First bike build, help!

[Amaroq]

I'm going to be moving to a new city and have decided that investing in an electric bike would be a wise decision. This will be my first motorized bike so I'll likely go with a electric hub motor because of simplicity in installation. Its going to be my year round commuter bike so I need it to operate well in winter conditions! The trip itself is about 3.5km each way. From what I've read it appears front wheel hubs are the better option in the winter, is this correct? I weigh approximately 280lbs, I do intend to lose some of that weight but I'm not sure how much this affects parts consideration. The legal speed limit is 32Km/H so I don't need anything super powerful.

So for parts this is what I've been eying for the hub. http://www.goldenmotor.ca/products/26-Inch-Front-Smart-Pie-Conversion-Kit-with-Internal-Built%252din-Controller.html . I intend to use the 48v 400W motor. What kind of speed should I expect from this? I've also been considering a 36v 500W but I figured the 48v 400W would be a better fit.

In regards to batteries I was looking at this one, its 48v 10ah. https://www.espow.com/48v-12ah-18650-lithium-ion-battery-for-electric-bike-silver-fish-style.html .

Lastly in terms of a bike/frame I don't have one, is it realistic to expect to find a cheap one on kijiji that won't be terrible? Anything I should avoid or keep an eye out for?

Any opinions or thoughts would be greatly appreciated!

 

[bionx 1954]

Hi Welcome to ES. I assume your in Canada. I am in Ottawa. If you are planning to cycle in the winter a front wheel drive is use less, all it will do is SPIN, a rear wheel is best for traction. All though a little more complicated to install compared to a front. .. If you go with a front wheel make sure you have a good steel fork and torque arms Check out Ebike.ca there is a lot of good info for a new ebiker there.

 

[dogman dan]

I agree, front hub is great on dry pavement, useless in snow, loose dirt, or even wet roads are tricky riding. Rear motor for sure for winter riding on patches of snow, ice, or slush.

Good thing you found us, somebody you read is full of crap.

You are a big boy, so you will need some watts, even if that means a potentially higher speed. There is a perfect solution ( 1000w but 32 kph max speed) but I can't ethically show it to you here because I work for the outfit selling them. I'll just give you a hint that it's made for trikes.

That pie looks to also be intended for slower trikes, but doesn't say so explicitly. It does have the reverse typical of a kit for the big adult trikes. But again, you'd need to get that motor in a rear.

If you won't be climbing long steep hills, then you will be fine with any faster motor, 48v, and just roll back the throttle once cruising at 32 kph. It does have a cruise control, which will help. Or, find a kit with a 3 speed or 5 speed switch as part of it.

 

[Amaroq]

Hey guys, sorry I've taken so long to get back to you. I just got internet installed this morning and haven't had a chance to check the forum. Yes I am from Canada, Kitchener to be exact.

Interesting you both say rear hub is better in the snow, your reasoning is the exact same I read before but it said that a rear will just spin. They also mention that front wheel hubs allow for '2WD' rather than just the one on the rear, am I still better to go with a rear hub? Also they made the argument that a front wheel car is better in the snow than a rear wheel, granted its an extra two wheels but is that a valid point?

In terms of what I like the look of I seem to most appreciate the cruiser style, is that something I should continue to look at or should I be looking at something else? The ride itself isn't hilly at all, I believe there is a small gradual slope for maybe a quarter of it, the rest is flat and smooth sailing. I'm really quite new to biking even, I don't know what separates a trash bike from a good one yet. I like the idea of a single speed bike because logically in my head it would be easier to convert than a multi-speed bike, is that correct? Most cruisers I've seen also have fenders and chain protectors which I've also read are musts for winter riding. If I was to find the ride rough because of a lack of suspension I could always just add a seat with suspension built in right? What kind of brakes should I be looking at or for?

I'm not apposed to buying higher wattages or voltages I'm just not sure what I need? 48v at 1000W seems a little overkill but perhaps I'm just overestimating? If I was to use a 48v 1000w bike can I expect the battery I linked earlier to last me at least 6-8km? If I'm correct I should be able to get around at least 9 miles if I wasn't to pedal at all right? In which case it should be more than enough?

 

[bionx 1954]

Yes front wheel drive cars are best in snow because the engine weight gives the car traction. A front wheel ebike has no weight over it so it just spins. A rear wheel has the rider/battery/motor weight on it so it gets the best traction.

The battery on your link seems very inexpensive, a 48V 10 A with charger is around 500.00-600.00 range, The low price does not include a charger/shipping/customs duty charges. A 48v@10A = 480 watts. so at 20w/km = 24km (15mile) so it should have some to spare if you only going 10 miles.

