A question of custom frames / bikes

[ipub]

Hello!

TLR, I'm looking for frames similar to that of the stealth bomber, preferably in the UK, one that stores cells in a clean fashion.

Always daunting posting for the first time on a new forum and I've not used one for many many years! .. but here goes.. I have been lurking for some time and I'm yet to buy or build an ebike and the more that I research it (and drive myself mad with it) the more I like the look of the downhill mtb ebikes like the bomber and the fighter. It's clean, the batteries are hidden away, good weight distribution and looks fairly badass.

I dont have a tig welder and probably don't have the skills to weld it up myself anyway. I'm in the UK, I have no need to travel 50mph and (like most I Imagine) will never be able to justify the 10,000 dollars on a bicycle of any sort (bomber, optibike). I''d like to be able to do the road legal 15mph and the offroad 30mph in one unit.

Does anybody know of a gentleman or company that would cobble this together properly for fees that wouldn't cause my future wife to have a hear attack and die?

 

[dogman dan]

Best I can come up with is Greyborg frames. Not super cheap but not 10 thou either. It doesn't sound like your requirements really need a custom frame that bad though.

Look at the FS mtb frames with some space in the triangle. Then you can fit a modest size RC lipo battery in the frame triangle fairly easily. If you aren't trying to run a giant motor from greyborg, the battery carry gets eaiser for sure.

Here is one example of a FS frame with a bit more space to work with, for carrying the battery in the triangle.
http://www.ebay.com/itm/Giant-ANTHEM-X-mtb-Frame-Fox-Shox-Large-Nice-condition-/271104658584?pt=Mountain_Bikes&hash=item3f1f18cc98

As opposed to something like this that has less room.

http://www.ebay.com/itm/Intense-5-5-Frame-Gunmetal-19-No-Reserve-/200848746165?pt=Mountain_Bikes&hash=item2ec384a6b5

Just my opinion, but I don't think you need a custom battery carrying frame to pack enough battery to do what you are talking about. Once you do want 50 mph, then the battery gets really huge to provide 70 or more wh/mi. ( for much distance) But to provide just 35 wh/mi, you don't need more than 10-15 pounds of battery.

 

[kudos]

Hi ipub,

You're asking for the holy grail there.

If there were someone, anyone, producing custom ebike frames at reasonable prices the like of which you ask, I'd have been a customer myself.

First you need the design, which is different for everyone, then the costs of a one off frame are very high.

I actually hope someone does pipe up with some ideas, but I'd be surprised.

I've almost resigned my self to having to build a custom frame myself at some point. Luckily my best mate is a welding instructor....

Kudos

 

[dogman dan]

Yeah, anything more than just modifying existing steel frames with your own welder or brazing torch gets quite pricy.

Look in the for sale new section too, there was a thread about an ebike frame possibly going into production. I never followed it though, so I don't know if anybody is selling them yet.

 

[Brentis]

If on a budget and willing to do the fitting yourself. Look for a second hand Strong GT-S. to convert.
These were sold in Canada, UK, China, maybe elsewhere.
Great platform considering your needs.
Here are a couple of links.

MonkeyChops (a fellow Brit)
http://www.endless-sphere.com/forums/viewtopic.php?f=3&t=44743&hilit=monkeychops

Mine (a Brit 200years ago)
http://www.endless-sphere.com/forums/viewtopic.php?f=6&t=38986 A simple commuter.
http://www.endless-sphere.com/forums/viewtopic.php?f=6&t=36672 A moped in progress.

Good luck & welcome aboard.

 

[ipub]

Thanks for the replies, given the lack of frames I could find in the wild I suspected this was the case. I saw a custom made welded up orange stealth bike on this forum once but I can't find it to ask what it cost to build. If only I had some steel / welding / design friends....

 

[Ariane]

Thanks for the replies, given the lack of frames I could find in the wild I suspected this was the case. I saw a custom made welded up orange stealth bike on this forum once but I can't find it to ask what it cost to build. If only I had some steel / welding / design friends....

May be this one :

https://www.phasorcycles.com/

Good day!
Black Arrow

 

[John in CR]

When do you want it?
What kind of use, on or off road?
Do you want pedal assist or electric assist?
How much battery volume do you want in the battery bay?
How much does weight matter, ie do you need to carry it?
Just the frame, you supply shock, forks, headset, cranks, etc?
Do you have a frame you ride and like now for copying dimensions and geometry?
Budget?

 

[neptronix]

Unfortunately, hardtails are best in this regard. I've been looking for the holy grail ( good dropout surface for installing torque plates + good triangle space ) for 2 years now and have continuously fallen short again and again.

I always end up going back to mid 2000's hardtails because they have nice flat dropout surfaces. You can make huge plates for them.

The giant Anthem looks like a good choice for the triangle space ( even though you have to figure out how to isolate the shock from the battery space. ), but i'm not so sure about the dropouts. This isn't a problem if you're going to use something other than a hub motor.

 

[NeilP]

Try finding an old Merida Mission 2006

http://www.discountcyclesdirect.co.uk/images/mission_speed.jpg

http://cykl.cz/item/mission-hfs-3000-d/category/katalog2009-xc-fs

 

[Ykick]

I really don't see a huge benefit from FS - I have one and a pretty decent Fox Float shock but I often leave it in lockout mode so it barely compresses.

Fat balloon tires/tyres, sensible speed and weight - hardtail's are hard to argue against. Big Trek or similar frame would be a good choice to put batteries where they belong.

Don't get too crazy on power and use decent torque arms Aluminum frame would be okay too.

Enjoy the addiction!

 

[NeilP]

I would be happy with rear sus, but solid front.. I want the rear sus to take out a little of the clout the wheel/rim gets / can get if hitting the edge of a pot hole or curb too hard. OK, so a rear suspension unit is no excuse for poor riding, and it wont save a rim on a hard hit, but it will take some of the shock out

 

[neptronix]

Once you go over say 20mph, you'll understand the value of full suspension, even riding along on the street. :lol:

 

[NeilP]

I rarely go below 20mph!!

 

[ipub]

Thanks for the replies, given the lack of frames I could find in the wild I suspected this was the case. I saw a custom made welded up orange stealth bike on this forum once but I can't find it to ask what it cost to build. If only I had some steel / welding / design friends....

May be this one :

https://www.phasorcycles.com/

Good day!
Black Arrow

Wow, thanks. That's more what I'm looking for! That frame is rather blocky but it's the closest I've seen. Value for money though? Importing that to the UK would cost an additional fortune to what is already an expensive frame.

 

[dogman dan]

"Offroad at 30 mph" In my rocky neighborhood, that's definitely full suspension territory.

He likely hasn't seed the vids, so here's a link to how rough off road can get

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tfoFxm1GGwk&list=UUOtLHO2wx3K3LfH4Wo2dZCA&index=4&feature=plcp

This one shook the bolts out of my hub covers, and my rear derailur dissasembled itself the following day. They call it the Rocky mountains for a reason.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VF2QoL-VnrQ&feature=relmfu

 

[ipub]

I think I found my dream bike.. ! http://endless-sphere.com/forums/viewtopic.php?f=6&t=34719


Now to find somebody in the UK that has the skills to weld that up! .oO{dreams on}

 

[dogman dan]

Definitely some things to like about that frame. It would appear to be stiff enough, and the suspension looks quite adequate for riding rough trails.

I like the bolt on dropouts a lot. But it does suffer fromt the typical Y frame drawback, where do you carry that battery?