Ebike Braking System

[Jacques]

I've figured out which kit I am going to buy (EM3ev MAC 10T), but I am having a hard time finding a bike that has the braking capability I am looking for, especially at speeds of 25 mph. Is there a brake pad I should look at for ebikes that go this speed, or are there other things that are more important in a braking system?

Also, not as important, I was wondering what type of bike you veterans would recommend for a first time converter?

Thanks

 

[Tench]

For what purpose?

cargo bike
http://www.google.co.uk/imgres?start=150&newwindow=1&sa=X&biw=1280&bih=654&tbm=isch&tbnid=-1g2mz3dXR2sAM%3A&imgrefurl=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.leisurelakesbikes.com%2Fp%2F16305%2Fbobbin-strawberry-14in-girls-bike-2014&docid=kP-In2k1kuPitM&imgurl=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.leisurelakesbikes.com%2Fcontent%2Fimages%2Fthumbs%2F0042765_bobbin_strawberry_14in_girls_bike_2014.jpeg&w=1024&h=933&ei=Zi8qU4zUIqKCzAO9m4KoDw&zoom=1&ved=0CLEBEIQcMDg4ZA&iact=rc&dur=1988&page=9&ndsp=20
off roader
http://www.google.co.uk/imgres?newwindow=1&sa=X&biw=1280&bih=654&tbm=isch&tbnid=l3MnSwngoNMYCM%3A&imgrefurl=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.wilko.com%2Fbikes%2Fsonic-glamour-2-girls-bike%2Finvt%2Fml00263&docid=L7xxoOtOzaN58M&imgurl=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.wilko.com%2Fcontent%2Febiz%2Fwilkinsonplus%2Finvt%2Fml00263%2Fml00263_l.jpg&w=1000&h=1000&ei=Iy8qU6P-Boj-ygPQ5YHACw&zoom=1&ved=0CLcBEIQcMBY&iact=rc&dur=1073&page=2&start=10&ndsp=20
Fat bike
http://www.google.co.uk/imgres?newwindow=1&sa=X&biw=1280&bih=654&tbm=isch&tbnid=5qbq90svXBkaZM%3A&imgrefurl=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.leisurelakesbikes.com%2Fp%2F12968%2Fspecialized-hotwalk-girls-bike-2014&docid=dK8P673Q4RomjM&imgurl=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.leisurelakesbikes.com%2Fcontent%2Fimages%2Fthumbs%2F0025695_specialized_hotwalk_girls_bike_2014.jpeg&w=1280&h=851&ei=Iy8qU6P-Boj-ygPQ5YHACw&zoom=1&ved=0CMYBEIQcMBs&iact=rc&dur=1153&page=2&start=10&ndsp=20

A little more info might get more appropriate recommendations :lol: LoL!

They all look ideal as a first bike to me!

 

[spinningmagnets]

I like the Avid BB7 front disc brakes that use cables, they are cheaper than hydraulic brakes, and the pad wear is adjusted by a knob (no special tools required at the side of the road). http://www.amazon.com/AVID-Mechanical-Brake-Front-160mm/dp/B00BOK39T4/ref=sr_1_1?s=sporting-goods&ie=UTF8&qid=1395274504&sr=1-1&keywords=bb7+disc+brakes

For the rear, Salmon Kool stop rim-brake pads work well. http://www.koolstop.com/english/rim_pads.html

 

[e-beach]

As far as the bike goes, one with a large triangle for the battery. Putting the weight of the battery in the triangle is the optimum place for handling. The weight distribution is much better in the triangle then any other place on the bike.

I also recommend suspension....at least front suspension.

I don't run disk breaks, so I just get the best break pads that my LBS has. I know that I will need to replace them 2 or 3 time a year because I ride my e-bike every day. I also adjust my breaks so the back wheel will lock-up when I pull lever hard, but I adjust my front wheel so it will not lock up. In other words, I keep my front break a bit loose. If your front break locks up, you can not maneuver out of trouble as you skid in a straight line. Also, the linear inertia of a sudden stopping of the front break might become angular inertia and rotate everything over the round outside of your front wheel.....imagine you get cut-off by a car and you grab both breaks hard and suddenly your rear tire is flying over your head and you are crashing hands first into the street. That happened to me once and it hurt... my left shoulder has never been the same..

