New conversion ?

[Eric G]

Hello All !

I getting ready to build E bike #2...
Here's a link to the bike I'm thinking of using...

http://www.bayviewcycle.com/NewFiles/bike_specs/003/FOLDING/Avenir_Steel.html

An Avenir chromoly 6 speed 20" folding Bike.

I'll be sticking a brushed crystalyte into the front forks.The motor is 100mm wide and my question is if need be can the chromoly forks be spread a little to fit the motor???

I'd sure hate to buy the thing and find out I won't be able to spread the forks if required.

I can get this bike for $286. cdn which I thought is a reasonable bargain.

Thanks
Eric

 

[Ypedal]

Hey Hey !!

That bike looks ok, better than the WM special i think.. but the real deal is in the dropouts.. the fork should strech if need be, but it's the material surrounding the axle that is of highest importance ! 8)

 

[puppypilgrim]

I have ridden the Avenir bike in my LBS. Its decent. Yes, you can spread chromoly forks a little. Make sure you file the fork dropouts flat for a flush mating surface to the hub axle. If you are thinking of juicing the 600W motor with more than 36V, strongly consider a torque arm to prevent twisting and eventual failure of the front forks.

 

[dogman dan]

If the forks on it are any trouble, you should be able to easily find a beefy substitue off a bmx bike.

 

[Eric G]

Thanks Guys ...
It's nice to know the chromoly can bend abit if needed.I'll be fabricating some sort of torque arm anyway as I've read too many posts of motors spinning out of their dropouts and it don't look pretty.If they're good and stong to begin with I'll still be using some axle retaining washers at minimum.The thought of the wheel flying out of the forks and doing more damage to my screwed up back scares the heck out of me.Actually today my back is a tad better than it was two days ago,it was so bad I couldn't even walk and had to cancel my plans for the week,geez I even had to hire a friends son to mow the lawn.

Eric

 

[andys]

Have you considered a geared hub set up? I run one on a 20 inch folding bike and really like the low weight compared to the Crystalite (about 10 pounds difference). I am not sure how that heavy hub is going to feel on the front of a small bike like the one you are going to use.

 

[Eric G]

Nope can't say I've considered a Geared Hub,I couldn't afford one financially.I've already bought the Crystalyte so there's no going back anyhow...I've never used a front wheel drive hub motor before only a rear so it should be interesting.

I've been doing some googling around and found that this Avenir folder I'm going to get may be a rebranded "Dahon Impulse D6"

I've never heard of rebranding before and apparently the Dahon Impulse D6 is available with different names in different countries In England it's called a "Ridgeback",Sweden a "Yosemite" and in Canada "Avenir". I went to the Dahon web site and found the Impulse D6 compared it to the Avenir and they look identical. If so...Great!!!

Here's the link where I started my journey on finding out about rebranded bikes.Scroll to "First test rides" paragraph...@

http://www.foldsoc.co.uk/canada.html

Eric

 

[dogman dan]

Can't beat the speed and power to price ratio on brushed hubs. I love em. I may burn up a few, but they are cheap enough to buy one a year if I need to. If it gets stolen I won't cry too much either. I'll take the battery inside with me though!

 

[docnjoj]

Yeah! Brushed motors rule!!!
otherDoc