The LIFT-MTB eMTB Kit

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Oct 11, 2016
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109
Location
SoCal USA
Does anyone have experience with this French LIFT-MTB kit? Is there anything unique about their version of this common electric motor?

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It appears to use a simple brushed United MY1018 type motor placed in a unique mounting bracket with small freewheel sprocket, that attaches to the ISCG frame mounts (great idea). It can be used to put the motor low, in front of and below the down tube or within the frame triangle on certain bikes.

I downloaded, printed and cut out the LIFT-MTB template, then set the current MY1018 into the CS Hightower frame triangle and positioned the template. It looks like an "inside" fit to me. Their site states it has been fit to a CS Nomad.

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Their crank shafts come in different sizes to fit your existing setup, plus they offer a Pro version that has a light weight hollow alloy crank shaft. The video below has this entire bike weighing in at 33lbs.without the backpack battery.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sKkFxL6g8zk

And this one shows the simple installation process.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=u8uGHVAsZ9Y

It seems to be what most full suspension MTB riders are looking for, a simple assist going up and the feel of a real MTB coming down (IE: little extra weight).

Here is the LIFT-MTB site link:

https://www.lift-mtb.com/

Anyone have one? What are your impressions? Thx.
 
Over 100 views and no thoughts from the electrical wizards here on this "universal" kit for the true MTB crowd?

You guys are the pinnacle of the E-bike builders; the cream of the crop. :mrgreen:

IMHO these guys in France have made a great bolt-on kit with many uniquely designed light weight CNC parts.

PS: Anyone know where I can get a 9T MY1018 freewheel? Smallest I've found is a 12T.
 
I like the look of the Lift MTB system as well. It does seem expensive for what it is. It seems like it would be simple enough to replicate the system with the exception of the 9t freewheel. I haven't seen an off the shelf freewheel smaller than 12t. It appears the Lift-mtb freewheel is custom.

I have seen BMX rear freewheels in small tooth counts with ratchet and pawl, but they are designed to insert into a rear hub. Perhaps it would be possible to adapt one of these to the my1018 output shaft.

Staying with the 12t freewheels that are available may be sufficient for most climbs I would think. I am currently building up a Cyclone 3kw kit on my Yeti 575. After I'm done, I might try to replicate the Lift-MTB setup on another bike.

regards,
Brian
 
It is a bit pricey and the exchange rate is about $1.08 for each €1 currently, plus shipping to USA is €70, but the execution is great.

I popped my crank off to see what the ISCG mounts looked like up close and check my crankshaft diameter. The ISCG mounts are super solid aluminum threads in this carbon frame.

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If you don't have ISCG mounts or you prefer to mount it to the BB they make a ISCG/BB bracket too.

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I have a MY1018 450W/36V, 500W/36V controller, throttle with: on/off, battery level display, 3 power settings and a couple 12T freewheels with adapter already, but LIFT won't sell their bracket and parts separately. The problem the current 12T freewheel/adapter is that it put the sprocket teeth on the inside next to the motor and the freewheel on the outside. LIFT's version puts the sprocket teeth to the outside and freewheel on the inside; plus it's 9T (better ratio). You are right that the 12T will probably work fine just use the lower gears on the rear cassette.

I've even considered running without a freewheel at the crank. A simple RaceFace dual chainring adapter can mount a large enough sprocket on the outside of the 104BCD points.

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That means no extra crank expenses, but the crank always turns the second chain and little freewheel when riding it without power and the crank always turns when using power. Not ideal, but doable for a climb assist only setup and testing.
 
Anyone have experience with this kit? I wonder how it pedals since it’s a throttle first motor?
 
Right on, so if I had all the other parts I could make it myself? I am not sure I am that mechanically inclined unless there was a manual.
 
I havent tested the complete kit, but I saw it last year and ordered a my1018 motor to try. Used it first as a throttle/cadence pas setup (the fatbike), then I used it to try out a torque sensing BB and freewheel setup from CYC (the FS bike). (Both setups is just thrown together for testing so sorry for the mess 😋). Honestly the noise was way too much for me, sounds like an electric chainsaw. As a part of the torque-sensing kit it was OK, but compared to a tsdz2 setup I have used until now it was way to inefficient. I would gave to build a battery if I was going to use it. Going to try a small, geared hub mounted as mid-drive next, just waiting for parts.
 

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