Stretch cruiser Rat Rod Build. What Motor best for single speed?

[destro23]

Hey guys i've been struggling on a rat rod style build (Micargi Royal Frame) thats kinda a basman clone. I need least amount of wires and clutter as possible. I want the battery to be mounted low on the bike.

2 options i'm thinking is a magic pie edge with built in controller.
and a Luna Befang bbs02 mid drive.

My question is how do i make a befang middrive only single speed? whats the best way? Everything i'm reading says these are much better geared. I'm going to be using this mostly for house hopping and bar hopping.

This is a single speed cruiser build. and i'm really not sure on how to set up the rear for for single speed. even the magic pie says it can fit gears on it.

Also can you recommend a rear hub with small/built in controller?

I don't need to go super fast.... but would always like to have a little power when needed.

 

[markz]

Clean looks, built in controller is nice for low power riding.
https://endless-sphere.com/forums/viewtopic.php?f=1&t=91933&p=1340803&hilit=magic+pie+edge#p1340803

Grin Tech has a very small controller, expensive but can handle lots of power - Phase Runner
http://www.ebikes.ca/shop/electric-bicycle-parts/controllers.html

What size battery you wanting to use?
Place it on the bottom bar next to crank, or have a rear rack with old style saddle bags is my suggestion. You could even have a regular controller on the top of the rack, camoflauged well and go with any ole motor you wish.

 

[destro23]

What size battery you wanting to use?
Place it on the bottom bar next to crank, or have a rear rack with old style saddle bags is my suggestion. You could even have a regular controller on the top of the rack, camoflauged well and go with any ole motor you wish.

I'm thinking 48v (52v mighty mini cube from luna looks appealing as well when it's back in stock) and jamming it as low as possible next to/on/above crank area.

 

[wturber]

I don't know at all if it would be the right thing for a single speed, but when I look at that bike, all that space in the middle, and the classic curved tubes, my brain wants to see two chains and a big red Stoke Monkey in the middle of it.

 

[Voltron]

Its doable... but thats going to be a tough conversion. With coaster brake in the back, if you go hub motor you'll lose that with the wheel swap, so you'll need to figure out a brake or high quality regen braking. Mid drive is difficult to do with the one piece crank too. Most crank drives are based around regular three piece crack dimensions. And maybe a low power one on the front... but those Monarch type forks don't love a lot of extra loads, esp with the forward facing dropouts.

Really really not dissing the bike or the project... if you want a custom special machining project its one thing, but starting with a stretch cruiser with regular bottom bracket and maybe disc brake will make your life much much easier if you just want to get riding.

 

[Chalo]

If single speed, why not a hub motor? Put one in front and it will look like a vintage motorcycle drum brake.

As I see it, the only advantage crank drives have is the ability to use variable gearing.

 

[destro23]

The front is set up to have disc brakes. for the rear I will weld in disc break tabs as well. I don’t plan on keeping coaster break.... it’s looking more and more like I’m going to do a hub.

Here is a basman frame with a mid drive.. I would do something similar but with lower slung battery. And I would also weld in disc break tabs

 

[markz]

Curved seat tube puts a damper on a vertical battery box.
The best look for you bike is as mentioned, old style pannier bags where the battery goes.
Then maybe a matching old style handle bar bag

If going traditional ebike, along same lines, black rear pannier rack with enough room to place regular controller (painted black) under the rack. Dark brown bags, hiding your rear hub motor. I think that would look kick-ass!
Looking at your seat, may not work that way, but would on last pic you posted.

 

[Chalo]

For what it's worth, hub motor plus rear pannier battery makes the thing look like a real bike.

 

[KD5ZXG]

I wanted to try the S/A 5speed drum brake in place of my coaster,
also a front drum to match my fork, but bought from the wrong shop
and got screwed around for two months before having to admit the
money was lost and i had been ripped off. Now shopping around for
reliable seller to buy the same parts all over again...

