New battery or new bike?

[georgefromvt]

My Radcity has almost 3500 miles and I'm on my second battery. Runs well but battery aging. New 52 volt 14 amp battery is almost 700 bucks including shipping and charger. A new Radcity bike is $1499.00. My bike rides well, no issues but maybe it makes more sense to buy a new bike rather than new battery for a high mileage bike? The Radcity has a direct drive motor, runs smoothly and quietly. How long do direct drive motors last? How many miles does the average ebike log before it's time to purchase new bike?
https://www.radpowerbikes.com/products/radcity-electric-commuter-bike

 

[AHicks]

My vote, if you are happy with the bike otherwise, would be replace the battery. That motor has a LOT of life left in it.

I don't think I could bring myself to pay 700 for a new battery though. I'd be doing some homework there...

 

[georgefromvt]

There aren't many supplies of "dolphin" style batteries. The batteries go for about 600 but shipping/handling and charger adds another 100 plus bucks . I might be able to get a cheaper replacement from RADPOWER but prefer 52 and higher amps than the original battery.
https://www.hicbattery.com/Dolphin-Battery-52v-14ah_p_24.html

 

[Drunkskunk]

The only wearing parts on a direct drive hub motor are the bearings. Those are only good for 50-100 years, and 250,000 - 500,000 miles or so. And they cost a staggering $1.50 each. And there are so many of them throughout the motor. Well, 2 of them.
So if your kids inherit your bike, and pass it to their kids, one of your grand kids might have to replace the bearings before giving it to your great grand kids. Hub motors last a while.

3500 miles isn't even breaking a bike in. There are people here who may do that many bike miles just this summer.

I'd be more worried about being on your second battery. Time can kill a battery regardless of miles, but you should get much more than 3500 miles from the life of a single battery. And you said this is the end of the second? That big Crystalyte hubmotor is going to be amp hungry, and not all cells aren't going to be able to feed it very well. You might want to do some research.

 

[georgefromvt]

Thanks for your advice. I'm 200 lbs, usually power at max level and live in Hilly Vermont. I'm sure all those factors will beat any battery.

 

[docw009]

Yes, it's getting hard to find a 52V Dolphin unless you go to china via Aliexpress, but then the price is under $400 but quality is a matter of luck. Why not just change out the battery cradle to a more popular style like the Super Shark.

Then pick a vendor that has a reputation for quality like EM3EV.com. I believe you can get this for $479 shipped.
https://em3ev.com/shop/52v-14s4p-shark/

Or go to lunacycle.com
https://lunacycle.com/52v-panasonic-13-5ah-shark-pack/

 

[Tommm]

Those prices are a robbery. I got my 72v 23ah 1.8kwh battery with shipping for less than $700.

Get the battery for half the price from Ali, preferrably a long standing reputable seller like UPP. When you get it, open it up and add some padding to all 6 sides of the battery against the casing, to the point it becomes difficult to screw it back up (but not too difficult that you crack the screwhole).

Also you should review your battery care procedues. A battery should last at least 2-3 years.

 

[AHicks]

Yes, it's getting hard to find a 52V Dolphin unless you go to china via Aliexpress, but then the price is under $400 but quality is a matter of luck. Why not just change out the battery cradle to a more popular style like the Super Shark.

Then pick a vendor that has a reputation for quality like EM3EV.com. I believe you can get this for $479 shipped.
https://em3ev.com/shop/52v-14s4p-shark/

Or go to lunacycle.com
https://lunacycle.com/52v-panasonic-13-5ah-shark-pack/

I agree 100%. Don't let that existing mount limit your choices. Plan on changing it to accept the new battery of your choice.

 

[dogman dan]

If you are killing batteries in less than 3-5000 miles, then you need a better battery, not another of the ones that don't last so good.

Look for the highest quality cells in the new pack, rather than the cheapest. You all know how I feel about a cheap ali express battery.

Your new battery should come with a mount. I was pretty impressed with the magnetic mount on the Luna pack.

 

[j bjork]

Is it not possible to open up the one you have and change cells?
I guess it is 18650:s? There are some sellers on this site who sells new cells that have been welded before at reasonable prizes.
I have seen sony vtc5A, I am not sure that they are still avalible though. Then you would have a pack that can deliver some amps without frying the battery.