Would it be possible to convert Children's Cruiser Bike?

[Charisma]

Would it be possible to convert this bike to electric?

http://www.walmart.com/ip/12509647?adid=22222222227000177999&wmlspartner=wlpa&wl0=&wl1=g&wl2=&wl3=14044118710&wl4=&wl5=pla&veh=sem

Using the following kit on the front wheel?

http://www.ebay.com/itm/190690155414?ssPageName=STRK:MEWAX:IT&_trksid=p3984.m1438.l2649

Or alternatively this hub-driven one?

http://www.ebay.com/itm/221070723238?ssPageName=STRK:MEWAX:IT&_trksid=p3984.m1438.l2649

And this battery?

http://www.ebay.com/itm/200678567598?ssPageName=STRK:MEWAX:IT&_trksid=p3984.m1438.l2649

I'm pretty new to this, so I apologize in advance for any stupid questions. Also I'm sure that that bike is not the most ideal for a conversion, but I literally cannot ride adult bikes since my legs are too short and I prefer to be able to touch my feet to the ground easily.

 

[spinningmagnets]

Don't worry about a bike having a 24" wheel, if that fits you, its very important to be comfortable when you are riding. The first kit is similar to the Currie-drive, except that the motor is mounted in front of the rear axle instead of behind it. I think your heel will hit the motor in that position. The Currie kit is about $400 and here is a pic of the Currie electrodrive:
http://www.amazon.com/Currie-Technologies-IZ-KIT-1-Power/dp/B002RRBDIW

As much as everyone hates Sealed-Lead-Acid (SLA) batteries, they are the cheapest solution on an initial purchase, and after a couple of months when they die an early death, it gives you a couple months to save up for a better chemistry at a higher voltage (36V?).

http://endless-sphere.com/forums/viewtopic.php?f=3&t=25726
Check out the "currie ezip" threads here on ES, and I seem to remember darkangel changing the freewheel toothcount for an improvement, plus just about everybody with an ezip upgrades from 24V to 36V fairly rapidly. Not just a higher top speed at 36V, but also more hill-climbing torque.

 

[Punx0r]

I hope so, that's a cool looking bike IMO. Even if it is a cheapie.

 

[chisixer6]

you can convert almost any bike to electric, you just got to fit it. One of my bikes, is a 24" Schweinn with 24" rear and 20" front. see it on my avatar on my profile.

 

[chisixer6]

Also to answer some of your other questions.

I would lean toward the vpowers kit over the other kit. better yet, in the good ole USA, I think near L.A. there is a company(s), I think they use 3 names, most common one is yescomusa, that currently sell a compable kit to the vpowers, only problem I see is, I think the wheels are 26" mountain only.

http://www.ebay.com/itm/36V-250W-26-Rear-Electric-Bicycle-Engine-Kit-Bike-Hub-Conversion-Scooter-Motor-/370542420271?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item56460ca12f

Like previous poster said, lead acid is good to get you going, I used lead acid for about 4 months before switching over to Lifepo4. Hobby King has some hard shell 4s batteries for about $24 each, a 12v lead acid is about $30 ea, but is more bulkier and heavier than a Lipo setup. You will still need to get a charger too.

http://www.hobbyking.com/hobbyking/store/__15521__Turnigy_5000mAh_4S1P_14_8v_20C_hardcase_pack.html

 

[dogman dan]

Yes, yes, yes, and yes. Whichever kit you choose, fitting it to the bike should not take a ton of expertise. If you get a hubmotor, include a torque arm if the kit doesn't supply one, and be prepared to shave some washers to fit into the cups on the axle.

 

[ddk]

coaster brakes sux for ebike imo
-but whatever... add a front rim brake for $20 and it would work betterer as an e-bike no matter what you choose to e-kit it out with.

 

[John in CR]

46lbs shipping weight. That bike must be one of the most substantial things Walmart sells.

 

[Chalo]

Would it be possible to convert this bike to electric?

http://www.walmart.com/ip/12509647?adid=22222222227000177999&wmlspartner=wlpa&wl0=&wl1=g&wl2=&wl3=14044118710&wl4=&wl5=pla&veh=sem

Yes, in the same way that it would be possible to convert a crappy Ikea sofa to electric. The Ikea sofa would be a better idea, because it would have a higher likelihood of meeting your expectations of it.

Department store bikes are trash. With a lot of work, they can be fixed up a bit, so that they work sort of OK for a little while-- but then they deteriorate rapidly because they are trash. The are made for selling, not riding.

Don't be fooled. If you want a bike to ride, and not just to buy, get a real bike from a real bike shop (or a used one that came from a real bike shop originally).

Chalo

 

[wesnewell]

That's the most elitist crap I've ever heard. I weigh 275lbs and the $59 bike I bought from Walmart and electrified works actually better than the more expensive ones I've owned. It actually replaced a bike that cost 5 times more (and sold by a bike shop). Bike shops have huge profit margins. Big box stores don't. I'll let the suckers buy from the bike/ebike shops. I know where the best bargains are.

