New build

[Shockwave]

Hey everyone, this is my first E-bike build. I converted a Suncycle Revoluions 7 beach cruiser using the Voilamart 48v 1000w wheel kit with SW900a display and an UPPCYCLE 48V 20ah battery, all purchased from Amazon. I had it up to 28mph so far. Loving it.
Tires are Maxxis Hookworm 26x2.5. I will always use on flat paved terrain and mostly just cruise around 15mph. I have about 5 miles on it so far and just had a back flat (stupid me I used the original 8 year old tubes) and was wondering what tubes you all are running? I want to purchase the strongest tube I can get because I don't want another flat ruining my day. A guy at the beach suggested when putting a new tube in to also use Flatout Quickstrike tire sealant to help prevent flats.
Thanks for any help you can provide.

 

[fill]

Nice, You may want to consider shifting the battery to the top tube as its a lot of mass at the rear.. I have a similar bike with an unaccommodating frame and initially mounted the 48v battery in a similar place to yours. After shifting the battery position the bike still had a high CoG but was a better ride.

 

[docw009]

I watched a youtube test, and it seems Flatout works better than Slime. I have used tubes that came prefilled with Slime and still had puncture leaks, but they were on the side of the tube that contacts the rim, where the material won't reach if the tire is spinning.

Battery placement is both a functional and a styling puzzle, especially hard with a cruiser frame. Good luck with it.



.

 

[Shockwave]

Nice, You may want to consider shifting the battery to the top tube as its a lot of mass at the rear.. I have a similar bike with an unaccommodating frame and initially mounted the 48v battery in a similar place to yours. After shifting the battery position the bike still had a high CoG but was a better ride.

thank you, yea I'm gonna give this setup a try for a bit and may reconsider... I was hoping the battery would fit vertically on the seat frame tube, but it is too long... thanks again

 

[Shockwave]

I watched a youtube test, and it seems Flatout works better than Slime. I have used tubes that came prefilled with Slime and still had puncture leaks, but they were on the side of the tube that contacts the rim, where the material won't reach if the tire is spinning.

Battery placement is both a functional and a styling puzzle, especially hard with a cruiser frame. Good luck with it.



.

thank you.. i think I'm gonna try a new tube and then might use the Flatout sealant, the old tube split at the seam, probably a combination of being old and the added 30lbs of weight of the battery and wheel, I was hoping to find a heavy-duty/thicker tube that others might be using.
Yes, getting it to look stylish/sporty was my main concern, but might need to move the battery in the future, thanks again

 

[2old]

I'd recommend (and have used successfully) Schwalbe Marathon Plus tires and heavy duty tubes.

 

[Shockwave]

I'd recommend (and have used successfully) Schwalbe Marathon Plus tires and heavy duty tubes.

Thanks much, I just put a new tube in and if this fails I'll go with these tires... what brand name of tube you are using? Thanks

 

[hillslayer@]

I would strap 2 batteries together just under the top tube as far forward as possible

 

[E-HP]

The aesthetics are great. Even though all of the ebike components are clearly on display, it still doesn't scream ebike. It looks built for cruising, and should be ridden that way (relaxed pace).
If you wanted faster, etc., then there would be lot's of suggestions to improve performance, including moving the battery as others have mentioned. However, if you were to go that route, then you'd want a suspension fork for safety, and probably add a suspension seat post, etc., in addition to relocating things.
My recommendation would be to ecruise on it as-is and don't change anything. If you decide to do anything else, then start a new build on a better starting platform. It's a good looking bike. You just need to ride it.
I agree that Flatout is a must on any ebike. Just by virtue of the increased number of miles we put on them, punctures are unavoidable.

 

[Shockwave]

The aesthetics are great. Even though all of the ebike components are clearly on display, it still doesn't scream ebike. It looks built for cruising, and should be ridden that way (relaxed pace).
If you wanted faster, etc., then there would be lot's of suggestions to improve performance, including moving the battery as others have mentioned. However, if you were to go that route, then you'd want a suspension fork for safety, and probably add a suspension seat post, etc., in addition to relocating things.
My recommendation would be to ecruise on it as-is and don't change anything. If you decide to do anything else, then start a new build on a better starting platform. It's a good looking bike. You just need to ride it.
I agree that Flatout is a must on any ebike. Just by virtue of the increased number of miles we put on them, punctures are unavoidable.

Thank you for the kind words. I always like new challenges and I've had this bike for probably 8 years and last year just repainted it myself with House of Kolor candy apple red with large metal flake underneath. Everybody likes it, so I wanted to make this thing look sporty and streamline when i converted it to electric, which I'm happy with, and will only use it on the beach boardwalk cruising on pavement, and you're not allowed to go fast so 15 miles per hour is plenty fast enough. But you know every once in awhile it'd be nice to kick it up a notch. Lol. Yesterday before the flat tire I had it up to 28mph and it more than fast enough for me at 61 years old. Lol. Thanks for the suggestions and it looks like I'll get me some Flatout for sure...thanks again

 

[E-HP]

Ride safe. Take it from me, the body takes an increasing longer time to heal with each year after 60. A little hot rodding is fine, but too much is just playing the odds.

 

[Shockwave]

Ride safe. Take it from me, the body takes an increasing longer time to heal with each year after 60. A little hot rodding is fine, but too much is just playing the odds.

Yes sir thanks again, like Toby Keith said, we ain't as good as we once was. Lol.

 

[E-HP]

Ya, but I’d say the second half would still be true if it weren’t for my last crash. Now I’m not so sure.
“…but I’m as good once as I ever was”

 

[amberwolf]

I recommend looking up the ongoing Kenda tire thread (and other tire, tube, flat prevention threads); there is a LOT of information about this sort of thing you could benefit from.

 

[Shockwave]

I recommend looking up the ongoing Kenda tire thread (and other tire, tube, flat prevention threads); there is a LOT of information about this sort of thing you could benefit from.

Thank you very much

 

[rafalg]

Nice and clean build. I like that the battery is where it is, this way there are no dangling cables and plastic boxes on the frame. All is neatly packed in the rear section.

 

[Shockwave]

Nice and clean build. I like that the battery is where it is, this way there are no dangling cables and plastic boxes on the frame. All is neatly packed in the rear section.

Thank you so much, yes I wanted everything as clean and sleek as possible. Found the smallest black plastic box that I could put all the wiring in and because of that had to keep the control box outside but that doesn't bother me much.

 

[AussieRider]

G'day Shockwave.

Nice build mate. Maybe you could consider panniers for the battery, like this. Mine get the weight low & though only the right one has the batts, there's no imbalance when riding. I'd put them in the left pannier though, so your beauty doesn't tip off the side stand. AussieRider

 

[Shockwave]

G'day Shockwave.

Nice build mate. Maybe you could consider panniers for the battery, like this. Mine get the weight low & though only the right one has the batts, there's no imbalance when riding. I'd put them in the left pannier though, so your beauty doesn't tip off the side stand.View attachment 363676 AussieRider

Thanks, and you're looks awesome too