HPV Streetmachine / Grin Build

[ukphil]

[Hello all!

I'm Phil from Durham in the UK.
This will be me documenting my second build, the first was an MTB conversion using a Bafang BBS02 750 which has been a great cargo and child carrier in the hills south of here.
I've been a long term admirer of recumbent bikes, first seeing them in the UK cycling press in the 90s. Seeing Steve Roberts Winnebiko, and then more recently what solarEbike and Neptronix are up to has stirred me into action!
I picked up the Streetmachine locally during the summer and had a few rides out to get used to recumbent cycling and then got saving!
So I've now got a Grin All Axle DD motor, Phaserunner, 14.5Whr battery and all the required bits to fit up.

I'm going to shamelessly copy solarEbike and anyone else on Grin tech to help me on my way.
The bike is on a rack, I've just unboxed my delivery, wish me luck!

 

[neptronix]

A HP Velotechnik street machine sounds like a killer conversion.. curious on how you plan to mount the batteries though. following!

 

[ukphil]

Neptronix,
Grin do a bottle boss replacement/supplement rail that attaches via jubilee/hose clips called a Double Bob.
I'm going to use that under the seat for now, mounting up a fairly generically cased 14.5Ah battery.
I have long term dreams to use a Terra Trikes double battery rack maybe and/or go solar for extra range.
I live fairly north of the equator so am not sure how successful solar will be for my use case. A fast charger and timely stops may work better!
Hopefully time will tell!

 

[ukphil]

So,

I was quite excited when this popped up on Ebay UK:


It has everything I wanted and considered essential on a fast recumbent EV: disk brakes, full suspension, comfy seat and relaxed controls.

The front wheel will be being replaced obviously, so I've got a DC-DC convertor to wire up the nice German lights. Appears to be good suspension so far, and I like the mechanical disks.

Rear end also suspended and disked makes for a comfy and more confident Phil!

I've no experience of the Dual Drive but its working well so far. I can see the utility compared to a front mech on a recumbent.

Part of the reason for the choice of a recumbent was the bar position as I think Ive got the beginnings of Carpal Tunnel. Took a bit of getting used to, but quite natural now.

The comfiest seat! Adjusts to back length and for angle. Still playing with it but all good so far!
Anyway, thats the core bike which I am turning into an electric GT....

 

[ZeroEm]

Welcome the the World of recumbents. Have been looking at the seat and now see one on your bike. Glad to hear it is nice to ride in. May need to get me one. Have never seen steering of the like. Maybe have not been paying attention. Good to hear you are putting one of Grin's front motors on, look forward to see how you like it. Think it is a good match for a recumbent bike.
Will be checking in to see how it goes. Nice ride.

 

[ukphil]

Next Installment.

A few weeks ago this arrived:



I'd placed an order to Grin, via Leftfield Cycles in London. They seemed to stock a lot of Grin parts, more than the other UK agents, but that was purely based on studying websites etc so may not be true.
Anyway, Guy Wheeler there was very helpful and communicative and went above and beyond to help me get what I wanted. I ended up with a few goodies thrown in too which was kind. Kudos to them!
It didn't take long to drag it into the garage and start careful unwrapping:



I was impressed with the effort Grin had gone to to secure my order.



Anyway, many parts started to appear:



I was impressed with how well the wheel was packed too; don't know what I was expecting but still, all in polystyrene and packed in snug.



As I have a 20" wheel, I went for the fast wind too, this motor has a real solid high grade feel to it. Admittedly I've not handled anything else other than a BBS02 but it looks and feels good!



I hadn't realised the battery was coming from Grin too, I was contained in a bag full.of some kind of dense media; fireproofing for shipping maybe?
Finally the lot was out and checked over.
I've gone for the Grin All.Axle DD with QR adapters, a Phaserunner controller, a DC-DC convertor with a view to keeping the existing lighting working and then throttle, control switches and brake lever switches for regen etc.

I've realised that, as I'm putting the CA at the front where the old computer was, I've got longer cable runs to sort out. I'm currently between ordering connectors and a crimper and making my own, or buy extensions and deal with excess cable.
I also need to get a new brake disk and tyre, thinking of going for a Maxxis Hookworm in a 20", obviously, but need to check the fork crown for size. I've got a 26" already I can throw on the back to get going.
Time to get building!

 

[thundercamel]

Subscribed! Looks like fun

 

[99t4]

I've realised that, as I'm putting the CA at the front where the old computer was, I've got longer cable runs to sort out. I'm currently between ordering connectors and a crimper and making my own, or buy extensions and deal with excess cable.

A simple solution would be to cut out a center section of the extension to take up the slack, and splice together (crimp/heatshrink tubing); likely doable with tools you already own.

 

[amberwolf]

Or if you're going to have to cut/splice, just do it at the cable on the CA itself, between the CA's internal PCB and the cables that come with it. Then you only have one set of connectors to deal with, rather than two, on each cable (less waterproofing/etc).

 

[ukphil]

Update!

Build proceeding quite slowly I'm afraid due to lockdown homeschooling here in the UK. And it's freezing in the garage too!
Anyway, got the front wheel all tyred up and fitted, using a Hookworm 1.95 IIRC, and a nice new disk.
Torque arm fitted, now on with the bracket. Whether to put the jubilee clips in our out is the current thought, hoping to hide them behind the fork.
Anyway, soon onto Phaserunner fitting, battery fitting then getting throttle, control buttons and PAS unit on..
A few pics...