New to e-bikes - came here to learn

[Enkidu]

I am considering getting a Grin SX1 Front Ready-to-Roll Kit https://ebikes.ca/shop/ready-to-roll-kits/front-rtr/sx1-front-ready-to-roll-kit.html to put on my Bike Friday New World Tourist https://www.bikefriday.com/folding-bikes/product/bike-friday-new-world-tourist-folding-bike. I know that this likely is not the cheapest option but it is the same equipment that Bike Friday puts on their electric bikes so it should be a good match. If anyone can suggest other kits like the one from Grin please do.

One reason why I want to use a folding bike is that I could take it on road trips and store it in our van.

Looks like this would be a fun, interesting project. Also it would be good to learn something new.

 

[E-HP]

I am considering getting a Grin SX1 Front Ready-to-Roll Kit https://ebikes.ca/shop/ready-to-roll-kits/front-rtr/sx1-front-ready-to-roll-kit.html to put on my Bike Friday New World Tourist https://www.bikefriday.com/folding-bikes/product/bike-friday-new-world-tourist-folding-bike. I know that this likely is not the cheapest option but it is the same equipment that Bike Friday puts on their electric bikes so it should be a good match. If anyone can suggest other kits like the one from Grin please do.

One reason why I want to use a folding bike is that I could take it on road trips and store it in our van.

Looks like this would be a fun, interesting project. Also it would be good to learn something new.

Looks like a decent choice! You could get a cheaper kit, but with that you would likely not have much in the way of instructions or support, so seems like a good decision from that perspective as well.

 

[dogman dan]

You are on the right track if you like riding that bike.

But I would suggest a better solution would be to put a couple hundred into a hitch mount on the van, pretty easy to self install if you get the right fitting one, and then an affordable rack that holds the bike by the wheels.

Then you can choose the bike you like riding the best, and put a good quality kit on it. Loading even a very heavy cruiser bike with heavy motor on it is easy with the right rack. One wheel in the pocket at a time, lifting half the weight.

The downside is your bike is outside the van when you park it and get the bike stolen. The upside is they took your bike, but didn't smash the windows on the van.

 

[Enkidu]

You are on the right track if you like riding that bike.

But I would suggest a better solution would be to put a couple hundred into a hitch mount on the van, pretty easy to self install if you get the right fitting one, and then an affordable rack that holds the bike by the wheels.

Then you can choose the bike you like riding the best, and put a good quality kit on it. Loading even a very heavy cruiser bike with heavy motor on it is easy with the right rack. One wheel in the pocket at a time, lifting half the weight.

The downside is your bike is outside the van when you park it and get the bike stolen. The upside is they took your bike, but didn't smash the windows on the van.

You do bring up some good points.

My main reason for using the Bike Friday is that I already own it and like it a lot. When we travel I have a space blanket https://www.cabelas.com/shop/en/the-original-space-brands-all-weather-blanket?ds_e=GOOGLE&ds_c=Shop%7CCAB%7CTopPerformers%7CCamping&gclid=Cj0KCQiAw9qOBhC-ARIsAG-rdn7x0Jxn1MXQqe7GJjPpEhSrKzYl9cikgHpO3SUvAePFvfKXdr3HpO4aAhkQEALw_wcB&gclsrc=aw.ds
that I use to cover anything of value in the van overnight when we are in a hotel. (BTW these are handy to have when you pickup carry out food. Just wrap up the food when you are in the restaurant and it will lose very little heat by the time you get home.) I figure that if a thief looks in the van that they would be less likely to break in because they have no idea what is in it. And I do lock things like my bike to the seat floor anchors.

The other option I have been considering is getting a RadMini Step-Thru 2 or a RadMini 4 https://www.radpowerbikes.com/collections/folding-electric-bikes/products/radmini-electric-folding-bike
This would actually be a cheaper option but all the electronics are likely proprietary and I don't want to get locked into that.

