i was directly here by an another individual, so it's not exactly that our scour the forums, nor E-S has suddenly developed the ability to email me on my nick name mentioning.
first of all my online-persona, is my persona, which allows other folks to call me a "sniveling c*nt" freely, because i'm unable to scream, shout, berate or insult people, everyone can allow themselves to make fun or me, call me boy, emoaner, ignore me at a whim, and i can't do anything about it.
about the specs: when you say things like 3000 watts, 40 amps, then you have to specify it these are considered "peak" usages, to continuous ones just like in batteries. this is even before assembling and technical know how, if people like me see 3000 watts, they would think they could run it like that for hours without any problems. everyone seem to keep taking it for granted, it's NOT. i remember someone said something like (i think it was ypedal) "if you don't state your expectations your customers will do it for you"
about the design: i'm pretty sure i mentioned this somewhere in L-R post, but there's nothing to stop someone taking even PART of L-R's kit like the lower sheets, and design new upper sheets, or vice versa. it's a modular design, the basic concept of a reduction using a shaft still exists in all forms, with tensioner, no tensioner, etc... variations on a theme. sure it's a LOT of work to get one variation right. but i doubt you can actually patent it. it's an extensible design. i'm sure we'll see more after-after-after-market solutions when the current ones take off.
i have to say that the gng's 2015 solution to the twist is seems legit, he simply made it part of the motor casing and turned it horizontally, that makes it look a lot stronger, he's also using 219 chain for the primary reduction (i think).
about complexity: what's your target audience? if you're planning to sell just "to the guys" here at e-s, sure you can get away with almost anything, if they'll hit a snag , they'll just mod their own improvement, post it, and get on.
but .. if you want what we call in software a "next-next-next installation" then someone like me steps in, someone you'd WANT to fail on what you see as "obvious" points , who will attempt to document and establish a clear and accurate process from the moment of un-packaging till the moment of operation.
obviously i can't test it, i'd like to, but i don't do off-road riding, i just commute to work 20 miles a day, and i need something bullet-proof for that . the only way i'd be able test it is to assemble it on my trek 7700 and ingress like hell at night.
thud: actually i'm not offended from you, and you're partially right,but, would do you really want a customer to say "it was so complex for me to handle that he decided to re-fund my money" or "he had such an awesome support that he stuck by me all the way with great patience until i finally got it work" , like i said, target audience.
can you really asses someone's capabilities based on their email request? here's an example , when i first approached matt about installing his mid-drive a year ago, he "warned" me it's not exactly a bolt-on installation, but after i elaborated by experience with replacing parts of ecospeed, and re-soldering the motor's hall sensors, he said i'm more then qualified. but after he saw my participation in l-r's post, he naturally became far far less willing to sell me anything (the thing that finally put me off btw is needing a battery which can supply 150 amps for 3 seconds) . so maybe you'll refund "one of me" ,but what will happen if you'll encounter ten or more like me, , (with less patience?) who just googled "mid drive kits", if you google this term now, l-r's post will your first result. eventually you'll need a "bridge" person during development, someone who'll be able to tell you "that won't be so obvious to everyone, you should make that more clear" otherwise you'll need to create qualification exams
About pedaling: don't dismiss it just yet, if you're using a 128 bb, then you can now use http://www.ebikes.ca/shop/ebike-parts/torque-sensors/thun-128l.html or http://www.ebikes.ca/shop/ebike-parts/torque-sensors/tdcm-128.html bb's which unlike the 136 version ARE in production, this will extend your target audience and allow you to market as both riding and transportation rigs.(and will provide better anti-cop protection
)
About defect submission: please please please , don't use e-s platform for this, there's no hierarchy, no data mining, no order, any thread you start eventually will get too big (even without me). if you want to MANAGE your defects i strongly suggest http://www.hostedredmine.com it's a free platform for tracking bugs, anyone can register, create a project, open bugs, you can assign severity, priority, keywords, get notified on each change, query a list and so much more, and it's soooo simple to use. i'd be willing to help in that regard, just pm me. your beta testers could use it, they'll be able to share the links here on e-s.
