The Charging Bullet! The Vintagent.

[mthee]

In defence of electric bikes, the only plus point I am aware of is the max torque available from a standing start, which this article didn't seem to convey. I know with the Zero SR electric bike, the 116 ft-lb (157 Nm) has impressed reviewers and guaranteed traffic light GP success. Not for me though, ta.

[Dave#22]

Don't get me wrong....I think the Internal Combustion Engine is a marvelous invention and even better placed between two wheels.
As regards e-bikes, it was something I wanted to experiment with and so
pleased with the results, but friends I go out cycling with are not so pleased.🤣🤣🤣.
Dave.

[iansoady]

I agree with the electric principle, I've recently built a few e-bikes for myself, Pat and a few friends. I've used a 500w hub motor (not legal), which gives a top speed of around 23mph and with a 15ah battery + pedalling (but no pedalelec, just thumb control) gives around 40/50 mile range.

Dave.

Hi Dave.

I've been considering something similar as the hills round here seem to be getting steeper..... but probably 360 watts would do me. Where did you source the components? Did you use a front or rear motor? Any thoughts on the best way to approach it?

My idea was to use a mountain type bike I already have and mount the batteries between the frame tubes somehow. Front wheel motor seems easiest especially if I want to swap it in and out.

[Dave#22]

The first bike I built used a Schwinn American classic style frame and Springer forks, with a 500w rear hub motor with a 36v 20ah battery on the rack and the control unit inside the dummy fuel tank...purely for road use.
The second was a full suspension mountain bike with the same 500w motor, but with a 36v15.5ah battery on the downtube and the control unit in a bag on a seat post mount....for offroad use.
The parts were all sourced from Ebay, but being a technophobe, I wanted to keep it simple without an LCD panel and just a thumb control and the result is perfect. It certainly takes the effort out of hills and at around £400/500 for the parts, it's a bargain.
A friend decided to put a 48v1000w motor into aluminium forks and the torque destroyed them, so I rebuilt the bike with reinforced steel forks and all's well.
The hub motors are available in 250w/350w/500w/750w/1000w or more, front or rear wheel drive, but I find 500w is ideal + on some 500w kits the controller has a switch to deliver 250w (legal limit).
Hope it helps.
Dave.

[johnr]

i was looking on alibaba last night and theree are several eleectric motorcycles for sale (as well as a rather lovely 250cc four stroke single for just under a grand, brand new) and interestingly a kit to build your own electric motorbiike including all the controls and a complete 17 inch motorbike  back wheel with a 2kw electric motor in its hub, all running off a 72v battery pack, all included in the kit. alibaba is a fascinating place to browse, some stonking three wheeler trcucks and vans powered by 250cc ngines in there as well as such facinating stuff as a 1000cc vee twin engine or a 650cc twin cam single with fuel injection, all available for ridiculous prices.

[iansoady]

Thanks Dave.

The one time I used alibaba was a bit of a disaster. Fine if what you buy is OK but a nightmare if you have a problem with it.

If you think ebay is bad.......

[johnr]

oh aye, im under no illusions about the distance and therefore accountability being practically zero, but there are such diverse things on there, brand new replica honda cub step thru's in 50 and 110 cc, starting at under 500 quid each. you can see why folks ar bringing a couple of dozen in and punting them out on ebay and making a few bob on the side. i suppose it depends on if you can hold your nerve. not sure i could trust myself though...

[Dave#22]

I recently bought a Derbi Terra Adventure 125 with a blown engine, so after some searching decided on a Chinese copy of the Honda CRF 230. I looked at Alibaba and other sites and had the choice of Lifan or Zongshen. The biggest problem was import duty, then  I found  a French off-road dealer
could supply the Zongshen engine I wanted, delivered for £535....so I bought it.
Nice little engine.
Dave.

[themoudie]

Aye Dave,

Brexit will stop all that!

My regards, Bill

[Moto63]

I... then hopefully we can (eventually) get back to producing half decent quality stuff ourselves 😉😉🤘..... ok, ok one can live in hope can't one???

[Steve Lake]

Yup....hope springs eternal  . unlike my hagon shocks which gave up springing atall...

[Moto63]

Oh dear, don't sound to good. Bet the actual coils are made you know where!!! Then simply assembled in the uk. That way they can legally write "built in Britain " on the box even tho all the actual parts are sourced from foreign shores.... get some industry back over here I say 😉🤘🤘... sorry rant over and my apologies for kindda taking the thread away from leccy bikes .... name withheld to protect the innocent 😁😁🤘