Would you like to go FASTER?
- Thread starter broloch
- Start date
Joey
100 W
I have no interest in building a faster bike. At 20 mph top speed, my commute to work via e-bike is only 12% slower than by car. One of my bikes is capable of going over 25 mph when running at 56V. An occasional burst of speed above 20mph is fun but I get nervous going that fast.
I'm more interested in getting more distance through more battery capacity while keeping the overall weight reasonable, and coming up with a more balanced front-to-rear weight distribution for rear motor hub setup. I wish somebody would come up with a water-resistant in-frame-triangle Li-Mn or Li-FePO battery pack. 36+ volts at 15 to 20Ah would be great.
Joey
I'm more interested in getting more distance through more battery capacity while keeping the overall weight reasonable, and coming up with a more balanced front-to-rear weight distribution for rear motor hub setup. I wish somebody would come up with a water-resistant in-frame-triangle Li-Mn or Li-FePO battery pack. 36+ volts at 15 to 20Ah would be great.
Joey
Lock
100 MW
Can go faster, would go faster, roads are just too infested with private autos to go fast and safe...
Joey, do a search on ES for "conformal" re weatherproofing. Lots going onto pcbs and into hub motors... maybe ok on a pack of batts as well
tks
LoCk
Joey, do a search on ES for "conformal" re weatherproofing. Lots going onto pcbs and into hub motors... maybe ok on a pack of batts as well
tks
LoCk
dogman dan
1 PW
30 mph is fast enough for me on any bicycle, on the downhill. My prefered riding speed varies by the gearing of the various bikes, but generally I kinda like 20-25 mph, which is by the way, legal in this state for a moped.
I find riding faster in a bike lane or shoulder takes a LOT of concentration, to dodge the potholes, broken bottles, chunks of tires, etc.
The most pleasant speed for me is about 15 mph, which greatly extends my range and allows enjoying the scenery on weekend rides I am doing across the state. On the daily grind to work and back, the 20 mph pace gets it done in a reasonable time for 30 miles.
On dirt bikes, I find about 5-10 mph plenty of speed, at least on the kind of rocky, cactus strewn single track we have localy. it's more like rock crawling than mountain biking.
I do like fast though, and do it all the time on a roketta 150cc scooter. It just depends on the tool I'm riding, and the job to be done how fast I go. I really do want to be legal and insured to go out and mix with traffic on a 45 mph street. Eventually I'd like to build an electric motorcycle, but for now, the scooter is thousands of dollars cheaper for that kind of riding.
I find riding faster in a bike lane or shoulder takes a LOT of concentration, to dodge the potholes, broken bottles, chunks of tires, etc.
The most pleasant speed for me is about 15 mph, which greatly extends my range and allows enjoying the scenery on weekend rides I am doing across the state. On the daily grind to work and back, the 20 mph pace gets it done in a reasonable time for 30 miles.
On dirt bikes, I find about 5-10 mph plenty of speed, at least on the kind of rocky, cactus strewn single track we have localy. it's more like rock crawling than mountain biking.
I do like fast though, and do it all the time on a roketta 150cc scooter. It just depends on the tool I'm riding, and the job to be done how fast I go. I really do want to be legal and insured to go out and mix with traffic on a 45 mph street. Eventually I'd like to build an electric motorcycle, but for now, the scooter is thousands of dollars cheaper for that kind of riding.
A
Anonymous
Guest
.
needWheels
1 kW
- Joined
- May 27, 2008
- Messages
- 481
I notice you have to really concentrate @ 25mph compared to 20mph
Lock
100 MW
Also, that force (of impact) is a function of speed...needWheels said:
tks
Lock
tostino
10 kW
My bikes top speed is 35mph in delta on a Bafang on 24" wheels and 51v. My front fork does not seem sturdy enough to go any faster. Not to mention I only have v-brakes front and rear.
Where I am in Florida, i'd need 40-50 mile range at 35mph for the bike to somewhat replace my car. And a higher top speed wouldn't hurt either. It's 16 miles one way to my college, 18 miles one way to grand parents... hell, even to get to the end of my road is 1 mile... I would say 40-45 sustained would be perfect. But at those speeds, you'd need a nice 2kWh pack to get a nice range.
