My bike is extremely heavy tips on lightening it
02-07-17, 03:10 PM
#1
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My bike is extremely heavy tips on lightening it
Hey so I recently added a cyclotricity kit to this old bike I picked up for £20.
It handles fairly nice and can easily cruise at 18-20 mph depending on how flat it is.
However it weighs a ton and has a tendency to try and fall over. I think the bike was 13-14 kg before I put the kit and baasket on.
So how can I reduce it to a managable weight say 20kg.
Should I go single speed as I dont even need the gears now its got a motor?
It handles fairly nice and can easily cruise at 18-20 mph depending on how flat it is.
However it weighs a ton and has a tendency to try and fall over. I think the bike was 13-14 kg before I put the kit and baasket on.
So how can I reduce it to a managable weight say 20kg.
Should I go single speed as I dont even need the gears now its got a motor?
02-07-17, 06:52 PM
#2
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I too have that "problem" with my battery on the rear rack, (falling over) it's fairly top heavy, thus has a tendency to fall over... 
The only solution I have come up with, is to lean it against something (a wall) to stop it from falling over in a breeze...
The only solution I have come up with, is to lean it against something (a wall) to stop it from falling over in a breeze...
Last edited by 350htrr; 02-07-17 at 06:58 PM.
02-07-17, 07:05 PM
#3
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Budget?
Your rear rack/basket is extremely heavy, and worse top-heavy. Changing to panniers would reduce weight and move the weight down lower, or remove entirely.
Beyond that, start with a different bike. Realistically you started with a heavy frame, added a heavy rear rack, then added and electric motor. Basic component swaps are unlikely to make a noticeable difference in weight.
Your rear rack/basket is extremely heavy, and worse top-heavy. Changing to panniers would reduce weight and move the weight down lower, or remove entirely.
Beyond that, start with a different bike. Realistically you started with a heavy frame, added a heavy rear rack, then added and electric motor. Basic component swaps are unlikely to make a noticeable difference in weight.
02-08-17, 09:00 AM
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Is your only issue with the weight that it won't stand up reliably? If so, get one of these: https://www.amazon.com/Pletscher-Two.../dp/B001GSKVSG and problem solved.
Removing any significant weight is expensive. Even the $10000 Stromer ST2 is over 26kg. Stripping down to single speed might save you a kilo, but could leave you hating life if you ever end up far from home with a drained battery or an electrical failure. And the bike will still feel like it weighs a ton and will still tend to fall over without a better kickstand.
Removing any significant weight is expensive. Even the $10000 Stromer ST2 is over 26kg. Stripping down to single speed might save you a kilo, but could leave you hating life if you ever end up far from home with a drained battery or an electrical failure. And the bike will still feel like it weighs a ton and will still tend to fall over without a better kickstand.
02-09-17, 08:31 AM
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Get the M-wave aluminum spring-loaded double kickstand. It's amazing.
03-20-17, 11:47 PM
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hmm...
You have a lightweight mixte with dual topbars and you attached something akin to a sink disposal motor in wieight to it and have narrow tyres?
Why not use the other gears and get rid of the big thing? I don't see the advantage on that frame, and it's too good to fixie.
You have a lightweight mixte with dual topbars and you attached something akin to a sink disposal motor in wieight to it and have narrow tyres?
Why not use the other gears and get rid of the big thing? I don't see the advantage on that frame, and it's too good to fixie.
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03-21-17, 04:36 AM
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The big weight is motor and battery.
Changing/getting rid of the small weights like shifters, derailers etc isn't going to influence the overall weight much.
Really, to make a bike lighter-than-average, all parts need to be lighter-than-average.
About the only thing that'd make-kinda-sorta sense would be to reconsider your range/charge preferences and get a smaller battery.
Changing/getting rid of the small weights like shifters, derailers etc isn't going to influence the overall weight much.
Really, to make a bike lighter-than-average, all parts need to be lighter-than-average.
About the only thing that'd make-kinda-sorta sense would be to reconsider your range/charge preferences and get a smaller battery.
03-21-17, 05:41 AM
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