Electric Bike Conversion Kit or Electric Bike?

amigafan2003 said:
Its because nearly everyone considers cycling as sport or recreation, not transportation.

Its the biggest thing holding the UK back regarding cycling. The Olympics didn't help, just like the tour de France in Yorkshire won't help either.
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Are you suggesting Britain's recent success in the Olympics, World Championships and Tour de France has been a BAD thing for cycling in the UK? :confused:

You're way off the mark and you only need to step outside in any city during rush hour to see the amount of people cycling.
 
Russinating said:
Are you suggesting Britain's recent success in the Olympics, World Championships and Tour de France has been a BAD thing for cycling in the UK? :confused:

You're way off the mark and you only need to step outside in any city during rush hour to see the amount of people cycling.
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It's been great for sport and recreational cycling, but for cycling as a means of transportation it's set it back 10 years.
 
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I am not buying that, far more cyclists when i commute on bike and my place of work has just finished building a second bike shed doubling the place the space for bikes to be parked under cover in the secure car park - over last summer there was no space in the original one!

Other than that and crazy mcfool i have found this thread really good, just read it all and food for thought as well as interesting!
 
arknor said:
put the crack pipe down please, why are cities building cycling networks if no one is using cycling as a method of transportation ?
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My local councils have built a dirt bmx track, an indoor cycling arena and four bmx/skate parks and are currently redoing a riverside cycle route (that isn't used by commuters). That's millions of investment on the sport and recreational side of cycling. For commuting/transportation the investment is in the mid tens of thousands.

It's a similar story across the country - sport and recreation cycling is attracting the lions share of investment - investment that makes cycling more pleasant, nicer for families, safer - segregating cyclists from car users.

There is barely ANY "Dutch style" investment that makes cycling from point A to B more efficient, faster or improving facilities (bike lockers etc) - no investment that actually promotes cycling as a form of transport.
 
Shimmyhill said:
Norwich has just started to spend the 5m they got to improve cycling routes for commuters....
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I'm not saying there hasn't been ANY investment..........................

Look, we'll agree to differ - but I can't overlook the evidence I've seen that supports my position.


Right - back to ebikes - hurry up DHL with my order from China!
 
This morning I went to a shop to look at the new Cyclotricity 1000 watt 30 mph on the throttle conversion kit. I picked up the rear wheel/motor and it was so heavy it put me right off just thinking of trying to ride it without assist.
In the shop he had a converted 250 watt Trek and Claude Butler which I could pick up with one hand even with the battery on (I need two hands for my Stealth) and I took the Trek out for a ride with no assist and it was nearly like riding my road bike.
I fell in love.
 
OspreyO said:
Which trek and CB?
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Not sure, I've been trying to identify it but it's not on his site.
He'd built it for a pensioner and then the bloke rang him up saying he just been diagnosed with terminal cancer so it was pointless having it.
This is the shop - http://www.electric-bike-conversion...c_Bikes.html?gclid=CMqqkPCUvLsCFTMdtAodu28AZQ

It had got the Cyclotricity 250 watt system on which I'm already using.

I think it is the Trek 'Tourer' on this page - http://www.electric-bike-conversions.co.uk/acatalog/electric_bike_conversions.html

A bit more searching shows it could be this - http://www.trekbikes.com/uk/en/bikes/town/recreation/fx/7_2_fx_2014/



.
 
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The 1000w watt motors on the cyclotricty kit are direct drive motors - they are three times as heavy as geared motors and are a pig to pedal unpowered as they don't have a freewheel. They are quieter and can take more power than geared motors though.

Oh, my controller and CA v2.3 arrived yesterday, so new build starts on Monday :-)
 
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Nearly done, just cabling to tidy up now.


Rear wheel installed - motor is barely bigger than the 11-26t cassette. Needed an extra washer in between the frame and the 11t cog.


Controls installed. Working from left to right - thumb throttle, cycle analyst V2.3, power switch and push button cruise controll and finally three speed switch. I want the CA more central, so I've ordered a mount that goes on the stem.



Pulled the brake switch out of a mechanical brake lever I ordered with the controller and fashioned a bracket out of some left over carbon fibre angle to get the brake switch working with the hydraulics - works a treat :-)
 
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touch said:
Is that the max power of the motor rather than the cruising power? Or are ebikes just ridiculously heavy and need a lot of power?
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The Cyclotricity Stealth is definitely one of the lightest eBikes at 19kg without the battery and some of the 'Rolls Royce' models are around 23kg. The way I understand it is that legally the bikes need to be robust to take a motor and putting motors on normal bikes needs a certificate which could cost £1000+. Obviously people like amigafan don't care and since I've learned the hard way I don't care anymore.

touch said:
My road bike (with no motor) will do 30mph at around 400w.
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I don't get this statement, no motor but will do 30 at 400w :confused:

amigafan2003 said:
Nearly done, just cabling to tidy up now.
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Which model Trek bike is that and why that model?
I quite liked the converted 7.3 I test rode on Saturday with the battery fitted but not turned on, I easily reached 30 on the flat.
 
Dimple said:
The Cyclotricity Stealth is definitely one of the lightest eBikes at 19kg without the battery and some of the 'Rolls Royce' models are around 23kg. The way I understand it is that legally the bikes need to be robust to take a motor and putting motors on normal bikes needs a certificate which could cost £1000+. Obviously people like amigafan don't care and since I've learned the hard way I don't care anymore.



I don't get this statement, no motor but will do 30 at 400w :confused:



Which model Trek bike is that and why that model?
I quite liked the converted 7.3 I test rode on Saturday with the battery fitted but not turned on, I easily reached 30 on the flat.
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He's able to put out 400 watts with his legs.
 
Dimple said:
Which model Trek bike is that and why that model?
I quite liked the converted 7.3 I test rode on Saturday with the battery fitted but not turned on, I easily reached 30 on the flat.
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FX 7.5.

All done:-



Quick test ride shows it topping out at 24mph no pedalling - bang on where I wanted it. Set three speed switch to give approx 13mph, 18mph and 24mph. Set the controller to pull 750watts to look after the motor (it's only tiny so no pulling 1kw+ on this one).

Weighs a 15.5kg inc battery - not bad considering it's got a rack fitted as well :-)
 
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amigafan2003 said:
FX 7.5.

All done:-

Quick test ride shows it topping out at 24mph no pedalling - bang on where I wanted it. Set three speed switch to give approx 13mph, 18mph and 24mph. Set the controller to pull 750watts to look after the motor (it's only tiny so no pulling 1kw+ on this one).

Weighs a 15.5kg inc battery - not bad considering it's got a rack fitted as well :-)
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You ought to go into the conversion business.
 
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