Millhouse_5
1 W
- Joined
- Nov 27, 2020
- Messages
- 62
I begin this build thread with a warning. This will be a very slow process with lots of time in between updates.
I've full on decided to take the plunge and convert an old noisy gas bike to a futuristic electric motorcycle.
This log will feature all the parts I'll be purchasing as i purchase them and hopefully a cost associated with it. So if anyone wants to emulate what I'm doing in the future (probably not recommended, haha) then you can know what you're getting into.
Purchase group #1
Batteries
probably the most important part of any bike build and here's what I decided to use. (Edit: batteries changed in later post)
32s LiFePO4 at 90ah capable of discharging at 2c (180A)
Cost of this item is yet unknown as I'll probably get hit with customs charges when they come into the country. I'll update when I have a figure
Wire
A much more straight forward decision, but don't skimp on this as you'll be paranoid whenever you hit the throttle and give it all its got. It's best to oversize and I've done that, but not by a large margin as I'm still on a budget
I've selected 10 feet of 2AWG pure copper welding cable from princess auto (canadian harbor freight) for a total of 45 dollars. Probably a little more than I need, but this way I won't have to buy more if i make a mistake. Welding cable is heavily insulated so I'll have plenty of temperature tolerance if i want to run the full 180a through it for any reasonable amount of time.
Connectors
so far I'm up to about 20 dollars. But I have a lot of spare parts from the RC world in the garage (XT60/90 connectors) so I'll likely not have to go too overboard with this category unless something goes very wrong.
Heat shrink (Edit: ordered 420mm for new battery size)
For the battery, not for wire. Another ali express find (most of this bike will be). picked up some 550mm diameter heat shrink so once the battery is built then I can keep it all nice and contained in a sleeve to reduce the likleyhood of chaffing on the inside of the battery box. About 60 dollars after shipping.
Display
CT22 from QS. roughly 80 dollars shipped to my door. I wish it had a watt meter integrated into the display, but It's a feature i can live without. Just would have been nice.
Keen eyed readers may have noticed there's no bike listed yet. Thats for a good reason too. I'm having a hard time sourcing one for less than 1500 and I really don't want to ruin a perfectly good running bike for this project. So I'll take my time looking and hopefully get something that doesn't run for nice and cheap.
Wish me luck and I welcome any input.
I've full on decided to take the plunge and convert an old noisy gas bike to a futuristic electric motorcycle.
This log will feature all the parts I'll be purchasing as i purchase them and hopefully a cost associated with it. So if anyone wants to emulate what I'm doing in the future (probably not recommended, haha) then you can know what you're getting into.
Purchase group #1
Batteries
probably the most important part of any bike build and here's what I decided to use. (Edit: batteries changed in later post)
32s LiFePO4 at 90ah capable of discharging at 2c (180A)
Cost of this item is yet unknown as I'll probably get hit with customs charges when they come into the country. I'll update when I have a figure
Wire
A much more straight forward decision, but don't skimp on this as you'll be paranoid whenever you hit the throttle and give it all its got. It's best to oversize and I've done that, but not by a large margin as I'm still on a budget
I've selected 10 feet of 2AWG pure copper welding cable from princess auto (canadian harbor freight) for a total of 45 dollars. Probably a little more than I need, but this way I won't have to buy more if i make a mistake. Welding cable is heavily insulated so I'll have plenty of temperature tolerance if i want to run the full 180a through it for any reasonable amount of time.
Connectors
so far I'm up to about 20 dollars. But I have a lot of spare parts from the RC world in the garage (XT60/90 connectors) so I'll likely not have to go too overboard with this category unless something goes very wrong.
Heat shrink (Edit: ordered 420mm for new battery size)
For the battery, not for wire. Another ali express find (most of this bike will be). picked up some 550mm diameter heat shrink so once the battery is built then I can keep it all nice and contained in a sleeve to reduce the likleyhood of chaffing on the inside of the battery box. About 60 dollars after shipping.
Display
CT22 from QS. roughly 80 dollars shipped to my door. I wish it had a watt meter integrated into the display, but It's a feature i can live without. Just would have been nice.
Keen eyed readers may have noticed there's no bike listed yet. Thats for a good reason too. I'm having a hard time sourcing one for less than 1500 and I really don't want to ruin a perfectly good running bike for this project. So I'll take my time looking and hopefully get something that doesn't run for nice and cheap.
Wish me luck and I welcome any input.