I have 26" Electra Ratrod, 36V Tongsheng Mid (non-coaster version),
Sunlite deluxe double springer, and NO BRAKES!!!! Not really, cause
having only that coaster has kept my new Tongsheng in the box.
Has a built-in controller, and left half-twist display option, XH-18,
is very small. The wire to that display is black, so might hide well.
XH-18 twists to set and forget, like a shifter, not a throttle to hold.

Keep wishing I had gone stretch, cause I'm going to need a layback
seatpost of dangerously long leverage to keep my feet where they
can touch the ground and still pedal comfortably.

I'm counting a great many spokes on your rear wheel, can you
even upgrade your hub without replacing for a 36 spoke rim?

 

[destro23]

Rear wheel is 24” temp that came with bike. It’s eventually going to look like the front 26” much cleaner

 

[aroundqube]

Oh, you may want to choose a motor that conforms to the proposed new NJ regulations - https://legiscan.com/NJ/text/A1810/2018 . With so many bills with the same wording being approved in the assembly and senate , it looks like the political climate in Trenton is favorable .

 

[aroundqube]

If you get a rear hub motor that is threaded on one side for a screw on freewheel, then this adapter will work with a one speed freewheel. https://www.ebikekit.com/collections/freewheels/products/freewheel-spacer-for-1-speed . Works with 1/8" x 1/2" chain.

 

[KD5ZXG]

Oh, you may want to choose a motor that conforms to the proposed new NJ regulations - https://legiscan.com/NJ/text/A1810/2018 . With so many bills with the same wording being approved in the assembly and senate , it looks like the political climate in Trenton is favorable .

Torque sensing with no throttle neatly works around the 20MPH limit. Speed "when powered solely by a motor while operated by a person weighing 170 pounds" is Zero. Why I went with the Tongsheng. Mind you, I also bought a thumb throttle (which is a non-standard option for XH-18), figuring some resistors might be abused to trim it down to meet the law, while still having full torque assist at the pedals.

Warning: I have no hands-on experience of what I speak. For coaster brake reasons, my motor remains in the box.
Also: These rear-views may look nifty, but work more like elbow-views, maybe relocate to outside edge of grips...

 

[KD5ZXG]

For what it's worth, hub motor plus rear pannier battery makes the thing look like a real bike.

My plan was to sheet-in the tank area. Mount a pair of ANN 36V bottles to either side, with headlamps
covering the forward facing bottom ends and connectors. Way my knees bend, should easily clear the
rounded bottle tops. More so when I get that seat moved back where it probably belongs...

https://www.aliexpress.com/store/product/Water-bottle-type-e-bike-battery-box-Used-for-18650-cell-assembly-With-free-cell-holder/536657_1565979743.html

Or maybe I should get the black plastic Hailongs? Can't properly picture wether this plan is going to
look stupid in a good way or bad. For now, they are just going in an ammo box which won't fit either
opening of my frame. Your stretch frame may have better clearances to work with...

No, wait, its coming to me now~~~ Ammo Box Battery Panniers. Yeeeaahhh, vastly better idea...

 

[destro23]

I def don’t want Panniers for this build. But thanks aroundqube this is what I was looking for.. I guess this is what people use for single speed rear hubs. I wonder if there is a specific Gearing that would be good for a befang bss02 or rear hubs.

So to update and clear up some info.
I will not be reusing that rear tire... i just have it on there because it was the original and if i bought a hub motor it would just be thrown away anyway.

saddle bags on the side of the bike though functional aren't really to cool to go bar hopping. (though when i make a beach chair/cooler hauler bike i will def have saddles on the side lol)

since i really need more info on gearing and programming with the bafang i'll wait till i learn more. I def want to have a thumb throttle for either hub or mid, and be able to just use that sometimes.

As far as breaks go i will weld in disc break tabs for the rear.

If you get a rear hub motor that is threaded on one side for a screw on freewheel, then this adapter will work with a one speed freewheel. https://www.ebikekit.com/collections/freewheels/products/freewheel-spacer-for-1-speed . Works with 1/8" x 1/2" chain.