GT Idrive 5, Good off-road conversion material?

[motomech]

Been looking for something a little more trail worthy than my Rocky Mountain Edge. This GT Idrive 5 3.0 popped up on Craigslist, any opinions?
I have a new 500W rear gear motor to use.

http://washingtondc.craigslist.org/mld/bik/3294393626.html
http://www.bikepedia.com/QuickBike/BikeSpecs.aspx?Year=2007&Brand=GT&Model=idrive+5+++3.0+&Type=bike#.UHb1gG9X2uM


EDIT-Just talked to the owner, he bought it new in '07 and said he used it maybe 5 times. Those are the original tires.
The MSRP in '07 was $1495.00, but left overs were available for a couple of years, going for $1250, $1200 and eventualy, $995 when they cleaned them out in '09.
Going to look at it Sat. He is asking $850 and it's been on CL for aLmost a week. What might be a good starting offer on my part?

 

[cal3thousand]

That looks like a good bike for conversion, but a full downhill rig would be more rugged. The suspension bits of this XC bike are better for a street e-bike IMO.

But the triangle looks pretty good for batteries. A $1,500 bike 5-6 years later should be around $500-600. But this seems like it's in pretty good condition for being a 2007. I would definitely start low at like 500... otherwise, you have no idea how low you could get the seller to sell at. I bought DH bike that included Frame, wheelset, cranks with pedals, rear shock, front forks, front derailleur for only $250. It wasn't in as good condition as this bike that you have your eye on; the PO regularly took it downhilling. But to me, that's the best type of bike for e-bike use. One that is cosmetically not perfect and probably old news for a hardcore DH biker, but solid enough for high powered e-bike.

What's your goal with this thing? Jumps, etc ? or just some light trails?

 

[motomech]

thanks for the input.
Light and heavy single track.
Light, as in I"m 63 and I won't be slamming the berms or jumping much. Just plinking around.
Heavy, as in I'm 250 lb.s
Actually, the Edge isn't bad for this;

I was going to make the Edge convertible, a pair of street tires/wheels and a pair for street for quick change, but as I start to play around with components, things get more complicated than just switching out the wheels. The chain ring for one thing, running a 50T street, might not last long off-road. Also little problems creep up like the crank arm length, the side stand, etc.
I'm at the point where it seem more sensible to build another bike and share just the batteries.
I just ordered a new crankset with really short crank arms for the Edge to address pedal strikes. The one persistent problem I have had with the Rocky Mountain as a great street Ebike has been top tube height vs. ground clearance. A combo of high top tube{great space for batteries}, a soft rear suspension{if I don't recharge the shock every few days or so], my big butt and short legs. That's why I'm going to 24" wheels and short crank arm.s
Anyhow, this is not about the Edge, except that I will note that both bikes use the same shock{vanilla Float R} and almost the same forks{although the GT's Pro MX's and definately a step up from the rather 'dead" feeling Dirt Jumper II's on the Edge. That interchangability might be useful down the road{trial.}.
I seem to have accumulated a half dozen of so geared motors, either in use or laying around, so I probably will go 2WD, so the I need the 10mm drop-outs, not the axel-thoughs.
One thing I have learned about Trail-riding Ebikes is, even if I'm just playing around and mostly don't need much power, but hills require big power every time. Planning on about 1800 Watts.
Anyhow, the bike is only a few miles from my house and I'll start with an offer of $600 and see where that goes. I won't take any more than $700.

 

[motomech]

Well, I went ahead and bought it. I guess I payed top Dollar @ $700, but the bike is show room perfect. Not a scratch, nubs still on the tires, I don't think it's been used at all.
It uses bolt-on drop-outs, which appear to be steel[forgot to take a magnet] :lol:


Component list to start;
1)Ebike CA Ezee 400 Watt rear geared motor/Wheel ASM.

2)Ebike CA 6-72V 25A controller, 6xIRFB4110 mosfets,ON/OFF button

3) 12S/10Ah of Turnigy 20C
The only thing I don't have on hand is a DPN 7-speed freewheel, as I don't think a 8 or 9-speed will work on that chainstay.
Should be a fun and reliable Etrail-bike.