Help me select everything for first ebike - Noob from NJ

[NJrider]

I have been doing a lot of research on ES and around the net but still do not have a clear answer on what to build or get.

I am 5' 11" and weigh 215 pounds.

My budget is US$1000-1500.

This will be not a commuter bike but a fun ride for backyard and park riding.

I live in New Jersey and mostly plan to ride dirt trails in state parks. Nothing too crazy.
I really like the Full suspension mountain bikes. (Kona Stinky, Norco, Genesis V2100 style)

I don't need a very high top speed but would love to have good torque.

This is NJ, so the stealthier and quieter, the better.

I am good with electronics, soldering, wiring.

I know a bit about LiPo and other batteries because of playing with RC cars and stuff.



Please Please Please suggest the setup I shoud go for as more I read, more confused I feel.

[iovaykind]

Any setup like this..

http://newyork.craigslist.org/lgi/bik/3058381886.html

Haha, I know you contacted me. But seriously, from what you've listed, this is your perfect fun stealth build. Really torquey too!

Other than that, my suggestion is to get a nice downhill bike, and convert that with a direct drive motor. Or go with a midmount (but since you are new to the hobby, a midmount would be harder than direct drive), and you'll have lots of torque at the lower gearing, and enough top speed for all the fun you'll need.

[dogman]

I would prescribe the stuff from Cellman at Emissions Free. Mac motor in 10T winding. Run it on 12s RC lipo or 14s. or Cellmans battery. 48v I mean. It won't be motorcycle fast at all, but it will scamper up moderate trails pretty good. The faster windings wouldn't get up the steep bits on the trail as good, so you want to get the slower winding. Perhaps 8t would be slow enough if your hills are not steep. Just avoid the 6t.

One reason to go RC lipo would be easier to carry on FS frames. If you went with a hardtail with a large triangle, then cellmans triangle A123 battery.

If your budget was bigger, then I'd start suggesting stuff like the Crystalyte HT motor, and 72-100v of power. But no way a bike that fast and powerfull comes even close to stealthy. Everybody you pass would do this .

But you can blend in ok with a rear Mac motor with a slow top speed.

Personally, I trail ride on a very slow winding 9 continent rear motor. But you can't get one anymore.

[Trackman417]

Hmmmm I would buy loveyakind's kit. It does have everything you really need built in. The frame looks stealthy and it has all the features I want that are not on my bike.... yet

If you want brandy new, I would go with a 9continent motor and follow dogmans advice on the lipo battery's. However I would find a way to bump up that budget and get the crystalyte 3500 series motor. You wont regret it. If you live nearby I'll let you give it a try.

Where in NJ are you? I live right next to the GWB.

[NJrider]

I was planning to look at iovaykind's bike but he informed me last night its sold.

I guess the easy way is out. I am gonna have to build one.

[Chalo]

I really like the Full suspension mountain bikes. (Kona Stinky, Norco, Genesis V2100 style)

Noooooo Genesis V2100! Stay away from department store bikes; they are NOT worth the savings. You'll spend many times what you saved repairing and upgrading them, and in the end you'll still have a horrible weak heavy department store bike to show for it.

Gravitate towards reputable bike shop brands, and frame designs featuring straight round tubes and plenty of room inside the front triangle. Used bikes can be a very good choice. Look for ones that aren't too beat up, that cost over $1000 new. Don't pay more than about half of their new price, no matter how nice the condition seems to be.

Chalo

[motomech]

Chalo's advice on the donor bike is right on.
X-country[not downhill]bikes that were the top dog 10 years ago still offer quality components and a strong platform for a street/light duty trail Ebike...at bargin basement prices if you shop around. I would strongly recommend a FS bike. Open triangle space is a big plus!
For motors, the Mac or a mini-motor like the MXUS is what you want. The Mini's work well if you are not a heavy weight rider or need to taCKLE killer hills, so at 215 lb.s, youm might be a little big for a mini. Still, I rode a MXUS for a year and I weight 250 lb.s..
This is my simple to build, 10 year old MTB with dual mini's. It has 24" wheels and street tires on it now, but I am working on a pair of 26" wheel that can be quickly swapped out for trail riding.

[dogman]

Have to agree about the genesis. It's crap. But that is the style of suspension bike frame to look for. Room for the battery. Much better off with a used Kona, or whatever. That is, if it's not rode into the ground.

[parajared]

After a few IMs with Wesnewall, I have come to the conclusion that the amazon.com/yescom.usa "48v 1000w" kit is the way to go if you have a non disk brake bicycle.

He really likes his, abuses it hard and sees good reliability, has friends with other brands that he out preforms, and has like three of the things that are all in good working order.

[chisixer6]

Parajared;

I don't know how mechanical incline you are, as that makes a difference on decision. I am on my 5th build since Aug,2011. I started out on a simple 5 minute conversion kit, really took about 30-40 minutes because I had to open up the dropouts for the fatter axle. It's a 24v 250 watt bafung powered by Clean Republic. kit has everything needed. It came with sla batteries, which is cool, as I was not unable to get Life or Lipo at the time.This went 17mph with pedaling and 15 no pedal, because of the batteries it had about 6 mile range. I got another sla battery making it into the 20's pedaling and about 17 no pedaling, on 36v. around October I got Life 40v 4.5a batteries, lost about 10 to 15 pounds of weight and it flies. this was all put on an old Motobecane road bike frame, everything stillstock except the batteries.

http://www.electric-bike-kit.com/

since then I gotten 2 Ebikekit.com motors and also a yesusacom kit. and building a 5th, maybe a 9c or another yesusacom kit.

Also don't know if you have to carry your bike down some stairs, but the Yesusacom bike is heavy, needed to be almost a he-man. the other 3 are light, maybe 15 pounds more than stock. the bafung is light duty motor so don't expect direct drive performance, but it is stealth, can hardly hear it and with the exception of my exposed wires, you will never know its electric. This is the one I use mostly, especially on my club rides, people are always asking about the front hub, thinking it is a drum brake or a dynamo hub.My 12s2p battery sits in my blackburb bag ontop of my blackburn rack. Best of all it's light. good luck on your choice.............Jerry

[NJrider]

Thank you all for the tips everyone

Donor bike would be K2 Base Sport. Picked up today from SA with 20% discount coupon. I like the bike.
I like oatnet's build with batteries in the front a lot. I may upgrade the front and rear shock but we will see. So triangle space won't really matter with what I have in mind.