New member, just purchased hub kit from EVTech

[knoxie]

I have said my bit moving on.

Knoxie

 

[Lowell]

To the original poster: Let us know what you end up going with, and how you like it.

 

[Reid Welch]

Thanks Toor, I somehow missed reading your input earlier. Sounds good.


Yes, knoxie tells me it's the same pack sold in the UK by Team Hybrid.

...EV Tech 36v 15ah 10lb pack $750 has been proven for over a year on a number of ebikes. The US military bought 50 of them after severe testing.

http://www.texaselectricbikes.com/catalog/battery-chargers-c-36.html

Hi Al, how can I hear from actual users of their pack?
This must be the lithium pack---I would like to hear independent reports,
and wonder too what was the "severe testing" and such, that the US military then bought fifty packs from them for use in what application? needing 36V? That Halliburton wouldn't get the contract for, for a million bucks instead (eh!)

You know--I am getting hard of credibility after my recent unfortunate abortive BatterySpace pack purchase.

I sort of want to know what's inside any black box I might buy.

I can ask EV tech--and will.
Better first I hear from actual users.
There must be some reviews somewhere.


Can I draw 15Ah from their pack?
If, for instance, the BMS cuts it off at 10 or 11Ah, then, hey:
to my mind, that's a 10 or 11Ah pack, and should be sold as such.

Thanks for bearing with me---thanks for your recommendation.
I think they must be really good folks there at EV tech.
I think the same way about the BS people---I think they all mean well.

tiredly,
r.

The EVTech pack is the single most preferred aftermarket pack by Tidalforce owners (including Numbuzz). The TFF admin has been using a pair of these almost daily for close to a year now, so ask away at the TF forum & they'll be eager to help out.

Pieceing together all the disparate threads, IINM, the EVTech lipo known as Point1 are the same ones that TeamHybrid sells in the UK & that knoxie has posted pictures of here, but best confirm with him.

 

[Nimbuzz]

Reid, Aparantly the cells are 15ah but Doug has set the BMS cutout lower to 12ah to maximize pack life -- which is claimed at 700+ cycles!

Al

 

[Reid Welch]

Hi Al,

that's well understood here now.
So it is a 12Ah pack and that's fine for my needs.

Thanks,

Reid

 

[numberonekiwi]

But one thing is very clear: More weight does not mean a better bike. Heavy means cheap & flimsy, eg Huffy, Pacific, modern Schwinns & sundry department store grade bikes. They do weigh a ton but that's because they're made of super cheap straight gauge steel. They'll get worn out really fast if you actually ride them, but the average one gets ridden 150 miles, so it's not like they actually have to last. They're so poorly made it's usually not possible to adjust the derailleur, or the brakes. Some are so bad they actually have stickers that warn "not for off road use". I sure as hell wouldn't take one down a flight of stairs or more then a couple of inches off the ground. Feeling lucky?

I have a schwinn frame that has the same sticker however reading the specs on amazon advertises this as a mountain bike WTF?

http://www.amazon.com/Schwinn-26-Me...UTF8&s=sporting-goods&qid=1176171260&sr=1-158

Has anyone here got this bike ? not sure if I should take it off road or not

 

[Mathurin]

It should do fire trails fine, but I wouldn't use jumps measured in feet with it. It's really made to be used on roads, rolling off curbs around town and that sorta thing.

 

[Reid Welch]

But one thing is very clear: More weight does not mean a better bike. Heavy means cheap & flimsy, eg Huffy, Pacific, modern Schwinns & sundry department store grade bikes. They do weigh a ton but that's because they're made of super cheap straight gauge steel. They'll get worn out really fast if you actually ride them, but the average one gets ridden 150 miles, so it's not like they actually have to last. They're so poorly made it's usually not possible to adjust the derailleur, or the brakes. Some are so bad they actually have stickers that warn "not for off road use". I sure as hell wouldn't take one down a flight of stairs or more then a couple of inches off the ground. Feeling lucky?

I have a schwinn frame that has the same sticker however reading the specs on amazon advertises this as a mountain bike WTF?

http://tinyurl.com/37qbfe
Has anyone here got this bike ? not sure if I should take it off road or not

Hi. Firstl, the 156 character url makes this page hard for me to read--it has spread way right of my 19" monitor's screen (I use firefox).
Tinyurl shrinkss stupidlong urls.

That disclaimer--protects the vendor and makers from USA tort suits in case a part might break.

I don't think that bike will break. Steel break? Should not happen.

You claim that straight gauge (untapered tubing?) hi-tensile (not Reynolds) steel is no good, as a blanket assertion. I disagree, but yet, I have no proof that all these sorts of bikes crack apart on stairways and maim the users.

The bike has gotten a number of positive reviews from newbie bikers who otherwise wouldn't be on bikes at all. Perhaps some of them will next graduate to even better bikes.

