Xtracycle

[MrH]

Hi guys,

I am thinking of turning my wispa 905 into a bit of a cargo bike with the help of an Xtracycle. Has anyone else had a go at this sort of thing?

It seems to me that an eBike would make a great donor for something like this?

See example in the link bellow:

Xtracycle

Ta,
MrH.

 

[the_killjoy]

Personally I think I would rather go for the cheaper option of a trailer given that you probably only want the load carrying capability occassionaly.

 

[flecc]

It has been done many times with e-bikes, often with the Panasonic powered Lafree. Here's one of them, this one owned by William Morrison who commutes with it in the USA. This was first converted to be a camera bike for a cycle race, used in the way motorcycles are in the Tour de France, cameraman on the back facing backwards and filming the riders:

 

[Kenny]

Don't know how difficult it would be to fit an xtracycle to the Wisper but it was fairly straightforward to fit to my non-electric hybrid.

I've been using mine for over 2 years for short shopping trips mainly and it's cut my car use significantly. I've 4 bikes including a Pro-Connect S, but I recon my xtracycle covers twice the mileage of my other three put together because it's used almost daily whereas the other bikes are purely for leisure/fun runs.

I had thought of putting an Alien kit on it but my my trips are only a few miles and very flat so the extra expense and hassle of converting it wasn't worth it.

The xtracycle has proved totally reliable and rides just like a normal bike though with really heavy loads you obviously have to take a little care.

If your commuting longer or hilly distances I think the powerful Wisper would make a great cargo bike.

 

[flecc]

Pros and Cons

Pro

Loads are best carried on the bike whenever possible since there's much less drag than with a trailer.

It's good to have something different from the crowd.

Cons

With the Wisper's rear motor the 8 feed wires will have to be extended, three thick phase current wires and five thin Hall sensor wires.

The Wisper six year frame warranty may be invalidated.
.

 

[MrH]

Hi guys,

Thanks for the responses. I have had some feedback from the chaps selling the kit. They need some close up photos of the bike as they are unsure about the position of the battery - it might interfere with the point where the Freeradical bolts behind the bottom bracket, and the position of the rear dropouts might be uncompattable.

I will send the photos off this weekend and feedback!

With regards to a trailer, I would be worried about it being nicked as I would like to have the load carrying option at a whim and leave my bike outside the station all day.

Ta,
MrH.

 

[Kenny]

Hadn't thought fully of the implications of fitting the xtracycle to the rear wheeled motor Wisper and was really just giving my opinion on the Xtracycle itself.

I agree with Flecc that the wiring could cause a problem. Also fitting the xtracycle increases the wheelbase of the bike by 15 inches putting additional strain on the frame and forks. You can feel a bit of flex as you cycle but so far my cheap Ridgeback aluminium frame has been fine.

 

[flecc]

I agree Kenny, a frame problem is unlikely. The Lafree's frame was not a very strong one but hasn't given any trouble with the Xtracycle. One of the Lafree/Xtracycles I've seen had the 1000 watt midships Stokemonkey motor fitted as well, so if it doesn't break with that combination, most e-bikes should be ok.
.

 

[andyh2]

I've tried a couple of cargo bike options, the Xtracycle add on kit and Yuba Mundo. The Yuba is heavier, but more capable if you're going to carry an adult passenger regularly. I ended up realising that round here I'd not really use a cargo bike much without an electric assist (distance and hills) and went for an Agattu.

The ideal combination would be a Panasonic assisted Yuba or Big Dummy. These folks have a good range in the UK and do the Yuba with an Ezee motor;
Practical Cycles - Cargo Bike specialist - HOME

But if you're happy with your Whisper and would only want to carry a passenger occasionally the Whisper with Xtracycle would be lighter, capable and fun.

 

[MrH]

Hmm there is certainly some food for thought coming through! I sent the photos requested off at the weekend, so we shall see what they have to say.

I think the main use will be getting a weekly shop with my daughter on the back once she has outgrown her copilot seat, so hopefully there wont be an enourmous ammount of weight to deal with.

Don think I can get away with geting another bike to do this with as the wife thinks 5 is quite enough...... So the option of buying a cargo bike and fitting a motor is out

I will make sure I look at any way to secure an axle connected trailer as well as that is what my LBS guy was trying to push me at the weekend.

Thanks for your thoughts so far guys!