Electric bike kit available for 16" wheels?

[kmxtornado]

Unlike my current project here, http://endless-sphere.com/forums/viewtopic.php?f=3&t=32668 (I've already taken off all the components off the rusty old bike so I can paint the frame this week), this Project #2 thread for an ebike will purely be for fun and no hills are necessary. I'll title it, THE FOLDING BIKE PROJECT.

I'm planning on mounting it to foldable bike with 16" wheels. I had a hard time finding a hub motor in this small 16" size, so I was looking at chain motors and friction motor setups but those look wacky. Hoping to go with a traditional hub motor setup. Anything out there worth buying? Perhaps I'm just not looking hard enough? Everything seems to start at 20" with 26" being the most common. Will I have to buy a hub motor separately and have it laced into the 16"er? If so, thats's fine too. Guess it'll add another $85-150 though. Ugh, rather not but I'll do what I gotta do.

MY INFO:
- Why an ebike? Purefly for fun. Nothing else. I don't care if it doesn't go faster than 18mph.
- My weight: 155lbs
- Bike's weight: 30lbs tops
- Bike: Not sure yet, but it'll be a folding 16"er.
- Ideal speed w/o pedaling: 18mph
- Elevation change: no hills I can't pedal through. Very minimal grade change
- Terrain: All paved roads
- Distance: Just to the coffee shop or bakery. 7 miles round trip, tops. I don't need to go all the way across town for this one.
- Pedaling? Yes. Pedal assist for slight grade changes is fine but I'm looking for mostly e-power for the flats.
- Weather: I will never be riding in the rain, nor when it's wet out.
- Budget? Errr, I gotta see what the choices are and also determine what I'm doing for Project #1 with the Specialized Hardrock bike. Let me know what I need to spend for what.

Thanks guys for helping me out with both projects. This one'll just be for goofing around the neighborhood or hitting up the cafe. So what are my options? Thanks in advance.

 

[Drunkskunk]

There are a few choices in 16" motors for folding bikes, but you may have to import as they aren't common in the US. Crystalyte makes a 20X series for folding bikes sold only in the EU. I've seen a few gear motors available in folding bike sizes on EU websites too. but the shipping costs may exceed the cost of the motors.

Lacing your own motor is probably going to be the best solution. but there are obstacles. Most folding bikes use a 70mm front and a 100mm rear, were a standard bike uses 100mm front and a 135mm rear. So fitting may take some creative problem solving. But it IS a solvable problem with some work.

A folding bike at 30lbs is possible, with a tiny motor, 5mi range tiny battery and a very expensive bike. but most affordable folding bikes are pushing 25-30lbs already. By nature, a folding bike actually weighs more than an equivalent size non folding bike. 45 pounds is a closer to reasonable number including a battery.


I know GM's magic pie comes in a 16" size, but its a 100/135mm type motor and weighs 16.5 pounds.

 

[dogman dan]

Lots of folks just compromise, and find a 20" wheel folder, or a bmx. There are good choices in the 20" hubmotor.

But I understand, the benefits of a 20" wheel just get better with a 16" wheel. Gotta be a fun lace, especially with a big motor like a 9c. Sometimes you see cast wheels for scooters in similar sizes. But not real commonly avalible from a US vendor.

Golden motor in china might be a good starting point.

 

[ChristianR]

I bought a 20" wheel with an electric hub motor inside on ebay.com
The seller name is Sun-thing28 ( shlucky2010 AT gmail.com)
http://www.ebay.com/sch/sun-thing28/m.html?hash=item1e675f3f4e&item=130583314254&pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&_trksid=p4340.l2562
He also sells 16" wheel, he is located in China, so it takes about 40 days for shipping
The 20" kit works fine.

 

[chvidgov.bc.ca]

Yes, 16" is a puzzle these days, with the general unavailability of the Crystalyte 404 motor which had very high rpm per volt. I'm running a 404 on a Sun Ez1 recumbent 16" front and it is good to over 25 mph (check the ebikes.ca simulator). I saw a goldenmoter 1000W non-pie wheel in a 16" casted format and I calculated that it would have a no load of only around 22mph which is not very much, at 48volts. I recall that it was over 400 rpm per volt - 420 I think. That's pretty well your best best. BMSBattery shows a 393 rpm Bafang BPM and I ordered one, but they dont actually have any - they only have the 201 rpm per volt model. It's quite hard to find a fast motor for 16" Thus I prize my 404 deeply.. The Crystalyte 209 is also a very fast motor - I'm running in a 20" 451 wheel, and I think you would be good for over 20mph in a 16" wheel build. It is a light duty motor, and would get quite warm in hilly country with 1000 watts continous. It is only 79mm wide at the dropouts, designed for folders. I'm running one on a Dahon folder. I was surprised how fast it is.

 

[Golden Motor Canada]

Have you seen the look of the Casted Golden Motor wheels? With an internal controller they are about 800 watts. The external version with a GM controller is 1000 watts. I have a front 16 inch on my Trailor of my TRI-PIE.

Gary

 

[kmxtornado]

I bought a 20" wheel with an electric hub motor inside on ebay.com
The seller name is Sun-thing28 ( shlucky2010 AT gmail.com)
http://www.ebay.com/sch/sun-thing28/m.html?hash=item1e675f3f4e&item=130583314254&pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&_trksid=p4340.l2562
He also sells 16" wheel, he is located in China, so it takes about 40 days for shipping
The 20" kit works fine.

Thanks for the referral. I got in touch with them and they sent me a quick reply with photo and everything! Thanks so much.