el_walto
10 kW
I've yet to see a commercial push trailer until now. Looks like a solid product.
http://www.ridekick.com/
http://www.ridekick.com/
RideKick Commercial Push Trailer
- Thread starter el_walto
- Start date
nebriancent
100 W
doesn't look too bad (except for the stock 12ah sla and the 24v 500w limit.. hackable?)
rang listed (from my experience with sla) is out to lunch.. unless your pedaling 90% of the way)
500w draw in average terrain i expect to burn 14wh per km with a reasonable amount of pedaling (120lbs bike bats and electronics 190lbs rider)
24v at 12 ah is 288wh under listed capacity (i find you get less then half from a sla battery so we will call it 144wh so be generous)
so that ends up about 10km or about 6 miles
about half of what they rate the bottom end of their product "12-15miles per charge"
but with a decent lixx battery of about .5-1kwh i could see a real benefit for the entry level ev market
rang listed (from my experience with sla) is out to lunch.. unless your pedaling 90% of the way)
500w draw in average terrain i expect to burn 14wh per km with a reasonable amount of pedaling (120lbs bike bats and electronics 190lbs rider)
24v at 12 ah is 288wh under listed capacity (i find you get less then half from a sla battery so we will call it 144wh so be generous)
so that ends up about 10km or about 6 miles
about half of what they rate the bottom end of their product "12-15miles per charge"
but with a decent lixx battery of about .5-1kwh i could see a real benefit for the entry level ev market
el_walto
10 kW
I just like that it's a nice looking product they could sell at Costco etc. Too bad they did not use lithium batteries, they will give themselves a bad reputation when the batteries go bad right away.
nebriancent
100 W
yup yup..
i have gone thru 3 sets of sla batts in under a year b4 i built my docbass makita pack
on average i see 60-70 cycles till 25% capacity (you only get 50% of listed)
so ya im kinda done w/ the hole sla thing
i have gone thru 3 sets of sla batts in under a year b4 i built my docbass makita pack
on average i see 60-70 cycles till 25% capacity (you only get 50% of listed)
so ya im kinda done w/ the hole sla thing
ecowheelz
100 W
We just recieved our first RideKick Power Trailer, and I must say -- it's very cool!
The amount of thought that went into designing these units is amazing! I'm sure many of you do-it-yourself ES guys will complain that they're too expensive considering all the basic components that makeup these systems (ie: 24V SLA, 500W chain-drive motor, etc), but the engineering and design of these trailers make them well worth $699 in my opinion. The demo-unit we recieved arrived extremely well-packaged and 90% assembled. Just add the hitch arm, attach to the bike, run the throttle cable to the handlebars and it's ready to go!
Although it was raining today and we didn't get to do an extensive amount of testing, it rode smooth and had a surprising kick. For most ES guys, it's probably not nearly enough power, but I think these will be extremely popular considering they can be quickly added (or removed) to any bike and they're relatively affordable.
RideKick is supposed to be coming out with a Li-Ion version this Spring. They also mentioned a hub-motor version in the works. Not sure about pricing on the Li-Ion, but I'm sure it will be expensive compared to what most of you are used to paying. Either way, they're very easy to upgrade yourself. Nice Anderson connector built right into the controller box housing.
Anyways... just wanted to share our first impressions. VERY NEAT PRODUCT AND EXCITED ABOUT CARRYING IT IN OUR SHOP!
The amount of thought that went into designing these units is amazing! I'm sure many of you do-it-yourself ES guys will complain that they're too expensive considering all the basic components that makeup these systems (ie: 24V SLA, 500W chain-drive motor, etc), but the engineering and design of these trailers make them well worth $699 in my opinion. The demo-unit we recieved arrived extremely well-packaged and 90% assembled. Just add the hitch arm, attach to the bike, run the throttle cable to the handlebars and it's ready to go!
Although it was raining today and we didn't get to do an extensive amount of testing, it rode smooth and had a surprising kick. For most ES guys, it's probably not nearly enough power, but I think these will be extremely popular considering they can be quickly added (or removed) to any bike and they're relatively affordable.
