Help me design my new FS E-Bike!

axi0m

axi0m

1 mW
Joined
Jul 11, 2011
Messages
12
I've spent hours reading the forums here, and I've decided to pull the trigger. Here's what I'm going to build:

- Full Suspension Mountain Bike
- 400W - 700W Geared Rear Hub Motor
- 48V 15Ah LiFePO4 or LiPo Battery Pack
- A controller to be named later.

I need to mount the battery pack(s) in and/or under the frame. Which of these bikes should I get?

Gravity FSX 1.0
http://www.bikesdirect.com/products/gravity/fsx_1.htm
grav_fsx1_yel_500.jpg


Motobecane 400DS
http://www.bikesdirect.com/products/motobecane/400ds.htm
4ds_x_600.jpg


Dawes Roundhouse 2000
http://www.bikesdirect.com/products/dawes/rh_2k.htm
roundhouse_2000_600.jpg


Windsor Ghost 6300
http://www.bikesdirect.com/products/windsor/windsor_ghost6300.htm
g6300_x_silver_600.jpg


Motobecane 2010 Fantom Trail DS
http://www.bikesdirect.com/products/motobecane/fantomtrail_ds08.htm
fantomtrail_ds08_600.jpg


Thanks in advance for your input.
 
Welcome to the Sphere.. Have you seen the Fantom build here? It is well documented and would give you alot of ideas. Also the Roundhouse looks good.
 
torker said:
Welcome to the Sphere.. Have you seen the Fantom build here? It is well documented and would give you alot of ideas. Also the Roundhouse looks good.
Click to expand...

Yes, I've read over the Fantom build and I guess I should take the bike off my list. It's a great build, but BikesDirect.com is sold out of it in my size.

I'm not sure, but I think BD probably manufactures these bikes on a rotating basis. If any of you have experience with BikesDirect.com, please let me know how things went.

I know they make all their stuff in China and the site is nothing more than a front to sell their own bikes. However, are their components legit? Should I just get a Mongoose Blackcomb and call it quits?
 
Go wiith the fantom DS, the bike is a good quality one with great components. It handles great in the trails. I ride mostly technical single track. If you followed my BMC build thread. You will see that the only issue I've had with the bike was due to having batteries installed on a rear rack. If you can avoid this then you should have a reliable trail bike. The swing weight from a 9lb battery is just too much for any mountain bike with a seat post rack. You can only get away with it if you don't plan on doing any trail riding. I was able to build a custom brace, but that only translated the energy into the frame. Which eventually cracked due to fatigue. Handling is also effected with the weight in the back. Any trail ride I build in the future will not have rear racks.
 
Agreed, the fantom has the same sweet 4 bar suspension linkage as my personal fave, the mongoose blackcomb. But without the lousy Y frame of the mongoose. If the fantom has a steel rear swingarm, then it's even better. If not, it looks like a good candidate for recieving a decent torque plate.

I bet it rides nice, 4 bar suspension is very good, and minimizes pedal bob quite a bit. Does wonders for getting lots of travel out of very short shock strokes.

Backreading a bit. bummer, out of stock. The dawes doesn't look quite as good somehow, but at least still has the 4 bar rear linkage.
 
torker said:
I'm not sure, but I think BD probably manufactures these bikes on a rotating basis. If any of you have experience with BikesDirect.com, please let me know how things went.

I know they make all their stuff in China and the site is nothing more than a front to sell their own bikes. However, are their components legit? Should I just get a Mongoose Blackcomb and call it quits?
Click to expand...

I ordered a Motobecane road bike from BD years ago and the components were all legit, 100% Dura Ace. The components alone are usually worth more than the selling price of the entire frame. The frame is nothing special but more than adequate. The only problem I had was spoke nipples breaking on the rear wheel. They were made of aluminum and I have since upgraded to brass.
Martin
 
Motobecane 2010! its the way forward! here is a good ebiker's youtube links!
he uses motobecane and he can fit in 72v worth of batteries and controller and all the wiring :shock: so there are more then plenty of space there.
i hope this youtuber can influence you to made you upgrade to the bike!
http://www.youtube.com/user/skeetab5780#p/u/1/3pZkRN_8Kzw
 
Another variation similar to 4 bar suspension, but with a different shock position. Should be much better than any of those ones you posted at first, that had simple swing arm and shock suspension.

Part of my love for my two blackcombs was the purchase price. One was $50, the other close to free. So at that price I'm very satisfied. On the blackcomb, sorting out the torque plate is very very easy. I put two peices of angle iron, and made one side a pinch dropout. Simple. They have a great ride till you load em up with a ton of motor and battery. Then they ride tolerable. Cheaper bikes rode intolerable with the motor weight.
 
That bike on Amazon looks good but is getting pricey. If you would spend 800 dollars you might look at a good used Specialized or Kona. Don't listen to me though -I am cheap :oops: I spent 250 on my FSR and I think it is a lot.
 
I took the plunge and got the Amazon bike. For $835 delivered in one day with 12 months free financing, it's probably an okay deal. They also provide a voucher for installation.

I'll keep you all updated on the progress. :)
 
Looking close at the pic, that bike looks to have stuff on it well worth the price. But I agree, used is my style. I paid $300 for my FRS specialized.

That bike has a decent shock instead of the pogo stick on a mongoose blackcomb or those others. Front fork looks pretty ok too, nothing badass, but a good adjustable shock.

On the rear, lots of air space where you will need to bolt on a torque plate. So your design may need to include a funny shaped filler into one of those holes. Part of the fun, fabricating a rear torque arm somehow.
 
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