Monster (build thread, Lots of pics, Bike Porn included)

[Lebowski]

now you need a bigger motor, it looks kinda proportionally small.... plus the green wall is definitely a better look

 

[Drunkskunk]

...can you post the original pic with the old shocs with it for comparison?

Thanks, and Sure:

 

[Drunkskunk]

now you need a bigger motor, it looks kinda proportionally small.... plus the green wall is definitely a better look

Thanks. And Yes, Yes I really do. But where am I going to find one bigger than the 5404?

 

[Rix]

Drunk Skunk, came across your build thread. AWESOME BUILD!!! This machine is serious business. Inspiring as hell. Got any 2nd person vids? Whats the total weight ready to ride?

Rick

 

[beast775]

Thanks for this great post! most impressive build .i like it better than a bomber.sweet sweet ride great lines.

 

[Rix]

I am with you Beast, this machine screams with great lines. Drunk Skunk, did you use a mig when you welded the frame? One bead actually looks like it could be a 60 series electrode from an arc welder but the lack of slag and ferocity tells me that if it is an arc welder you used, you are a very good welder. .

 

[AussieJester]

one hell of a nice ride there skunk man love the
New fork and the stance it creates on the bike..

KiM

 

[Rix]

Drunk Skunk, just read through your entire build thread. 117# read to ride. That is just plain awesome. 8)

Rick

 

[Drunkskunk]

So Easter I put the bike through it's hardest test yet. A 26 mile ride to a Family dinner. I've never riden this bike that far, at that high of a speed for that long, or with the full battery in place, so it was a new challange. All went well.

I had to ride along stretches of road at night, with no lights, no shoulder, a 55mph speed limit, and with cars flying by. It was a most excilent adrenaline rush!

I managed to pulled the battery down to 68 volts, so not too bad. the motor felt hot, but didn't blister my hand, so all good there too. I still need to put in the temp sensor.

My family doesn't understand ebikes, and they don't want to. Its just not an intrest we share. So I was supprised that they took some intrest in the bike. They were impressed enough to take a closer look with out being invited to. Thats a huge step for them. maybe someday I'll convert them. I have patience.


I forgot I hadn't posted this pic yet. Bigmoose is selling some of that tear proof paper for wrapping stators. But I had another use for it. I've got some of his 0.010 thick stuff as a battery compartment liner. I wanted something tuffer between the Lipo and the metal frame than just shrink wrap and paint. This stuff is perfect. It might not stop a puncture, but it will keep the batteries from rubbing through their pouches on any pressure points.

 

[Hyena]

I had to ride along stretches of road at night, with no lights, no shoulder, a 55mph speed limit, and with cars flying by. It was a most excilent adrenaline rush!

In the same way that sky diving with no parachute is an adrenaline rush ?
At the very least get yourself a rear tail light dude. Not seeing where you're going is one thing, and the responsiblity falls on you to hope your reactions and brakes are good enough when a car who can't see you crosses your path. But you don't want to be mowed down from behind! (or at all!)

My family doesn't understand ebikes, and they don't want to

Le sigh, it's something I'm sure many of us are familiar with. My wife can't fathom my interest in ebikes and shows no interest in new builds or parts when they arrive. "urggh, more of your bike crap arrived, get it out of my kitchen"
I guess I'd show similar interest in a new pair of her shoes or clothes left laying on my work bench...

I wanted something tuffer between the Lipo and the metal frame than just shrink wrap and paint. This stuff is perfect. It might not stop a puncture, but it will keep the batteries from rubbing through their pouches on any pressure points.

You may have mentioned it earlier but what's the black stuff on your frame covers ? I didnt notice it before from the distant shots but it looks quite lumpy ?

 

[Drunkskunk]

You may have mentioned it earlier but what's the black stuff on your frame covers ? I didnt notice it before from the distant shots but it looks quite lumpy ?

Truck bed liner. It rolls on and then beads up into a textured no-skid finish. Mostly it just does a good job of hiding the fact that those panels are made of wood.
yeah, I need some lights. I didn't plan to be out after dark, but the food was too good and the company too great to go home until way too late to see.

 

[Samd]

Found this thread by accident - rad build DrunkSkunk.

 

[z50king]

Do you have any pictures of the battery install?

 

[999zip999]

Drunkskunk great bike and lots of nice work.
Hyeana " I guess I'd show similar interest in a new pair of her shoes or clothes left laying on my work bench... " If all her new clothes are laying on your work bench I would go check the bedroom as something could be up ?

