Di Blasi R34 query

[Ridgelessbackhound]

HI
i am an experience e-tricycle rider looking to expand my fleet to include a DiBlasi R34 to use in conjunction with public transport. I have test ridden one and found the folding joints to be more stable than I expected and the folded dimensions manageable. However I was only able to test on a mild incline and need to know for sure that it will tackle several hills on a day’s outing. Please can anyone with user experience comment on its hill performance. An added confusion is that the all my other trikes have been throttle only and I am not sure what to expect of a pedal assist which is just either ON or OFF.

 

[sjpt]

specs say

• Engine: 24V – 200 W
• Li-Ion battery pack: 24V – 8,5 Ah; weight 4.2 kg
• Range on flat road: more than 24 km

That's a fairly weak engine and low powered battery. It will be very challenged by significant hills, and will have a poor range if it gets at all hilly. Maybe 12km but that depends so much on the hills, your weight, etc etc. I see it has a surprisingly low total load of 100kgs., but that may be enough for your needs.

Also if the controller really does just have on/off it will not give very good riding experience. I can't see anything about the controller in the specs. Maybe it has very sophisticated fairly automatic power delivery arrangement. I doubt it: if id did I'd expect the specs to make a big thing of it.

You could consider buying the R32 non-electric version and converting it with something like the Woosh XF07 kit. Still not a very powerful motor, but will get you up most hills (especially with the 20" wheel), and with a decent battery 30 miles or more range. It'll also have a much more useful and flexible controller.

Even if you have to pay someone to fit it, it will come out cheaper than the R34. Over £1000 extra for the electric version is a very hefty premium for what it provides. It may be difficult to find a fitter; if you got the bike delivered to Woosh they'd probably do the conversion for around £100 and not charge too much for delivery on to you.

 

[saneagle]

A spare battery for that bike is £427. It's 24v and only 8 Ah, but weighs 4.2kg, so must be a lead-acid one that should cost aboutv £70 max.

I'd forget that bike as an electric one. It's too expensive for what it is. I like sjpt's idea of getting the non-electric bersion and fitting a decent electric kit to it. It would be cheaper, more powerful, a lot more range and a lot cheaper to run.

Jorvik sell some nice looking trikes. I haven't tried one, so I can't say whether they're any good, and they don't give details of electrical stuff, but it looks like Bafang electrics, which is pretty well proven.

 

[Ridgelessbackhound]

specs say

• Engine: 24V – 200 W
• Li-Ion battery pack: 24V – 8,5 Ah; weight 4.2 kg
• Range on flat road: more than 24 km

That's a fairly weak engine and low powered battery. It will be very challenged by significant hills, and will have a poor range if it gets at all hilly. Maybe 12km but that depends so much on the hills, your weight, etc etc. I see it has a surprisingly low total load of 100kgs., but that may be enough for your needs.

Also if the controller really does just have on/off it will not give very good riding experience. I can't see anything about the controller in the specs. Maybe it has very sophisticated fairly automatic power delivery arrangement. I doubt it: if id did I'd expect the specs to make a big thing of it.

You could consider buying the R32 non-electric version and converting it with something like the Woosh XF07 kit. Still not a very powerful motor, but will get you up most hills (especially with the 20" wheel), and with a decent battery 30 miles or more range. It'll also have a much more useful and flexible controller.

Even if you have to pay someone to fit it, it will come out cheaper than the R34. Over £1000 extra for the electric version is a very hefty premium for what it provides. It may be difficult to find a fitter; if you got the bike delivered to Woosh they'd probably do the conversion for around £100 and not charge too much for delivery on to you.

Thankyou for all this detail. It’s really helpful and I will follow your suggestion of having a motor fitted to an R32. My current two trikes are both retrofitted with Bafang mid drive motors which are fine on hills.

 

[Ridgelessbackhound]

A spare battery for that bike is £427. It's 24v and only 8 Ah, but weighs 4.2kg, so must be a lead-acid one that should cost aboutv £70 max.

I'd forget that bike as an electric one. It's too expensive for what it is. I like sjpt's idea of getting the non-electric bersion and fitting a decent electric kit to it. It would be cheaper, more powerful, a lot more range and a lot cheaper to run.

Jorvik sell some nice looking trikes. I haven't tried one, so I can't say whether they're any good, and they don't give details of electrical stuff, but it looks like Bafang electrics, which is pretty well proven.

Thankyou, really helpful advice. I will investigate getting a motor fitted to an R32 if it can be done without fouling the folding mechanism. Unfortunately the Di Blasi is the only trike which folds small enough to be taken on public transport. The much more powerful AS electrotrike comes close but is still too cumbersome when folded.

 

[sjpt]

You can get better hill climbing with a mid-drive, and Bafang is a good choice.
A mid-drive may well get in the way of the folding mechanism, front drive is less likely to.

Battery position is another issue. You may be able to fit one on the rack.
It looks as if the R34 has arranged a little platform at the rear axle.

Woosh provide Bafang mid-motors as well as the XF07 I mentioned earlier.
I'd suggest you contact Woosh and see what they have to suggest.

 

[andy_b]

HI
i am an experience e-tricycle rider looking to expand my fleet to include a DiBlasi R34 to use in conjunction with public transport. I have test ridden one and found the folding joints to be more stable than I expected and the folded dimensions manageable. However I was only able to test on a mild incline and need to know for sure that it will tackle several hills on a day’s outing. Please can anyone with user experience comment on its hill performance. An added confusion is that the all my other trikes have been throttle only and I am not sure what to expect of a pedal assist which is just either ON or OFF.

Hi,

My ex had one of these about 10 years ago. It's been fairly reliable. She uses it on trailways, so I can't comment on it's hill climbing ability.

I say it's fairly reliable as it has needed to be repaired twice in 10 years. The same part broke twice, which prevented drive to the wheel.

It's also limited to 8mph, which is fairly restrictive. It's an old model, so this may have been increased.

The pedal assist kicks in when the crank has a half turn, which I believe is fairly standard.

I hope this helps,

Andy.