best manual bike to convert

[my.motion]

hi all

I am in process of converting a bike using kits from ebay probably using 500W Hub Motor + 36V 12AH Lithium Ion Electric Bike kit on eBay (end time 02-Aug-09 05:02:31 BST)

From you experiences which is the good/best/easiest manual bike to convert to electric. price range 100-150 pounds, prefer town/commuter bike even second hand ideally should have panniers
1) Is pannier rack the easiest way to mount a battery.
2) are there any other ways photo examples/guides showing how to mount the battery packs on a bike
does the battery pack need to be water proof?
3) Any other advice/gotchas/tips you can give for converting a manual bike please
4) The kits fits 24' 26' etc but will it fit 700C and what is this 700C type please
thanking you all in advance

motion

 

[drgcb]

I don't know if you're UK-based, but Edinburgh Bicycle Cooperative do a good range of relatively inexpensive bikes with reasonable quality components. I have converted their Trailfinder bike with a front hub kit, and it's working out really well. When I was looking around for a suitable bike to convert (I already had the kit built into a 26" wheel) I found it remarkably difficult to find a 26" wheeled bike with a steel fork. The choice is better with 28"/700C, so I'd possibly go for that.

A couple of observations. In my experience, the electrics are best kept as simple as possible. I ditched the switched brake levers, for example, as they were a significant source of problems. It's worth upgrading the connectors between the battery and controller, and those between the controller and the phase wires to the motor. I have found bullets to be very flaky (and tend to get really hot, melting the plastic sheathing). 30A Andersons are awesome, and very reliable. Mounting the battery in a pannier rack is fine (although having the weight that high up is not ideal and does affect the bike's handling). I have a Ping battery in a Topeak rack bag. With the associated waterproof cover, the battery can't remotely get wet, which is important.

Hope that helps.

Greg

 

[flecc]

Also Cycle King / Hawk Cycles are worth a try, since they are discounters offering a huge range of bikes, both rubbish and some good items. As well as those on their website, their shops have large stocks which are often different models. Look on the left of the home page and you'll see they have branches covering much of England:

Cycle King
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[Tiberius]

Hi Motion,

I seem to be turning into a serial bike converter and so far every base* bike has come from ebay.

(*Some people refer to them as donor bikes, but that doesn't strike me as right.)

The first one I did was a full suspension mountain bike. My thinking was that would be best when getting up to high speed on poorly surfaced roads. I have since revised that thinking and gone for no suspension but fat tyres.

Given that I end up dismantling the bike and putting it back together, starting with a used or low cost example makes some sense. Any poor or worn out parts will get replaced.

Anyway, I've just picked up another bike today for a new project........

Greg, I actually found it quite easy to find a bike with 26" wheels and a steel frame. Re-Voltage Red Bike
Just set up an automatic search on ebay and wait for a £30 one. But be aware that many things on there are not described properly; many vendors don't know the difference between 28 and 26" wheels, etc.


Nick

 

[flecc]

Anyway, I've just picked up another bike today for a new project........

Nick

Exmoor 100 mile range special?
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[Tiberius]

Exmoor 100 mile range special?
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Hi Tony,

OK, I admit that was my plan. But its actually such a nice bike it seems a shame to convert it. I may have to go back and get something else.

Nick

 

[my.motion]

Hi Motion,

But be aware that many things on there are not described properly; many vendors don't know the difference between 28 and 26" wheels, etc.


Nick

Thanks Nick, I have actually ordered a 28/700c kit. So what do you look for in a bike? at the moment I am making sure the front forks are steel and atleast 100mm gap between droupouts, brakes must be v-brakes, must have panniers

What do you look for? Just the price ? What is the best and worst bike make/model you have converted?

I am always searching for Dawes Diploma or Raleigh Pioneer LX on ebay

thanks

 

[Tiberius]

What sort of bike do you like to ride? Start with that.
Me, I like drop handlebars, but they have complications.

You can get away with aluminium forks if you use torque arms. Going for a front hub motor means you can have any gears you want on the bike, but you do need to think about the gear shifters. A twist throttle and a twist gear shifter on the same side won't work. In fact I don't think there's any good way to operate a throttle and gear shifter with one hand, which is a thing to consider if you have a front deraileur mechanism. Try to get handlebar mounted indexed shifters - downtube mounted or non-indexed are a pain.

An out and out road bike frame will only take narrow rims and tyres, so don't do that with a front motor.

Remember, just about anything on a bike can be changed.

Nick

 

[my.motion]

Front Motor ordered

What sort of bike do you like to ride? Start with that.
Me, I like drop handlebars, but they have complications.



An out and out road bike frame will only take narrow rims and tyres, so don't do that with a front motor.

Remember, just about anything on a bike can be changed.

Nick

Motor will be front wheel 700C
I am looking for an upright posture bike
thanks

 

[my.motion]

Thanks

A couple of observations. In my experience, the electrics are best kept as simple as possible. I ditched the switched brake levers, for example, as they were a significant source of problems.

Greg

Hi Greg

Is this not dangerous and how is the motor suppose to cutout and stop? Will I be changing the breakpads everyweek then without the brakes cutout?

thnx

 

[flecc]

Hi Greg

Is this not dangerous and how is the motor suppose to cutout and stop? Will I be changing the breakpads everyweek then without the brakes cutout?

thnx

Many of us don't have brake cutouts with throttle control bikes. Just like riding a motorcycle, we just roll off the throttle as we apply the brakes. The e-bike twistgrip throttles are usually spring loaded anyway, so as soon as the grip is relaxed, the throttle shuts.

With pedelec bikes and kits, stopping pedalling shuts off the power anyway.
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[my.motion]

excellent, thanks will keep this in mind while building my kit