2 year old Grubee Kit or a New Golden Motor Kit

[solracotos]

I want to see what people think about this:

I can buy an lighly used 2 yearld old Grubee Kit with SLA batteries installed on a fat-tire Schwinn bike for $300 ($200 for the kit only)

This is the grubee kit

Or I could buy a new Golden Motor Kit (36v 500w with new golden motor controler) from a local store with local 1 year warranty for 484+ tax. To intall it on my bike.

What do you guys suggest?

 

[memy]

This appears to be a no brainier. For whats it’s worth
I'd get the second hand setup, toss the SLA and invest the savings into some lithium.
That motor looks like a GM motor, with a machined cover.
Whats the voltage of the second hand setup?

 

[solracotos]

The owner is not sure about the the specs of the setup.

He thinks that the hub is a 36 volt 350 watt system. He did say that he weighted 235 pounds and that it moved him at speeds close to 20mph.

On this link the hub looks different http://www.grubeeinc.com/USA/starfire.htm but on this one http://www.grubeeinc.com/USA/E-WHEEL KIT.htm the hub is exactly the same (under the E-Wheel kit example).

Do you guys think a 350 Watt system is worth it?

 

[memy]

Yes I think the secondhand kit is worth it.
It is a brushless gearless hub. As the site puts it a "DD old style" (and note the power rateing they claim).
So throw enough volts and amps at it, and it goes pretty well, and it's virtualy silent.
350watt is really about the controller not the motor. I expect that as this kit was designed for SLA the controller has a lower amp limit to try and save the SLA from large currents.
If it were me I’d get the second hand bike and see if the controller can be fiddled for 48V and more amps.
Then toss the SLA and get a decent battery. But this is just me, your own requirements will no doubt be very diffrent.
in a nutshell depends on how far you wish to ride and how fast you want to get there and $$.

The controller is likely to be easily modified, if you’re not comfortable with mod'ing then 50-60 dollars for a new one.
It’s important to consider battery and controller together...

Or just contribute the $184 you saved to a 36V lithium battery.
BTW If you get the "upgrade bug" you will probably regret the 36v lithium batt buy and wish you just jumped straight to a 48v.