Where I am in Florida, i'd need 40-50 mile range at 35mph for the bike to somewhat replace my car. And a higher top speed wouldn't hurt either. It's 16 miles one way to my college, 18 miles one way to grand parents... hell, even to get to the end of my road is 1 mile... I would say 40-45 sustained would be perfect. But at those speeds, you'd need a nice 2kWh pack to get a nice range.
Hi,
I've been asking the same question myself lately.
And that's because it's the beginning of summer here in Montreal and there's a lot more bikes and cars around. My main ride is to go to work and it's quite short and is done at night. That's when riding an e-bike is fun. As we all know, electric is all about momentum and rounding corners at 35 km/h keeps you at that top speed that's fun and efficient. During the day, I have a normal (but chain-less, that is shaft-drive) 700C bike that I really like too. It goes 15-25 km/h and that's fine for grocery shopping and avoiding problems with traffic. I don't have to hurry.
Comes evening and my going to work becomes a race, I have a different attitude and suddenly zooming by at 42 km/h seems slow. It's like I want to be back to my motocross days (like 35 years ago) and I want acceleration and speed. And I do find that this forum ( but then all others do) have a 'macho' approach to e-bikes and there is that trend toward what's more powerful and faster. It's certainly not a bad thing but we still have to remember that we're riding bikes.
I think it's absolutely great that Doctorbass evened a world record at 93 km/h yesterday and I'm very happy for him. His point is to show that it's possible but we're not yet ready to be allowed on highways. He's helped a lot of us figure out batteries and mechanical products that work. One of the better side of this forum has to do with people tinkering their own ideas as opposed to comparing e-bikes that are mass produced and legalized. But where do we stop ?
So, more later as this tread progresses.
I've been asking the same question myself lately.
And that's because it's the beginning of summer here in Montreal and there's a lot more bikes and cars around. My main ride is to go to work and it's quite short and is done at night. That's when riding an e-bike is fun. As we all know, electric is all about momentum and rounding corners at 35 km/h keeps you at that top speed that's fun and efficient. During the day, I have a normal (but chain-less, that is shaft-drive) 700C bike that I really like too. It goes 15-25 km/h and that's fine for grocery shopping and avoiding problems with traffic. I don't have to hurry.
Comes evening and my going to work becomes a race, I have a different attitude and suddenly zooming by at 42 km/h seems slow. It's like I want to be back to my motocross days (like 35 years ago) and I want acceleration and speed. And I do find that this forum ( but then all others do) have a 'macho' approach to e-bikes and there is that trend toward what's more powerful and faster. It's certainly not a bad thing but we still have to remember that we're riding bikes.
I think it's absolutely great that Doctorbass evened a world record at 93 km/h yesterday and I'm very happy for him. His point is to show that it's possible but we're not yet ready to be allowed on highways. He's helped a lot of us figure out batteries and mechanical products that work. One of the better side of this forum has to do with people tinkering their own ideas as opposed to comparing e-bikes that are mass produced and legalized. But where do we stop ?
So, more later as this tread progresses.
tostino
10 kW
The crazy drivers are exactly why I want MORE speed. Meshing with traffic is much easier done at car-like speeds. Of course, my bike is already 75% over legal speed to begin withGordon said:
nicobie
100 MW
Yes, yes, yes 
tostino said:The crazy drivers are exactly why I want MORE speed. Meshing with traffic is much easier done at car-like speeds. Of course, my bike is already 75% over legal speed to begin withGordon said:
I would like an average speed limit over 5km to be limited to say, 50kph for basically regular bicycles, and for specially built bikes with proper suspensions and brakes to have the speed limited to 70kph.
In other words, averaged over that distance allow for spurts of speed that considerably exceed that, but not beyond brake / handling, etc. limits.
What is really needed is relatively rapid acceleration to the speed "limit" or to cruising, to reduce the amount of time spent going from stopped to cruising speed.
That means a relatively high torque, on a fairly flat torque curve, as opposed to maximizing horsepower output.
Something in the range of a 1.5kw peak output motor, with a sustained outpt of 1kw for a bicycle frame, and a sustained output of maybe 1.5kw for a specially designed frame with a peak output of 2kw would be what I am after.