 

[Chalo]

But I would suggest a better solution would be to put a couple hundred into a hitch mount on the van, pretty easy to self install if you get the right fitting one, and then an affordable rack that holds the bike by the wheels.

Then you can choose the bike you like riding the best, and put a good quality kit on it. Loading even a very heavy cruiser bike with heavy motor on it is easy with the right rack. One wheel in the pocket at a time, lifting half the weight.

The downside is your bike is outside the van when you park it and get the bike stolen. The upside is they took your bike, but didn't smash the windows on the van.

There is an additional drawback, which is that the bike inhabits the cloud of aerosol sewage that follows high speed vehicles in bad weather. In the godforsaken frozen northlands, this foul filth can be very salty and extra destructive to both mechanical and electrical components.

 

[Enkidu]

But I would suggest a better solution would be to put a couple hundred into a hitch mount on the van, pretty easy to self install if you get the right fitting one, and then an affordable rack that holds the bike by the wheels.

Then you can choose the bike you like riding the best, and put a good quality kit on it. Loading even a very heavy cruiser bike with heavy motor on it is easy with the right rack. One wheel in the pocket at a time, lifting half the weight.

The downside is your bike is outside the van when you park it and get the bike stolen. The upside is they took your bike, but didn't smash the windows on the van.

There is an additional drawback, which is that the bike inhabits the cloud of aerosol sewage that follows high speed vehicles in bad weather. In the godforsaken frozen northlands, this foul filth can be very salty and extra destructive to both mechanical and electrical components.

Oh I know the road filth of which you speak as we live just north of Detroit Michigan. I can't imagine that that mix of salt and dirt helps any metal let alone things like electronics on bikes.

 

[footloose]

I think you would be hard pressed to find a better solution than the Grin kit.

My main current bike is a Bike Friday Silk, but I've also put a lot of miles on a Tikit and an older Raleigh 20.
The easiest mistake to make with electrifying a small-wheel folder is to install too much power -- IMHO (and from painful experience :lol: ) it makes them hazardous. High power motor on the back, and they want to do wheelies. High power motor on the front, and they break traction too easily. Grin and Bike Friday got it just right for a folder with a moderate-size front motor, running at 36 volts.

You might consider, depending on the distances you anticipate riding, getting a smaller battery. A couple of Grin's LiGo 36v / 2.7Ah batteries in parallel would be mighty nice. Plus, you could fly with them and your NWT.

 

[Enkidu]

I think you would be hard pressed to find a better solution than the Grin kit.

My main current bike is a Bike Friday Silk, but I've also put a lot of miles on a Tikit and an older Raleigh 20.
The easiest mistake to make with electrifying a small-wheel folder is to install too much power -- IMHO (and from painful experience :lol: ) it makes them hazardous. High power motor on the back, and they want to do wheelies. High power motor on the front, and they break traction too easily. Grin and Bike Friday got it just right for a folder with a moderate-size front motor, running at 36 volts.

You might consider, depending on the distances you anticipate riding, getting a smaller battery. A couple of Grin's LiGo 36v / 2.7Ah batteries in parallel would be mighty nice. Plus, you could fly with them and your NWT.

Thanks for the tip about too much power. I would have never thought of that.

 

[Chalo]

The easiest mistake to make with electrifying a small-wheel folder is to install too much power -- IMHO (and from painful experience :lol: ) it makes them hazardous. High power motor on the back, and they want to do wheelies. High power motor on the front, and they break traction too easily.

Ah, you just haven't tried a drag racing folder:

 

[footloose]

Nice! Has the potential to become kind of an anorexic version of LFP's DeathBike ... :lol:

 

[dogman dan]

Ah yes,,, I overlooked the location. Even in summer, a rain can bring up that salt. You like the bike, so go for it.

Mostly I wanted to make him think about his type of bike, before shelling out for one. Some love the folders, others not. I personally don't love small front wheels.