Anyone done a carbon fibre ebike ?
- Thread starter Hyena
- Start date
I made an enquiry about this bike for my Mrs and at the same time discovered that this company previously sold a carbon electric mountain bike. They still have the ex-demonstrator which is soon to be sold on ebay. Its quite local to me (about 30 miles) so I may pop in there and see what its all about. Does anybody know this brand?
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Kudos-Eco-Electric-Bike-Ebike-LiFePo4-German-Spec-Bike-High-Quality-Finish-/330778544956?pt=UK_Bikes_GL&hash=item4d03f00b3c
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Kudos-Eco-Electric-Bike-Ebike-LiFePo4-German-Spec-Bike-High-Quality-Finish-/330778544956?pt=UK_Bikes_GL&hash=item4d03f00b3c
t3sla
10 kW
errr you going front or rear hub?
edit: why don't you use PAS only that way lots of power and it forces you to pedal
edit: why don't you use PAS only that way lots of power and it forces you to pedal
Dudeofdoom
100 mW
superdave said:
It probably is but ask my mate who managed to break two expensive Ti frames in a short period of time after never breaking a Al one his feelings on the subject
Dudeofdoom
100 mW
I'm starting to sound like an advert for the company but on-one.co.uk have very reasonably priced carbon frames...
I've been watching them for a while as I'm looking for a frame for a my summer commuter..
(Phasors for the winter)
DoD
I've been watching them for a while as I'm looking for a frame for a my summer commuter..
(Phasors for the winter)
DoD
Chalo
100 TW
superdave said:
I think the track record for well-designed aluminum bike frames is every bit as good as for Ti frames so far. Adjusted for cost, there is no doubt which is the better material for bikes. You have to carefully cherry-pick criteria to make Ti seem superior to aluminum, but a frame costs like ten times as much.
Ti alloys can have higher tensile strength than mild steel, but not nearly as high as the better alloy steels. In terms of strength, modulus, and density it's in between steel and aluminum, with its modulus to weight ratio being a little less than the other two. Its fatigue characteristics are more like steel, and its corrosion characteristics are more like aluminum. I think it would be a fine alternative material for bicycle frames except that its high cost makes it unattractive for all but fetishistic uses. I will say this: Pure titanium would make a fine bike frame by today's standards, while pure aluminum or pure iron would not.
Compared to Ti and the more conventional metals, carbon-plastic has significant advantages and even more serious disadvantages. It's really much more similar to wood than to metals.
Chalo
Samd
10 MW
Here ya go just wrap it in this. The German guy is probably taking the piss and doing it too. http://carbonfibrevinylwrap.net.au/carbon-fibre-vinyl-wrap
Dead cheap on fleabay...
Dead cheap on fleabay...
I've just rode a 'Century Ride' on my dept store schwinn e-commuter. A few folks laughed and yelled 'Cheater!' but being a charity run, folks were OK with my electric. Interesting, the local bike shop manager and I traded places for around 30 miles thru the mounains. He killed me on the straights and a bit down slopes, but I regained position climbing the 5-900' slopes. Used 0.8K batt over 104miles/4600'.
Where the e-machines really shine is power assisted climbs. A mini geared to allow pedalling would be the ticket. My thinking along this line is to use a viable CF rig with Bafang rear (the grey motor would blend). 4 8Ahr 5S lipo bricks in 2Series2Parallel would yield 37V and 592Watts of energy. Perfect for the metric (62mile) rides. The 700cc wheels give just enough speed and pedalling with it would save the little nylon gears.
http://www.bikerumor.com/2012/07/31...athlon-cyclocross-bikes-photos-specs-weights/
There's some grey tinted lexan that would be sorta easy to heat and bend to build an aero batt box in the ah-hem triangle area or split with 2 lipos aside the chainring.
http://www.interstateplastics.com/Gray-Polycarb-7130-Sheet-POLLE.php
Where the e-machines really shine is power assisted climbs. A mini geared to allow pedalling would be the ticket. My thinking along this line is to use a viable CF rig with Bafang rear (the grey motor would blend). 4 8Ahr 5S lipo bricks in 2Series2Parallel would yield 37V and 592Watts of energy. Perfect for the metric (62mile) rides. The 700cc wheels give just enough speed and pedalling with it would save the little nylon gears.
http://www.bikerumor.com/2012/07/31...athlon-cyclocross-bikes-photos-specs-weights/
There's some grey tinted lexan that would be sorta easy to heat and bend to build an aero batt box in the ah-hem triangle area or split with 2 lipos aside the chainring.
http://www.interstateplastics.com/Gray-Polycarb-7130-Sheet-POLLE.php
t3sla
10 kW
http://www.avdweb.nl/solar-bike/mechanical-issues/front-fork-stress-due-to-hub-motor.html
good site 8)
good site 8)
Grey beard
100 W
This might open an eye or two.
http://www.pinkbike.com/news/santa-cruz-bicycles-test-lab.html
I don't know much about Chinese frames, however a little about those built by Felt. The road racing frames weigh 725-825 grams with front fork, and the carbon Mtn bike, full suspension frame is about double that without front fork. They are very light, and expensive.
http://www.pinkbike.com/news/santa-cruz-bicycles-test-lab.html
I don't know much about Chinese frames, however a little about those built by Felt. The road racing frames weigh 725-825 grams with front fork, and the carbon Mtn bike, full suspension frame is about double that without front fork. They are very light, and expensive.