My own bike is a basic, cheapo Currie steel cruiser e-bike.
It's not perfect quality for sure, but it's proven strong and stiff enough to go its first 1,000 without failure of any kind. And I rough the bike and jump off curbs at 20 per sometimes. I bounce it across the roughest turf
(it's on slicks).

The steel bike is the basically safe bike.
I'd rather say: have a predjudice against low-end aluminum frames for off-road use. Because Al. has such poor fatigue life, relative to steel.

I don't know much about bikes, really, but they can't be as bad as you imply---or the sheer costs of paying for maimed cyclists would deter vendors like Target from dealing out deathtraps.

Agree in part?

I would trust my Currie bike in any high-shock situation that any high-end bike would attempt. I do think it is about bomb proof. But I have no proof to offer, only familiarity with its utter stablity at high speeds and its nimble, flex-less handling.

 

[JDELUNA]

Here is my take on some of the so called Chaepo department store bicycles:

Actually some of the department store bikes are probably as good as the low end bikes you get from the LBS. IIRC Mountain Bike Action magazine did a test back in 1997 or 1998 on a Huffy and Pacific mountain bikes, the Huffy of course you knew what to expect, but the Pacific mountain bike, suprised them as again IIRC they took it every place they took their more expensive mountain bikes and it did well. All they had was praise for the Pacific mountain bike. Pacific now makes the Schwinn, GT, Mongoose, etc. bicycles that you see in the department stores. Their quality has improved drastically from back in the early 90's when I used to work for local Toys-R-Us, Department Stores, etc. assembling bicycles. In fact I was at a local Super Walmart last night looking at a Mongoose Blackcomb mountain bike, it only cost $279 and it looked pretty nice, the components on it were well made. Now if you do a search for reviews on this bike, you will find that people that have the $1000+ bicycles, telling you it is junk, the suspension design is about 5 years out of date, etc. LOL !!! My opinion is for the price of $279 who cares if the suspension design is 5 years out of date, the bike looks great and probably rides just as nice as a Highend Mongoose, Cannondale, Trek from 5 years ago. God Bless

 

[Drunkskunk]

Well, i got to throw my $.02 in here, being an old Schwinn fan. The bike I bought is the 700c version of yours. as I understand it, they use the same frame, with diffrent brake components used for the change in wheel size. The paintjob is even the same!

http://www.amazon.com/Men%92s-Schwi...UTF8&s=sporting-goods&qid=1176662390&sr=1-172

15 years ago I rode an older Schwinn La Tour. Not there best bike, but even being 10 years old at the time, it was compeditive with the new treks and such that were available. My Cannondale was faster and lighter, but nothing beats a light chrrome molly frame for lond distance rides.

So jump forward to now, I bought a Schwinn Trail Way from Target thinking Schwinn can't really be selling in target, can they?? and for under a grand I get all that??? Whats the catch?

So later I find out Schwinn isn't the same company anymore, its now a badge engineered Pacifica, and the old company and standards don't exsist. Sad news, but not that big a deal. it turns out this new Schwinn isn't half bad. Actualy, I have only two complaints. The seatpost to seat clamp is stamped metter, and poorly stamped. it took some welding and grinding to make it work... Although I must say thats one damn comfortable seat, and the shock in the seatpost is an A$$ saver! I love that thing. ... the other complaint is the rear derailer. after 300 miles, its showing signs of failing. it can't keep the chain tight when on the smallest gear anymore, and the chain cage can be crushed and bent between toyr thumb and pinky.

... and thats it.. 300 miles so far of abuse, riding 50+ pounds of electric drive plus my weight at 20+mph over both road, and offroad trails, and the bike is still in great shape. it was only 30 pounds originaly, and while fit and finish of some of the parts isn't the best, they all function really well, stand up to abuse, and are light weight.


So yes, a $1000 bike would be better than this .. I paid $149 on sale.. But not 7 times better. More like 7% better. all that extra money will shave a pound or two off the weight, and get you a few percent better functionality out of it. Great for free riding, but for converting to electric, this is all the bike I need.

 

[Tony]

Hi again everyone, Just got the kit in from evtech. Just waiting for my battery and then I'll post a review. Tony.

 

[Reid Welch]

Welcome back to your thread, Tony.
Pages 2 through 4 went a bit awry, away from the topic,

however, it was in those pages that I learned of the EV Tech lipo pack,
and have mine on the way now. It's on the UPS road to my Miami.

Now to the moment: You have your BMC geared hub motor!
HOORAY!

I'm excited and happy for you.
This is going to be more fun!

See Maytag's thread and Decanios thread if you haven't already done so.

Congrats!

Reid

PS: which pack did you order?

 

[Tony]

Hi Reid, after much debate I ended up going with the 39.2 volt 10 ah NiMH pack from batteryspace. I always want "just a little more" power with things usually so I figured this would be a good fit as well as being compatable with the stock 36v controller. Those Lipo packs are so damn tempting thou! I decided to play it safe with a more proven technology and a little more wieght.