ezee or 9 continents for touring?

[pookie]

I'm in the final stages of choosing a hub motor for a partially streamlined recumbent touring bike. Human power as well as hub motor
efficiency is very important for am planning to spend many hours in the 'saddle' on this Trans-Am solo ride. Looking to carry at least
one 48/20 ping if not two on board the bent figuring on around 60-80 miles of assist with about the same under human power alone.
I've read where the Ezee hub is around 75% efficient in it's sweet spot and the 9 continent about 85% or so. Question: would the 10% or
so increased efficiency of the 9cont more than make up for its increased cogging effect when under human power? I do like to pedal and would
use the motor primarily on the climbs, into a stiff headwind, and when very tired.
Another question: To overcome the cogging effect of the 9 cont, could one merely just give it a little 'juice' to overcome the coggin effect?
Would we be talking many watts if that were the case? Thanks for your help. I'm a noobie.

 

[jondoh]

I like the 9 continents a lot but if you're planning to pedal a lot, you probably should go with the ezee or some other geared hub since they freewheel. I would also consider a second 48v20ah or else you'll be peddling 30miles a day.

 

[edavee]

I converted my wife's bike with the nine continent kit from ebike.ca, and a ping 36V 20ah battery. the motor seems well made, and has lots of torque. Speed on the flat is 32-35 km/h with no pedaling on 26" moutain bike with off road tires. Downside is that it is quite heavy, and pedaling seems slow. I would not want to pedal the bike and try to make more than 10-15 km/h. So if you are going to just keep it pinned, and pedaling pleasure is not important, go for it. In your case I think the extra money for the ezee would be well spent, for the lower weight and freewheeling.

David

 

[Herrsprocket]

Pookie,

I think you should go with a geared freewheel system. If for any reason you need to pedal and have no power left in the coulomb tank, and it's a long way to go to the next stop, you'll be thankful you had a freewheel to work with instead of any (even slight) cogging affects. And I know you (Pookie :? ), that you will go much farther then most folks would consider in one day, like about a couple hundred miles a day, yes? So freewheeling is important, and "possibly" the second set of batts. The Ezee is good, have you considered other geared freewheelers?

 

[edavee]

Have you thought about a non hub motor such as the cyclone or ecospeed? they are well suited to recumbents, and are efficient becouse they use your rear gears to get into the efficency sweet spot. They are also faily light (7lb) and have freewheeling.

David

 

[dogman dan]

Yes, just a litte throttle will eliminate the cogging. Even just having power to the controller makes cogging less on a brushless motor compared to power shut off. Even after a ping has run down, you can reset the bms and keep the controller powered up. To completely eliminate the cogging, only a tiny hair of trottle used will make it go away, but it can be hard to not slowly put on more and more throttle since it feels so good. I wouldn't let cogging scare me off the direct drive motor. You are going for a really long ride, and the noise a gearmotor makes may be worse after a few days than the cogging. 1 ah of battery capacity will make the cogging go away for many many many miles. Get two pings though, once run down they will take 12 hours to recharge at 2 amps. So you want to have enough to go 50 miles, or more if you pedal a lot or ride slower.

 

[Drunkskunk]

You are going to notice far more drag from the weight of the motor and batteries than you will from the cogging effect of most gearless hub motors. And you can eliminate some of that by having the wires from the motor disconnected from the controller when not in use.

 

[Wile E. Coyote]

To completely eliminate the cogging, only a tiny hair of trottle used will make it go away, but it can be hard to not slowly put on more and more throttle since it feels so good.

Totally agree, Takes more self-disciple than I am capable of!

You are going for a really long ride, and the noise a gearmotor makes may be worse after a few days than the cogging.

I've found the noise form eZee/BMC (same internals) to be quite tolerable. It actually gets quieter as the motor breaks in. It's barely noticeable in traffic. For my purposes, the lighter weight, better hill climbing, and freewheeling make geared motors the clear winner (I've owned both).

 

[dogman dan]

I haven't tried unplugging the motor, but it seemed like with the contoller connected, but no power to it, cogged more than with power on. The hills would be the real reason to go geared, I agree that the weight is more signifigant than cogging. On my old brushed motor, you REALLY noticed cogging, but on brushless it's a lot less. But on my recently aquired heinzmann, it is easiest of all to pedal without throttle. On that bike, you really notice the noise too, with metal gearing. Sounds about like a currie.

 

[JinbaIttai]

I have a 9cont rear hub. The only time I'm not adding throttle is during downhills, or an ever so slight decline with the wind at my back. Pedaling with no throttle applied on level ground is not fun above 5 mph. Forget about going up hill that way. This is on a full suspension MTB with upright seating. I know you are talking about a streamlined recumbent, which is different, and hopefully my perspective can help.

 

[kazbluesky]

I have a 9cont too but my experience is different than Jinbaittai, Basically the only time I use my throttle is when I go up hill or as Im starting to get on the bike as I take off (for balance) (ok,ok, sometimes cause Im lazy too....). The bike is a lot heavier. That will definitely have to be overcome with stonger pedaling but to be honest I dont feel any cogging at all (cogging I think meaning those resistence judders as the magnets pass over the coils inside). I used to ride it without a motor and hills were doable but ultimately knackering. I wouldnt even attempt to go up a hill now I have the motor on without the aid of the motor. If you do go for the 9conts make sure you get the 7x9 winding because thats got more torque less speed. Mine is the 9x7 which is the more speed less torque version. I'm very happy with mine but I really dont need the speed, wish I could have gotten the higher torque one. Initially I had just a 36v 10ah battery but went to 48v - the difference will make you grin!! My longest round trip commute is 34km and it does that on one charge - Id say the max range is probably around 40km. Today Ive had the motor just a day under 2 months and as of an hour ago I have done 516 km DURING WINTER !!