Rob Mcgregor
10 mW
Hi Everybody-
First off, I want to say you guys have an awesome forum here. You have built a really great community. Thanks so much for the sharing.
I want to build an electric bike and a little intimidated by the options. I want to have a top speed of around 25 mph or higher. I'd like to have decent torque to impress and hopefully inspire others to convert. I'd like to be able to do it fairly inexpensively to also inspire others to convert. Efficiency is important to me, as I would guess most people who end up here. I'd also like to use a 48V 10Ah or 15 Ah duct tape lifepo4. I'd like to install on a rear 26" to keep it as stealth as possible and be able to easily remove the front wheel for easy transport in a '86 Civic.
Soooo, I've narrowed my choices down to the Puma, 408, Golden and the Falcon. The Puma looks good because of the torque. I also like the idea of the freewheel and low weight. I'm guessing it performs similar to the Ezee hub motor in the hub motor simulator. I also assume it is basically this kit:
http://www.texaselectricbikes.com/catalog/brushless-geared-motor-p-163.html
What worries me is that it is geared and therefore not as quiet, a little less inspiring for others due to the extra cost, that it might not be upgradeable to 48V or higher due to 120/60 degree differences, limited to 20mph due to 36V limit, not as reliable due to gear wear.
The 408 looks good to me because of the large user base and interchangeable parts for upgrades. However, it has less efficiency over wide rpm range and less torque than the Puma or Falcon. It also will not get to 25+ mph at 48V. At least not without pedaling. The 407 will make it to 25mph but at the cost of efficiency. I'm thinking the 36V 20A controller that can go up to 48V or the 48V 20A or the 72V 20A. All these are small and low weight. I know I mentioned torque, but efficiency, weight, price and size are very important to me and the lower amps don't seem to have much effect on top speed.
The Golden hub looks good to me also. Mainly, I like the price that might inspire others to adopt electric bikes rather than driving a car. I'd really like others to realize it is easy to go electric. It will also make 25+ mph at 48V. It is faster than the 407 and is also more efficient according to the simulator. Problem is it seems hard to upgrade to 48V. I've heard that the motor degree doesn't match the Crystalyte controllers, true? They list a 48V controller on the Golden website but it seems hard to get and you are stuck w/ an extra 36V controller. Does it weigh similar to the 408?
http://www.ampedbikes.com/index.html
http://www.goldenmotor.com/
The Falcon looks the best to me from my simulator research. At 48V, it will go over 30mph at over 80% efficiency and high efficiency over the largest range of speeds and power. It also weighs the same as the 408 but slightly more than the Puma. I can't seem to get much info other than the simulator info. Is it the Electric Bull here? I think it is gearless, yes?
http://www.falconev.com/E-Bikes.html
If it is, that seems reasonably priced except I'd need it to run at 48V. I've heard the 48V Green Hornet is actually a different motor that is so wide it only accepts a single gear. Also, the Green Hornet is pretty steep priced relative to the Electric Bull. Hard to find real info on this option. Degrees for controller upgrade?
Please chime in and add some of your knowledge/experience to the ups and downs of any of these choices. I have no real world experience w/ any of these choices and very much appreciate any input or advice anyone has.
Thanks soooo much,
Rob McGregor
First off, I want to say you guys have an awesome forum here. You have built a really great community. Thanks so much for the sharing.
I want to build an electric bike and a little intimidated by the options. I want to have a top speed of around 25 mph or higher. I'd like to have decent torque to impress and hopefully inspire others to convert. I'd like to be able to do it fairly inexpensively to also inspire others to convert. Efficiency is important to me, as I would guess most people who end up here. I'd also like to use a 48V 10Ah or 15 Ah duct tape lifepo4. I'd like to install on a rear 26" to keep it as stealth as possible and be able to easily remove the front wheel for easy transport in a '86 Civic.
Soooo, I've narrowed my choices down to the Puma, 408, Golden and the Falcon. The Puma looks good because of the torque. I also like the idea of the freewheel and low weight. I'm guessing it performs similar to the Ezee hub motor in the hub motor simulator. I also assume it is basically this kit:
http://www.texaselectricbikes.com/catalog/brushless-geared-motor-p-163.html
What worries me is that it is geared and therefore not as quiet, a little less inspiring for others due to the extra cost, that it might not be upgradeable to 48V or higher due to 120/60 degree differences, limited to 20mph due to 36V limit, not as reliable due to gear wear.
The 408 looks good to me because of the large user base and interchangeable parts for upgrades. However, it has less efficiency over wide rpm range and less torque than the Puma or Falcon. It also will not get to 25+ mph at 48V. At least not without pedaling. The 407 will make it to 25mph but at the cost of efficiency. I'm thinking the 36V 20A controller that can go up to 48V or the 48V 20A or the 72V 20A. All these are small and low weight. I know I mentioned torque, but efficiency, weight, price and size are very important to me and the lower amps don't seem to have much effect on top speed.
The Golden hub looks good to me also. Mainly, I like the price that might inspire others to adopt electric bikes rather than driving a car. I'd really like others to realize it is easy to go electric. It will also make 25+ mph at 48V. It is faster than the 407 and is also more efficient according to the simulator. Problem is it seems hard to upgrade to 48V. I've heard that the motor degree doesn't match the Crystalyte controllers, true? They list a 48V controller on the Golden website but it seems hard to get and you are stuck w/ an extra 36V controller. Does it weigh similar to the 408?
http://www.ampedbikes.com/index.html
http://www.goldenmotor.com/
The Falcon looks the best to me from my simulator research. At 48V, it will go over 30mph at over 80% efficiency and high efficiency over the largest range of speeds and power. It also weighs the same as the 408 but slightly more than the Puma. I can't seem to get much info other than the simulator info. Is it the Electric Bull here? I think it is gearless, yes?
http://www.falconev.com/E-Bikes.html
If it is, that seems reasonably priced except I'd need it to run at 48V. I've heard the 48V Green Hornet is actually a different motor that is so wide it only accepts a single gear. Also, the Green Hornet is pretty steep priced relative to the Electric Bull. Hard to find real info on this option. Degrees for controller upgrade?
Please chime in and add some of your knowledge/experience to the ups and downs of any of these choices. I have no real world experience w/ any of these choices and very much appreciate any input or advice anyone has.
Thanks soooo much,
Rob McGregor