Been thinking for a while now about trying to convert my Pashley Guvnor into an electric bike. Cytronex have been my big hope, but taking a while, here we are summer (?) 2013, I ain't getting any younger and the traffic ain't getting any better. Just wondering if a Tongxin motor would work with a 28" wheel and which battery to buy. Anybody got any thoughts or can point me to info please ?
Tongxin/Cytronex/Pashley Guvnor
- Thread starter Boredracer
- Start date
Yep , they work with 700c wheels (cytronex use them on these rims)
You'll need a compatible controller and a PAS sensor (and throttle if desired)
Battery - well that's up to you really. How far do you travel ? Is weight important to you as some lithium chemistries are much lighter than others (but have reduced lifespan). Are you big or small (this impacts how much battery you use) are there any big hills ?
You might consider a heftier motor as your bike is not a super lightweight to start with. Yes it will weigh more but you'll get more grunt
Tongxins are reputedly the best freewheel but are more fragile than many
It's all a trade off so please let us know your priorities and requirements and you'll get some opinions
Cheers
Kirstin
You'll need a compatible controller and a PAS sensor (and throttle if desired)
Battery - well that's up to you really. How far do you travel ? Is weight important to you as some lithium chemistries are much lighter than others (but have reduced lifespan). Are you big or small (this impacts how much battery you use) are there any big hills ?
You might consider a heftier motor as your bike is not a super lightweight to start with. Yes it will weigh more but you'll get more grunt
Tongxins are reputedly the best freewheel but are more fragile than many
It's all a trade off so please let us know your priorities and requirements and you'll get some opinions
Cheers
Kirstin
A stone heavier since my knee op @ 14st, which I guess is relatively heavy although the plan is (!) to get back down to 13... not as they say holding my breath. 16-mile round trip commute with a fair climb right at the end of the morning trip in - Colchester is right on top of a hill. (All the more frustrating in the evening as you are on your brakes all the way back down because of the traffic). But I can charge the battery during the day and notreckoning to use the motor except for hills, and when there's a headwind (may have mentioned, not getting any younger).
Really like what I hear about Cytronex, but all ears regarding alternatives.
Well if you plan on cycling without power for most of the time then Tongxin is reputedly the best freewheel and the best for occasional "stealth" assist
In uk I'm only aware of electric wheel company that sell complete kits other than cytronex themselves. Others may know better
Otherwise its a matter of ordering from china. If you search various threads under member Jerry Simon he goes through how to order these from china/who from
I'd encourage you to test a Tongxin to be sure the assistance is enough for you
In uk I'm only aware of electric wheel company that sell complete kits other than cytronex themselves. Others may know better
Otherwise its a matter of ordering from china. If you search various threads under member Jerry Simon he goes through how to order these from china/who from
I'd encourage you to test a Tongxin to be sure the assistance is enough for you
I use the Tongxin motors a lot and the smaller Goldant ones in my Brompton/Dahon.
I commute 5.25 miles each way using a 2.3Ah battery weighing only 1kg and charge at work.
I also have a 2kg, 6Ah battery which will do two round trips before charging.
I would say the the lighter Goldant motor really is a light assist only. No powering up hills and really should be used in conjunction with effort. Both motors should only be engaged once the bike is moving i.e. no standing starts. The Tongxin is a better hill climber but again should be used in conjunction with effort.
Battery the two on the left are the 6Ah and 2.3Ah one the 1.1Ah one on the right is really not much good for more than a few miles.
The two motors Goldant 1.4kg "very small" and the slightly larger 2kg Tongxin side by side.
Given what you have told us if it was me I would use the Tongxin and at least the 6Ah battery. They do a bottle 9Ah battery which is only 2.8kgs if you don't fancy making one yourself.
Jerry
I commute 5.25 miles each way using a 2.3Ah battery weighing only 1kg and charge at work.
I also have a 2kg, 6Ah battery which will do two round trips before charging.
I would say the the lighter Goldant motor really is a light assist only. No powering up hills and really should be used in conjunction with effort. Both motors should only be engaged once the bike is moving i.e. no standing starts. The Tongxin is a better hill climber but again should be used in conjunction with effort.
Battery the two on the left are the 6Ah and 2.3Ah one the 1.1Ah one on the right is really not much good for more than a few miles.
The two motors Goldant 1.4kg "very small" and the slightly larger 2kg Tongxin side by side.
