Recent content by idealistix

I have a 10.25 mile one way commute and have a Trek 820 as well. I went with the 11.4 AH 20R triangle battery and the 8T upgrade Mac motor. • I got the DX32 rims. I like it so far, but it was a bit difficult to install on the Trek 820 because of the width. I kept the original tires which work...

Raged: thanks for the feedback. Coincidentally, I was reading your build log yesterday. I hope you heal up quickly! I logged on to mapmyride.com and created this elevation profile of my commute. It's 10.25 miles one way .. I'm guessing that the 8T motor on 26" wheels will handle this just fine...

I found a good deal on a Trek 820 on craigslist - a couple years old but never used for $225. The bike was literally like new - the seller got it as a gift but never even took it off the wall mount. I have taken a couple of test rides and the 820 with the front suspension and wider tires rides a...

Thank you all for the very helpful advice. This is what I have decided as the answers to step A: 1. Short answer: convert my current bike first. It may not be the most comfortable option, but it will be safe for a starter build. Long answer: I know that my long term bike will be a MTB with a...

I moved recently and had not taken my bike out on my commute route until today. I realized pretty soon that I will need a bike with at least a front suspension. I have a two mile stretch where the ride on my Trek hybrid is very bumpy. I have to start looking at Craigslist for an MTB now. :x...

Thanks for confirming that 48V, 15AH is the sweet spot for my requirements. Triangle bags seem great and are my first choice of mounting mechanism. I will need to compare it to a "hard" mount in the frame center in terms of protecting the battery in case of a crash and ease of removal. Agreed...

After looking into these options, I have decided against cadence sensors for PAS. I will likely go with throttle system unless I get a great deal on a torque sensor system. If I get a 15AH LiFePO4 battery, will I be able to continuously draw 25 amps and get to 30 amps for short bursts? I may...

Thanks to all who replied. I have done my research, but it's great to hear from people who have first hand experience. I am strongly considering getting a 26" wheel with the hub motor even though my bike will continue to have 700c on the front. The geometry will change a little but the height...

I had not given much thought to pedal assist v/s throttle mode. I am leaning toward a pedal assist system, but I don't know enough to be sure of it. It'll be great if somebody could provide pros and cons of the two systems. I will likely be using panniers of some kind, so the rear hub will be...

I am going to build my first commuter e-bike. I have already spent a ton of time on ES, but would like some feedback on my plans. My one way commute is 9 miles, but a longer 10 mile route is probably safer. I am an engineer, so I cannot help but go about this build in a methodical manner...