Prodecotech Stride 500??????

I'm new here and new to electric bicycles, so bare with me. I come from motorizing bicycles with gas engines, but restrictions are getting me into electric. I've got an opportunity to pick up a Prodeco Tech Stride 500 Ebike used in excellent condition but it is missing the battery for $200. The batteries range from $300 to $500 to replace the battery for this bike. My question: Is this bike worth it, or what other ideas do you have for an entry level ebike. Thanks,

Sounds about the same price as an average generic "kit" on ebay/etc (which could be used to convert whatever bike you already have).

But if the prodeco already works and runs, other than needing a new battery, it's probably alot easier than working out a kit from ebay (which likely won't just plug together; you'll probably have to figure out the wiring and stuff).


However, a note of caution: Bikes that are missing charger and battery may be stolen, as the actual owner might have had those items with them to recharge. It's happened before.

When I first got into gas motorized bicycles, I bought the generic Made in China kit off of ebay and I had more headaches i knew what to do with, so I would rather steer clear of that route. The reason why the guy is selling the Prodeco Tech Ebike is because someone stole the battery off the back of it. The bike retails new for about $1,500 and he is looking for $250 or best offer for it. The bike I have now is an Electra Townie 21D that is gas, but I don't want to convert it to electric. I rather get a sweet deal on a good quality used ebike or get a quality ebike kit and build a new/different bike from it. If I was to go the later route, is a rear hub motor, bottom bracket/midmounted, or front hub motors the most reliable/performanceworthy? Thanks,

bonefish said:

. If I was to go the later route, is a rear hub motor, bottom bracket/midmounted, or front hub motors the most reliable/performanceworthy?

Click to expand...

That's all up to which one you get, how you use it, and what your terrain/weather/etc. is like.


If you're like me, and sometimes need to haul St Bernards, hundreds of pounds of dog food, other heavy stuff like a piano, etc., and accelerate from a stop very quickly with those loads while riding in traffic, you may need monster motors / controllers / batteries.

If you just need to move yourself around, and terrain is flat, and you don't have much wind, you can easily do it with the little prodeco, or the little geared motor kits or any of the middrives.



In general, any common middrive has the potential for lower reliability simply becuase it goes thru the same chain you pedal with--so if something goes wrong you may lose the ability to ride at all. But since it does go thru the gears, you can make it more efficient on hills, or from a stop, etc., than a hubmotor might be.


DD hubmotors in the wheels are simple and generally reliable, as long as you don't abuse them (overheating) and you build a good quality wheel around the hubmotor (many of the kits have crappy wheel with too-thick spokes; bunch of threads about lacing/wheels/spokes/etc with details on that).

Geared hubmotors in the wheels are a little less simple but also generlaly reliable with the same caveats.

Front or rear is more a personal preference, but may make a difference to handling and ride quality depending on the bike, conditions/etc.

Either hubmotor needs good torque arms so you don't break the dropouts.


There's a lot of threads about various motor options with good info in them, if you poke around.

Batteries are the hardest part to get reliable, even if you buy one off the shelf, cuz there's so many crappy ones out there (that look just like the good ones), and cuz they're the heart of the system--if they can't easily provide the power the system draws, the system doesn't do what it's supposed to, and if they're not rated for that power draw, they die quicker than they should. Building one yourself can be more reliable, but only if you know what you're doing and get good cells to start with. Lots of threads about those too.


Performance...really depends on you, your needs, your terrain, and your weather. You can go to http://ebikes.ca/simulator to try out different hubmotor/controller/battery options, and see how they perform under some of the conditions you may put them thru. There's a trip simulator, too. It doesn't directly handle middrives yet, but you can do the math for the gearing vs wheelsize and set it up as if the hub was a middrive.

bonefish said:

The bike I have now is an Electra Townie 21D that is gas, but I don't want to convert it to electric. I rather get a sweet deal on a good quality used ebike or get a quality ebike kit and build a new/different bike from it. If I was to go the later route, is a rear hub motor, bottom bracket/midmounted, or front hub motors the most reliable/performanceworthy? Thanks,

Click to expand...

