Last week I ordered and installed a 500W bicycle motor on my mountain bike. Yesterday I picked up the last of the three batteries required to operate it and gave it a test run. The total price was $360, including the batteries at $25 each.
It runs pretty well, at full throttle with me pedaling in high gear (52x17) It runs a bit over 20mph. This is too fast for the off-road tires on the mountain bike, at least on the low quality rim that came with the motor. It is obvious that for extended road use I would need to switch out the knobby tires for road tires.
The rim that came with the bike motor is a bit crappy. The joint where it is welded is offset by about 0.010" which doesn't sound like a lot, but it has a pronounced effect on the braking system. The front brakes are jumpy and rough and generally inspire fear.
I'll ride the bicycle to work a few times as it is before I buy new tires. I think that they will be necessary for the sake of efficiency and speed, but I'd rather buy a good road bike for about $70 and move the motor to it for commuting. The mountain bike is great for off-road use, but the frame configuration and tires make it feel like I'm driving a Hummer around town. It just isn't suitable for that purpose.
It runs pretty well, at full throttle with me pedaling in high gear (52x17) It runs a bit over 20mph. This is too fast for the off-road tires on the mountain bike, at least on the low quality rim that came with the motor. It is obvious that for extended road use I would need to switch out the knobby tires for road tires.
The rim that came with the bike motor is a bit crappy. The joint where it is welded is offset by about 0.010" which doesn't sound like a lot, but it has a pronounced effect on the braking system. The front brakes are jumpy and rough and generally inspire fear.
I'll ride the bicycle to work a few times as it is before I buy new tires. I think that they will be necessary for the sake of efficiency and speed, but I'd rather buy a good road bike for about $70 and move the motor to it for commuting. The mountain bike is great for off-road use, but the frame configuration and tires make it feel like I'm driving a Hummer around town. It just isn't suitable for that purpose.
1 comment:
Glad to hear you've already received and begun experimenting with this electric bike motor; thanks for documenting your experiences here. As a potential purchaser myself, the preview that you provide is invaluable.
I still wonder how the braking might work on such a system. Is it necessary to throttle back as or before applying the brake, or is it possible to simply brake when the need for emergency stopping inevitably arises?
I'll be interested to read your impressions on use of this system for commuting, as well as the performance differences which may arise as a result of reducing your rolling resistance by switching to a road bike. Keep me updated.
Incidentally, I've found a new 'aspirational' bike (that is, one which Rosie would skin me for buying): I like the stuff on this site: http://www.dynamicbicycles.com/. Mine would be a shade under a thousand dollars, as configured. If you consider, though, that this is the price of the fanciest bicycle available (the Ferrari of bikes, if you will), and that it would likely give years of enjoyment, then the price seems a lot less exorbitant, I think. But Rosie would still skin me. So I'll probably need to take a third job to support that dream. Ah well.
James
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