Help! front hub conversion of Dahon Ciao folder

[Davoman]

HI All

Greetings from the land downunder

I recently picked up a Dahon Ciao which I'd like to convert as it is : very light, seems well made and has Nexus 8 IGH (which i prefer to deraillier) and in particular a very low step-through.

It will just be for short trips (1-2km each way) to the shops etc, with some moderate hills. Not looking for ultra speed just make things a bit easier on my 75kg 67 y.o. knees.

So, Im hoping for advice on:

1. a good, reasonably priced kit, eg this one: https://topbikekit.com/16kg-tbk74ad-36v250w-48v250w-front-motor-with-20inch-406-wheel-rim-for-bromptoncranstondohon-bike-p-1320.html?number_of_uploads=0&zenid=k0fjrkpag0ippfr4rr7466lbi5 . it has the 75mm drop out.s

2. any tips on doing the conversion? I've a basic understanding of ebikes, already having a Velectrix step-through which is good, but just a bit heavy

3. will i need a torque arm? front forks are steel

4. current tyres are 1.5", they are ok but was thinkng of moving to 1.75" (rims are 406)

and any other suggestions very welcome!

 

[guerney]

4. current tyres are 1.5", they are ok but was thinkng of moving to 1.75" (rims are 406)

My Dahon Helios P8 had 1.5" wide Marathon tyres on Kinetix rims, but I had to change the rims to fit 1.75" Marathon Plus, which are much comfier traversing road cravasses etc.






You may be able to source suitable built wheels down under, but if not, it's possible to buy rims and hubs from AliExpress, as I did a couple of months ago, after a welcome tipoff from @esuark.

https://vi.aliexpress.com/item/1005005929015035.html


https://vi.aliexpress.com/item/1005003842886111.html

 

[Davoman]

Thanks I’ll have a look

 

[saneagle]

HI All

Greetings from the land downunder

I recently picked up a Dahon Ciao which I'd like to convert as it is : very light, seems well made and has Nexus 8 IGH (which i prefer to deraillier) and in particular a very low step-through.

It will just be for short trips (1-2km each way) to the shops etc, with some moderate hills. Not looking for ultra speed just make things a bit easier on my 75kg 67 y.o. knees.

So, Im hoping for advice on:

1. a good, reasonably priced kit, eg this one: https://topbikekit.com/16kg-tbk74ad-36v250w-48v250w-front-motor-with-20inch-406-wheel-rim-for-bromptoncranstondohon-bike-p-1320.html?number_of_uploads=0&zenid=k0fjrkpag0ippfr4rr7466lbi5 . it has the 75mm drop out.s

2. any tips on doing the conversion? I've a basic understanding of ebikes, already having a Velectrix step-through which is good, but just a bit heavy

3. will i need a torque arm? front forks are steel

4. current tyres are 1.5", they are ok but was thinkng of moving to 1.75" (rims are 406)

and any other suggestions very welcome!

The topbikekit.com kit one will be fine. You only need to think about secure locations for the controller and battery. 36v should be enough for you at only 75kg. Generally, you don't need a torque arm for a low power motor in those type of steel forks, but if you decide to go with 48v, you should fit one.

After you've fitted everything, you should download the manual for your LCD and go through all the settings because the defaults probably won't work. Most settings aren't important, but the ones for the pedal sensor and speed sensor need to be right. If your state has adopted EN15194 as the legal standard, you set P4=1 and C4=3 to make the throttle legal, where it gives 6km/hr max when not pedalling and max power when pedalling. Most important is to check that P3=1 for the desirable "torque simulation", which is current control.

 

[Peter.Bridge]

I converted a dahon clone with that 74mm front forks tbk kit

Converting a little folder

That perfect steel framed folder might just be this Pashley Moulton TSR 27 that I used to have and sold about twenty years ago. I rode it powered by me 40 miles in two hours and two minutes. It isn't exactly a folder, but you could withdraw a pin and it came into two pieces so it was easy to fit...

www.pedelecs.co.uk