Batteries inside the hub??

[Lowell]

http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=190117384715&indexURL=0#ebayphotohosting

"This is the only Bicycle available with the Battery & Motor in the wheel Hub, No more rack mounted, top heavy lead acid batteries."

Guess they've never heard of TF... it's pretty stealthy looking though, with no apparent battery boxes or containers of any sort.

 

[xyster]

Still waiting to see somebody pack a used TF battery wheel with a123's or emoli's. I would've thought that a fairly cheap, moderately easy, and highly desirable mod.

 

[Ypedal]

They do say " only bike Available " ... the TF is not exactly available at the moment..

9ah Nimh pack in there, nice.

Hey Lowell, you got the tools, you should build a frame around a 30ah LiFe pack with full suspension and an X5, purpose built type thing.

 

[TylerDurden]

Still waiting to see somebody pack a used TF battery wheel with a123's or emoli's. I would've thought that a fairly cheap, moderately easy, and highly desirable mod.

Still unsprung weight...

 

[Toorbough ULL-Zeveigh]

The whole unprung weight thing is overrated & gets more press than it deserves, for the type of driving I do at least. I'll gladly trade some handling in favour of payload space since I only do paved road anyway, others may not be so willing.

The TF front hub with batteries weighs about 23 lbs, of that 14lbs of 30 D size nimh with the rim & tyre accounting for the rest. I'm guessing Li would bring the total down to 15 lbs.
Lowell, how much does a motorcycle flange weigh in at?

 

[xyster]

The whole unprung weight thing is overrated & gets more press than it deserves, for the type of driving I do at least. I'll gladly trade some handling in favour of payload space...

I agree. My hubmotor assembly is 25lbs already. Moving 15lbs of battery crap from the back rack to the front wheel sounds groovy to me.

 

[Kyle]

Which is more important?

A balanced load (front to rear)or Unsprung weight(weight riding on a supension)?

Later
Kyle

 

[Toorbough ULL-Zeveigh]

Like most things, it depends on the situation.
If either one becomes too extreme it becomes worthwhile to trade off a little of one for the other.

I'm trying to place your question in the context of an automobile to get some perspective & would think the weight distribution is more of a factor. I've heard of guys relocating the battery for the purpose of adjusting the weight bias.

 

[animes25]

the cool thing about this is that if the police dont see the batteries and think that you are using the pedals, then you cant get an infraction

 

[miro13car]

from A&Q section:

"absolutely no resistant when free wheeling"
on hub motor????
no drag of motor? Magnets moved away from rotor?
That is curious, is not?

MC

 

[fechter]

from A&Q section:

"absolutely no resistant when free wheeling"
on hub motor????
no drag of motor? Magnets moved away from rotor?
That is curious, is not?
MC

It's possible if the hub motor has gears and a freewheel. It's hard to tell from the picture, but it looks like the motor might be on the front wheel, and the battery is in the rear wheel.

 

[slayer]

http://www.electricrider.com/yardsale.htm

there is a Tidalforce hub for sale:

New in box, front wheel with battery pack for Tidalforce ONLY. We found these in our warehouse and they need to find people who can use them. Bargain price because we no longer have a means to test or guarantee them.
Please do not ask if they will work on another type of bike. They will not without major modification. All sales final.


maybe somedy will be interested here

 

[TylerDurden]

The whole unprung weight thing is overrated & gets more press than it deserves, for the type of driving I do at least. I'll gladly trade some handling in favour of payload space...

I agree. My hubmotor assembly is 25lbs already. Moving 15lbs of battery crap from the back rack to the front wheel sounds groovy to me.

Perhaps using front panniers would be a better solution.

 

[xyster]

Perhaps using front panniers would be a better solution.

Hmmm, never seen front panniers...got links to any good ones? If they rode low over the sides of the wheel I could probably free up my back rack without sacrificing handling. Something that hung from the handlebars would probably block my headlights in addition to riding too high.

 

[TylerDurden]

http://www.nashbar.com/profile.cfm?category=&subcategory=&brand=&sku=6998&storetype=&estoreid=&pagename=Show%20All%20Products

 

[CGameProgrammer]

Hell, it's tempting for me to use dead weight in front panniers as it would help keep the front wheel planted and steady.

 

[miro13car]

Slayer,

If TF battery was not charged for 24 hours first time longevity will be affected.
I would consider buying only if you read from the sticker on battery so I can get some info from LEVT service company how old is the hub.
NMH as you know develops cristalization if not exercised /slowely discharged and fully charged/
Cistalizations robs battery of capacity, it is so called dead zone inside.
The longer it sits without exercise the more cristals the more difficult to knock off cristals.
MC

 

[xyster]

Thanks, TD. I might just do that so I can clear my back rack of the box holding 150 cells, and then use it for hauling normal stuff.

 

[Mathurin]

Good front paniers? Ortilieb is a name that keeps coming around... Ouch on the wallet, though:
http://www.ortliebusa.com/cartgenie/prodList.asp?scat=24