Designing Folding ebike for Carribean Bike Touring
- Thread starter flyingbeekeeper
- Start date
Ykick
1 GW
Swift Folder is much superior frame design, IMO. While not equipped with pogo spring suspension it’s a very stout frame and handles fat tires which smooth out rough roads. If I could only have one eBike it would be my Swift Electric Folder. With minimal tools it can be radically broken down so that it's nearly impossible to dispute it being bicycle "parts".
So many MultiRotor (drone) users now carrying through airport security. RC Lipo is not that big of mystery for TSA screenings.
I fly 150k miles domestic per year and rarely see an eyebrow raised carrying multiple 25-75Wh RC Lipo bricks. Just make sure they got labels, insulate the connectors and not puffy. Obviously, they would need to be broken down to bricks from the full eBike pack.
Thinking outside the box, you might wanna check with - http://www.shipbikes.com/
So many MultiRotor (drone) users now carrying through airport security. RC Lipo is not that big of mystery for TSA screenings.
I fly 150k miles domestic per year and rarely see an eyebrow raised carrying multiple 25-75Wh RC Lipo bricks. Just make sure they got labels, insulate the connectors and not puffy. Obviously, they would need to be broken down to bricks from the full eBike pack.
Thinking outside the box, you might wanna check with - http://www.shipbikes.com/
flyingbeekeeper
10 W
yes, i'm looking into shipbikes.
The Downtube 9FS is the bike I'm going with. May good reports on the convertability. Swift didn't do a good job selling its "airplane packability".
The Downtube 9FS is the bike I'm going with. May good reports on the convertability. Swift didn't do a good job selling its "airplane packability".
Ykick said:
Alan B
100 GW
After reviewing countless threads here on ES, I also chose the Swift. Mine will arrive tomorrow, a build thread will be a bit later as there are some projects in front of it. Since it is just over 20 pounds I plan to make a very light ebike, in contrast to my other fairly portly ebikes.
Good luck with the Downtube, looking forward to seeing how you build it up, what batteries you end up with, and how it works out for your trips. I may want to do some flying with an ebike at some point, and the battery question is a big one.
Rereading this thread the other day I noticed that the OP had already selected the frame, so this isn't about choosing a bike, so it is more about the rest of the parts and process, which I didn't notice the first time through.
I don't fly much so not sure that is a requirement for me, but my understanding is that the Swift breaks down very small with a couple of tools. All the many reports I've read of the Swift indicate it is a better bike on the road (than any other small folder) which is major. It folds very quickly but not as small as others, but small enough for most purposes. To get it really small takes a bit more effort, but it does get quite small with minor disassembly. So that sounds compatible with flying.
Back to the Downtube build!
Good luck with the Downtube, looking forward to seeing how you build it up, what batteries you end up with, and how it works out for your trips. I may want to do some flying with an ebike at some point, and the battery question is a big one.
Rereading this thread the other day I noticed that the OP had already selected the frame, so this isn't about choosing a bike, so it is more about the rest of the parts and process, which I didn't notice the first time through.
I don't fly much so not sure that is a requirement for me, but my understanding is that the Swift breaks down very small with a couple of tools. All the many reports I've read of the Swift indicate it is a better bike on the road (than any other small folder) which is major. It folds very quickly but not as small as others, but small enough for most purposes. To get it really small takes a bit more effort, but it does get quite small with minor disassembly. So that sounds compatible with flying.
Back to the Downtube build!
Hillhater
100 TW
Ykick said:
The OP was planning to build his own packs from 18650s...!
So.. No " bricks" , no labels , just large mystery packs with several leads connected ? ...no suspicion ?
And really ? Security don't worry about RC LiPo packs ?
That must be the easiest way for a goon to get a half kilo of something nasty onto a plane disguised as a RC pack !
flyingbeekeeper
10 W
Build mostly done. Some minor issues with the bottom bracket. The resting stand screws entered the bracket by hundreths of an inch and had to be removed, filed and replaced. The original BB was a bitch to get out and almost stripped out from my tool. The cheater bar bent.
The current battery is a temp one from the Huffy Hauler, a 20Ahr Sunthing. The panniers are Iberia, and the inside one removes quickly to preserve the fold. However, I don't think I'd tour with it. Just not durable enough nor large enough.
The stock Bafang HUD doesn't tell you much beyond odometer and speed, It doesn't even tell you voltage. A CA with shunt will likely be added.
Added a front 160 disc brake. Spyre TRP. Greatly improves stopping distance IMHO. However, the stock breaks were very good to begin with. Maybe this is overkill, but Yan (owner of Downtube) recommended I add it. Waterbottle rack added, but mwkeefer recommended that is where the battery should go, there and maybe on the front brazons.
Oh, I should make a shoutout to mwkeefer, the guru of Downtube conversions, for many hours of advice on this project.
I don't like the cabling along the handlebar tube, but it preserves the fold. Some improvements will be made.
Rear quick release skewer was replaced with one from my bike trailer. The bike trailer is for touring in Texas not international.
View attachment 1
The current battery is a temp one from the Huffy Hauler, a 20Ahr Sunthing. The panniers are Iberia, and the inside one removes quickly to preserve the fold. However, I don't think I'd tour with it. Just not durable enough nor large enough.
The stock Bafang HUD doesn't tell you much beyond odometer and speed, It doesn't even tell you voltage. A CA with shunt will likely be added.
Added a front 160 disc brake. Spyre TRP. Greatly improves stopping distance IMHO. However, the stock breaks were very good to begin with. Maybe this is overkill, but Yan (owner of Downtube) recommended I add it. Waterbottle rack added, but mwkeefer recommended that is where the battery should go, there and maybe on the front brazons.
Oh, I should make a shoutout to mwkeefer, the guru of Downtube conversions, for many hours of advice on this project.
I don't like the cabling along the handlebar tube, but it preserves the fold. Some improvements will be made.
Rear quick release skewer was replaced with one from my bike trailer. The bike trailer is for touring in Texas not international.
View attachment 1
Similar threads
