Friction Drive comes of age

[Woosh]

if low assist is the aim, you could have a hub motor, sub 2kg, + a small 7S1P battery.
Total weight about 2kgs-2.5kgs and costs less than $200.
This 85F costs $79 and weighs 1.6kgs

http://www.greenbikekit.com/36v-85f-front-hub-engines.html

 

[flecc]

Just read the10 page Kepler thread on ES, a very interesting read and one not to be poo-pooed.

I'd assessed it that way at the outset, as a light assist system. That roller drive makes it just too limited this side of the world. Although we don't get constant rainfall, damp road surfaces are extremely common, morning dew, mist, even puddles that persist, and any dampness on the tyre surface scuppers it.

There was another RC motor one like this, mentioned a short while ago in here, albeit with an abrasive roller, but I can't remember its name.
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[KirstinS]

I am much more impressed by the ultra light kit by gng-electric.

http://www.gngebike.com/ultralight-300w-kit

Incremental progress on well proven technologies.

Me too

Are you going to test one for us ? Please!

 

[Nealh]

Not ideal for some of the Northern hemisphere but there are a few on ES who are very interested and an initial production run of about 100 mounting units are being mad for sale. There has also been interest for him to offer a full kit minus battery which may be the next move.

 

[Recy]

Back from my wee trip now and it's nice to see a few new voices have chimed up on this thread bringing a needed receptive tone....
Like D8veh, I would certainly like to give Keplers kit a whirl, if the prices etc are right I can see a couple of nice little light weight Summer night cruisers for the other half and myself to spirit us across to the lake....
I really like how Kepler has whittled his fitments and components down to the simplest reliable configuration, yet still maintained some flexibility without 'mission creep' to other approaches.
Genius.

 

[Tugwell Gibson]

One market would be people that are just occasional cyclists. Like me before I got my emtb. Or my wife now. Just a few miles every few months. And only in good weather, people that might just use their bike a bit more if the bloody hills weren't in the way or if it didn't make them feel physically sick.mtheirs probably a million unused adults bikes in garages around the country.

 

[Nealh]

if low assist is the aim, you could have a hub motor, sub 2kg, + a small 7S1P battery.
Total weight about 2kgs-2.5kgs and costs less than $200.
This 85F costs $79 and weighs 1.6kgs

http://www.greenbikekit.com/36v-85f-front-hub-engines.html

Keplers aim is a stealth looking bike with minimalist build involved, perfect for his solution for a sub 9kg stock looking carbon road bike. Maybe not everyone's cuppa but something that is his and a bike that doesn't shout ebike.

 

[Nealh]

Looking at the size of the motor he has engineered I ask myself why he could not mount it with a cog wheel , place it on the rear frame and drive the chain.
His masterpiece is the size of the motor and weight reduction

You need to read the thread again he hasn't engineered a motor, he is using stock out runner motors available from Hobbyking for 40-50 quid.

 

[Recy]

Yes something simple and relatively inexpensive that just helps flatten the hills a little, or just helps enough to tempt a non biker to have a bike around and use it could make a difference in so many ways - getting those abandoned garage bikes back in use too.
And the same sort of kit on a nice carbon is indeed a mean machine.

The clear benefits, physical, mental, economic and environmental of cycling seems to be something that is obscured by the general animosity to cyclists. Keplers kit could transform an unused or inexpensive bike into transport and improved health for what amounts to the same cost as a half decent exercise bike - even if only effective in the dry months (which is when most people would ride anyway)

 

[Woosh]

something that is his and a bike that doesn't shout ebike.

his kit is not any stealthier than a rear hub motor though.

 

[mike killay]

I just don't get this 'Stealth' thing
Both my bikes look unashamedly like electric bikes.
I quite like that and am certainly not embarrassed or wish to deceive anyone.

 

[Woosh]

I quite like that and am certainly not embarrassed or wish to deceive anyone.

I like stealth because it reduces unwanted attention.

 

[anotherkiwi]

My GSM is stealthy. My GF's neighbour noticed yesterday that it was an electric bike, he has seen me riding it since last year...

In my view a CF road bike isn't "stealthy", it is always screaming "I am light and expensive, please steal me!" so electric or not doesn't matter much.

Yesterday I saw a twin friction roller powered wheel chair. It was using smooth metal rollers too, so as for the "coming of age" in the title of the thread, well I think the technology came of age in the 1950's and is ever since being refined.

 

[Tugwell Gibson]

his kit is not any stealthier than a rear hub motor though.

But if it's nice and cheap and can be fitted by anyone in a few minutes onto their existing bikes. That knocks all the hub kits aside.

 

[flecc]

But if it's nice and cheap and can be fitted by anyone in a few minutes onto their existing bikes. That knocks all the hub kits aside.

Not quite, there's the several all-in-one wheel solutions like the Copenhagen wheel. That is just a front wheel quick release swap with smartphone control, even quicker that this friction drive gadget.
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[Danidl]

You need to read the thread again he hasn't engineered a motor, he is using stock out runner motors available from Hobbyking for 40-50 quid.

.. you are right , I had not picked that up at the time . I am puzzled about this as a product The design effort seems to be on a cable operated bracket. The motors are rated at up to 2000w and are high speed low torque.He is suggesting using a low capacity battery pack. There is no discussion on efficiency ...

 

[tommie]

Hmmm,

Noise and tyre wear anyone??

its a roller hammering on the tyre tread after all

 

[anotherkiwi]

He only needs a 150 - 200 W boost because his roads are flat(ish) and he is a healthy road bike rider.

I was intrigued by outrunner motors to here is a good explanation:

http://www.dronetrest.com/t/brushless-motors-how-they-work-and-what-the-numbers-mean/564

 

[mike killay]

Rollers will work in special circumstances.
There is a caravan mover that consists of rollers on both wheels and they transmit sufficient torque to take the caravan up a modest hill.
Of course they are only used for short distances.
I have also seen a waterproof version on a boat trailer. A disabled sailor gets into his boat on its trailer on dry land, drives into the water using the rollers until his boat floats off.
Recovery is the reverse.

 

[Danidl]

He only needs a 150 - 200 W boost because his roads are flat(ish) and he is a healthy road bike rider.

I was intrigued by outrunner motors to here is a good explanation:

http://www.dronetrest.com/t/brushless-motors-how-they-work-and-what-the-numbers-mean/564

.. I appreciate the link,