Thoughts on programming the BBS-02 for STEALTH

[fiddler]

Having spent the effort to build a stealthy bike, giving some thought to the programming of the BBS-02 controller might be worthwhile.

First thing to do is just get rid of the throttle. The BBS-02 works fine without having a throttle plugged in to the cable. There is zero stealth in someone zooming off on a bicycle WITHOUT PEDALING!! Having a throttle hooked up pretty much guarantees you no longer qualify for e-bike status under most laws on the books or those being proposed. And if a cop wants to be a pain in the arse, even the dumb ones are smart enough to spot a thumb throttle and perhaps even a half twist throttle.

Second, program at least one of your PAS levels to a low amperage percentage and use that around anyone you don't want to clue in to your bike's status. I find that setting PAS 3 to 60% amperage and 60% speed works pretty good. With a 34 tooth chainring and any of smaller rings on the cassette, takeoff is very gradual and looks like a normal pedaling effort accelerating from a stop. I also have PAS 4 set to 17 mph since that is a somewhat believable flat road speed for a 63 year old on a mountain bike (wearing my road bike lycra helps with that illusion). Going uphill, I have PAS 1 set up for 6 mph which on some of the insanely steep hills around here makes me look pretty fit but not unbelievably so.

Last but not least, none of this would work if I looked like the typical Walmart shopper that just got off his Rascal scooter. I am 5' 7", weigh 150 and I really can grind up steep hills at 5-6mph and keep up with intermediate group rides, taking the occasional short pull at 22+ on my road bike.

 

[Lurkin]

So unplug the throttle and dress like a cyclist...

The PAS can be reprogrammed, with steps between 0-9, but usually they are already programmed sufficiently? So turn down to a lower PAS setting. No reprogramming required unless you don't like where the steps are at.

It's pretty unlikely you'll draw a cops attention unless you are the only one there or you are doing something unusual/acting like a tool. As far as they are concerned, you are just a law abiding, bicycle riding citizen. Many other things to be more concerned about.

Biggest threat is a board cop on a quiet beat that they have been forced to take, looking for something to pick on... I've never had any difficulty with the law....

 

[tomjasz]

No throttle laws yet. I like it. I use it often. As long as your 750w or under, all is well. Jeepers, first ebike, a month in, and we get lectures about throttles? :wink: Fat, fast, middle sixties, and proud. I have one bike for quick trips with no PAS. 30mph grocery runs for quick grabs of items missing from the recipe. Cops could care less.

Stealth? Nah. Can't see why. Battery powered and proud.

 

[fiddler]

Getting spanked for living in a state where ANY electric bike is totally illegal and worrying about stealth....... not quite what I was expecting here.

As it stands in the USA, most states have laws on the books that make electric bicycles illegal. Only a few, like California, have passed laws that treat them fairly. My state has decided that people that work for a living should not be allowed to get to work in anything other than a gas guzzling two ton heap of metal so they have destroyed the moped loophole that e-bikes used to fit thru by requiring registration and insurance on mopeds. And made it so that you cannot register an electric bike.

Now they are about to pass a law making it illegal to ride a "low powered vehicle" on any road with a 45mph or higher speed limit. Most of our state is rural and nearly every single road outside of a city limit is 45 or 55mph. Soon you will not be able to ride on any public road. Even the poor folks that bothered to register and insure their legal mopeds. And rest assured, the "low powered vehicle" will include human powered ones too.

When you live in a state where the politicians are even afraid to pass a law making it illegal to harass cyclists or throw things from vehicles at them, you tend to worry about these things. Our only hope as a community is that we can stay under the radar by being a bit less conspicuous. God help us all if Walmart starts selling e-bikes!!!

 

[AF7JA]

God help us all if Walmart starts selling e-bikes!!!

You made me curious. I used "Electric Bicycles for Adults" as a search string in their website. All I can say is "too late!"

http://www.walmart.com/ip/Cyclamatic-Electric-Motor-Power-Plus-Bicycle-Mountain-Bike-Lithium-Battery-Black/44664817#about

 

[fiddler]

Just one more thing to worry about when the zombie apocalypse arrives........overweight zombies riding Walmart e-bikes!!!!

 

[alfantastic]

God help us all if Walmart starts selling e-bikes!!!

You made me curious. I used "Electric Bicycles for Adults" as a search string in their website. All I can say is "too late!"

http://www.walmart.com/ip/Cyclamatic-Electric-Motor-Power-Plus-Bicycle-Mountain-Bike-Lithium-Battery-Black/44664817#about

In the Cyclamatic's defense, this was the first bike I bought, which got me into electric bikes big time.

What I've built now is a far cry from the Cyclamatic, but it's actually not a bad bike for first timers. I'll never forget the big smile I had on my face, the first time I started pedaling. I did end up modding it to high heaven though, and I'm grateful to the Cyclamatic for helping me discover how electric bikes work

For the price, you could do a lot worse!

 

[Alan B]

Federal law allows ebikes, only a few states have laws against, not most. California specifically allows throttles on type II ebikes, and does not ban them from other ebikes, but requires pedaling. The PAS can just enable the throttle, which would provide precise safe control of the electric power.

Split throttles look the same as twist shifters. If you want a subtle throttle, choose one or make one.

Most PAS systems are dangerous and cause the bike to accelerate at times when it is not desirable, or accelerate at rates not related to the pedaling force. Especially systems like the BBS02 that when you pedal slow provide the max amount of power, and when you pedal fast provide less power. Totally backwards, and a recipe for unwanted acceleration accidents.

Your judged more by your riding BEHAVIOR than by some gadgets on the bike. From a distance the throttle isn't actually visible, but whether you are pedaling, or traveling at bicycle speeds, is.

So your riding behavior is the key.

I think throttles should be REQUIRED, even with PAS systems, to provide precise control of the ebike's power. PAS systems are responsible for many ebike accidents, when moving the pedals causes unwanted acceleration. Examples include the Optibike rider running over the hubmotor rider in the Pike's peak race at the start.

Safe PAS only systems are possible, but they have to be torque amplifiers with short time constants, so they won't amplify a pedal motion to high power unless there is a lot of force behind it. Pretty much none of the ebike drives available do that now, except a couple of high dollar non-aftermarket units. On super low power ebikes it doesn't matter much, the throttle can be an on/off pushbutton, but when you move a pedal and have 750W come on suddenly with a mid-drive in low gear the front wheel will dangerously take off for the stars, and the little old lady standing in front of you will have chain grease up her back.

Brake kill switches, and a motorcycle type kill switch right near the rider's thumb should also be mandatory for safety. Too many indoor accidents occur where the bike is on and started with no weight on the seat and the bike takes off very violently. Like a gun safety, ebikes should not be ready until they are pointed in a safe direction.

Sorry your state has such bad laws. I'm not sure being stealthy is the way to fix bad laws. It might have a rather different effect. In fact, flaunting traffic safety rules probably caused those state laws against ebikes.

 

[tomjasz]

Getting spanked for living in a state where ANY electric bike is totally illegal and worrying about stealth....... not quite what I was expecting here.

Spanking party! :lol:

Nevada turned my stomach. I left. Lucky I guess. WTF made NY go there?