBikeFL 

It really depends on how fasting you're going when the rear wheel hits the sidewalk. A slower transition will have the tire effected only or worked but at a higher rate of speed you'll do damage to the rim and spokes as well. If you like replacing your rims and spokes then going faster during the transition from road to sidewalk won't be a problem.

The same applies to your engine. The attachment points will see a lot more stress, wear and tear.

Why not try to make the transition from road to sidewalk at the intersections where the sidewalk slopes to meet the road...your e-bike will be very grateful.

YonathanZ

I use slopes whenever I see them, but I don't always have that choice. I need to learn to raise the rear wheel.

chas58

It is safe if the throttle is off. With the throttle on, you are introducing a shock load to the system, and this is when things break. This is typically when you will snap the motor off the front fork, which isn't a problem you have with a rear motor. Still the gears in the motor will get an unusual load, and you are more likely to spin the motor in the drop outs (just to name a few scenarios). Generally you don't want a fast spinning wheel to hit the ground and suddenly hook up.

YonathanZ

So I need to make sure the motor isn't spinning when I hop? I always hit both brakes to slow down before hoping on the sidewalk, and the front brake cuts off power to the motor, so I guess I'm good?

jyl

You'll probably damage your rear rim eventually. Remind us what make and model this bike is, give us a link?

YonathanZ

Italwin eLight. You won't find much about them in English-written websites as they're only sold here in Israel. The frame itself is by Italwin, anyway. 20inch wheels.

slo

If your hub motor has a hollow axle for the wires it might snap if you stick it too hard.

fietsbob

Unlikely to get both wheels off the ground. just Too Heavy.

YonathanZ

It doesn't have to be simultaneously. I just need to lift them one by one, but I gotta start learning how to lift the rear wheel.

fietsbob

Just stop first rather than plowing into the Curb at full speed .

YonathanZ

I never do it at full speed, it's usually at about 5-8 kmph. I can't stop completely because there are just too many of curbs to go over...