How much have you spent on your ebike?

Up to now, how much have you spent on your ebike?

Think like this: If I were to build my bike again EXACTLY as it is now, how much would it cost me?

I spent $250 for the bike, $150 for the motor, $150 for the batteries and $30 for the controller. The rest (throttle, connectors, wires, etc.) was peanuts.

Ebike No. 1 was an experiment. I was wandering through Apex electronics surplus in Sun Valley, CA

http://www.apexelectronic.com/

and saw a shelf full of 250 and 300 watt scooter motors, $10 each. I'd just seen a story in the paper about some $6,000 ebike or other, and I thought, someone ought to go the other way and figure out how cheap you can make a practical ebike. Here's the result:

A lot of the materials were scrap. I had to order some sprockets, bearings and chain from McMaster Carr. Initially I had an on/off switch, then I went to a PWM controller $24 on ebay. Total cost was a good deal under $100, except for the batteries. I initially got 2 twelve volt 18Ah batteries from all electronics, which cost about $100. I later switched these to 36v DeWalts. The performance of the 300 watt motor was lackluster at 24 volts, but at 36, it went very nicely, at least as fast as the 600 watt WE hubmotor I have on it now.

I eventually switched to the hubmotor because I am shy and I don't like people staring at me, but in terms of riding pleasure, the scooter motor was a blast.

The hub in the photo is an SRAM S7 internal seven gear hub. It didn't work well as a motor transmission, though I now begin to think I had it misadjusted. I have it on the rear now, with the 600 watt hubmotor on the front. Still use the $24 ebay controller, even though it was rated for 24v, it has lasted six months at 36, and seems ok. This setup, with two additional DeWalt batteries, cost about $400, as I got the hubmotor, along with controller and batteries, which I use on another bike, for $200 used on Craigslist.

Bike was 1200 + tax.. down to 1000 taxes in..

On the current version ( as the bike has gone thru nimh in different ways ) .. lithium = 1200

Motor 406/409 - controller, throttle etc.. 600 $

cycleanalyst = 100 $

Rear racks, lexan, better tires, FMF rim, etc etc etc = couple 100...

Man-Hours = Priceless... too many to count.

Total 3000 $ + and it's almost perfect...

for 08 + single speed 409, with 4110 fet 50 amp controller, BMS bypass and Dual Thunder Power 10 amp chargers for a < 2 hr charge !

i'm not sure I want to add this up, but here goes...

Bike= $140
408/4012 kit with options, = $800 shipped
Heavey duty Aluminum bike rack for the batteries = $40
steel and welding supplys when above failed = $30
Cateye cycle meter = $40
Wattsup meter = $60
new tires, Specalized Armadillos, to stop constant flats, tumes, tire slime =$100
Lipo batteries to replace the SLA = $900 shipped
New controller, 7240 with 4110s = $300
Cycle Analyst, to replace blown up whatsup meter = $130
Triple clamp fork =$100 used.
Dyad rim build with disk brake =$200
Sprung seat with gel pad because i'm not 20 anymore =$ priceless

I spent $700 on the original ebike with the 250watt motor (I got ripped off).Spent $250 for the 600watt brushed crystalyte kit,$55 for a spare controller(48v35amp),$60 on batteries,$50 for 100 Powerpole connectors (80/30amp,20/45amp) and about another $40 for a 12v/2amp charger.Then finally $55 on a wattsup meter.The 10 and 12 gauge wire I'm using I was able to scrounge for free.

I let my second neighbour take the bike out for a spin and he came back with that big EV grin.He asked tons of questions and is inspired to to now get his own to drive to work.He told me he works for a local Electrical Wholesaler and if I needed any more sla batteries to let him know because he'd sell them to me for their cost price...Yipee!

The total $1,210.00 Canadian Dollars

Eric

I checked <$100.

I spent 75 bucks on two trashed currie Moto-x450s: Made one complete bike and got plenty spare parts.

The tricky part is the new batteries... I bought seven lithium hammer-drills, each w/ two batteries. I also bought a 4-piece combo tool kit with two batteries. So I have 16 batteries and a buttload of drills. But I use the batts for tools and bike and laptop. (haven't tried em in the cars yet)

All the batts & tools cost $1750. I will sell the extra drills in the spring and recover 700 bucks or so.

Hmmm...show & tell ... well this could be interesting
AUS dollars - almost a green back
ok - truth & tell - this going to hurt

Giant CRX3 08 - $799 - only paid this as I liked the upgrades over the 07 - additional upgrades from donations from existing road bike & no these do NOT couunt :lol:

The EV & nothing but the EV as follows:

9 Continent Kit $237.00 Delivered 250w - running at 48v - free wheel 49kms
SLA's AGM 7AH x4 $28.00
Nimah Haligon x2 Spot lights $85.00
4 LED Whites x2 Sigmas $30.00
Tubes/liners etc S60.00
Rear Rack $30.00
Rear Pack $55.00
Hybrid Clip Pedals $40.00
Cyc Computer S25.00
Rear LED X2 Smart $22.00
Misc - switch/wire/fuse $40.00
Drink Bottles $5.00
Total to date $1456.00

To adds in future:
PIng 48v 10w pack $400.00
350w 48v Controller $40.00
Front panniers $150.00
Drain Bran eqv $100.00
Add on Total $690.00

PS if you pass this on to my wife - I'll have to add a colum for a incidential mechanic & lawyer :wink:

But to date MUCH LESS than a quality road bike ...

