Hello Everybody, I'm new around town, and I am going through my first e-bike build. I'm starting off on a Schwinn Point Beach Cruiser.

[Keke.S.P.]

I'm not really looking for it to preform hill climbing or anything crazy, and I want a bike with the pedals removed. I also want the battery to last around 10 miles on a single charge, and I want to mount a vintage-style single headlamp on the front. Can someone point me in the right direction? Much obliged.

 

[Chalo]

Do you know where you're going to put your feet if you don't have pedals?

Do you have a cruising speed goal? The faster you go, the more battery you'll need to get your desired range.

It looks like that bike has a derailleur and 7 speeds. Is this correct? It matters, because the rear frame spacing differs by a whole inch between 7 speed and single speed.

Do you want a display to track speed, mileage, and battery state of charge? It's a little simpler and cheaper if you don't need those things.

And perhaps most importantly, do you have an idea of how much you are willing to spend to make it happen? For this kind of project you can trade spend a little more to have someone furnish a plug and play kit for you, or you can save some money by piecing it together yourself.

If you run a 36 volt system, you can get a 4-1/2" motorcycle headlight housing and put one of these LED bulbs in it:

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B08FM6R97X

 

[docw009]

Why not google cruiser ebike conversions and see what others have done? See if there's anything you like, If the front fork is steel, you could consider a front motor, but there is some risk of breaking the fork. so a rear motor is less worry,

If you just want to make it thru a 10 mile parade route, a 36V kit would work, Might even be able to run it off tool batteries,

. .

 

[Chalo]

If you just want to make it thru a 10 mile parade route, a 36V kit would work, Might even be able to run it off tool batteries,

In my observation, NOLA bike routing options are either narrow, ped-heavy, and parked up solid, with bombed-out pavement, or else broad and highly trafficked with drivers who think they should drive at least 20 mph too fast for conditions. To thrive in the latter, you probably want moped performance, and a beach cruiser isn't a good starting point. For the arterial sidewalks and side streets, 20 mph is usually too fast, and there's no real downside to a 36V system.

When I go there, I bring a coaster brake pedal bike, because that fits the application best. But if I wanted to use an e-bike, it would be a slow, rugged, ugly, and comfy one. There's never all that far to go, and hey-- you already where y'at.

 

[MxusMick]

You can sometimes use the axle from an appropriate 3 piece crank and screw BMX pegs right to that. If you do that a front wheel DD motor could be used as a rear motor. I am doing this on an ebike, with 36v, and using a 20" rim instead of 26". I get about 10 miles at 20mph.