 

[Jacques]

For what purpose?

cargo bike
http://www.google.co.uk/imgres?start=150&newwindow=1&sa=X&biw=1280&bih=654&tbm=isch&tbnid=-1g2mz3dXR2sAM%3A&imgrefurl=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.leisurelakesbikes.com%2Fp%2F16305%2Fbobbin-strawberry-14in-girls-bike-2014&docid=kP-In2k1kuPitM&imgurl=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.leisurelakesbikes.com%2Fcontent%2Fimages%2Fthumbs%2F0042765_bobbin_strawberry_14in_girls_bike_2014.jpeg&w=1024&h=933&ei=Zi8qU4zUIqKCzAO9m4KoDw&zoom=1&ved=0CLEBEIQcMDg4ZA&iact=rc&dur=1988&page=9&ndsp=20
off roader
http://www.google.co.uk/imgres?newwindow=1&sa=X&biw=1280&bih=654&tbm=isch&tbnid=l3MnSwngoNMYCM%3A&imgrefurl=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.wilko.com%2Fbikes%2Fsonic-glamour-2-girls-bike%2Finvt%2Fml00263&docid=L7xxoOtOzaN58M&imgurl=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.wilko.com%2Fcontent%2Febiz%2Fwilkinsonplus%2Finvt%2Fml00263%2Fml00263_l.jpg&w=1000&h=1000&ei=Iy8qU6P-Boj-ygPQ5YHACw&zoom=1&ved=0CLcBEIQcMBY&iact=rc&dur=1073&page=2&start=10&ndsp=20
Fat bike
http://www.google.co.uk/imgres?newwindow=1&sa=X&biw=1280&bih=654&tbm=isch&tbnid=5qbq90svXBkaZM%3A&imgrefurl=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.leisurelakesbikes.com%2Fp%2F12968%2Fspecialized-hotwalk-girls-bike-2014&docid=dK8P673Q4RomjM&imgurl=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.leisurelakesbikes.com%2Fcontent%2Fimages%2Fthumbs%2F0025695_specialized_hotwalk_girls_bike_2014.jpeg&w=1280&h=851&ei=Iy8qU6P-Boj-ygPQ5YHACw&zoom=1&ved=0CMYBEIQcMBs&iact=rc&dur=1153&page=2&start=10&ndsp=20

A little more info might get more appropriate recommendations :lol: LoL!

They all look ideal as a first bike to me!

Sorry! It'll be a city commuter. I've moving to Atlanta next year, and I want to be able to cut my car travel down.

 

[Jesse]

For what it's worth, I did a tour a couple of years ago on a cargo bike (non-electric). The bike, without me on it, weighed about 165 lbs. I had Avid single digit linear pull brakes on front and rear. I covered 7000 miles on the trip. In that time I only replaced the brake pads once, and they weren't in dire need of replacement. Granted, I wasn't always traveling at high speed, but I did cross my fair share of mountains with a lot of weight, and never had any complaints of stopping power or pad longevity.

I've since electrified that same cargo bike, and left the same brakes on it. I don't have a ton of miles on it since, but so far I'm happy with the brakes. Your mileage may vary.

 

[dogman dan]

One point of view can be, Don't put yourself in a situation that requires a race ready brake system. Good V brakes with better than normal pads can be plenty if you left yourself some room. Yes, they right cross you, but why are you there getting right crossed? Stop getting surprised is what I mean.

25 mph stopping is not that big a deal, but the more your bike weighs the better it can be to have even cheapie disk brakes on at least the front wheel. My cargo bike, which weighs 125 pounds without cargo battery or me, has a cheap disk front brake and a cheap v brake in the back. Stops me fine, and I ride 30 mph all the time. But at that speed, I'm not doing stupid things that make me slam the brakes.

Put some good pads on, like salmon cool stops. Me, I find some fresh pads of any kind generally are fine for 30 mph or less. On steep downhills, a direct drive motor helps limit my speed, so the cargo bike never reaches 50 mph on a steep hill.