I would buy a complete conversion kit and battery from a Canadian firm, Goldenmotors Canada or Ebike.ca, that way there is no surprise cost, and if you have problems there is support.

 

[Amaroq]

Alright so I've decided I'm just going to buy a bike from a LBS as I don't have the knowledge or experience to trust anything I find on Kijiji. As mentioned previously I like the idea of a cruiser style but I'm still unsure of how well it will handle and if I should be going with single speed or multiple gears? This Electra Cruiser 1 has a steel frame and fork so should be plenty strong for an electric bike. http://ziggyscycle.ca/product/electra-cruiser-1-179997-1.htm#reviews What are your thoughts on it?

Should I be avoiding coaster brakes? If so what should I be looking for?

 

[wesnewell]

Find a 7 speed freewheel beach cruiser similar to this.
http://www.2wheelbikes.com/rover-7sp-m-beach-cruiser.html
Put a 48v 1000W rear motor kit on it with battery pack of your choice.
http://www.ebay.com/sch/i.html?_from=R40&_sacat=0&_nkw=48v+1000w+rear&rt=nc&LH_PrefLoc=3

 

[r3volved]

Hey! Fellow kitchenerite! (well i'm in waterloo now, as of this month).

I use a gng 1.1 mid drive (year and a half now) and rode all last winter with no problems. @48v (1500w) I pull about 50-55kph at full charge on a decent day, but in winter I generally drop my speed WAY down.

There's quite a few decent bikes on kijiji, but you have to check every day...the good ones go fast.

As for LBS, DO NOT GO TO CYCLEELECTRIC (http://cycleelectric.ca/)...he is a huge douche and doesn't know shit about what he's selling. McPhails is also a shit spot and the folks there are always arse holes, no matter what I'm looking for.

East Side Cycle is pretty good...they're on a high horse like all the rest, but they've been the most helpful friendly shop in town to me and my monstrosity. They also do bionx kits there and have a variety of 'combo' packages. (as far as I can tell, their e-knowledge is not so great)

I have never been to ziggy's...though I work pretty close by and should probably pop in and check it out.

PM me if you ever want to meet up...I don't know any other ebikers yet until I force my friends into buying my old motors as my own projects increase...

 

[Amaroq]

Wesnewell, thank you! This is exactly what I was hoping for!

R3volved, small world! Don't suppose you have a build thread I could check out?

I ended up checking out Ziggys, it seemed alright, I didn't really know what I was looking for and the guy helping was a little awkward to interact with at times. He ended up advising me to just go buy a cheaper bike at a BBS to get through the winter and then invest in a bike I will really care about. I ended up taking his advise as closest thing they had to what I had decided I was looking for ( Electra Cruiser 7D ) was $169 more for the exact same thing. I wound up buying just a simple single speed cruiser, a Huffy Cranbrook to be exact. The seat seems to provide ample cushioning for the bike and it has fairly large tires at 2.125". I'm already thinking of switching out the tires for new ones as they are rated to a max of 40 psi and I currently feel there isn't enough pressure. I'm not sure if I'll motorize this bike or not as all I've read has lead me to believe that putting a motor on a walmart bike is asking for a accident. I don't really want to invest a lot either in this bike as realistically if the salt is as bad as the guy at the shop made it out to be then this bike will be trashed come spring time.

The thought has crossed my mind to just order the Electra 7D Cruiser and wait for it to come in then return this walmart bike before the 30 days are up. Does anyone have any other suggestions for bikes aside from the Electra? Is the Electra 7D even a decent bike? It comes with all Shimano stuff aside from a linear pull brake.

 

[r3volved]

I rode all last winter with no issues. I just had to spray the bike off once and a while...the salt really wasn't a huge deal.

I don't think I have much of a build thread. I this bike at sportcheck for $300 a couple springs ago. I wanted a platform specific to motorizing and was my first new bike since I was a about 14.

I went with a gng 1.1 mid drive and 48v 15ah lifepo4 battery. It's fairly modded and customized now.

This was pretty much my prototype to get me started. In hindsight, there's much I would have done differently...which is what I'm hoping to do better on my next project:

 

[Amaroq]

Alright, so now that I've had some time to reflect and consider everything I've decided to nix the idea of a cruiser and just settle with a proper mountain bike. The small amount of riding off road I've had to do because of sidewalk/road construction has shown to me how terrible a beach cruiser is in that situation, or at the very least how terrible a single speed is. The bike I purchased from Walmart with the hopes of getting me through the winter broke in less than three weeks, not to mention the chain would slip off up to 5 times in a 3.2km ride

Since its much easier to find a decent used mountain bike I'd like to go over what I should and shouldn't be looking for in a decent bike. At the moment I'm going to try and commit myself to using the bike through winter before spending the big bucks on turning it into an ebike. I've found a few that seem to be good quality and one just screams to me that it has great potential as an ebike, that one being this bike (http://www.kijiji.ca/v-mountain-bike/guelph/rockey-mountain-vertex/1027474513?enableSearchNavigationFlag=true) I'm a little unsure of the frame itself but the components seem ideal. My only real concern is that its a 9 speed, I was recommended a 7 speed previously and I'm not sure if a 9 speed is more difficult to work around?

