Urban Beach Cruiser (first build) recommendations

[Gibbio000]

Hello,

Going to be doing a first time build I'm looking at using a cruiser as I live in a beach community and want to build something basic and just for fun. This project would be basically to learn the ins and outs of E cycles.

The bike I'm looking at is here... http://www.norco.com/bikes/urban/urban-lifestyle/santiago/

My goals are basically to be able to cruise the beach has to be able to climb some hills range isn't a huge concern nor is top speed as this bike only has V-brakes so I don't want to go on a suicide mission.

Need to be able to freewheel I have been reading a ton of threads in here and think I have a pretty good grasp on stuff. But would always appreciate recommendations.

I have been looking at one of the Mac 500 watt rear wheel motors kits. Since its first time I would like to keep it really low cost.

I would like to be able to fit the battery(s) in between the triangle of the bike. I've been reading a lot about the battery's and there seems to be a lot of different opinions about what to use. If at all possible I don't really want to just mount an ugly rectangle box in the frame, although if that's the simplest and most cost effective I will and possible make a nice looking cover for it.

Forgot to add in I'm about 6ft 190lbs

Thanks in advance

 

[Drunkskunk]

Looks like a decent bike. For those that aren't Canadian, you'll have to chose Canada as your region to see the bike on that link, they don't even list it in search if you chose another region on the Norco home page.

A Mac motor should be fine for most hills, and a good choice for a motor.

The battery will be another issue. LifePO4 is the best all around option for a battery. its safe and easy to love with.
But mounting your battery will require skill. How much of a handyman are you? A nice Carbon fiber or fiberglass tank could be made to fit in that frame. So could a leather case.

If your skill isn't up to that task, some leather saddle bags could hold the battery. Not really the ideal for weight distribution, but it would be an easy solution and easy way to hide the fact that it's an electric.

I'd recommend a rear motor in sandy conditions. A front motor can break traction fairly easily in sandy conditions, and thats a very bad thing when you're not expecting it.

 

[Gibbio000]

I'm pretty handy/creative plus I have friends that can weld and fabricate so I'm sure I can come up with something..

I was definitely looking at the rear motor.

Where is the best place to source out the batteries from?

What is the preferred option for the control twist handle or thumb? With the thumb control do you keep your thumb pressed on it the whole time and when let go the motor doesn't work or is it like a cruise control where you increase it to a desired level and then just deactivate it when needed?

Do those Mac kits come with everything I need other than batteries?

 

[john7700]

Yea, you could fab up a cool looking fake tank battery holder for that bike. That little front rack would also work and might help balance the weight of the rear motor. But the tank idea would look sweet. Maybe put the controller on that front rack.

Thumb throttles are spring loaded and snap back when you stop pushing them like a twist throttle does. Personally, I like the thumb throttle and it is very stealthy. People don't see you twisting your wrist. Either will work well and it is a matter of personal preference. Some controllers allow cruise control but you need to instal E-brakes for that. Many don't consider it worth the trouble but people who do a lot of long rides seem to like it.

You don't mention which specific kit you are looking at but they should be complete (motor, rim, controller, throttle) The thing it probably doesn't have is a way to keep track of how much power you have used and thus how much you have left in the "tank". The best tool for this is the Cycle Analyst from E-bikes CA. They are a great tool and in my opinion, a must have.

Batteries. Well, this is probably the hardest part of choosing a bikes components. The recommended supplier for Lifepo4 around here is Ping batteries http://www.pingbattery.com/servlet/StoreFront but be prepared for some sticker shock. Ping is known to offer great customer service and the prices are competitive. Battery size will depend on your desired travel distance and pocket book but I would go with at least a 36v 15AH for a good compromise. Stay away from the E-bay specials as they are known to be dodgy and offer virtually no customer service if you have a problem. If the deal sounds to good to be true it probably is.

Best of luck and keep us posted.

 

[dogman dan]

Mac should be a good choice.

As is the bike, unless the frame is too narrow in the rear.

Nearly all rear hubmotors are 135 mm wide at the dropouts. So confirm that the bike you choose has that. Sometimes a single speed bike will use a narrower frame. Can't bend it out if it's alloy. The problem can be solved, but solves much easier if you just pick a 135 mm frame. You might want 5 gears anyway.

Battery. You'd need a pretty hefty 15 ah size ping to properly run a Mac. Then it will look big and bulky however you mount it. A smaller muxus or bafang motor is an option if you have pretty mellow hills. The smaller motor could run on 10 ah of pingbattery or similar ebay lifepo4.

Ideal would be a 9 ah A123 pack from Emissions Free, but he's temporarily out of the cells to build packs. The A123 has a better discharge rate so not so large a battery will be needed.

Though I almost never suggest this to inexperienced ebike newbies, you might consider RC type "lipo" batteries from Hobby king. Cheap, powerfull, but have to be charged and monitored while discharging more carefully.

Lastly, you will need torque arms. Don't know where you live. Methods has universal rear torque arms in the USA. The Grin Cyclery may have them back in stock now in Canada. Get your Cyclanalyst at Grin too.

 

[Gibbio000]

Yes I've seen on many other post that ping batterys seems to be talked about the most. I'm ok with having to pay for battery's I know you can't be to cheap with them.

Your idea of the "fuel tank" was exactly what I was thinking one idea I had was attempting to use some laminate flooring to fab something up. I'm not concerned about water as I doubt I will use it in the rain. I think some sort of wood grain would look pretty nice.

If the battery pack sticks out a bit that's ok I plan on making it similar to a fuel tank of a motorcycle.

Where can I obtain more info on the RC battery pack about the charging and stuff... I'm a apprentice electrician so I will be learning about most of this stuff in up coming school just haven't gotten there yet but I do understand the stuff if I read it.

http://www.emissions-free.com/catalog/i22.html this is the one I was looking at.

I live in White Rock B.C Canada which a suburb of Vancouver so I have good access to the ebikes company that I read a lot about... I live about 6 blocks from the beach but there are some serious hills to get back up to my place. I wouldn't try and go up the steepest ones but would like the ability to go indirect routes to get up them. This is why I thought the torque option would be better suited.

The info there site is kind of unorganized hard to understand there different models etc.