Velo Mini Folding Electric Bicycle

[USAEBIKECO]

Just picked up a Velo Mini and its good ebike for anyone living in a city. It folds up and weighs 25lbs. My wife and I took it out for a late night ride and she is normally not a bike rider. We went 8 miles and it was fun.

SPECS: 180 watt brushless motor, 24V 6AH Lithium Ion Battery, 12mph speed, 15 miles on a charge, Bike weight 25lbs, Regenerative braking, 12 inch wheels, Aluminum frame, Carrying case included, Max rider weight 210lbs

 

[cell_man]

I've got 1 of them. My girlfriend uses it all the time. They get quite nippy if you connect a 36V battery too. Fitted with an Ananda Cute 108 motor, QX85 internally but with a QX100 case.

 

[USAEBIKECO]

Yeah 36V would be better.

 

[Drunkskunk]

I've got 1 of them. My girlfriend uses it all the time. They get quite nippy if you connect a 36V battery too. Fitted with an Ananda Cute 108 motor, QX85 internally but with a QX100 case.

Whats the advantage of using the QX100 case?

 

[colby]

hehe,

i love this thing

 

[cell_man]

I've got 1 of them. My girlfriend uses it all the time. They get quite nippy if you connect a 36V battery too. Fitted with an Ananda Cute 108 motor, QX85 internally but with a QX100 case.

Whats the advantage of using the QX100 case?

There's no advantage I can see. I don't think it was necessarily by design, more likely just what they ended up with. The QX85 motor came along a bit later than the QX100 and maybe the QX85 has the option for a higher rpm motor than the QX100. The QX85 cases are generally for a disk brake as well. Even at the standard 24V supply, the no load is something like 500rpm with the tiny 12.5" wheels. The motor actually has something like 9:1 gear reduction as well.

At 36V the bike did about 20mph or near as damnit with me onboard (90kg or 200lbs). The standard setup could do about 13 or 14mph with the internal Li-Ion pack. The very small rims give it pretty respectable acceleration considering the low power. I'll have to see what happens with 48V

Word of warning, don't put the seat too high. Short wheelbase, fairly strong brakes and a high seat can combine to put you straight over the handlebars if you're not careful as with any bike of this type.

 

[USAEBIKECO]

Wow, your going 48 with the mini? Let me know how that works out. My wife is ok with it being 24V. I cant imagine how fast it would be with 48V

 

[cell_man]

We'll have to see about 48V. I'd like to try it but it's not needed to be honest.

I might knock up a 36V pack though, just to give it a bit more go and some range. I've got some old cells sat around here and will be getting a spot welder soon. It never gets folded, so I'll just get something made up that can fit in the rear triangle behind the seat post. At 36V it runs really well and even with me onboard at about 200lbs it will still do almost 20mph. With my GF at only half my weight, it's more than enough and also whilst the range on the standard battery is surprisingly good for what it is, it's still a bit low.

 

[USAEBIKECO]

Im 210 lbs and the mini is still pretty solid to ride. Good design but upping the voltage should be an option.

 

[cell_man]

The controller and motor seems to handle 36V no problem. I don't think the frame is really up to 200lbs for more than the occasional usage, as well as the back wheel which we had some problems with. I think the niggles could be fixed quite easily though, with a bit more attention to detail and picking slightly better quality components. For the price, I think it offers pretty good value.

 

[choccy boy]

Are you sure it has regenerative braking? The manufacturer here in China tells me that they don't have that yet. Great bike though!