Converting the Townie 21D to electric is sweet, that is my current ride. I cant stand regular the mountain bike position anymore.

Most Reliable = Direct Drive motor
Front or rear motor, go with rear wheel motor.

Mid Drive - Only if you have hills or lots of stop and go. Cyclone and Bafangs.

How much power do you want?
Where are you located? Canada, USA or somewhere else (which province or state)
Did the Fuzz hassle you with your noisy gasser?
You want 250W, 500W, 750W, 1000W, 1500W, 3000W, 5000W+?
Where will you be riding? flat, single track trails, up hills

I would suggest Leafbike 1500W with KT display and lace it yourself, its easy, just follow youtube.
http://leafbike.com/

http://leafbike.com/products/diy-bike-conversion-kit/26-inch-electric-hub-motor-kit/newest-26-inch-48v-1500w-rear-hub-motor-bike-conversion-kit-987.html

48V Battery
http://leafbike.com/products/lithium-battery/48v-li-battery/c-36/
or
https://em3ev.com/shop/50v-14s6p-small-triangle-pack/

Torque Arms
Description - http://www.ebikes.ca/product-info/torque-arms.html
Buy - http://www.ebikes.ca/shop/electric-bicycle-parts/torque-arms.html

More Kits
https://em3ev.com/shop/?product_cat=e-bike-kit-motor
Direct Drive = Reliable with no moving parts. Silence but when you run out of battery there is drag like a flat tire https://em3ev.com/shop/crystalyte-kit/

Geared Drive = Noisy, more moving parts, can strip gears, more torque
https://em3ev.com/shop/upgrade-mac-ebike-kit-with-47-50v-battery-option-and-black-case-controller-2000w-max/

Mid drive = geared motor so noisy, more moving parts but its a HILL CLIMBING BEAST!!!!!!! but so can a direct drive in a smaller wheel
https://em3ev.com/shop/bafang-48v-1000w-bbshd-kit/

But it as a complete kit from EM3EV and you wont be dissappointed!

bonefish said:

When I first got into gas motorized bicycles, I bought the generic Made in China kit off of ebay and I had more headaches i knew what to do with, so I would rather steer clear of that route.

Click to expand...

My cheap ebay kit is doing just fine. I now have over 2750 miles on it. Everything was pretty much plug and play. No muss, no fuss. Why? Well mostly because I piggy-backed on the exerience of another. Specifically this guy:

https://youtu.be/2_zVFn6x3jg

The "trick" IMO is to do good research and benefit from the experiences of others - which are often freely shared on YouTube.

Thanks for your insight,

Plan on keeping the Electra Townie 21D gas for the range as a long distance commuter. The Prodecotech Stride 500 that I was interested in got the listing pulled. He probably sold it. I did however get a sweet deal today on an Electra Townie 3i with the Nexus internal geared hub. Was looking at going rear hub drive though and this bike wouldn't probably be the best choice for it. I'm not sure if the bafang middrive system would work for this bike, but if I pull the trigger, I'm leaning on a rear hub drive ebike. Thanks again,

bonefish said:

Thanks for your insight,

Plan on keeping the Electra Townie 21D gas for the range as a long distance commuter. The Prodecotech Stride 500 that I was interested in got the listing pulled. He probably sold it. I did however get a sweet deal today on an Electra Townie 3i with the Nexus internal geared hub. Was looking at going rear hub drive though and this bike wouldn't probably be the best choice for it. I'm not sure if the bafang middrive system would work for this bike, but if I pull the trigger, I'm leaning on a rear hub drive ebike. Thanks again,

Click to expand...

How much for the Townie 3i IGH?
We originally had a 7D so 1x7 until I found the 21D for sale, used. I do love it.
Whats your range requirements?

Got the Townie 3i for $150. It is in excellent condition/no rust and has a an Electra back rack. I'm a wheeler dealer so I usually make decisions on what I can get a good deal on, and will probably be the way I make an electric decision if I do. Markz, Do you have a build thread on your electric Electra Townie 21D? I looked for it but
couldn't find it. I love Electra's too.