Bikes / Specially designed bikes with this capability SHOULD be properly equipped with speedometers, odometers, lighting, turn signals, brake lights, etc.
Riders ought to also have some kind of a license, perhaps not a regular motor vehicle license, but something.
Bikes of this power also ought to have a very distinct (and visible switch) that switch them to "low power" mode consistent with present e Bike (no license, insurance, etc.) regimes currently in force that permit them to operate on bike paths, etc. like a regular non-powered bicycle.
That regime currently exists for golf carts in certain golf cart communities, where golf carts have to switch modes to go on golf cart paths, but are allowed higher speed limits when operated on public roads.
Imaginative rule making and institution building need to happen with e Bikes and other alternatives to the automobile, like low speed vehicles, but that is not really happening anywhere.
Strangely, the best developments are in places where rules are weak --- China.
In other words, averaged over that distance allow for spurts of speed that considerably exceed that, but not beyond brake / handling, etc. limits.
What is really needed is relatively rapid acceleration to the speed "limit" or to cruising, to reduce the amount of time spent going from stopped to cruising speed.
That means a relatively high torque, on a fairly flat torque curve, as opposed to maximizing horsepower output.
Something in the range of a 1.5kw peak output motor, with a sustained outpt of 1kw for a bicycle frame, and a sustained output of maybe 1.5kw for a specially designed frame with a peak output of 2kw would be what I am after.
Bikes / Specially designed bikes with this capability SHOULD be properly equipped with speedometers, odometers, lighting, turn signals, brake lights, etc.
Riders ought to also have some kind of a license, perhaps not a regular motor vehicle license, but something.
Bikes of this power also ought to have a very distinct (and visible switch) that switch them to "low power" mode consistent with present e Bike (no license, insurance, etc.) regimes currently in force that permit them to operate on bike paths, etc. like a regular non-powered bicycle.
That regime currently exists for golf carts in certain golf cart communities, where golf carts have to switch modes to go on golf cart paths, but are allowed higher speed limits when operated on public roads.
Imaginative rule making and institution building need to happen with e Bikes and other alternatives to the automobile, like low speed vehicles, but that is not really happening anywhere.
Strangely, the best developments are in places where rules are weak --- China.
recumbent
100 kW
I found that 48 volts is the sweet spot for weight/power and speed.
45km/h (30mph) seems fast enough to keep up with traffic, keeping the safety factor included. However i rarely go over 40km/h.
45km/h (30mph) seems fast enough to keep up with traffic, keeping the safety factor included. However i rarely go over 40km/h.
icecube57
10 MW
I honestly like a solid 30-35mph. I live in Atlanta. You have to own the lane. If you try to be conservative and hug the side of the road or curb they will run over you. If you take the lane and ride at a speed that wont piss them off I feel alot safer doing that. With my current improvements I will be able to sustain 35mph easy and maybe creep into the low 40s. I will be at 84 solid off the charger and running 45A on a Golden Motor Front. Fork Willing.
mikefish
100 W
at risk of being that old boring guy... :|
im concerned about too many Ebikes breaking the law, and that way too harsh of rules, and limits, will get slapped on us all.
i think that we should be allowed to go as fast as your average road bike, but when you start hitting 35-40 mph, you are no longer riding a bike. 50cc scooters can hardly hit that speed. and you should be wearing a motorcycle helmet (if it is law in you state/area) if your Ebike is going that fast. besides, at those speeds, you are now a missile. you hit a car, or person, forget about it.
when i hit downhill and reach 25 mph, and i am tense! this is not a safe speed for little rubber pads to save your ass if an emergency stop is needed (i do not have experience with disk brakes on a bike so i cant speak for them). if your eye are watering up from the speed you are going, you are moving! physics will tell you that type of speed will wreck you pretty darn good. if you want to go that fast, get a motorcycle. or make your own electric motorcycle. heavier frame, better brakes, and much more legal. or if you have the cash, buy one for 7,450 bucks though incentives are good (depending on state)
http://www.zeromotorcycles.com/incentives/
i do not work for them...just considering one
im concerned about too many Ebikes breaking the law, and that way too harsh of rules, and limits, will get slapped on us all.