Chalo
100 TW
I'm pretty sure that 700-900g is the frontier of road bike frame weight without a fork (or anything else, in a small size, etc.) It's still amazing, until you see some of the things such frames are capable of:
http://www.pardo.net/bike/pic/fail-001/FAIL-116.html
This was a Trek Madone frame, a little heavier that what you're talking about, and manufactured by a bigger, more reputable company with more engineering resources. Turns out it's no match for an out-of-alignment wheel reflector.
Don't have unrealistic illusions about carbon fiber reinforced plastic. It's remarkable what can be accomplished with it, but it's not magic. If your senses tell you a frame feels like it's made out of Kleenex and wishful thinking, listen to them. They are not entirely wrong.
Chalo
http://www.pardo.net/bike/pic/fail-001/FAIL-116.html
This was a Trek Madone frame, a little heavier that what you're talking about, and manufactured by a bigger, more reputable company with more engineering resources. Turns out it's no match for an out-of-alignment wheel reflector.
Don't have unrealistic illusions about carbon fiber reinforced plastic. It's remarkable what can be accomplished with it, but it's not magic. If your senses tell you a frame feels like it's made out of Kleenex and wishful thinking, listen to them. They are not entirely wrong.
Chalo
Hyena
10 GW
WOW, it punched right through and out the other side!
I'm surprised the stay didn't fragment and shatter.
I'm surprised the stay didn't fragment and shatter.
winkinatcha
10 kW
Man... that would make me cry, and done by a dinky POS reflector!
Yar I'm sticking with mah metal
Joe
t3sla
10 kW
you need kevlar reinforced/laced carbon fiber to decrease impact damage.
hmmm how about a GNC kit on a carbon bike
hmmm how about a GNC kit on a carbon bike
Chalo
100 TW
t3sla said:
Nope. Fiber is still fiber, and has nil for off-axis strength. Kevlar/epoxy is not tough; it'll bust just like the rest of that crap. Apply the forces oblique to the fibers (as in impact damage), and it's just epoxy.
Think of it this way: Would you prefer steel armor plate for use as armor, or a bunch of parallel steel wires stuck together with glue? That's the difference between a steel frame and a CFRP frame with regard to impact resistance. Their tensile strength might be similar, but their durability and versatility is not the same at all.
Chalo
winkinatcha
10 kW
Chalo said:
bad analogy
Tho yer big n stuff, I'll be betting you haven't worn much armour to make that statement... maybe you have... I HAVE and I KNOW... Also worn kevlar bullet proof vests... woven steel for chain mail woven kevlar fibre for the vests... I'll take it over heavy arsed steel plate any day...
Joe
Grey beard
100 W
The pictures are interesting, but reflectors aren't standard equipment on the Trek Madrone, which is their most expensive race bike, and I can't see someone buying an up to $13K bike and putting reflectors on it. IMHO, that is a staged picture.Chalo said:I'm pretty sure that 700-900g is the frontier of road bike frame weight without a fork (or anything else, in a small size, etc.) It's still amazing, until you see some of the things such frames are capable of:
http://www.pardo.net/bike/pic/fail-001/FAIL-116.html
This was a Trek Madone frame, a little heavier that what you're talking about, and manufactured by a bigger, more reputable company with more engineering resources. Turns out it's no match for an out-of-alignment wheel reflector.
Don't have unrealistic illusions about carbon fiber reinforced plastic. It's remarkable what can be accomplished with it, but it's not magic. If your senses tell you a frame feels like it's made out of Kleenex and wishful thinking, listen to them. They are not entirely wrong.
Chalo
Stated that Trek is "a bigger, more reputable company with more engineering resourses"
I know that Kristen Armstrong won the Gold @ the Olympics on a Felt, and the woman's team that medaled were riding Felts as well. We only had about 4 medals in cycling. How many did Trek win?
Chalo
100 TW
The CPSC requires that all new bikes be furnished with wheel reflectors. The shop doesn't have to put them on, and the buyer doesn't have to take them.
In this case, the shop did put the reflectors on, and the damage in the picture occurred on a test ride at the shop.
http://www.flickr.com/photos/caseygordon/3900900137/
Whatever Felt's credentials, they are not as large a bike manufacturer as Trek, and they don't spend as much on engineering. Remember what Lance and the USPS team were riding all those years when he was unbeatable? My point is that no amount of engineering can make a sub-1kg frame reliable for daily practical use, regardless of material. But CFRP frames have vulnerabilities that no metal frame suffers.
Technically, riders of Huffy bikes have won Olympic medals too.
Chalo
In this case, the shop did put the reflectors on, and the damage in the picture occurred on a test ride at the shop.
http://www.flickr.com/photos/caseygordon/3900900137/
Whatever Felt's credentials, they are not as large a bike manufacturer as Trek, and they don't spend as much on engineering. Remember what Lance and the USPS team were riding all those years when he was unbeatable? My point is that no amount of engineering can make a sub-1kg frame reliable for daily practical use, regardless of material. But CFRP frames have vulnerabilities that no metal frame suffers.
Technically, riders of Huffy bikes have won Olympic medals too.
Chalo
amigafan2003
1 kW
Bontrager HCM road fork on 2011 TREK FX 7.5.
3500miles in one year, 900watts peak, 25mph'ish, torque arm both sides, normally loaded with change of clothes and work laptop on rear pannier rack. I weigh 92kg (103kg last summer).
I have no fear over breaking it.
3500miles in one year, 900watts peak, 25mph'ish, torque arm both sides, normally loaded with change of clothes and work laptop on rear pannier rack. I weigh 92kg (103kg last summer).
I have no fear over breaking it.
