Cool new bike tech

[East Coast Hustle]

So, I've never outgrown riding bikes. I'm not a bike geek by any means, I just like to ride my cheapshit hybrid cruiser when and where I can and dream of a day when I own a bike that can largely replace a car for commuting. But, y'know, hills and miles and things. So I get wicked stoked about cool shit like this:

http://www.stickybottle.com/latest-news/this-ground-breaking-invention-just-may-be-about-to-revolutionise-commuter-cycling-forever/

and this:

http://autos.yahoo.com/news/caterham-electric-bicycle-cool-many-ways-142457073.html

So if anybody else here is into that sort of shit, this is the place to talk about it or post links to cool new bike things.

[Salty]

Oh boy, I am sorta glad I got no showed.

I have been obsessing over this for a while.

I am all about one-piece, simple hub motors. I simply remain dubious until I see one of fine quality. Thtat first link you posted is definitelt a step in the right direction.

The setup I am considering is a front hub motor (Smart Pie, probably) at 250 Watts with a 36V 10ah LiFePO4 battery. About $500 total.

Hub Motors:
Front or Rear?
Fronts hub motors are nice because they make your bike all wheel drive when you pedel. The downside is hub motors create a lot of torque that otherwise does not exist. A steel frame is best. High tensile steel is even better. Either way, you have to use a torque arm so the front fork does not rip off while you are high speeds. Front hub motors are best kept low anyway. Anything about 350 watts and you are asking for trouble, IMO.

Rear hub motors are great if you do want a power machine. Better for non icy environments. You can easily go up to 1000 watts and be all right. Again, steel is best. Torque are is a must.

You can also do both...

Mid Gear Drives are rad, more powerful, less likely to just snap off, and a little louder.

Wattage:
Under 750 Watts and you are, federally, still a bicycle.
250-400 is an assist, which is what I would prefer.
500 + and you don't really need to pedal, depedning on the battery.

Battery:
Do not fuck around with that.
LiFePO4 or GTFO.

Lithium Polymer batteries are what you want and the above is the best. They are more expensive, but have a life double that of other kinds of batteries. They also charge in 2-3 hours, whereas ALL other kinds take about 5-8 hours to charge. They are also ligher, do not have much of a memory, and generally make me hot-to-trot.

Lead acid batteries are way cheaper...at first. They also waver in their output a lot more, weight a ton, and the end cost is higher if you keep replacing them. Just not worth it.

They usually come in 24V, 36V, and 42V.

A 1000 Watt motor, with a 42V 12ah hour battery will get you about 30-40 miles on a single charge and you will ZOOM.

endless-sphere.com is an excellent, if difficult to parse, resource.

I want a Smart Pie, by magic pie, because they are reliable and accountable.

You can also get a shit ass cheap Befang or Cutie motor, $100, from China. But you'll be fucked if something goes wrong. And they typically do not come with instructions.

Size matters and those little motors are nice for stealth and for more distance because you are not carying around a bunch of weight. I think the befang motor is about 4lbs.

[Salty]

RE: that article. It is certianly optimsitic.

Regen braking is rad and all, but it does not charge as much as you'd think. Plus, it's always wise to put disc brakes on your bike either way. If they an internal compnent breaks down you are fucked if all you have is regen.

Also, I don't really dig the pedal assist type of set up. Twist throttles allow you to have complete control over how much power you exert and allow you to cruise without pedaling or applying power easier. You can extend the distance of your machine by pedaling.

Plus, twist throttle.

http://www.goldenmotor.com/goldshop/product/226.html

AWWWyeah.

Controlers are another thing. Golden Motors make their controllers either internal or external. The newer generation internal controllers are supposed to be more reliable. I like the idea of it being all nice and neat.

The machine in the OP is nice because it's all in one piece. If it does what it says on the label it will be a good solution for those that can afford it and want things simple. But, I just prefer the idea of a seperate motor and battery because it's easier to replace one and keep the other.

Some companies offer kits that have better weather-proofing that others which is important to.

Another drawback of the propsed motor is it is fucking HUGE. I guess it's offset by being self contained, but it's that big and only 250 watts? It would have to extra special reliable and hardy. With all those other components, smartphone ready, charges your phone, antitheft locking, regen braking, GPS, etc...proof is in the pudding. Nice price point though.

Part of the appeal for me is stealth. I want to be able to go anywhere, anytime I want. Some places are stricter than others. YMMV.

[Left]

I like this quite a bit, especially the anti-theft feature.
...Budget fairy ain't ever going to wave her wand over that, but hey, it's a great design.

[Salty]

What I REALLY want is a motorized fatbike. That's my goal for next winter. I could crush EVERYTHING.

fapfapfapfapfap

http://fatbikes.com/bikes.html

But we can all dream, right?

[Telarus]

I've been seeing a version called the 'Copenhagen Wheel' get press. MIT partnered with the City of Copenhagen to get together a design team.

https://www.superpedestrian.com/

[Salty]

I've been seeing a version called the 'Copenhagen Wheel' get press. MIT partnered with the City of Copenhagen to get together a design team.

https://www.superpedestrian.com/

18lbs lol.

These all in one, regen kits are probably the future...

...20 years in the furure. They are a nice thought but not game changers. They are the Blackberry of ebike kit, IMO.

Relevant: http://www.theguardian.com/environment/green-living-blog/2010/aug/19/copenhagen-wheel-cycling-bike

[Salty]

http://www.electric-bike-kit.com/

No app, no fancy pance bells and whistles, but look how tiny it is!



http://www.e-bikerig.com/
These folks use Li Ion, which makes their price absurd, then again I think they are weather hardy.

[Mesozoic Mister Nigel]

So, I've never outgrown riding bikes. I'm not a bike geek by any means, I just like to ride my cheapshit hybrid cruiser when and where I can and dream of a day when I own a bike that can largely replace a car for commuting. But, y'know, hills and miles and things. So I get wicked stoked about cool shit like this:

http://www.stickybottle.com/latest-news/this-ground-breaking-invention-just-may-be-about-to-revolutionise-commuter-cycling-forever/

and this:

http://autos.yahoo.com/news/caterham-electric-bicycle-cool-many-ways-142457073.html

So if anybody else here is into that sort of shit, this is the place to talk about it or post links to cool new bike things.

That's pretty much the most awesome thing ever! I want one!