Thread: e-Bikes

Originally Posted by Captain_Rightfoot

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.

Perhaps leave the motor off then

I should do more of the same too...

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.

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

Originally Posted by richard4u2

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.

Originally Posted by bee utey

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.

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!

Originally Posted by bee utey

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

When does the exercise thing come in ?