Looking for a tricycle to fit bbs02 kit to.

[Homebrewed]

Hello all. As the title suggests I am looking for a trike to convert. I built my first electric bike 17 years ago and have had great enjoyment from it, but with advancing years and health issues I now need a third wheel..
Problem is, most trikes I can find are only suitable to convert to hub motors which I dare say can be very good, but, they only offer limited torque with only 250 watts, and I fear getting stuck on steep hills if my hips give up where a mid drive could pull up a hill driving through a low gear. Any ideas.

 

[Gaz]

Something like this?;

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/George-Longstaff-tricycle-with-two-wheel-drive-49cm-/172804769053?hash=item283bf7851d:g:rsoAAOSwsXVZaQpE

Gaz

 

[Homebrewed]

Hi Gaz. Thanks very much for your reply. I had already seen that one. I should have made clear in my first post that I really need a frame that I can step through as my arthritic hips make it very difficult to get on a bike with crossbar.

John

 

[Deleted member 4366]

Trikes with big wheels tip too easily. Look for one with 20" wheels. There's loads on Ebay. Avoid any with a front hub brake or non-standard crank.

You can get a hub-motor that gives as much torque as you want.

 

[grldtnr]

Trikes with big wheels tip too easily. Look for one with 20" wheels. There's loads on Ebay. Avoid any with a front hub brake or non-standard crank.

You can get a hub-motor that gives as much torque as you want.

 

[grldtnr]

Recumbents might suit,they are much more stable, but you may have problems getting so low down, mind you ,that said it s no more or less than a standard car seat.

 

[Homebrewed]

Trikes with big wheels tip too easily. Look for one with 20" wheels. There's loads on Ebay. Avoid any with a front hub brake or non-standard crank.

You can get a hub-motor that gives as much torque as you want.

Exactly my thoughts on wheel size. Are you suggesting a hub motor larger than 250w ?

Recumbents might suit,they are much more stable, but you may have problems getting so low down, mind you ,that said it s no more or less than a standard car seat.

I like the idea, but think after a half hour ride I would need to be lifted off / out of one.

I am now considering converting a standard bike frame to a trike, at least I can incorporate all I require into it. I am fortunate to have a very well equipped engineering shop of my own and a friend who is a professional welder.

John

 

[Deleted member 4366]

Are you suggesting a hub motor larger than 250w ?

No, you don't need to. The power and torque that a motor gives has little relation to its rating. Many of the 250w ratings don't seem to be related to the size and power of the motor.

The controller and battery are mainly what influence the power that you get out of a motor rather than the motor itself.

Take the Cyclamatic bike. Most people would agree that it's pretty useless or hill-climbing with its 24v battery and 12 amp controller. Change the battery to a 44v one and the controller to 17 amps, and the same bike becomes a fire-breathing daemon. It'll go straight up to over 30 mph and storm up steep hills without pedalling because the motor is getting and giving two and a half times as much power.

 

[VictoryV]

Hello all. As the title suggests I am looking for a trike to convert. Any ideas.

Just a suggestion

https://www.amazon.co.uk/Adult-Stabilisers-Training-Mobility-Wheels/dp/B01KIFZ0CY/ref=sr_1_3?ie=UTF8&qid=1502099754&sr=8-3&keywords=adult+bike+stabilisers

 

[anotherkiwi]

Why don't you get a cargo trike? Decent size wheels in the right place for stability, step through and a big box to carry stuff in.

 

[Homebrewed]

d8veh .
I had thought about increasing battery voltage and controller current rating but I am worried about overheating the motor especially as it is pulling a lot more weight on a trike, If I did go with a 250w hub motor using a higher voltage battery and higher current controller what type of motor would you suggest direct drive or geared ? Sorry but another question now arises, if I got a 250w 36v hub motor, would just fitting a higher current controller and still using 36v give a desired effect as I already have a new 36v 13Ah lithium battery pack.

VictoryV.
Now that really would make me feel like a cripple, another problem is I would have to buy another bike anyway as my current mount has a crossbar which I can't get my leg over.

anotherkiwi.
That is starting to look like my best option if as d8 suggests a 250w hub motor can be made to produce better pulling power.

Thank all so much for you help.

John

 

[Deleted member 4366]

How much power do you need? The trick with over-volting a motor is to choose a very low speed one. like 180 or 201 rpm, then you get the extra power from 48v without it becoming too fast.

For the best climbing, the Xiongda 2-speed has literally double the torque of a normal single speed motor. The 48v one is just like a winch when in low gear.

The 48v Q128H also has really good torque. It's technically an 800w motor, but if you peel off the label, it's the same as any normal 250w motor.

Most of the direct drive motors are too fast, so not really suitable for what you want.

You can increase the current for just about any 36v motor to get proportionally more torque. They're often run at around 14 or 15 amps, which can be increased to about 18 amps for at least 20% more torque.

 

[Homebrewed]

Great thanks very much. Speed is not what I want so much as reasonable power. With your suggestions I can now start looking for the relevent parts to work with.
Can you point me in the right direction for suppliers of those motors you mention.

 

[Homebrewed]

No worries, just googled Q128H and founs BMS Battery sell them.

 

[Homebrewed]

The 48v Q128H also has really good torque. It's technically an 800w motor, but if you peel off the label, it's the same as any normal 250w motor.

Unfortunately BMS only list the Q128H as a rear fitment, no good for a trike.
If I got the Q128 36v 400/500W kit which lists the controller as universal 36 or 48V 450W and ran it from 48 volt would that work or would I need to get a higher wattage controller, and would it also be a benefit to get a sine wave controller and if so what one would you suggest.

 

[Deleted member 4366]

I'm not sure about that cooking version of the Q128. I guess it would be similar to the Q128C, so probably OK, in which case, you want the 48v 201 rpm one, which will max out at 19 mph. Bear in mind that it's only for rim brakes, not disc brakes. the controller in that kit is pretty crappy, so i wouldn't get that kit. Instead, get just the motor wheel and then either the battery that includes a 20A controller with the rest of the kit, or get the controller and other stuff from PSWPower.com.

 

[anotherkiwi]

Unfortunately BMS only list the Q128H as a rear fitment, no good for a trike.
If I got the Q128 36v 400/500W kit which lists the controller as universal 36 or 48V 450W and ran it from 48 volt would that work or would I need to get a higher wattage controller, and would it also be a benefit to get a sine wave controller and if so what one would you suggest.

No good for a delta trike, fits a tadpole trike just fine. There are several high seat step through tadpole trikes on the Spanish market.