Here are the other bikes I've found, again, I'm hesitant to commit to one without your guys opinion on which would be best so any thoughts would be appreciated!
http://www.kijiji.ca/v-mountain-bike/cambridge/kona-shred/1029303712?enableSearchNavigationFlag=true
http://www.kijiji.ca/v-mountain-bike/guelph/gary-fisher-hifi-mountain-bike/1026833815?enableSearchNavigationFlag=true
http://www.kijiji.ca/v-mountain-bike/kitchener-waterloo/devinci-downhill-full-suspension-with-fox-rear-end-and-full-disc/1028853877?enableSearchNavigationFlag=true
http://www.kijiji.ca/v-mountain-bike/kitchener-waterloo/khs-dj25/1028718350?enableSearchNavigationFlag=true
http://www.kijiji.ca/v-mountain-bike/guelph/sale-trek-3500-mountain-bike/1025636876?enableSearchNavigationFlag=true
Lastly I found this one, its pretty bare bones and the only reason I'm considering it is because I've read good things about Diamondback frames, though I believe this bike is around 10 years old judging from Google searches.
http://www.kijiji.ca/v-mountain-bike/kitchener-waterloo/dlamondback-db-mnt-copperhead-mountain-bike/1029317166

I hope there isn't an issue with me posting the kijiji links, if so, mods please say something and I'll just transfer the description of each bike over.

From the reading I've been doing I think all I really need is a bike with front suspenion, disk brakes that aren't crap, and preferably a steel/cromoly frame. With 29" wheels being the ideal but 26" being the next best, does that sound correct?

 

[r3volved]

A nice big triangle is good. Disc brakes are nice too.
I ride a hard tail now, but find its very rough up/downtown and going full suspension next build.
...I was looking at that DaVinci myself, but can't be buying anymore bikes yet...

 

[r3volved]

Here are a few other FS frames on my watch list:
http://www.kijiji.ca/v-mountain-bike/cambridge/giant-nrs-2/1003846609
http://www.kijiji.ca/v-mountain-bike/cambridge/2011-kona-tanuki-price-drop/1028978425
http://www.kijiji.ca/v-bike-frames-parts/kitchener-waterloo/2008-jamis-dakar-xam-1-15-frame-only/1026843846

 

[Amaroq]

I'm debating between these two, frankly I think either would work well, but which is better in your opinion?

http://www.kijiji.ca/v-mountain-bike/guelph/rockey-mountain-vertex/1027474513?enableSearchNavigationFlag=true

http://www.kijiji.ca/v-mountain-bike/guelph/2011-specialized-hardrock-26er-19-inch-frame/1029836810?enableSearchNavigationFlag=true

As I'm likely to keep these on the roads/sidewalk 90% of the time I don't think I really need a full suspension bike so that's why I'm leaning more towards a hardtail. My only other option that is a full suspension is this guy here, would the extra ~$100 be worth it? http://www.kijiji.ca/v-mountain-bike/kitchener-waterloo/devinci-downhill-full-suspension-with-fox-rear-end-and-full-disc/1028853877?enableSearchNavigationFlag=true

The rockey mountain vertex needs a new master link and rear derailure adjustment but from what I briefly looked up online that is a simple fix.

 

[r3volved]

That Divinci is real nice...nice triangle space too

With increased speed, generic road bumps/cracks/potholes can become pretty devastating...they creep up faster than you can react, and the impact force is multiplied significantly.

I have a pretty bad back and I find myself hovering my butt an inch or so off my seat (most of the time) to use my legs as suspension and avoid a spine thrashing (I ride a hard tail).

If you're planning to go in excess of 32km/h, I would strongly suggest the devinci...it's made for aggressive downhill and freeride so it's already beefed up enough to take hits and drops and likely has all-around beefier components.

You definitely don't want anything rattling apart or giving up the ghost at speed.

 

[r3volved]

Here's a nice kona for $600
http://www.kijiji.ca/v-mountain-bike/kitchener-waterloo/kona-king-supreme-trade-for-kona-hardtail/1029907401

They make for a sweet ebike platform with their huge triangle.