Recent content by Ghost (bike)rider

So my original 1987 Raleigh Ozark rims decided to suffer from fatigue due to the torque of the motor. If you look, there is a hairline crack all the way around the rim joining the eyelets! This happened at 50kph as follows: 1. Rim separated at the centre and cause the rim width to expand 2. The...

YES - in 1988, I fitted a 12V air horn (batteries were NiCd and down the seat tube) and it was louder than car horns because mine were not suppressed inside an engine bay! I took them off in them in the mid-90s and now that the bike is converted to an e-bike, I have been looking for a 48V air...

My front light runs from the main battery (which gets a feed from the controller) and it helps to troubleshoot dodgy connections. I would suggest running something visible that does not have capacitors (don't rely on your controller LEDs for this reason) and I think you will need to wiggle the...

I would fit a rear rack, attach the controller to the centre and but the battery in a pannier. This will lower the centre of gravity and remove the risk of a bent seat post. Are the brakes up to the job? Tried them in the wet? No reply in a week means "no" and "yes" in that order due to broken...

A taster.........not bad if I may say so myself. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OnJtvWSJ0B8

I once went to 100V (50mph) and decided that it was too dangerous, as I managed to get a MAMIL up to 40mph and they were a few inches from my back wheel. If I put the brakes on, we were both going to be side by side......in hospital. I draw the line at inviting dangerous behaviour, which is why...

John - I understand your statement, but we are not in a competition or race during our morning commute to work. I have entered events that are timed and used a standard bicycle for the reasons you state, but this does not equate to the journey to work. If fellow cyclists see the daily commute as...

If speed and 100 mile range are absolute requirements, I think a hybrid bike (700c wheels) and 4 x 48V 20Ah Li-ion in parallel is the best option. These batteries weigh 5.5kg each so they can all certainly be carried in panniers. I would also use a BMC V4C motor, which is quite efficient and no...

Generally speaking, putting batteries with BMSs in series is ok. I have even put them in parallel for increased capacity, but voltages need to be the same. Just need to remember that when one battery runs out, it will no act as a pass-through - it will go open circuit.

Impressive - Stealth Bomber and wearing a suit. If your shirt has a big collar, you will get airborne. Good to know that it seems to be a reasonably common activity amongst ebikers who commute alongside the MAMILS and FOSILS. On the flipside, I have had fellow cyclists quiz me on the bike and...

Does anyone else overtake the lycra boys with $5000 bikes on the way to work with a sheepish look as you cruise past on the ebike? Some of them take it personally, and decide to get off their seats (seeing in my mirror) to slipstream me all the way into the city. Having an ultra-stealth setup...

I have carried 2 x 48V 20Ah batteries (one in each pannier) and put the voltage output in series (to get 96V) but kept the charger connections in parallel (so charging both batteries with a 48V charger). Yes, its heavy on the bike but it goes like a rocket off the lights. If you are doing...

MadRhino - I had exactly the same experience and use 12G spokes that a check once a week for tension levels. I bought a high quality drill bit and ran it at 1500rpm to drill out the rim holes - which reduced snatching and burrs

This happened when the original rim on my 1987 Raleigh Ozark was converted to a 3KW ebike........

If the wheel goes round with physical resistance, it is likely that on or more FETs in the controller have gone short circuit, and disconnecting two of the phase wires will confirm the problem when the wheel spins ok again. I once went up a steep hill with a Crystalyte controller and blew the...