Surf E-bike recommendations?

[surf]

New to e-bike world. Want to build a bike on a single speed beach cruiser frame. Riding mostly on flat ground with speed limit of 8mph, but have 3 pretty big hills on my way home. Want something that has a lot of oomph so I'm not wishing I had just a bit more speed. Will be carrying surfboard. Will only be going about 5 miles round trip.

I'm thinking 36 or 48v hub motor kit so it's plug n play and easy to install. Want something that is reliable and mid-range cost. What do you recommend?

Thank you

 

[slacker]

Not sure of your budget but i have bought 2 e-bikekit.com kits and have been very happy. Top notch customer service also.jmo 8)

 

[Ussyamoto]

Magic Pie3 48v is good product, I've used mine for 600miles now without issue, climbs hills at 19-22mph and tops out at 26mph for me. Controller is in the motor so it's low profile, but some people have had issues with water getting in there and frying their controller, but I've been through rain with it and havn't fried yet.

At 48v 10ah it gets me 18miles without peddling at 22mph average speeds but can go MUCH further if you go slow (10-15mph) and even further if you assist.
If you choose this, go through goldenmotor.ca not goldenmotor.com because of their crap customer service.

For such a low speed I'd say a 36v would be more for ya, but I dunno.

Hope this helps

 

[dogman dan]

Wanting that slow is a bit odd, but it might be about the max speed for riding on the beachfront multi use trail.

One kit that has some decent power, 800w, yet is very slow is the E-bikekit trike kit. Front motor, so great for beach cruisers with coaster brakes. 15 mph max.

http://www.ebikekit.com/electric-tricycle-conversion-kits/e-trikekits-with-premium-36-volt-battery-pack/

And btw, I work at ebikekit. So I'm biased in their favor.

 

[Drunkskunk]

Welcome to the forum. Since you have a beach cruiser, I assume it has a coaster brake? That means no rear motor for you without some serious mods. You'll need a front motor. And for a front motor, you need a steel fork. If your bike uses one, then great, lots of choices out there that will suit your needs. If your bike doesn't have a steel front fork, then sorry, your bike isn't really suitable for a hub motor. There are options, but the easiest is getting a craigslist used bike that will work.

As for motors, that does depend on the hills you need to tackle. It would help to know where you live and/or the steepness of the hill before we can recommend something.

 

[surf]

Hmm didn't think about the brake issue. Probably easier if I just find a geared bike cheap. I live in hermosa beach at the top of the city so there's 3 decently steep hills but they are only a couple blocks long; I can bike up them with a beach cruiser.

 

[mark5]

Try looking at E-S member e-beach's posts for what motor to use ideas. I think he rides in your beach cities area. Looks like he uses a Yescom front hub motor. A Yescom motor would cost less allowing more for a good battery.

Beachcruzer posted about his very nice front hub motored Stealth Cruiser with only a rear coaster brake. It worked ok for him. He wrote that he tows a longboard on a trailer. He did write that he planned to add a front brake in the future.

 

[dogman dan]

Front motor will work fine. No need to get a special bike. And any decent kit with 800-1000w ( 36 or 48v) will get you up the hills you have.

The only issue may be having a 30 mph ebike. 8) rather than an 8 mph one. Once on the boardwalk, any fast kit can still run 8 mph fine.

So depending on your cash, go yes kit, or E-bikekit, or Grin Cyclery. The yes kit you can go pick up in city of industry. You'll need to really seal up your plugs though, if you get a kit with the square white scooter plugs. That salt air will eat stuff. Of course, you know that.