Vego SX-600 stock frame: free.
Burnt out BMC motor: free.
Fried Crystalyte controller: free.
Used Hawker Genesis batteries: free.
A dozen IRFB4110's: $52.

The look on the lycras' faces: Priceless.

fechter said:

Vego SX-600 stock frame: free.
Burnt out BMC motor: free.
Fried Crystalyte controller: free.
Used Hawker Genesis batteries: free.
A dozen IRFB4110's: $52.

The look on the lycras' faces: Priceless.

Click to expand...

& I thought I was cheap :wink:

I checked the $300 range, but now I am adding stuff to it. I bought the bike for $342 with shipping. Then I bought a lighting set which cost about $34. I just ordered some Freddy Hardcore fenders for it, so I think that might just put me over the $400 mark. Once I get all the regular stuff sorted out, I plan to start trying to modify it, so I'm sure the price will start rapidly climbing from there. A lot of the stuff I plan to modify it with are parts that I already have from other projects I was planning on doing, but I will count those costs, since I did have to buy them at one point.

I got a display model currie for $54.something including tax at toysRus, missing charger was around $25 on ebay. Bought a couple of 12v7a APC UPSes at a yard sale for $6 each to get me to 36v. Thats right under a hundred bucks. Of course I've spent more since then on upgrades, but I haven't installed anything yet so i wont count those. Yes yes, but its just a sunday funday bike, no commuting on this sucker.

$50 to rebuild frame
$1 per amp for batteries from reclaimer (3x12)+(3x17)
$225 hub controller and throttle

There are many ways to build these things. I want to build mine as if my life depends on it as it does so heavy wheels and good tires. Halfway decent bikes ect. Build number two is not finished yet and build three has begun expect about 2k on this one.

Bike one

Cost to build electric bicycle

Bike used $150

Upgrades after Purchase
Lock $ 14
Fenders $ 30
Rack $ 34
Derailleur $ 34
Shifters $ 38
Total $150

Safety items required
Mirror $ 16
Lights $ 46
Tires $ 58
Total $120

Cost Required to Electrify
Hub kit 36v $396
Battery $350
Charger $100
Rear Wheel $77
Front Wheel $90
Total $1012

Total $1266

Bike is finished and has 1400 miles on it
add $89 for a new 48v controller used a couple of the sla batts
from bike #2 on it. It’s much better now.

Cost to build bike 2

Bike used $75
Mirror $16
Tires $58
Wheels $211
Hub Kit used $200 Clite front wheel kit with sla batts

Total $560 Have all the parts but have not built it yet.


Cost to build bike 3 Scrapped the build as the motor was defective.

Bike New $1000 ouch! Probly not the best bike for this either.

8" brake disks $45
Brake adapters $65 one for the motor and two for the bike.
mirror $16
fenders $30
carbon handlebars $50 addiction said I had to have them.
Rear rack $40
Road crankset $58 so I can pedal faster to make it look good.
tires $90
BMC Hub defective unable to use on this build.
Controller $138
Battery $350 already have one of these from bike #1 two makes 72v
Charger $100

Total $2332

Have all the parts and am in the middle of the build.
That is more than I paid for my car!! I am a very sick man?

Who's the baller with the >$5k ebike?

The bike alone:
Bike: Schwinn S-40 Full suspension MTB used….............$160
Headlight: Fenix L2dQ5 flashlight ………....….....……....…$65 shipped
Headlight: SSC P7 flashlight……………………….........……....$44 shipped
Taillight: Planetbike Superflash………………..........…….……$25 shipped
Lighting mounts, batteries, & chargers………....…….…...…$75 shipped
Wheels: new tires, tubes, true rims……………....……..……..$75
Accessories: helmet, air pump, rack & bag, rear mirror……$50
Spring seat with gel padding…………….........…………………..$22
…………………………………………………......................…………$516 total

To go electric:

Motor: AmpedBikes Rear hub kit…….......…...………………$480 shipped
Battery: Ping LiFePo4 36V12AH………........…....………….…$392 shipped
Anderson connectors & fuse……………….........……………….$25
…………………………………………………..…..................………$897 total

Combined:
…………………………………………………...................…………$1413 total


I don’t count the Fenix flashlight, since it is quick release and I use it at work daily.
That puts me in right at $1,338

I changed my vote, since I added up the costs of the S-Go and it came out to like $1,300. :?

For the bike with an extra battery = $76 + an 84 toyota tercel.

but I saved almost $200 for 2 months insurance that I got reimbursed for getting rid of the car.

so I guess I made money on getting the bike.