32" Genesis Beach Cruiser Mid Drive

[Somebodystopme!!]

I have not found where anyone has done a conversion on these bikes yet. I love it, its like the monster truck of bicycles.
The chain drive is incredibly noisy though. HATE it in fact. Hopefully I can get a set of BB sheets from Lightning Rods to eliminate the tensioner.

This bike is heavy too. 47 lbs before conversion + my 230lb carcass driving the southern California hills can be exhilarating!

I hit 41.5 MPH today going down a small hill. Almost frightening when your relying on V-Brakes. I can tell I will be changing brakes on a weekly basis!

Bought the bike from Wal-Mart for $229.

Bike Specs:
32" Genesis Ultra 32 Men's Beach Cruiser Bike:

Frame: handcrafted aluminum frame
Gearing (# of speeds): 7-speed
Brakes: front and rear alloy caliper brakes
Wheels: aluminum hub
Tires: 32" cruiser tires
Rims: 48-spoke alloy rims
Seat: Lycra and leather cruiser seat
Pedals: standard plastic pedals
Maximum weight capacity: 300 lbs
Assembly required
Dimensions: 74"L x 26"W x 46"H

I love the pic next to my wife's 26" Electric Beach Cruiser. It looks like a little kids bike!

 

[Somebodystopme!!]

I would love to hear some ideas on disc brake conversions too.
Has anyone used GNG's kit? The only thing that wouldn't work for me would be the hubs. Their hubs are 36 hole and my 32" wheels are 48 hole.
http://www.gngebike.com/complete-disc-kit

 

[Ch00paKabrA]

I would love to hear some ideas on disc brake conversions too.
Has anyone used GNG's kit? The only thing that wouldn't work for me would be the hubs. Their hubs are 36 hole and my 32" wheels are 48 hole.
http://www.gngebike.com/complete-disc-kit

That is not true. I laced a 36 hole hub to a 48 hole rim. I used a "crow's foot" lacing pattern and just skipped every 4th hole on each side.

 

[spinningmagnets]

Try Salmon kool stop pads, works well, lasts longer than average. Awesome build, you have been added to "the list" of GNG builders.

 

[Somebodystopme!!]

Could never resolve the noise issue with the chain drive so I swapped the chain driven unit out with a belt driven one. Happy camper now. Just need to buy a couple extra belts now for spares.

Also the Koop pads helped quite a bit. Wish I could do disc but pads are fine for my style riding. Even if they are only good for 20-40 miles.

 

[neptronix]

They make a 7 speed version of this bike now? ffffffuuuuuuu......
I bought it when it was single speed and found that the narrow SS rear dropouts made it a complete fail for any electrified use.

Fitted it with a 29er front suspension fork an 29er wheel, but found that the front end angle was just too extreme.

protip: a falconEV bag fits in the front triangle and this is a great place to store a smallish ( 15-20AH 36/48v ) battery.

The bike also has very heavy steel components which can easily be replaced to drop the weight down quite a lot.

 

[Somebodystopme!!]

They make a 7 speed version of this bike now? ffffffuuuuuuu......
I bought it when it was single speed and found that the narrow SS rear dropouts made it a complete fail for any electrified use.

Fitted it with a 29er front suspension fork an 29er wheel, but found that the front end angle was just too extreme.

protip: a falconEV bag fits in the front triangle and this is a great place to store a smallish ( 15-20AH 36/48v ) battery.

The bike also has very heavy steel components which can easily be replaced to drop the weight down quite a lot.

Thanks! Weight is an issue but I think I've sunk enough money into this already. I will keep it as is and just keep spare brake pads with me for long trips!

Im around 240 and I estimate the bike to be around 75-80 with the battery. So im happy to be stopping at all with over 300 lbs running at 30+ mph! I got it over 40 once but that was scary!! scary good though....

 

[neptronix]

If you have a local bicycle cooperative, you can find parts made of aluminum instead of cheap and heavy steel for the bicycle very easily. I dropped 5lbs off the bike and my use of RC Lipo batteries made it very light. Even after adding the suspension fork ( which makes this bike loads more comfortable as a good portion of the rider weight sits farther up front ), it was still lighter by about a pound.

Do consider running the battery in the triangle if possible, as the tubes on this bike are very thin and the seat tube is extremely weak. There is a real possibility of the seat tearing off due to a heavy battery bouncing around on it.

Just my 2.. or maybe 4 cents..

 

[Somebodystopme!!]

If you have a local bicycle cooperative, you can find parts made of aluminum instead of cheap and heavy steel for the bicycle very easily. I dropped 5lbs off the bike and my use of RC Lipo batteries made it very light. Even after adding the suspension fork ( which makes this bike loads more comfortable as a good portion of the rider weight sits farther up front ), it was still lighter by about a pound.

Do consider running the battery in the triangle if possible, as the tubes on this bike are very thin and the seat tube is extremely weak. There is a real possibility of the seat tearing off due to a heavy battery bouncing around on it.

Just my 2.. or maybe 4 cents..

Good point. I have my battery packed in a mutilated and internally cushioned dewalt case. I have that stuffed into a nice rear rack bag and it has a Topeak sliding lock bottom that slides into my Topeak 29er Tubular rack with disc mounts. It barely fits but is snug and secure.

I have a Topeak beam rack on my full suspension mountain bike too. That way the battery can slide into either one.

I like your idea about the Frame bag though. That would look nicer but I don't think my 48v 15ah LifePo battery would fit. May a Li-ion would.