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Captain_Rightfoot
4th March 2010, 11:56 PM
I'm sick of my daily commute. I'm only 7 k from the city but the average commute is 50 minutes door to door. I'm putting together an electric bike for my daily commute. It's about 12k, but it has some very decent hills. I'm hoping to...

1. Get some exercise
2. Get out in the open a bit.
3. Save some time.
4. Save some money.

Has anyone else played with one? this is the kit I'm looking at.

https://www.aulro.com/afvb/images/imported/2010/03/1037.jpg

It's a naff video...

YouTube- Commuting on an Electric Bike?.....Yes you can!

Tombie
11th March 2010, 10:59 AM
I'm sick of my daily commute. I'm only 7 k from the city but the average commute is 50 minutes door to door. I'm putting together an electric bike for my daily commute. It's about 12k, but it has some very decent hills. I'm hoping to...

1. Get some exercise
2. Get out in the open a bit.
3. Save some time.
4. Save some money.

Has anyone else played with one? this is the kit I'm looking at.

https://www.aulro.com/afvb/images/imported/2010/03/1037.jpg



Perhaps leave the motor off then :wasntme:

I should do more of the same too...

bee utey
11th March 2010, 04:27 PM
Mine is a bit different, I don't have to pedal if I don't want to, except on hills. A great buzz and you get where you are going not sweat soaked.
The complete rear wheel kit is from China, 36V 200W, cost $400 delivered to my door without battery.

richard4u2
11th March 2010, 04:50 PM
have read some where, get a bike that has a good strong frame as they were having trouble with the cheap one breaking if you have a look at the e-bikes you can buy they are a lot heaver frame

bee utey
11th March 2010, 05:38 PM
have read some where, get a bike that has a good strong frame as they were having trouble with the cheap one breaking if you have a look at the e-bikes you can buy they are a lot heaver frame

I have seen some dreadful crud in the e-bike line, that is why I chose a good bike as a base and added a kit. The Power-ped, which is a relatively good e-bike, has no front derailleur so can't be ridden up a hill without power (too tall geared!).

And if my motor stuffs up the old back wheel is still a-round as a spare.

Captain_Rightfoot
11th March 2010, 08:50 PM
I have seen some dreadful crud in the e-bike line, that is why I chose a good bike as a base and added a kit. The Power-ped, which is a relatively good e-bike, has no front derailleur so can't be ridden up a hill without power (too tall geared!).

And if my motor stuffs up the old back wheel is still a-round as a spare.

WOW. That's exactly what I found. All the e-bikes were second rate. My boss has one, and you don't realise how hard it is on bikes doing any sort of mileage. He's doing 5k a year (as will I be) and he has had so many failures you wouldn't believe.

So, I'm strapping a really good conversion on a really basic but strong commuter bike and I'll tell you in a year if it's been a success. :)

bee utey
11th March 2010, 09:45 PM
Mine's up to 900km, motor hasn't missed a beat. I managed to get a second hand LiFePO4 battery in Australia, about 1/2 price of a new one from China (Ping battery). It weighs 7.5kg and I can run up to 70km with it around the Adelaide hills, more on the flat. Highly recommended technology.

Best of luck!

Captain_Rightfoot
11th March 2010, 09:56 PM
Mine's up to 900km, motor hasn't missed a beat. I managed to get a second hand LiFePO4 battery in Australia, about 1/2 price of a new one from China (Ping battery). It weighs 7.5kg and I can run up to 70km with it around the Adelaide hills, more on the flat. Highly recommended technology.

Best of luck!

That's great! I think the LiFeP04 batteries are the way to go. They last as very well any of them and seem tolerant of tough love.

My boss has one and his has a Li battery. He's got only 170 cycles on it and it's starting to voltage sag :(

ADMIRAL
16th March 2010, 11:58 PM
When does the exercise thing come in ?

bee utey
17th March 2010, 09:19 AM
When does the exercise thing come in ?

Hills.
Overtaking lycra roadies up hills.
Going like the hammers.
Shooting traffic gaps in high gear.
Like a tandem without the nagging from behind.
Think of it as an electric cooling breeze generator, you don't overheat as much.
Electric assistance runs out at 30km/h, sometimes this isn't enough.
Riding an e-bike without turning the pedals will get you rude comments.
It's ASSISTANCE, man!
It's low cost legal fun, there's not enough of that about.:):):)

101RRS
17th March 2010, 09:33 AM
Why not just get one of these :D

bee utey
17th March 2010, 09:57 AM
Why not just get one of these :D
Not fast enough
Not enough pedals
I'm not old enough yet
No V8
No 4WD
No fun

Captain_Rightfoot
17th March 2010, 07:17 PM
Why not just get one of these :D

25k a day would take a while on that! :) One of my workmates called it a 2 wheel electric wheel chair. :)

I think the key thing is that it is assistance only has been pointed out. You still have to pedal - and lots. However, if you want to take it a bit easy in the morning and not be a great blob of sweat - you can.

If you feel like a work out on the way home - you don't have to use the assistance.

Personally I'll be using mine to make the trip faster and get fit. I'll be saving hundreds of dollars a month in parking and bus fares, petrol and maintenance.

I probably wouldn't have attempted it without a little help though. At least that's one car less on the road or another empty seat on the bus for someone else. :)