i think that we should be allowed to go as fast as your average road bike, but when you start hitting 35-40 mph, you are no longer riding a bike. 50cc scooters can hardly hit that speed. and you should be wearing a motorcycle helmet (if it is law in you state/area) if your Ebike is going that fast. besides, at those speeds, you are now a missile. you hit a car, or person, forget about it.
when i hit downhill and reach 25 mph, and i am tense! this is not a safe speed for little rubber pads to save your ass if an emergency stop is needed (i do not have experience with disk brakes on a bike so i cant speak for them). if your eye are watering up from the speed you are going, you are moving! physics will tell you that type of speed will wreck you pretty darn good. if you want to go that fast, get a motorcycle. or make your own electric motorcycle. heavier frame, better brakes, and much more legal. or if you have the cash, buy one for 7,450 bucks though incentives are good (depending on state)
http://www.zeromotorcycles.com/incentives/
i do not work for them...just considering one
dogman dan
1 PW
I agree, even my lame 36v commuter setups are a technically illegal bike, but legal mopeds since they go just over 20 mph. So I shouldn't be on the bike path with em. Like I said, I want to be legal, and insured before I get out in the lanes with cars on a 45 mph road on the ICE scooter. Fast ebikes are not the answer, but registered motorcycle conversions are. I think also, that there is going to be some backlash from the law in some places from the 40 mph crew that rides in the streets on illegal vehicles, just like there was for the skateboarders years ago.
I'm not trying to say don't build a fast bike, I bought a used x5 motor for mine yesterday. But do realize the risk you take when you have an accident at those speeds and you are not insured. It is possible, yeah yeah I know, but it is possible to screw up yourself, and now you are responsible for the dent in a car or a person and you are not insured on that illegal bike. Not to mention the damage to you, when you fly over somebodies hood. Of course we're not insured on a legal ebike either, but at 20 mph the damage is likely to be much more affordable. My 15 mph crash last year cost $15,000. When I get it done, my fast bike will ride the street for just a few blocks to get to the dirt riding, or get there on the cars bike rack.
I'm not trying to say don't build a fast bike, I bought a used x5 motor for mine yesterday. But do realize the risk you take when you have an accident at those speeds and you are not insured. It is possible, yeah yeah I know, but it is possible to screw up yourself, and now you are responsible for the dent in a car or a person and you are not insured on that illegal bike. Not to mention the damage to you, when you fly over somebodies hood. Of course we're not insured on a legal ebike either, but at 20 mph the damage is likely to be much more affordable. My 15 mph crash last year cost $15,000. When I get it done, my fast bike will ride the street for just a few blocks to get to the dirt riding, or get there on the cars bike rack.
Drunkskunk
100 GW
I haven't hit max speed on my bike yet. at 36mph, I decided it was fast enough. I could break 35, and haven't tried to go faster. I spend most of my time riding park trails at 10-15mph. When I built my bike, I wanted more speed than I could peddle, but mostly I wanted power. I got more than enough now. Now I'm working on stealth and effecancy.
For me, the bigger thrill is being able to ride 1 watt per mile more efficently at 20mph than it would be to have a bike 1mph faster.
If I want raw speed and acceleration, well, thats what I tinker with cars for.
The bike is all about doing more with less.
For me, the bigger thrill is being able to ride 1 watt per mile more efficently at 20mph than it would be to have a bike 1mph faster.
If I want raw speed and acceleration, well, thats what I tinker with cars for.
The bike is all about doing more with less.
WonderProfessor
100 W
- Joined
- Feb 20, 2009
- Messages
- 126
Don't fret about the "old." It's the "boring" you should be worrying about. The truth is that the bike laws in most jurisdictions never did, and still don't, make any sense to begin with. Before I blew my knees out, I would routinely ride over 20 mph (32 kph) on the flat on my Gold Rush. (Uh, I guess that's why my knees are gone now, huh?) On the downhill segments, I still routinely go over 40 mph (66 kph) and sometimes go over 50 mph (80 kph). My top speed stands at 57 mph (92 kph). My non-disk brakes have never had any problem stopping me. Should my bike be made illegal because of the speeds it can attain? Should bikes be limited to 20 mph (32 kph) with or without motors? It's nonsense. What difference does it make whether or not you have a motor when you are cruising at 25 mph (40 kph)? Obviously, there must be some threshold where regulation steps in, but, in my humble opinion, 20 mph (32 kph) is far too low.mikefish said:
There's no doubt that reform of bicycle laws is coming. Bikes in the U.S. and Canada have suffered from the overemphasis of the automobile as the primary form of personal transportation. The ethos was to keep bikes as far away from cars as possible, "for their own good." But none of us here need to be lectured of why this is just not going to work as we move into the future. Hopefully, we will be able to interject some common sense into the reforms. We may even get lucky. There might be one or two politicians writing the various pieces of legislation and regulations who actually rides a bike to work. (That might be too much wishful thinking!)
