Giant Anthem & LIVALL PikaBoost 2: opinions sort

[Baz the balloon man]

Morning all

When I first joined on here I was talking about doing a conversion on an older Giant Anthem full suspension.

Please see photos attached.

I have now like some of the members come across this LIVALL PikaBoost 2: conversion .

I was thinking rear wheel hub motor and a frog battery.

But now think to give one of these a try out on the Anthem.

Points I am considering are with the rear suspension.

1. Road use in London lots of pot holes , speed humps and kerbs that need numbing up .

2. Off road what the bike is designed to do ( Not at sport or competitive levels)

Any thought on how it will work on this bike but specifically which the rear suspension?

I am looking at previous posts but would like to hear from any one who is using this kit.
On what they think of them I thinking more of people like us who drive but like to get out on the bike for small commutes or local shorter trips .

I see on the web site they do a package with Two batteries but I am thinking for a non full suspension bike say a Carrera Vengence thought’s on connecting a large down tube battery to the unit to give a bigger range.

Cheers

Baz

 

[matthewslack]

The Pikaboost is unlikely to work well with the rear suspension because the contact point between drive roller and tyre will move suddenly at every bump. The roller won't like the knobbly tyre either, but that can be changed.

It also has a very small battery, and relatively low efficiency, so in my view it is only suitable for bikes and users that strongly need its plus points. In all other cases, a conventional conversion will do a better job.

 

[saneagle]

Morning all

When I first joined on here I was talking about doing a conversion on an older Giant Anthem full suspension.

Please see photos attached.

I have now like some of the members come across this LIVALL PikaBoost 2: conversion .

I was thinking rear wheel hub motor and a frog battery.

But now think to give one of these a try out on the Anthem.

Points I am considering are with the rear suspension.

1. Road use in London lots of pot holes , speed humps and kerbs that need numbing up .

2. Off road what the bike is designed to do ( Not at sport or competitive levels)

Any thought on how it will work on this bike but specifically which the rear suspension?

I am looking at previous posts but would like to hear from any one who is using this kit.
On what they think of them I thinking more of people like us who drive but like to get out on the bike for small commutes or local shorter trips .

I see on the web site they do a package with Two batteries but I am thinking for a non full suspension bike say a Carrera Vengence thought’s on connecting a large down tube battery to the unit to give a bigger range.

Cheers

Baz

Frog batteries are not very good for bumpy roads. The weight bends the bracket until the contacts no longer contact. After a few times bending it back, it'll break. Can't you git a downtube battery?

The whole Idea of the Pikaboost is a lightweight quick to fit system. If you want more range, get a conventional motor system. You can forget about a friction drive on that Giant Anthem. They're more suited to bikes with smooth tyres. Even then, dodgy in the wet and require a lot of maintenance to keep the friction.

 

[Baz the balloon man]

Frog batteries are not very good for bumpy roads. The weight bends the bracket until the contacts no longer contact. After a few times bending it back, it'll break. Can't you git a downtube battery?

The whole Idea of the Pikaboost is a lightweight quick to fit system. If you want more range, get a conventional motor system. You can forget about a friction drive on that Giant Anthem. They're more suited to bikes with smooth tyres. Even then, dodgy in the wet and require a lot of maintenance to keep the friction.

Thanks yes I was thinking along the same lines with a bike like this .
So far I have looked at HL down tube from YOSE that did not fit too big .
A water bottle style would probably work
The u tube videos look good on a flat road for the Pikaboost I can see problems with bumps and pot holes though .

What do you think of rear rack batteries for this bike .
Or I could go for a bigger frog and make a much more substantial bracket.

Or just go back to not doing it as it seems like a lot of agrivation when a seat post suspension on a Carrera would probably do what’s needed.

 

[Baz the balloon man]

The Pikaboost is unlikely to work well with the rear suspension because the contact point between drive roller and tyre will move suddenly at every bump. The roller won't like the knobbly tyre either, but that can be changed.

It also has a very small battery, and relatively low efficiency, so in my view it is only suitable for bikes and users that strongly need its plus points. In all other cases, a conventional conversion will do a better job.

Thanks Mathew
The u tube sales videos do make thing look good but the reality is usually different.

 

[saneagle]

Thanks yes I was thinking along the same lines with a bike like this .
So far I have looked at HL down tube from YOSE that did not fit too big .
A water bottle style would probably work
The u tube videos look good on a flat road for the Pikaboost I can see problems with bumps and pot holes though .

What do you think of rear rack batteries for this bike .
Or I could go for a bigger frog and make a much more substantial bracket.

Or just go back to not doing it as it seems like a lot of agrivation when a seat post suspension on a Carrera would probably do what’s needed.

I'd sell it and get a more suitable donor if you can't find a downtube battery that fits.

 

[thelarkbox]

A suspension seat post could alleviate most bumps on city roads fitted to a less complex to accommodate bike design?

 

[Baz the balloon man]

Sell it !!!!!
It’s her pride and joy my life would not be worth living
I been trying to sell it since she got it .
It on e bay at the I do not want to sell it price LOL

 

[Peter.Bridge]

I converted a scott full suspension, with a rear hub motor. I managed to fit a down tube battery (it was a tight fit). There looks enough room on that Giant ? Or @Woosh converted his full suspension bike with a ts85 hub motor with built in torque sensor and saddlebag battery

 

[Baz the balloon man]

I converted a scott full suspension, with a rear hub motor. I managed to fit a down tube battery (it was a tight fit). There looks enough room on that Giant ? Or @Woosh converted his full suspension bike with a ts85 hub motor with built in torque sensor and saddlebag battery

Thanks Peter , I have seen it done but ours we now have Two now ,one is going to Vietnam shortly.

One Antham conversion on e bay is a mess massive battery on top of the cross bar.
So they definitely throw up problems.

I think the older One which we are keeping in the UK might fit a Mid drive motor if the suspension will allow it .
But the frame is small so hard to fit down tube unless I fit it to stay on the bike only for charging and make a bracket to suit be good for anti theft of battery done like this.

When I get some time I will take out the BB and have a look and measure it up.

Failing a mid drive definitely not working I will go for frog or saddle bag B and make something from Ali to beef it up a bit. And go for rear hub drive

Her in doors wants to try out a picaboost with the road tyres but I think they are a bit expensive compared to much better tried and tested Bafang , YOSE ECT. With big batteries.

She only goes site seeing and to the shops on road so picaboost might do ?