Cannondale and 8Fun

[Hugh]

Morning Chaps,

does anyone know if the 8Fun bottle kit with 26'' wheel as here (8F26F36B | 26" Electric Bike Conversion Kit | 36V 250W Motor, 36V Li-ion Water Bottle Type Battery with Panasonic cells) will fit a Cannondale front fork without any grief?

The Cytronex thread recently made me look at the idea - this 8Fun thing looks very intriguing if they're reliable and fit the bike.

Advice gratefully received.

Cheers, Hugh

p.s. Having seen the preview, does anyone know a good url shortener!

 

[indalo]

does anyone know if the 8Fun bottle kit with 26'' wheel as here (8F26F36B | 26" Electric Bike Conversion Kit | 36V 250W Motor, 36V Li-ion Water Bottle Type Battery with Panasonic cells) will fit a Cannondale front fork without any grief?

The Cytronex thread recently made me look at the idea - this 8Fun thing looks very intriguing if they're reliable and fit the bike.

I've just been looking at the same web page Hugh and my first thought was that I wouldn't like to fit a motor to a Cannondale (or any bike) with carbon forks. No doubt it can be done but it's not for me.

Indalo

 

[paulhipwood]

Dear Hugh

I have just bought and fitted to my bike, see link below
http://www.pedelecs.co.uk/forum/electric-bicycles/11160-thorn-raven-now-converted.html
I did not want to use carbon forks and so swapped for steel.
Forks drop outs for normal bikes are about 9 mm wide. My hub mtor was 10 mm so you have some adjustment to make. I put flats on the motor shaft and reduced the flat on the anti rotation washers. I then removed the paint on the fork drop outs. I wanted to keep the fork as original as possible.

The instruction were vague on how to fit the kit. Not up to Hayne manual standard.

I got it on the road after day and I am really enjoying the set up.

regards
paul

 

[Hugh]

I've just been looking at the same web page Hugh and my first thought was that I wouldn't like to fit a motor to a Cannondale (or any bike) with carbon forks. No doubt it can be done but it's not for me.

Indalo

Hi Indalo,

sadly (or not) it's so old that it hasn't got carbon forks - they're the same alloy as the frame, so I guess that shouldn't be a problem?

 

[Hugh]

Dear Hugh

I have just bought and fitted to my bike, see link below
http://www.pedelecs.co.uk/forum/electric-bicycles/11160-thorn-raven-now-converted.html
I did not want to use carbon forks and so swapped for steel.
Forks drop outs for normal bikes are about 9 mm wide. My hub mtor was 10 mm so you have some adjustment to make. I put flats on the motor shaft and reduced the flat on the anti rotation washers. I then removed the paint on the fork drop outs. I wanted to keep the fork as original as possible.

The instruction were vague on how to fit the kit. Not up to Hayne manual standard.

I got it on the road after day and I am really enjoying the set up.

regards
paul

Paul, that looks very neat. As I've got an alloy fork, I'm guessing I'd be OK? I've got disc brakes - is it possible to fit a disc to the 8Fun wheel, or will that somehow make the whole thing even wider?

I'll have to check the dropout width anyway - I'm nervous (euphemism!) about trying to widen them.

Cheers, Hugh

 

[paulhipwood]

Dear Hugh

I have read that if you are using Aluminium fork then you should consider a torque arm.
Basically this resists the rotation forces generated by the motor. This ensures the aluminium drop outs are not the only thing resisting this torque. Search for Torque arm on the forum.

I do not have disc brakes so this was not something I looked at.
Phone 8Fun, the lady who answers is very helpful.

regards
paul

 

[jerrysimon]

Although the spacing between the motor lock out nuts is usually 100mm, often depending on the fork profile above the dropouts spacers/widening might be required so the motor casing does not foul the fork inner faces.

If the forks are not steel, I think I would fit a torque arm for belt & braces safety wise.

Oops Paul beat me to it

Regards

Jerry

 

[jerrysimon]

The non water bottle battery kits say V or Disc brakes and you can clearly see the fixing on the motor for the disk brake. I suspect the motor is the same for both kits. As suggested best phone them.

http://www.8funbike.com/detail.asp/sku=EK26F36R

IMHO that seems like a good all round deal for someone who wants to buy from the UK.

Regards

Jerry

 

[banbury frank]

Hi I would look at the Juicybike kit a bit more cost But the support is Excellent

Juicy Bike Accessories: stylish electric bikes and scooters

There have been lots off problems with battery's from 8Fun

Frank

 

[indalo]

The Cytronex thread recently made me look at the idea - this 8Fun thing looks very intriguing if they're reliable and fit the bike.

Advice gratefully received.

Hugh, while I have no idea how well these kits go, Frank's link to Juicybike's kit might be worth exploring as the price is very reasonable for a kit.

Indalo

 

[amigafan2003]

Hi Indalo,

sadly (or not) it's so old that it hasn't got carbon forks - they're the same alloy as the frame, so I guess that shouldn't be a problem?

Alloy or carbon forks makes no difference - they both have alloy dropouts.

I assume the kit is quite low power (700 watts peaks or less?) - if so then you should be fine on alloy forks but I'd use a torque arm as well.

 

[Hugh]

Thanks to all for comments and suggestions so far. I've emailed 8Fun to query about torque arm and fork width, so await their response.

I like the 8Fun setup because of using the bottle battery - I really don't want to have to use rack mounting or underseat bags as it'll spoil the general setup of the bike. If it's not a runner with 8Fun (or maybe Cytronex if I win on the premium bonds!), I'll leave it alone and pedal harder instead!

Hugh