Finally bought a smaller folder for conversion...

[morphix]

I was thinking about my 'ratios' cos I can't add peddle power at higher speeds....

But after thinking about it.. the answer is, so what !!

If the bike is already travelling at 'x' MPH there's no need to add to it.

That's a good way of looking at it. Maybe I should be thinking the same...my days of pedalling in high gear with the motor going full pelt may be over with my knee prob! I'm a speed freak that's my problem, always in a rush to get somewhere ;-)

It is a hard decision though with gears isn't it.. you have to try and gage what range will allow you a good balance of being able to ride the bike comfortably un-powered, whilst still providing a reasonably high level of gearing so you can keep up the motor at a decent speed. My bike now is 9-spd 11T-26T with a 54T chainwheel.. so I'm looking for something similar range in 7-spd.. Cyzelezee has 11T-32T.. also I'm keeping an eye on the freewheel weight as I've noticed big differences online..some 7-spd are 200g lighter than others that average around 550g. 200g is a big weight saving when you're trying to stay below 17kg ;-) I wonder if there's a big difference between 11T and 13T? And I wonder, if going 13T or 14T could be offset by using a bigger chainwheel... hmmm that could provide high gearing but with a possible weight saving then.

 

[Old_Dave]

200g is a big weight saving when you're trying to stay below 17kg ;-)

Don't worry.. just eat one less bacon sandwich when a ride on the bike is planned

 

[morphix]

I don't think I will be able to achieve a 17kg build. I think even Jerry was struggling with his Brompton and smaller motor.. I'm at a disadvantage with a heavier bike and motor from the start. But anything I can do to keep the weight down will be done, so I'm hoping it will be not much over 17kg.. I have to carry the damn thing up and down 2 flights of stairs!!

 

[Old_Dave]

What's the weight of the 'un converted' bike ?

 

[Deleted member 4366]

I think that you'll find the postage too much from USA (Ebikes.ca), so the next place to get them from is Germany.
Shop (english)

 

[morphix]

What's the weight of the 'un converted' bike ?

It's 12.3kg with the standard factory spec.

 

[morphix]

I think that you'll find the postage too much from USA (Ebikes.ca), so the next place to get them from is Germany.
Shop (english)

Thanks d8veh will take a look.. the US seller charges $15, it's not too bad considering but a long wait as it will be US Mail.. I know what you mean about the high cost normally.

 

[Old_Dave]

It's 12.3kg with the standard factory spec.

Huston we have a problem..lol

I recon the necessary added extras will be at least 7 kg

 

[morphix]

Huston we have a problem..lol

I recon the necessary added extras will be at least 7 kg

Heh, ok let's go through it:

Motor = 2.1kg
Controller = 300g?
Battery = 2.3kg
Thumb Throttle = 300g?
Pedal Sensor = 200g?
Brake Sensor = 200g?

Total additional weight: 5.4kg.. total bike weight = 17.7kg

This doesn't take into account cabling, socket/connectors, adding speedict....also maybe adding better tyres (might not be necessary as the Mezzo already has puncture resistant layer and slime in tyres), changing the gears from 9-spd cassette to 7-spd freewheel (but I expect to make a weight saving there)

I wouldn't really include the battery or the controller in the carry weight, as I'm designing this bike similar to how Jerry did his..with the whole kit in a slide-on/slide-off rack bag with a single cable that plugs into a socket. Since my bag has a shoulder strap and fixes on and off very quick, I can always carry that down stairs separate from the bike.

So if we take off the battery and controller... the net carry weight = 15.1kg

The biggest weight gain (and opportunity for saving) is the motor being a fixed part of course... I've looked at lighter motors like Jerry used..but after some discussion I think for the weight saving (400-500g) it's not really worth having a significantly lower power motor...it's a reasonable trade-off in extra weight and extra performance.

 

[Deleted member 4366]

Thev 11/32 from Cyclezee sound perfect to me.

 

[morphix]

Thev 11/32 from Cyclezee sound perfect to me.

Cool I will probably go with that then since it's quicker delivery and if it's not right I can always sell it on..but that has a good range eh, very low gearing for unpowered on hills and very high geared too (same as my current 11T 9-spd). You can't go any more highly geared without changing the chainwheel?

Being such a wide gear range on a small freewheel, it will be a big dramatic change between gears? Rather than the smoother transition I get on my 9-spd from 11T down to 26T? Maybe that's why I like my Mezzo so much and why the gears feel so smooth eh.

