26" cruiser project&MXUS 500W

[Eskimo]

Here in northern Europe this frame is known as "Biltema"-frame. Cheapo thing, but steel, and large. It is really quite large frame, even for a tallish guy like me. Did first test ride today. It"s comfy, seat was too low. That singlespeed rear is not very good with electric front. You run out of cadence around 15 mph One option is to fit smaller sprocket, and second option is to order 3-speed wheel, which are bit rare here. New one is around hundred bucks. I ready cut all the panels for it, which i am gonna fit soon to hide all those wires. Maybe a new, better looking battery box..

 

[DVDRW]

Good idea. Also dreaming building cruiser E-bike.
Ideal for me would be long range ~200km comfort bike. Thinking of fitting 75ah 48v battery on it.

 

[maurtis]

Looks great! I love cruiser frames and am planning to use one on my hub motor build too. I got hooked on them when I was building my gas bike, I love the feel and riding position of a cruiser frame with a layback seat post. If I planned on pedaling much I would just use a mountain bike frame, but I do not

 

[dogman dan]

Those cruisers are always geared for cruising. So they aren't geared for a fast motor. So don't pedal eh? Just blast and blow your range. If you do need range, then you will be going slow enough to pedal that day.

Changing the front chain ring size is not very easy, but maybe you could weld on a larger one if it was steel. Or change the bottom bracket to a square taper type, so you could bolt on a crank with a 48 tooth ring.

 

[Fat Mike]

I have almost the same setup on my cruiser: 9C front and a 3 speed rear internal hub. I can pedal comfortably up to 30 kph, but after that it gets too bouncy if I try to keep up. If I'm just out for a cruise around town or am not in a hurry, I don't like going that fast most of the time anyway so just set my cruise control to about 26 kph and pedal a along. Very comfortable pace and perfect for that type of frame...and as Dogman said, gives lots of extra range

If you need to change out the rear hub anyway, the better option would be to go to something like a Nexus 7 spd. Not much more expensive than a 3 spd and should give you the extra top end

 

[Racer_X]

Excellent choice for a first bike. I also live up in the North of Europe just across the Baltic from you and I can confirm that you made a wise decision. Having a cruiser is very sturdy at top speed. Since it is a basic style bike there is not alot of expensive maintenance to do on it.
I also have a Beach cruiser, was lucky to find a Schwinn up here. Cruisers are the best bike for winter riding which is about 9 months of the year, and Front wheel drive even better. Great traction in Ice and Snow as long as you have spike tires. I ride my bikes in blizzards, over unplowed snow, frozen lakes, pouring rain etc, all weather conditions and that bike still going strong since 2009. Mind you I have switched to lipos now but the motor and the bike is still the same.
Now I have built another ebike, which is fancy aluminum mountain bike with all the bells and whistles but I seem to still like my cruiser for the no stress e-escape!
Good luck and keep us posted.

Edit*: For wires I use a piece of motororcycle innertube and stuff the glob of wires into it. Very effective in hiding all the wires into on spot. I also put the controller underneath the seat with wires facing down to protect the controller from being damaged by water.

 

[Eskimo]

Went flying today. It hauls plane nicely. Yesterday i did 35 mile ride, and today 25 mile ride with trailer. I ordered that 3-speed rearset. If that third gear is too short, i can change the sprocket smaller, amd first gear is still short compared to this singlespeed. I get around 45 kilometres out of these 48V/10Ah-packs. After 45 kilometres around 8Ah is gone. 8,5Ah is pretty much the limit how empty i will want to go. With trailer it consumes bit more of course. Cruiser bike is very comfy for a middle-aged man. Those bikes where you have to bend forward are faster, but more uncomfortable

 

[The fingers]

Lovely set up and riding trail. The cruiser format also works well for me, I would like to add a trailer for a surfboard. 8)
I ride mostly along the shoulder of a 60 mph four lane highway and on a bicycle trail atop the side of an artificial man-made river channel made of concrete. Horse trail on one side, 30 foot drop on the other.