Things I learned about ebiking AFTER my first project

[JeffD]

I am still fairly new to ebiking. I test rode an ebike for about 10 mins then decided to convert my old mountain bike. Other than the folks on this forum, I don't know any ebikers.
Everything I know came from reading the endless-sphere forums in my spare time. Somethings, however, I learned only after riding an ebike for awhile.

I thought this would be a fun thread for all to participate in. I have been thinking of several things that weren't so obvious prior to getting on an ebike.

I'll start off the list but I invite anyone to add to it.

Ride with your mouth closed unless you like bugs.
You really do need a bell to warn folks you're passing them. Those traveling >30 mph may prefer a airhorn.
You'll stay in your biggest gear 90% of the time.
The money you save on gas will be spent on your ebike (fenders, kickstand, lights, bell, etc)
Wind direction plays a much greater factor than it ever used to with non-ebiking.

 

[Link]

You don't really need a bell around here. "GTF out of my way!" works pretty well.

Also: Pedalling helps out more than you'd think at low speeds. Only using the motor after you're up to over 10mph or so will increase your range by a lot.

 

[fechter]

Always carry a flat repair kit. Pushing an ebike or scooter several miles is not fun.
You are invisible to cars.
Always have a battery kill switch where you can easily reach it.

 

[EcoForumZ]

Inflate tires to maximum PSI they can handle.

 

[Pockets72488]

Always check that your chain is tight (unless using a hub motor)
never assume a curb has a ramp up onto it
check your brakes every few days if you go on bumpy roads alot

 

[ngocthach1130]

If you use a fuse, carry ONE spare so you don't get stuck when it blow.
Only one spare because if the second one blow right away, that's a sign not to pump anymore juice into it.

Check spokes on new hub motor for the first 10 rides, they will loosen quite a bit as then fall into place.

If you ride at night at 30mph+, consider investing in some headlight and epileptic seizure inducing blinky tail light. There will be idiots out there who still won't turn on their car headlight even though it's pitch black outside and will not see your bike AT ALL.

Ride slow and you can ride it longer.

Slow down for every stop sign. Getting hit when you're in a car mean dented door. Getting hit on a bike and you're road kill.

Torque arm are not optional on high power set up.

Ebikes and flip flop do not mix very well.

 

[mcstar]

• Wet streets and rain suck on an e-bike!

• Building/riding/purchasing E-bikes will start to give you a firm understanding of realities of the state of the art in motive electrical power storage. This reality can have detrimental effects on your naive delusions of a cheap, economical, practical e-car.

 

[Eric G]

All of the above and assume every car on the road is out to kill you.Just because you've make eye contact with a car driver don't think he/she actually sees you.

Eric

 

[pwbset]

I'm learning that I should take the average volt/amp/power levels talked about in these forums and cut those values in half and that would still likely get me killed on my old mountain bike donor. :lol:

 

[dogman dan]

Or, the money you save may be spent in the emergency room.
Or, the money you save may be spent on a second e bike.

I couldn't agree more about the sad reality of the fantasy of the electric car. I still want one, but now I will more likely go for a motorcycle conversion first. At the rate I use the ice car now, it will last forever.

 

[Will]

[*]A li-ion battery is not an ordinary DC battery -it'll burn and blow whatever metal objects that connect it's +post to its' -ground; -this includes fragile wires protruding from the BMS, unseen spots where the battery rubs the frame; tools used to mount the battery; fingers and other body parts and others I haven't trail/error experience with yet.
[*]That 15mph will take you 4 x's as far as 25mph given the same power charge.
[*]Assist pedaling up to 17mph from 15mph is doable, up to 25mph from 23mph is not.
[*]Contrary to your wife's belief, you get in better shape assist pedaling an e-bike often, vs pedaling a standard bike only on "optimum" days. Let her cling to her archaic belief system.
[*]That others won't automatically know you now ride an e-bike; they will remain oblivious unless you specifically point to the battery, the hub motor, and have 'em 'blip' the throttle.
[*]That brakes designed for 20mph top speed won't keep you safe at 30mph.
[*]That an e-bike won't make you superhuman and you can outrun a scarfaced dog named "Buger."

 

[lazarus2405]

Given my tinkering style, it's easier to build an ebike than to keep it running.

On an aluminum frame, torque arms are not optional. I don't care what you have to say, you do need them!

High voltage short circuits don't damage batteries because the sparks burn through whatever made the short.

In the same vein, when FETs fail on a high voltage setup, all that' left is dust.

"Where's the motor?" always brings a smile to your face.

 

[Pockets72488]

High voltage short circuits don't damage batteries because the sparks burn through whatever made the short.

In the same vein, when FETs fail on a high voltage setup, all that' left is dust.

omg yeah iv shorted stuff before just cuz i wanted to its really amazing what 120 DC can do

EDIT: oh yeah and i wanted to add, you can weld with 48 volts!