 

[Deleted member 4366]

You can't go any more highly geared without changing the chainwheel?

Correct.
...

 

[morphix]

I sound like a real ditherer but I want to get this gearing right first time and not have to fit it all and then change it later! I'm worried that Cyclezee's range may go too low and the changes over 7-spd might be too hard and not smooth.. I find 26T to be just about right for me its ok on hills but I wouldn't want to go any lower. So that bothers me a bit..maybe it's wasted gears there? It's a pity I can't see the full range listed.

Saying that, the bike will be 5-6kgs heavier (and lot more when I start loading it with goods to transport to sorting office) so maybe the lower gears will be useful.

 

[morphix]

I placed my order with BMS and they said it's being delivered in TWO DAYS from stock. Heh. I got 4 thumb throttles to keep some spares incase they break..so if anyone wants one, just give me a shout (the basic thin one with no LEDs - $4 each).

I was going to order a 20" Q100 250-350W rear kit at the same time for my Dahon JetStream but the shipping doubled so there's no saving ordering at same time..and since I'm unsure whether I'm even keeping the jetStream I've decided to finish the Mezzo project first and come back to that JetStream later.

I also just ordered a Speedict..bit disappointed that is coming from China I thought it was a UK company.. Anyway d8veh told me they've improved it with a new model which is increasing in price soon but if you order now you get the newer model at the current old price.. so worth ordering early if anyone considering a speedict.

Now all I got to do is order my wheel rim, freewheel, derauiller and gear shift and I'm done! Catsnapper is kindly taking care of my wheel build when the motor arrives.

 

[Deleted member 4366]

I didn't pay any duty on either of my two Speedicts. They're very small in a jiffy bag, but I heard that things are tightening up on the Chinese side re declarations. I reckon that you'll be OK.

 

[morphix]

Fingers crossed then I asked them if they've looking at having a UK distributor for shipping units by sea freight and offered my services, will let you know if I here anything! I suspect as the units are lights as you say, they will want to keep the distribution in China.

 

[morphix]

My BMS kit arrived today via FedEx. It had been opened at Customs and arrived with "Home Office - Border Agency - Inspected by" load of tape over it That's the first one I've ever had inspected.

What's going on with the Q100's motors!? They got it on the site as 250W-350W which I thought odd..can't be both ratings can it! On actual motor its got 350W on the label.. tut tut! Technically this is illegal to fit! I asked for 250W..and now the Home Office know it's 350W ha.

Anyho, the KU63 controller looks dinky and light compared to my other one, and it unscrews too (my first one from rftec was sealed)

Here's the weights of the bits for anyone interested, since I'm watching my build weight:

Q100 Rear 350W motor: 2.26kg (was listed as 2.1kg on BMS site)

KU63 Controller: 196g

Thumb Throttle (basic one without LEDs): 69g

Pedal Sensor: 47g

Brake Cut-Out Sensor: 37g

Total e-bike kit weight: 2.6kg (less battery, and cabling of course)

 

[morphix]

I've just sold my Dahon JetStream P8.

It's a nice bike, but I've decided it just doesn't offer me a great deal more than my Mezzo and so it doesn't make any sense really keeping two small wheel folders or spending more money to convert it.

 

[morphix]

Well I finally got round to testing my kit out...sort of..

I wanted to test the motor out before I sent it off to be built into the wheel so I wired it to the controller, plugged in the battery..a momentary brain lapse as I realised it wouldn't be running sitting on my desk and needed to be secured in drop-outs.. Doh. I held the axle ends and managed to push the throttle and it jolted into action and turned briefly then stopped. I took this to be a good sign that everything is ok I couldn't make it spin though for more than a couple of seconds.

I did make a video but there's not much to see really except me wiring and soldering on a power connector, burning my fingers, and trying to figure out where the throttle went! I may upload it after a bit of editing to remove the swearing ;-)

Edit: Ah, I just realised the Q100 requires a 5-pin connector wiring to controller as well as the standard 3 pins. Oddly the connector is not fitted and comes separate in a bag, must be different pin-out/wiring for different controllers I guess. Hmm, well I don't think there's much point going much further with no frame to try it out in proper.

 

[Old_Dave]

I thought the plug was not fitted so the the wiring could fit through a small hole, lol

When you do fit the plug then just copy the colours on the socket side, red to red and so on


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