RideKick is supposed to be coming out with a Li-Ion version this Spring. They also mentioned a hub-motor version in the works. Not sure about pricing on the Li-Ion, but I'm sure it will be expensive compared to what most of you are used to paying. Either way, they're very easy to upgrade yourself. Nice Anderson connector built right into the controller box housing.
Anyways... just wanted to share our first impressions. VERY NEAT PRODUCT AND EXCITED ABOUT CARRYING IT IN OUR SHOP!
ecowheelz
100 W
Some promo videos of the RideKick in action 
[youtube]PS5hSF2PnME[/youtube]
[youtube]IBilqSoqias[/youtube]
[youtube]PS5hSF2PnME[/youtube]
[youtube]IBilqSoqias[/youtube]
lcyn
10 W
The RideKick is manufactured here in Fort Collins. It is a very well made product, and very nice looking. I have had an opportunity to ride one, and was impressed. Smooth ride, and handles well. A couple of the local bike shops are now selling them. I was surprised at the torture and speed from a small lightweight trailer. All they have to do now is disguise them as a baby trailer with a cute fake baby inside.
SamTexas
1 MW
I have a difficult time finding a reason for wanting this product even if it costs NOTHING to me.
Additional weight: 45 lbs: 16-18 top speed, 8-14 miles range. I can get a small front geared hub, a small 12A controller, and a small 10s LiCo battery to achieve all that for less than 15 additional lbs to my bicycle. And my bicycle still remains a bicycle with its nimbleness almost intact. I don't want to worry about the trailer before I make a sharp turn, before I jump a curb or before I go off road. And I certainly don't want to be pushed when the trailer is not perfectly "in-line" with my bicycle.
And I have not mentioned the 2 additional wheels that I have to maintain, the 2 (may be 3) additional feet added to the length of my bicycle which make storage and parking more challenging. But if I'm incapable of putting a few simple components together then may be this is the product I want.
Additional weight: 45 lbs: 16-18 top speed, 8-14 miles range. I can get a small front geared hub, a small 12A controller, and a small 10s LiCo battery to achieve all that for less than 15 additional lbs to my bicycle. And my bicycle still remains a bicycle with its nimbleness almost intact. I don't want to worry about the trailer before I make a sharp turn, before I jump a curb or before I go off road. And I certainly don't want to be pushed when the trailer is not perfectly "in-line" with my bicycle.
And I have not mentioned the 2 additional wheels that I have to maintain, the 2 (may be 3) additional feet added to the length of my bicycle which make storage and parking more challenging. But if I'm incapable of putting a few simple components together then may be this is the product I want.
Farfle
100 kW
Ok, we have two of these in the shop, they are one of the best designed products I have seen, good wheels, tires, in house designed controller with useful error code reporting, a USB port to charge stuff. The downsides, is that it really needs a lithium pack, the sla is, well, sla... could use a bit more capacity too 24v @10 ah does not get too far with that motor. Overall it it's an excellent setup for the 650 that we sell it for. And for why you want one, if you have a nice high dollar bike that you want to ride around as a bike, you don't have to uninstall a kit to do it.
ecowheelz
100 W
Setup our demo model, but rather than use a traditional bicycle, we added it to one of our Sidewalker Willy kick scooters. Pretty neat!
More pictures here...
More pictures here...
Farfle
100 kW
ecowheelz said:Setup our demo model, but rather than use a traditional bicycle, we added it to one of our Sidewalker Willy kick scooters. Pretty neat!
More pictures here...
Thats really creepy... We have our demo ridekick on a white sidewalker city kick scooter...
LI-ghtcycle
10 MW
I used to hate the idea of trailers until I used one that was better designed than the cheap on I started with, and the right trailer with the right set-up you won't even notice.
As for the push trailer causing problems, well, at normal bike speeds (20 MPH and below) I can see no problems, but if you are planing on hopping curbs and such, your not wanting to haul a trailer of any kind anyway.