 

[JeffD]

It's always good to do a quick check-over before each ride. You are likely racking up more miles than you ever have before and stuff happens. Example: Today, after I had given my chain some lube I was running the chain through a rag to absorb any excess and I felt a spot on the chain catch. I thought it was maybe one of the pins poking out but it was actually half-broken link! I removed the link and was good to go again. I have broken a chain while riding before and it isn't very fun.

 

[Pockets72488]

Rain gear. IS your Friend it rained hard today and i clocked a 4 mile round trip in it

 

[rossfree]

1) I suck at welding.

2) The electric push trailer works GREAT! The bike still feels like a bike. It turns like a bike and responds like a bike... but I wouldn't want to ride in traffic. People always want to pass you and moving to the side of the road greatly exaggerates the possibility of a trailer wheel dropping off the pavement. And that's scarry.

3) You need a rearview mirror... turning your head to check traffic behind you while your going 20+mph is asking for injury!

4) For the cost of fixing up your old bike with brakes and new cables, you could have bought a new bike from Walmart that would look nicer and need fewer parts.

5) Slime is better than it might sound.

6) Plan to spend more than you can probably afford to spend... put your money towards the right batteries. If I had to do it over I would have spent the money for Lipos. This is a tough thing to do. It's an emerging technology, but it's worth your investment in time and money and knowledge.

7) Three wheels means you can't straddle pot holes. You hit every one of them!

 

[John in CR]

Unless you're in the 95th percentile of actual construction ability and tooling, going cheap will be more expensive.

Just because you might be able to input 200W of effort with your legs doesn't mean a 500W motor is sufficient.

Bicycle brakes should have a different name such as "gradual slowing devices".

Hills and street conditions in the area will become a major factor in the selection of your next home.

E-biking is a lot more fun than you thought it would be.

 

[huskydave]

Things I have learned.. Pick the right frame try to get a steel dropout. Balance the weight out or the bike will not handle well. Think about torque arms better safe than sorry. If you can get a disk brake or brakes do so they stop much better. If your having trouble justifying the cost look at the oil prices per barrel. If you can get away with a smaller motor do so the larger motors are expensive and heavy. Bring some basic tools when you ride wrenches screwdriver and some electical tape fuses etc.. Don't go far on the first couple of rides just incase something goes wrong. Get a hood headlamp if your driving at night and install a rear flasher. If you don't need immediate start think about getting the pedal first controller they are cheaper and simpler. Waterproof all conections at throttle and controller and motor. Mount the controller where it can get good airflow to help cool it if you can. Keep a good image of ebiking and as the laws are being written we may have more headroom. Drive with caution people don't see bikes and are surprised easily when they see how quickly you are going and they get distracted. Get a good helmet and use it. Have fun and if something goes wrong laugh about it, it helps.

 

[mcstar]

• High pressure (100psi) street tires greatly increase your speed and range

• High pressure tubes explode when inflated with a compressor

• LIFEPO4 batteries are worth the cost amoritized over time (compared to any alternative) :wink:

• You CANNOT draft an 18-wheeler at 50mph even with a 1hp motor to assist you.

 

[mvadventure]

Mostly I learned that even though the expense never stops the EV grin doesn't stop either. An ebike is like a boat or a motorcycle, there is always something that needs fixed, tweaked or adjusted but not necessarily today. For trips of twenty miles or less (round trip) I actually prefer the bike and find I can treat the longer trips as an adventure.

An important thing I've learned is that parking is more convenient than even for a motorcycle and it's not unusual to be able to park in the store itself. Riding the scooters I find it fun to "opportunity" charge and enjoy looking for accessible electrical outlets.

I'll probably buy a hybrid car this year but this will not diminish my bike riding. Likely the Lexus will stay in the garage and my bride will steal my hybrid.

Mike

 

[needWheels]

As a newbie expecting my first ebike parts this week, I love this thread perhaps most of all.

I better order a mirror.

Can someone explain the windspeed issue to me? Is it because it makes the batteries run out faster?

Are fenders for when it's raining/muddy? Can I live without them for fair weather use?

 

[ngocthach1130]

Okay windspeed issues. Think about when you ride in a car and you stick your hand out the window. When you go slow do you feel resistance from the wind? What happen when you speed up. Feel more like riding in water than air right? Air resistance increase with speed so your bike need more power at higher speed to plow through that air. So the faster you travel the more power you'll consume out of your battery. So to travel 2 time faster you might use up 4 time the power.

Yes mud guard and fender is optional. ALthough it is highly recommended. Sure you could choose to ride only on nice day. But think about those odd time you hit a puddle. Fast speed cause the wheel to fling the mud much harder and higher you'll get dirtier. Then when you go off road on gravel ground, the wheel will fling some of that too. More wear and tear on the frame. Less of that with a fender.

 

[Miles]

So to travel 2 time faster you might use up 4 time the power.

For slow speeds, yes. Power needed to overcome wind resistance goes up with the cube of the speed and soon becomes the dominant factor (on level ground). For an upright bike, you need about 6 times as much power to go 24mph as you do to go 12mph. For faster speeds, the power requirement rapidly approaches the "8 times for doubling of speed" of the cube law.