 

[Whiplash]

Lol! Good call there!

 

[Hardley Davison]

Awesome build, very inspiring. Thanks for all the documentation on the build also. Your sense of humour has my girl checking her dresser regularly and giving me funny looks when I start talking about e bikes.

What did you end up running for a final battery setup? Or did I miss that?

 

[Drunkskunk]

Kinky. I show you naked pics of the inside of my bike's box, and you want to see it stuffed. Some people have strange taste .

Here's what I'm stuffing it with. 12 6s5a packs, grouped into blocks of 4, wired parallel with the mains and the balance taps, then stuffed in my bike's extra tight hole. And I mean tight. It takes 10 minutes to squeeze these things in that hole.

It's 18S, peaking at 75.6 volts right now. Its designed to be 100 volts peak, but I've still got minor problems to work out first. The brake rotors aren't up to the job, and the tires are showing signs of overheating if I ride more than 3 miles at full speed.

 

[Tommy L]

Thanks.
This thing is starting to get to be a Monster project for me, too. I've got $2500 in it so far, and still dont have any of the batteries, the controller, or the rear shock. Or the carbon fiber for the covers. Or the front brakes. I've already blown the budget, but I've also gone way past the finnish date, too. So it's now eating up the budget for a bike I'd planned after this one was done. Oh well, it will be worth it. I'm having fun!

This was the original concept drawing for it.

I finally did it! I got my TIG ticket and I'm ready to build!

I noticed that your original drawing had the seat up high. I see it lower down.
In my design that I'm working on, I'm looking for a seating position more like my 2003 Honda VTX1800C.

I do not want to be leaning forward on my wrists and I do not want to bend my head back and stress my neck.
So this is more of a semi-recumbent position.

How do you find your seating position?
Also, why did you not build a Mid drive ebike?

Some of the build fighting going on in my head is..... just get a 250cc enduro frame (it has all the forks/brakes/suspension all figured out). I have my motorcycle license, so I'm leaning that way. Then the other devil says: "build one lighter than an emoto, put pedals on it, and no insurance or tags"! lol

Nice build!

Tommy L sends......

 

[100volts+]

subscribed

 

[100volts+]

Drunkskunk, out of curiosity, think of a dollar number that would absolutely compel you to weld up frames and ship them with no paint, no components.

 

[Drunkskunk]

I noticed that your original drawing had the seat up high. I see it lower down.
How do you find your seating position?
Also, why did you not build a Mid drive ebike?

man, I need some better pictures.

Actually, the seat is up higher than the original drawing. It just looks lower because the bike is huge. That seat in the pic against the green wall is 44 inches off the ground. I have to be off the seat to touch the ground with my foot. The bars are up high too.
Compare that to cruiser bike who's seat is 32 inches up. A semi recumbant seat might be around 26 inches.

As for a mid drive... I bearly get away with calling this a bicycle now. If it was a mid drive, there would be no way I could get away with calling it a bike at it's size/weight/speed.
But it's more than that. Direct drive hub motors are dead quiet, and the Clyte even more so than most. I can cruise through forest trails in silence, and ride near other cyclist without them being aware that I'm on an electric. There's no way for me to blend in with this bike, I get stopped and asked about it all the time. But people see it as a bicycle, and nothing more. I never volinteer that it's electric, and maybe one person in twenty asks any questions about the larger than normal hub or the box under the frame.


As for building some frames to sell.... maybe in a few revisions. I've learned a hundred ways I could have made this better, but most would involve starting over.

 

[Drunkskunk]

@ Tommy, and a few others who asked why I didn't build a mid drive, I think this explains it


[youtube]xUtEtGb2xHc[/youtube]

Just can't beat that kind of silence.

 

[Rix]

Thanks for posting the video. That's some tight trail there. I have the 5404 on my Bomber as well. Quiet and tons of torque. Hard to be that combo.

Rick

 

[izeman]

Just can't beat that kind of silence.

nice video. but you're not riding - you're creeping or is this slow-mo? *scnr*
i'd love to have bike that big. i'm 192cm/6'4" so the bigger the better

 

[Hyena]

@ Tommy, and a few others who asked why I didn't build a mid drive, I think this explains it
Just can't beat that kind of silence.

Well, except for pedalling... which would also be quicker in this case

That looks like some nice scenery, now get it blurring past