I think that is a pretty ingenious little trailer, and perfect for a commuter that would like to keep all the weight off the bike it's self and put the groceries/school books or other small amounts of light cargo in the trailer instead of having to wear a back-pack or put a pannier on the bike.
I agree that Lithium would be better than SLA, but as far as I have seen, commercially, only a few E-bikes have main streamed, and they started with SLA's because initial cost of a decent Lithium battery alone is still going to price the average consumer out of the market (Curry bikes are a perfect example of this)
I am sure once they have enough sales with these SLA models to get the word out, the repeat customers will be happy to buy a replacement Lithium, and tell their friends to get the one with Lithium when they are looking to buy.
I love that I can go 50 - 70 miles per charge on my E-Bike, but how many avid commuters need that much range? I would be willing to bet that even the average bicycle commuter does much closer to 10 Miles round trip in their commute. :wink:
This is the same push trailer from Interbike that I was so impressed with, lots of cargo space in there. 8)
As for the push trailer causing problems, well, at normal bike speeds (20 MPH and below) I can see no problems, but if you are planing on hopping curbs and such, your not wanting to haul a trailer of any kind anyway.
I think that is a pretty ingenious little trailer, and perfect for a commuter that would like to keep all the weight off the bike it's self and put the groceries/school books or other small amounts of light cargo in the trailer instead of having to wear a back-pack or put a pannier on the bike.
I agree that Lithium would be better than SLA, but as far as I have seen, commercially, only a few E-bikes have main streamed, and they started with SLA's because initial cost of a decent Lithium battery alone is still going to price the average consumer out of the market (Curry bikes are a perfect example of this)
I am sure once they have enough sales with these SLA models to get the word out, the repeat customers will be happy to buy a replacement Lithium, and tell their friends to get the one with Lithium when they are looking to buy.
I love that I can go 50 - 70 miles per charge on my E-Bike, but how many avid commuters need that much range? I would be willing to bet that even the average bicycle commuter does much closer to 10 Miles round trip in their commute. :wink:
This is the same push trailer from Interbike that I was so impressed with, lots of cargo space in there. 8)
ddk
100 kW
- Joined
- Nov 4, 2011
- Messages
- 1,903
I have nothing against using trailers, in fact I have a trailer with two motorcycle hub engines installed... I've built trailers using both gas and electric motors.
But they do cause a bike/trike to handle differently and you do feel the weight of any trailer when it's towed 'un-powered' ...however it's easy enough to compensate for.
YEMD- your experiences may differ
my opinion
it costs too much for what it is,
no matter how well designed it is.
If they offered the RideKick at the same price ($650) WITH lithium batteries then I might have seriously considered purchasing one (I at least did consider it)
otherwise it's easier/cheaper just to buy an e-bike -where you get a whole new bike with SLA batteries
...and of course, I chose to do something else.
But they do cause a bike/trike to handle differently and you do feel the weight of any trailer when it's towed 'un-powered' ...however it's easy enough to compensate for.
YEMD- your experiences may differ
my opinion
it costs too much for what it is,
no matter how well designed it is.
If they offered the RideKick at the same price ($650) WITH lithium batteries then I might have seriously considered purchasing one (I at least did consider it)
otherwise it's easier/cheaper just to buy an e-bike -where you get a whole new bike with SLA batteries
...and of course, I chose to do something else.
JEB
100 W
I went through the push trailer build idea, first one was a one wheel drive, crabbed so bad that I used the tires up in a few weeks, (EGO 1.99 hp motor) next went to a jack shaft with 2 freewheels, worked great, but it hopped, (went over a bad bump on the side of the road, trailer did 200+ degree rotation) next did a suspension, that was the ticket, using it with a trike, only problem is the total running lenght parking it anywhere, lots of power, top speed 20mph, running I do not know it is there.
BATFINK
10 kW
- Joined
- Aug 7, 2011
- Messages
- 598
$699 for sla batteries, no thanks, is this antique prices, id advise getting out the RideKick business before you waste good money and time. Its just a much better option to have the electric kit on the bike and much more powerful setups can be had for less cash. Also i could not imagine this along a relatively bumpy road.
