Anyone do a Electra 7D cruiser ebike?

[Wolfeman]

Has anyone used an Electra 7D for a hub motor bike conversion? I want to do a cruiser with a 2000w rear hub. Laid back comfort, plenty of power..... I saw a nice silver one at the local bike shop yesterday and it looked like a great candidate. Put on a springer fork, a LT Thudbuster, bar end mirror and some better tires.

 

[Chalo]

A springer fork is weaker and provides less control than either a rigid fork or a decent hydraulically damped telescopic fork. All the specimens I've seen are of junk quality, like theater props rather than the real thing. The light front wheel loading of a Townie makes front suspension relatively less effective than seat post suspension anyway.

Before you put a rear hub motor on a bike like that, understand that its rear weight bias and never-stand-up rider position makes it much harder on rear wheels than a typical bike of equal weight and use. Available hub motors make intrinsically weaker wheels than conventional bicycle hubs, so depending on your weight and your riding style and surfaces, you may find you have to beef up the wheel with a premium heavy-duty rim and high quality spokes to keep it running true and round.

 

[spinningmagnets]

I have an Electra Lux Fat 7D. I might be able to answer any questions about it. There is a 7D version with normal wheels and tires, and it sounds like that's what you're asking about.

I really like mine, and if stolen, I would use the insurance money to buy the same exact thing.

http://electricbike.com/forum/forum/builds/customer-gallery/9435-electra-lux-fat-with-bbshd

 

[dogman dan]

If it's like the townie,, the rear dropouts are nice and wide and thick, making it ideal for rear hub installs. Just get a regular torque arm, remove the arm part, and bolt right to the frame. Drill a hole for the bolt, and done.

Good quality wheel build always a plus, vs the cheapest spokes in china.

No springer fork, but possibly a not too tall shock fork. 100 mm travel at most, not a DH fork. Soft, so when mounted you are not more than 50mm taller, so it doesn't change the fork angle excessively.

 

[Hurly64]

This is my 7D build. Ebikekit 500W geared rear motor kit, with Calibike 48V 15AH li-ion battery pack in the wood case. That's my son in the photo. I'm a woodworker and surfer, not an electrical engineer. Hence the retro-woody style
Its very comfortable, does 26-28mph on the flat, 30mph if I peddle really hard in the highest gear. I do have an 11-tooth sprocket on the back. Stock front chainring, which I believe has 46 or 48 teeth. I love this bike, and so does my son!

 

[Wolfeman]

This is my 7D build. Ebikekit 500W geared rear motor kit, with Calibike 48V 15AH li-ion battery pack in the wood case. That's my son in the photo. I'm a woodworker and surfer, not an electrical engineer. Hence the retro-woody style
Its very comfortable, does 26-28mph on the flat, 30mph if I peddle really hard in the highest gear. I do have an 11-tooth sprocket on the back. Stock front chainring, which I believe has 46 or 48 teeth. I love this bike, and so does my son!

Thanks for sharing Hurly, cool looking bike.