 

[wesnewell]

For the person with short legs. You can still ride a 26" bike if you get one with a lower seat height. Here's one with a short frame and seat will probably go lower than the 24" huffy..
http://www.2wheelbikes.com/falcon-gts-chopper-cruiser.html

 

[ddk]

That's the most elitist crap I've ever heard. I weigh 275lbs and the $59 bike I bought from Walmart and electrified works actually better than the more expensive ones I've owned. It actually replaced a bike that cost 5 times more (and sold by a bike shop). Bike shops have huge profit margins. Big box stores don't. I'll let the suckers buy from the bike/ebike shops. I know where the best bargains are.

you didn't hear it... you read it.
-and the *very* worst bikes I've ever had the displeasure of purchasing and owning came from "bike shops" (2 of 3).
I never got a lemon from a big-box store. (plethora of 5 including 2 e-zips)

 

[Chalo]

That's the most elitist crap I've ever heard. I weigh 275lbs and the $59 bike I bought from Walmart and electrified works actually better than the more expensive ones I've owned. It actually replaced a bike that cost 5 times more (and sold by a bike shop).

It's not elitist; it's informed by lots of direct experience. I work on both kinds every day. I know what's good, what's OK, and what's crapola from having had to solve problems with all of it.

Some bike shop bikes are junk. especially if the shop doesn't do proper prep, or they try to dig too close to the bottom of the price barrel. Most are at least OK for what they cost.

ALL department store bikes are junk, without exception. They are assembled sold by people who don't care one bit about them, to people who don't know one bit about them. There is no opportunity anywhere in the product's life cycle for quality control or fixing problems. They are loaded with "features" designed to sell bikes, that take away the budget for having decent quality in basic parts.

My shop has a skilled mechanic build up a new bike from a box in a couple of hours, if there are no special problems with it that take longer to sort out. Folks who assemble bikes at wally world are supposed to put out four an hour. And they all have serious, sometimes unfixable, problems.

Bike shops have huge profit margins. Big box stores don't.

Bahahahahahahahahahaha!

Bike shops usually add 60-70% markups on bikes. You can think of that as a huge margin if you like, but since all the costs of doing business come out of that 60-70%, it does not usually result in big profits. That's why bike shops come and go.

I'm sure there are plenty of items at big box retailers that carry higher markups than bikes at a bike shop. Probably not bikes, but you never know. In any case, there is nothing about a big box store's marketing muscle that can make a gadget-strewn bike they got for $100 wholesale equal to a basic bike a bike shop got for $300 wholesale. And the bike shop bike has usually been assembled and adjusted with care, the big box bike with haste and indifference.

I'll let the suckers buy from the bike/ebike shops. I know where the best bargains are.

The suckers are those who think they can get a better bike deal from a store that specializes in selling than they can from a store that specializes in bikes.

Chalo

 

[wesnewell]

ALL department store bikes are junk, without exception.
Chalo

Only an idiot or someone with a huge bias would make such a statement. Which are you? Since you work for a bike shop.....
So, according to you, probably 99% of the people on ES are riding junk bikes. That should make you a lot of friends. Almost any brand bike can be bought at a big box store.

 

[Chalo]

Almost any brand bike can be bought at a big box store.

You don't know what you're talking about. Reputable bike manufacturers won't even allow more than a few dealers in a single city, let alone will they sell to trash stores.

There are very few brands that have both shop quality and big box no-quality versions. Schwinn (a Pacific brand now) is one of them. Mongoose is another.

Here are a few examples of bikes you will never find in any department store:

Trek
Specialized
Giant
Kona
Marin
Redline
Surly
Origin 8
Soma
KHS
Salsa
Sun
Torker
Linus
Fuji

There are lots of others you have and have not heard of!

Then there are some brands you will only ever see in a department store, because they make no bike shop quality models:

Huffy
Next
Pacific
Roadmaster
Magna
Kent ("GMC", "Jeep", and others)

There are more in this category, of course.

The bottom line is that these are separate markets and separate products-- one is for selling, the other is for riding. If the bikes were the same and only the retail markup varied, then you could find a $100 wally world type bike at a bike shop for $130 or $150. But you can't. A bike shop could not maintain a reputation for competence by selling such things. And a big box store has no reputation for competence that it depends on.

Chalo

 

[wesnewell]

I'm not going to waste time with all of them so I'll just go with your first, Trek.
I can buy a Trek at the same place I can buy socks, underwear, electronics, groceries, etc., etc. They sell 3 models.
http://www.worldwide-usa.com/recreation-bicycles-c-317_325_122.html
I don't think anyone would call them a bike shop.
From your list not sold by bike shops. I'll take the last one, Kent, because I've owned 4 of their bikes.
http://www.bikes4families.com/advanced_search_result.php?keywords=kent
Enough said. Try again, just don't expect me to waste any more of my time with your moronic statements.

 

[REdiculous]

Bike shops love to think they've got something special. They don't, unless you count their attitude. :lol:

 

[Chalo]

Y'all enjoy your trash bikes.

You know where to look if you want something better. Look for the guys at the counter to have grimy fingernails.

P.S. to Wes - That "bikes4families" place is not a bike shop; it's an online broker. They probably never see or touch the bikes, but just have them drop shipped from the manufacturer's warehouse. Here's what they say on their website:

* Note- Bicycles arrive unassembled and require some bicycle mechanic knowledge to fully benefit from your bicycle purchase. Bikes4families recommends professional assembly for your riding enjoyment and safety. Any additional cost related to adjustments to gears and brakes are the resposbiliity [sic] of the owner.

That's a department store level of service! No wonder they sell trash bikes. And no wonder you like them.

 

[REdiculous]

This is a DIY-centric forum, so having to assemble a bike isn't a big deal for most members. :lol: