Sourcing motors and batteries

[Nick Gough]

Hi

I am keen to convert my 700c wheel road bike to electric assist so that I can have some assistance with commuter route hills and heads winds while still having a bike that's fun to ride and light enough to use if the battery fails or runs down on a ride.

I am thinking in terms of a small front hub motor and 10Ah lithium battery and would value any advice on where I can source these and other necessary reliable bits.
Also any feedback from others who have done similar conversions would be great.

Cheers

Nick

 

[KirstinS]

We could do with some more info Nick

What sort of range do you need ? Whats more important to you

Price
Weight
Range
Feel/balance of bike

For example I originally wanted to make my conversion as stealthy as I could - low weight, low assist motor with no rolling resistance. Problem is these sort of motors (such as used by Cytronex - actually a "tongxin" motor ) provide only mild assist and carry a high cost in UK (Cytronex wanted £1000 to convert) Not only that but to keep weight down you cant really have a 10ah battery -again by way of exmaple Cytronex supply a 4ah NiMH

In the end I went with the 8Fun conversion kit with a 9ah bottle battery at a shade over 400quid. You can get it cheaper direct from china but I wanted a uk based guarantee

Downs sides are - its heavy adding around 8kg to the bike (I'd guess 60% is the battery)

On the plus side it does the job, the are reliable, they are cheap, the motors can take both higher voltage and higher amps. This means I could upgrade my battery/controller at a later date if I wished (or even just the battery and do a "shunt solder" mod - serach site for details on this). Potenitally I could even just swap out the motor for a tongxin. Most of the cost of any kit is the battery

Essentially there are a series of compromises/decisions to make based on whats more important to you. So the more info you can give the better !

Kirstin

 

[KirstinS]

Also be good to know how technically an electrically handy you are ?

Kits are never as easily plug n play as the manufacture allude so ability with soldering iron, wattmeter and basic tools essential especially when ordering from china

Also how wide are the forks on your bike - not just at drop outs but also about 10cm up ?

Finally what brakes do you have ? Is it more of a hydrid bike or true road warrior !

 

[amigafan2003]

I've been through a similar thought process to you - don't know if my build log will be of any help to you.

http://www.pedelecs.co.uk/forum/electric-bicycles/9442-new-build.html

It doesn't look like this now but this when I had it nice and light with an easy to remove battery.

I have since however gone "full" assist - bigger battery, faster, etc

 

[CycloTricity]

Hi Nick,

You might want to take a look at our kits, seems like a good fit for what you are looking for. We make our own small handmade hub motors, and the whole kit is very light as well. Would add a mere 4-5kg of net weight to your bike once fully converted. We've got 700c available and prices start at only £399. Check us out: www.cyclotricity.com

 

[jerrysimon]

We make our own small handmade hub motors, and the whole kit is very light as well.

You make your own motors ?

Regards

Jerry

 

[Cyclezee]

You make your own motors ?

Regards

Jerry

Doesn't everybody make their own motors Jerry

 

[hech]

Handmade hub motors built here in the UK ? that is just so beautiful, so patriotic, the Tory Party conference should be told immediately!

 

[jerrysimon]

I suspect they mean they build their own wheels with hub motors in them

Regards

Jerry