Given what you have told us if it was me I would use the Tongxin and at least the 6Ah battery. They do a bottle 9Ah battery which is only 2.8kgs if you don't fancy making one yourself.
Jerry
Last edited:
Thanks everyone to date. This has I think a ways to go, and I will keep everyone posted on the project.
First Jerry, "making one myself" LOL! If it's that's easy, why are Cytronex taking so long ? Mike told me he's got 6 people working on the kit project now.
Next, where are you buying your motors ? Are you importing them directly or is there a UK distributor or agent ?
More generally and reference the ads on this forum, what about the offerings from eg Oxydrive, Xipi and Cyclotricity ?
Yep you can buy the motors direct from China Outrider. About £80 including delivery. A kit would be about £125 depending on what controls you want. Maybe factor in some import duty. You would have to build the wheel or they would do it for you, but then postage would be more. Given a lot of the cost is delivery order two of everything.
For that size wheel you will need either a 175 or 195RPM for 16-18mph of assist.
The Cytronex kit has been "almost" ready for a couple of years now. When its finally released I suspect it will cost a lot of money. Good if you want plug and play I guess. To be fair there is a lot of development required, plus extensive testing to bring it to market. A few have had their fingers burnt by bringing kits to the market too quickly.
If it were me I would get the stuff direct and buy a bottle battery.
Regards
Jerry
For that size wheel you will need either a 175 or 195RPM for 16-18mph of assist.
The Cytronex kit has been "almost" ready for a couple of years now. When its finally released I suspect it will cost a lot of money. Good if you want plug and play I guess. To be fair there is a lot of development required, plus extensive testing to bring it to market. A few have had their fingers burnt by bringing kits to the market too quickly.
If it were me I would get the stuff direct and buy a bottle battery.
Regards
Jerry
Last edited:
Guessing if that's coming from China HMRC are going to want their pound of flesh, plus another pound for 'handling'. Can't say I'm the development engineer type, nor have I really got the time for trial and error, hence the appeal of the Cytronex - or indeed the others mentioned above.
Various UK sourced kits (different motors) start at around £400 and up incl battery.
8Fun 28"/700C Ebike Electric Bike Conversion Kit 36V 250W - 8F28F36B | eBay
Jerry
8Fun 28"/700C Ebike Electric Bike Conversion Kit 36V 250W - 8F28F36B | eBay
Jerry
"Been thinking for a while now about trying to convert my Pashley Guvnor into an electric bike."
What a smashing idea, that would be an appealing bike. Please post photos when finished.
Can't be an help on the technical side, but good luck.
What a smashing idea, that would be an appealing bike. Please post photos when finished.
Can't be an help on the technical side, but good luck.
Ahh, I think you have another problem with the bike - it has hub brakes
Since you are replacing the hub you will either have no front brake ....or you need new fork which can also take calipers (don't think Tongxins are disc compatible ? Not sure)
Since you are replacing the hub you will either have no front brake ....or you need new fork which can also take calipers (don't think Tongxins are disc compatible ? Not sure)
Tongxin do sell disc compatable motors and roller brake versions.
I know because I was sent a roller brake one in error with a huge boss on the side of it
Fortunately I manged to modify it to fit my Brompton and its caliper brakes.
Jerry
I know because I was sent a roller brake one in error with a huge boss on the side of it
Fortunately I manged to modify it to fit my Brompton and its caliper brakes.
Jerry
There is currently a new Tongxin built up into a 700c wheel and a hub for sale on ebay at the moment.
tongxin | eBay
Jerry
tongxin | eBay
Jerry
A disc brake at the front is going to be obligatory methinks. Heavy bike, heavy man, assisted ride, traffic... If the wheel needs re-building anyway, obviously need a motor which can accommodate same, and rejig the brake cabling as required. Hmm, rear drum/front discs, where have I seen that before
As stated it won't be compatible with your front drum brake. No motor will be as far as I know ?
You will need new forks.
Jerry
You will need new forks.
Jerry
Related Articles
-
MTF Enterprises announces acquisition of EMU Electric Bikes- Started by: Pedelecs
-
Wisper 806T folding bike wins Which? ‘Best Buy’- Started by: Pedelecs
-
Sustrans calls for protected cycle lanes- Started by: Pedelecs
-
Amazon launch their first UK e-cargo micromobility hub- Started by: Pedelecs