Depending on your jurisdiction, your homeowners or renters insurance policy normally carries personal liability coverage. In our jurisdiction, accidents resulting from the operation of a bicycle are covered by your personal liability coverage. Again, this issue is going to become more pressing as we move forward with bike regulation reform.dogman said:
liveforphysics
100 TW
My current bike runs out of gearing at 64mph. Decent, but not fast enough.
My next bike will do +100mph. My battery is capable of 50kw, so it just comes down to needing motors and controllers able to keep up. I'm all ready getting the parts collected to make it happen.
My next bike will do +100mph. My battery is capable of 50kw, so it just comes down to needing motors and controllers able to keep up. I'm all ready getting the parts collected to make it happen.
snowranger
10 kW
Yep, 26 is alright for most of the city in which I live, but there are a couple arteries where 30-35 would be better for pacing traffic. 30 mph doesn't seem that fast to me relative to going 60 mph on the freeway on a motorcycle. You just get used to the speed and you look further out.
Mount a rack of rocket motors on the rear rack.
As long as they are not "lit" (or actually in use) they are not propelling the bike.
When no one that matters is looking, light them up to accelerate you to whatever speed they will take you up to.
Then jettison the used motor (explosive burst at end of rocket to eject the motor casing) to get rid of the evidence.
You will still be technically within the 500 or whatever watt limit then.
Wyle E.
As long as they are not "lit" (or actually in use) they are not propelling the bike.
When no one that matters is looking, light them up to accelerate you to whatever speed they will take you up to.
Then jettison the used motor (explosive burst at end of rocket to eject the motor casing) to get rid of the evidence.
You will still be technically within the 500 or whatever watt limit then.
Wyle E.
dogman dan
1 PW
That is comforting to know that I may be covered by insurance on a legal ebike. Too bad I don't have any. Both can do 23 mph. I doubt they would cover me on an Illegal ebike, but the might on a moped, thats 25 mph or less in this state.
Completed my new battery build last night finally after months of effort and the 504 got over 30mph @ 52v pretty easily and that was WAY too fast for my Jamis MTB. I don't feel comfortable over 20mph sustained but am fine bursting up to 30mph for brief moments if necessary. My new plug brake @ 30mph was very strong I will say. :lol:
I think honestly it takes an accident for a lot of people to realize they are not immortal and can get really hurt even at slow speeds. I had a paragliding accident a few years back at about 22mph and it smashed up my right foot really good and that was with specialized flying boots even. Good luck to all you speedsters out there!
I think honestly it takes an accident for a lot of people to realize they are not immortal and can get really hurt even at slow speeds. I had a paragliding accident a few years back at about 22mph and it smashed up my right foot really good and that was with specialized flying boots even. Good luck to all you speedsters out there!
tostino
10 kW
I've had some pretty bad accidents, and most of them were at high speeds (50mph or so) on a dirt bike. One of the occasions was my bar caught a vine, and it turned the bars so quick I went flying off the side. Bike did a few flips, rolled over me, and I smashed my shoulder when I landed on the ground. I couldn't lift my right arm above my elbow for 2 months after that lol.pwbset said:
Never had a bad fall on a pedal bike, but I am sure at those speeds, it is just as dangerous if not more so. I was on the sidewalk a week or so back, and going about 20mph. It had a really sudden z shaped turn in it, with 3 ft concrete walls on each side. I slammed on my brakes, and tried my best to slow down, but I ended up slamming my front tire into the wall at an angle and almost went down. Front tire was bent to hell, so I rode it home nice and slow.
I feel much safer on the road.
Similar threads
