That would be putting the cart before the horse. If you have read the whole thread, you will know the owner is not young. A bicycle hasn't been ridden by the owner for some considerable time, more than 50 years. A minor incident with them coming off a bicycle, could be a death sentence, as a broken hip often can be with those in their later years.One unascendable hill is one too many... I'd sell it, buy a bike/trike easier to convert with a mid-drive kit.
Falling over attempting to push a heavy trike uphill would also cause problems. Of course broken or fractured bones don't heal well for persons of advanced age, which is why I said:That would be putting the cart before the horse. If you have read the whole thread, you will know the owner is not young. A bicycle hasn't been ridden by the owner for some considerable time, more than 50 years. A minor incident with them coming off a bicycle, could be a death sentence, as a broken hip often can be with those in their later years.
I really don't see a legal 250W hub drive being approriate, others with hub drive motors may disagree (but they'd be wrong IMHO, because the rider is not young).One unascendable hill is one too many... I'd sell it, buy a bike/trike easier to convert with a mid-drive kit.
In that instance using a 350W motor. If staying legal isn't important and you want to try a hub motor for this project - if compatible, @Benjahmin 's Dillinger kit really has to go:This has be solved at least once before, but I'm not sure the owner still visits? No posts here for 6 years. Post #4 on this thread.
The Dillinger kit really has to go.
Someday, one of those will be mine! But only when there are lightweight fully enclosed versions available, with solar panel arrays on the roof.ICE have a couple of specialist tadpoles which would give better stability and easily take a mid drive. The Adventure and Adventure HD for normal use, and the Full Fat for going anywhere. Including electric versions. But budget can quickly get out of hand.
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Not with the owner. There will be very little pushing of trikes anywhere, and there will certainly be no pushing of anything uphill.Falling over attempting to push a heavy trike uphill would also cause problems.
This is where experience should make a difference to the purchasing decision.I really don't see a legal 250W hub drive being appropriate, others with hub drive motors may disagree (but they'd be wrong IMHO, because the rider is not young).
Ideally, a fully legal system would be preferred. However, if there isn't enough torque in a 250w motor to pull the trike and rider up slopes, then there might be a need to get a 350w hub motor instead.In that instance using a 350W motor. If staying legal isn't important and you want to try a hub motor for this project -
As above/before, the ICE trikes are simply too low.ICE have a couple of specialist tadpoles which would give better stability and easily take a mid drive. The Adventure and Adventure HD for normal use, and the Full Fat for going anywhere. Including electric versions. But budget can quickly get out of hand.
I've avoided hubs thus far, because I have my doubts about whether a legal 250W hub motor would do everything that my mid-drive does (BBS01B) - it has both torque for hills and speed on the flat. Some people who rave on these forums about hub motors vs 250W mid-drives, use 350W or 500W(and +) motors. And I'm now braced for a diatribe...The Dillenger kit looked interesting, but only 250w hub available for a 20" wheel, which may be sufficient anyway? Thanks for the nod in that direction.
But he hadn't solved it Freddie. He was in flat Norfolk and commented on that. There is no way the motor he chose would cope with a 20% or 25% hill.This has be solved at least once before, but I'm not sure the owner still visits? No posts here for 6 years. Post #4 on this thread.
Kettwiesel Trike Conversion
My wife and I took up recreational cycling, recently (fresh air and exercise), but she has suffered a frozen shoulder which has made upright cycling impossible for the moment. I bought a Kettwiesel delta trike for her to use and this has worked quite well but I would like to motorize it because...www.pedelecs.co.uk
I'm pretty sure this is the animal a friend of the family owns. The owner loves it, but has ridden a bicycle all her life. She now lives on one of the islands in the Inner Hebrides, so perfectly suitable transport there. Shame it isn't a recumbent.Jorvik Mid Drive Electric Mountain Trike JMT7 (500W)
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This isn't the sort of remark that is suggesting the quest is making progress.But he hadn't solved it Freddie. He was in flat Norfolk and commented on that. There is no way the motor he chose would cope with a 20% or 25% hill.
You've already correctly identified the opposing problems, being stuck with one trike model which inherently cannot give enough front wheel tyre adhesion for a motor powerful enough to get up hills of 20 to 25% without much rider help.
Somehow the front would need a lot more weight to have sufficient grip for an illegal power motor/controller combination, probably about 750 watt rating.
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I very much like your summary of the situation. I had sent a link to the owner yesterday, and I'm sure they are watching the progress of the prospective project. (You can be sure, the whole enterprise will be well documented here.)Ok, I hadn't realised quite how high the Kettwiesel seat is. 48 to 50cm from a quick look, with ICE Full Fat only 42cm.
I think we've reached 'you can't have everything' territory!
You can have a front hub on the Kettwiesel, and the high seat, but you likely won't get up the hill. You can choose the highest tadpole seat design, add a mid motor, and get up the hill. Or find a competent engineer to rework the Kettwiesel steering around a mid motor...
Can you work around that hill?