StevenR
100 W
After substantial on-line research, I purchased a Crystalyte Phoenix Racer system; an X5303 front hub with a CT4840 48 volt, 40 amp controller. It included chromed steel baskets, a rack trunk with integral panniers, thumb throttle, cruise control and four BB 12-12T2 SLA batteries.
I got my old Bianchi Alante mild steel frame and fork that had been hanging in the workshop at mom's house. It seemed to be a better choice than my full suspension Jamus or Cannondale M750 with (recalled) pepperoni aluminum fork and turned out to be just the ticket. I filed the fork dropouts to take the X5's axle, mounted the wheel and attached the torque arm. I didn't really mount the baskets but just laid them over my existing rack. The throttle and cruise wouldn't fit on the Scott AT-4 handlebars (the curve is too tight - I also had this problem with gripshifts) so I put an old riser bar on and mounted everything up. I ran the wires back to the controller in the rack truck and was ready to go!
Time for the first test ride. I hauled the 80 pound rig down three flights and set off. The accelleration was quite impressive and it handled well, even with the slightly sloppy baskets. It was late so I hauled the whole thing back upstairs and put it on charge.
After work the next day I decided the baskets had to go. The panniers didn't seem like they would handle the weight so I tried putting them in the rack trunk and it turns out they would fit. The entire package was (is) quite top heavy but, once underway, seemed fine. I put the charger in a pannier and headed off across town. Running through traffic was a blast. I could keep up and even pass people from light to light. Maximum speed was 35+ MPH and as it turned out I got 10 miles to a friends house at nearly top speed. Only as I was about to arrive did the controller start to cut out and I had to back off. Actually, I didn't know what was happening so I checked out the connections and everything seemed OK. I ran slow and made it the last half mile and put it on charge. After about four hours of playing with ceramics (clay night) the battery was charged and I made it home without getting to low voltage cutoff. Trip average was 25.5 MPH for a total of 19.7 miles (recharge halfway through). The next week I forgot my charger and took it easy both ways. I made the same trip (19.5 miles on the same route - go figure) without recharging with an average speed of 19.7 MPH.
Since then I had an accident and a rack/bag malfunction. Some woman backed out in front of me while talking on her cell phone and I hit her. I bent the rear wheel and broke off the tab on the thumb throttle. The motor didn't run so I pedalled home. Two blocks away the rear tire went flat and I pushed it the rest of the way. On closer inspection it turned out the fuse block had just pulled out and I plugged it back in. Back in action! I could turn the throttle without the tab and then just set the cruise control. The rack was cracked so I got a super light weight rack from my brother and replaced my heavy duty Blackburn. Bad move. The lame seat mounting system failed and I dropped the bag to the pavement at 30+. I couldn't get it to go and peddaled back to my bro's house. Off to the bike store to purchase a Topeak rack and bag. This works great. Unfortunately the system seemed broke. The cruise control connector pulled off and I couldn't make the motor go. After much putzing still no joy. I ordered a throttle, cruise control and controller. They arrived and I wired them up. Success! back on the road again!
Just a word about the cruise control. This is WAY better than sliced bread. I would not even consider a system without it. My thumb would go numb it I had to push the throttle all the time (I got a half twist throttle but haven't tried it). It seems to extend my range by keeping the throttle constant. The up/down buttons change speed smoothly.
Since I got it I've added Schwalbe 2.1 Big Apple semi-slicks, fenders, a center stand and various wiring cleanups. I bought a Nashbar cargo trailer and have gone out to open mics on the ebike hauling my euphonium in the trailer. I just got the original controller working again and enabled regenerative braking. I'm about to take it out for a test spin. More on that and a picture to follow. I reminded myself about the regen and can't wait to give it a try...
I got my old Bianchi Alante mild steel frame and fork that had been hanging in the workshop at mom's house. It seemed to be a better choice than my full suspension Jamus or Cannondale M750 with (recalled) pepperoni aluminum fork and turned out to be just the ticket. I filed the fork dropouts to take the X5's axle, mounted the wheel and attached the torque arm. I didn't really mount the baskets but just laid them over my existing rack. The throttle and cruise wouldn't fit on the Scott AT-4 handlebars (the curve is too tight - I also had this problem with gripshifts) so I put an old riser bar on and mounted everything up. I ran the wires back to the controller in the rack truck and was ready to go!
Time for the first test ride. I hauled the 80 pound rig down three flights and set off. The accelleration was quite impressive and it handled well, even with the slightly sloppy baskets. It was late so I hauled the whole thing back upstairs and put it on charge.
After work the next day I decided the baskets had to go. The panniers didn't seem like they would handle the weight so I tried putting them in the rack trunk and it turns out they would fit. The entire package was (is) quite top heavy but, once underway, seemed fine. I put the charger in a pannier and headed off across town. Running through traffic was a blast. I could keep up and even pass people from light to light. Maximum speed was 35+ MPH and as it turned out I got 10 miles to a friends house at nearly top speed. Only as I was about to arrive did the controller start to cut out and I had to back off. Actually, I didn't know what was happening so I checked out the connections and everything seemed OK. I ran slow and made it the last half mile and put it on charge. After about four hours of playing with ceramics (clay night) the battery was charged and I made it home without getting to low voltage cutoff. Trip average was 25.5 MPH for a total of 19.7 miles (recharge halfway through). The next week I forgot my charger and took it easy both ways. I made the same trip (19.5 miles on the same route - go figure) without recharging with an average speed of 19.7 MPH.
Since then I had an accident and a rack/bag malfunction. Some woman backed out in front of me while talking on her cell phone and I hit her. I bent the rear wheel and broke off the tab on the thumb throttle. The motor didn't run so I pedalled home. Two blocks away the rear tire went flat and I pushed it the rest of the way. On closer inspection it turned out the fuse block had just pulled out and I plugged it back in. Back in action! I could turn the throttle without the tab and then just set the cruise control. The rack was cracked so I got a super light weight rack from my brother and replaced my heavy duty Blackburn. Bad move. The lame seat mounting system failed and I dropped the bag to the pavement at 30+. I couldn't get it to go and peddaled back to my bro's house. Off to the bike store to purchase a Topeak rack and bag. This works great. Unfortunately the system seemed broke. The cruise control connector pulled off and I couldn't make the motor go. After much putzing still no joy. I ordered a throttle, cruise control and controller. They arrived and I wired them up. Success! back on the road again!
Just a word about the cruise control. This is WAY better than sliced bread. I would not even consider a system without it. My thumb would go numb it I had to push the throttle all the time (I got a half twist throttle but haven't tried it). It seems to extend my range by keeping the throttle constant. The up/down buttons change speed smoothly.
Since I got it I've added Schwalbe 2.1 Big Apple semi-slicks, fenders, a center stand and various wiring cleanups. I bought a Nashbar cargo trailer and have gone out to open mics on the ebike hauling my euphonium in the trailer. I just got the original controller working again and enabled regenerative braking. I'm about to take it out for a test spin. More on that and a picture to follow. I reminded myself about the regen and can't wait to give it a try...
