Velomobile Quest build (just started)

[Kai]

I have allways been fascinated of green transportation and after years of E-biking I bought an old used Velomobile called Quest. I was rather cheap and I had to do some small fiberglass repairs and new paint job to make it look good. Let's face it, if you are going to drive with strange looking vehicle, you want people to say "wow!" instead "WTF!?" I still am a bit shy to drive it, as it is not finished yet. A "racing hood" is a must have to make it look ultra cool, and I am almost ready with my DIY race hood.
Here are some photos first. (I know you want some bike porn)
Quest Velomobile with new paint without the hood

Here a photo with Carbon Fiber Race Hood (and my one man team of mechanics) Color balance is a bit off

Here is a photo of the mold I made from the carbon fiber hood which I sold soon after, because I made a fiberglass copy of it.

Here's a photo of my DIY race hood made of fiberglass, when I was cutting openings to it.

I even mad a polycarbonate windscreen today but it is optically too distorted for use. I must practice thermoforming Polycarbonate, or use acrylic instead.

Next I try to buy a original visor spare part and put a protective tinted film over it
In near future I will be installing a bottom bracket mounted motor to my Quest velomobile. Maybe it will be a GNG gen. 1. which I allready have, or a Bafang 002... I have a 48V 10Ah aluminum case and a 20Ah duct-tape LiFepo4 batteries.
Here is a photo of the bottom bracket mount. The red dirt is paint that found it's way inside. Later I shall paint all interior walls grey so no-one can see all the crashes and repairs from two decades of driving (maybe over 90 000 kms, who knows)

I would like to hear Your opinions and advises how to proceed with my project, as I am technically average. I'm sure this velomobile will be awesome when it's ready!
KAI

 

[dnmun]

much higher than average i would say. leave space for a vent under the visor so it doesn't fog up too much.

bill bates did something very similar to the GNG mid drive on his WAW and used a C'lyte 409 to drive the bottom bracket with a freewheeling and then used a Schlumpf 2 speed crank for the speed. he mounted the motor in front attached to the square tubing.

i saw a WAW the other day in traffic going the other way in four lanes. maintaining with traffic uphill through an underpass and i thought maybe it was his because of the speed.

 

[wojtek]

sweet!

im using xlyte 5403 in my velomobile Go-One Evo , 90kmh max speed

was thinking about mid-crank drives but with the kits available at that time, i would go deaf to put something like cyclone inside

The new bafang is supposed to be very quiet so it would make sense.. otherwise hub motor is the only option. Best installed as mid drive but more complicated...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Pw8y1XBoAx8&feature=youtu.be

 

[wojtek]

one thing i would like to point out - the brakes.

most velomobiles use SA brakes as it is complicated to install disc brakes [they dont prove to be up for the job on velomobiles]

I upgraded mine to 90mm SA but still with extra added weight of batteries / motor ect, it is not as good as i would like to. Very important: get 2 brake levers for each wheel - more stopping power + helps a lot with turning at speeds.
The one lever for both wheels is good for nothing.

Now i got a great compact controller able to take 10kw peak with adjustable regen power [the throttle becomes a break with the ebike button on so you can decide how hard to brake with the motor] Great solution! I have been pushing close to 5kW on the regen and it gives me more breaking power confidence.

 

[Trilska]

I must say i love the idea of an velomobil with a maby little to big motor.

I dont mean to kidnap the thread, but Wojtek would you please be so kind and give us a little more info on your Go-One Evo. Does it hold up to the strain a big motor puts on it?

Great looking carbon hood btw Kai.

 

[wojtek]

I have been using it successfully for over a year with 100v30ah lipos. It is far too much for my 75KM everyday drive to and back from work.
The rear dropouts has been changed to take all the torque and i changed the front wheels to Velocity Psycho and Sapim spokes. Also put schwalbe marathon 1.5 tyres. Unfortunately Marathon+ 1.75 doesn't fit. [touching the walls]

yes it is great - it is like a car = all weather vehicle.

ALSO important - lights!!!!! especially for the winter time. I may open new thread showing mine

 

[wheelbender6]

I have gotten the velomobile bug lately too. Hard to find a good place to ride them since they are usually at least 32 inches wide.
The canopies and bodies on blueskydsn.com are priced pretty reasonably and some look really cool.

 

[sk8norcal]

I have been using it successfully for over a year with 100v30ah lipos.

I may open new thread showing mine

interested,
don't think i seen a high powered velomobile yet....

top speed?
howz the high speed handling?

 

[Whiplash]

I.d be interested in this too, I mean doesn't it only take like 1000 watts to go over 80MPH with the right aero? LOL I mean a basic hubbie could get you a 100MPH bike! LOL!

 

[wojtek]

as long as there is no strong wind, it drives very sweet. totally controllable.
Now i have installed separate left and right front brakes making high speed cornering much better.
At 90kmh straight - no issues.
And it is full suspension velomobile with 190mm rear shock and hard suspension mc person front shock [red spring]

I'm pulling up to 6KW+ , no issues so far, feels like a car in the cold autumn days it is a treat.

Regen up to 4KW+ gives nice breaking confidence.

 

[Kai]

Motor is now installed, and I also made a battery tray that's bolted to frame tubes.
First drive was great, but I found out that the motor has to be limited a LOT. I almost hit a tree on a first ride when I drove into sharp turn. Luckily my velo narrowly avoided head on collision and velo bounced from the tree back to road. This crash caused some minor cracks in wheel well covers. Nothing serious and not even visible from outside . I can fix it after this summer. If I haven't totally destroyed it before that :I

I try to post some photos of the battery holder soon.