Hi folks,

I have been thinking of an elctric bike for a while now.

Changes to my previously cushy commuting routine mean I have to get serious about bike commuting or get used to eating dog food! Well not quite but i'd like to polute less, get fitter and stay of mangy buses.

I have approx 25km round trip to the salt mines.

In winter I cycle on average a tad more than once a week, more when the planets/weather align.

Id like to get to 3 times a week but kids drop-offs etc make it tricky.

In summer after kiting twice a week my legs are totally stuffed. Add high 30 degree days and it is kn tuff for me, so I don't cycle at all really. Plus I can't stand the taste of cement


Sooo, I am looking for options for electric bikes and conversion kits. I have a Giant Upland mountain bike that is getting on a bit (7-8 yrs old - Cro Molly frame!!) and am happy to convert that unless another option pips it.

Anybody got any experiance with sparky bikes and tips?

Also - are they kosha for riding in heavy rain through winter?

Cheers,

Sparky Mc Funk.

Hi,

I have seen 2 options for a E bike conversion, the first is a inbuilt motor in the wheel, all of the bikes i have seen have had this conversion. The other option is a big brushless motor that drives your chain, but you need to add a freewheeling bet bottom bracket so your crank doesn't turn its a bit more expensive but you can get more powerfull kits.

most of them come in kit form, and you just need to add a battery and charger.
get on ebay and do a search for "e bike" and there will be a heap of kits come up.
the ones that are around 200-250watts are legal to ride on the road but still require some peddling, i have seen kits around 900 watts plus that claim around 90kph and don't need to peddle ever but the cops may catch up with you and give you a fine.

Good luck with the conversion.

Hey BB,

Yeh the motor in the wheel ones are pretty uselss on hills apparently. I have a mofo hill - right at the end of the ride - which is gonna be the death of me one day, but relatively flat the rest of the way.

If there is a big price diff I'd think about the wheel based ones but if the price isn't greatly diff then the chain driven ones (with ability to use gears) look a tops option.

Am lucky enough to have smelly but useable showers at work. Riding 3-5 days a week is harder core than I'd like and in summer (with kiting punishment) my legs will fall off for sure.

Noice wheels BTW barn.

Anybody know abpout the wet weather compatability with e-bikes?

Any suggestions on shops in Perf?

Cheers.

I have used these people for lots of electronic bits and pieces, but no experience with their electric bike kit:

http://secure.oatleyelectronics.com//advanced_search_result.php?keywords=bike&osCsid=a8463da3f71540d16e151fac01c805f8&x=0&y=0

edit: I actually took a look and it suggests that its for use on the front wheel as there is no chain drive. I guess that means you have all the gears available at the back for getting you up the hill. Surely you have granny gears on a MTB so you should be able to get up there, albeit slowly.

At $249 and $200 for two car batteries from kmart, you should be good to go... at least on the flat

Hub (motor in wheel) ebikes are BS.

japie: it's hard enough waking up let alone peddling your guts before you get to work... fark that sh!t.

I take a 1300cc motorbike for just a couple kms. But I'm thinking maybe an electric bike would be easier... cos I want to ride on the footpath

FlySurfer said...

I'm considering http://www.elationebikes.com.au/eLation%20Kits.htm

Maybe we can do a group by thing.

Serious Flyguy? Or are you refering to PR's swipe with his handbag?

Yeh - the elation looks the biz so far (wish we could have +200kw systems in Oz). Not cheap tho.

Yes it appears that hub systems are around $450 but pretty useless on hills and slower than geared systems. Should be ok to work but not so good on return journey.


Er.. yes I may be a lady boy, but I am trying to find an economical method to get to work 5 days a week and there is no kn way i have the energy to push all the way everyday. On kids drop-off days I'm hoping to buzz all the way to work, electrically, so that i don't need a shower when i arrive after 9. The other 3 days I will 50/50 the journey.

C'mon folks - gimme some slack, Jack. I'm trying to do sumpin good for my wallet, health, environment and handbag lovers everwhere.

Cheers Leroy.

Durn don't get down there much but was in Mandurah yesterday.


EDIT:

Er.. would anybody even notice if a 300w system was used in Oz? Seems a tad conservative to have Oz maxed at 200w systems.

http://www.elationebikes.com.au/300%20Watt.htm

If you want to ride a pushy,PEDAL IT!.If not don't fluff around and get a motorbike!

Cycle parths are just for that!

my two bobs worth

Was in same situation before,,

Did the research, looked at costs, legality (i.e. 200w restricted for Aus), practicality (battery runs out and you have a very heavy bike to pedal). Ended up just getting fitter, best I could expect from an electric bike was around 25km/hr with a short range, cost around $1000. Instead I ride a road bike, average speed 30km/hr with a range of 80-100km,, and I've overtaken quite a lot of e-bikes on the way to work!

If you do decide to go e-bike go for a rear hub motor and get the lightest battery you can afford with most capacity. Can get kits pretty cheap from China..

Got a link for you, includes descriptions for bikes, cars and motorbike conversions,, maybe electric motorbike suit you better??

Cheers
Dave
www.evalbum.com/

Er.. no - not pissy driving.

Points taken on leg work compared to sparky but I ain't no superman and just don't want to push the pedals back n forth 5 days a week. I did contemplate buying a nice pushy for around the same as a sparky kit but 5 days riding a week is hard to juggle and push the pedals. I do want to leave the car behind, save money and do some excercise, so for me the sparky option fits nicely.

Have pondered a scooter/motorbike. I used to ride road bikes many years ago, that's how I ended up with broken wrist, shoulder, dodgy kneck, knee etc etc.

Perf drivers a dead set kn idiots and I am not keen to be on roads in anything other than a car these days. From my place it is 90% bike paths to work's doorstep.

Sparky bike means a decent buy in fee but (hopefully) very little running costs from there (probably charge up at work too). Scooter/MB etc mean $$$ for helmet, jacket, rego, insurance, parking fees - so no gain, only pain (speshly after getting t-boned by a kn idiot car.. again).

I calculate a sparky bike will pay for itself, in $$ saved on fuel and parking alone, in less than 6 months, everything after that is a bonus.

Anyway you look at it I will be better off on a sparky bike than shuffling to work in a car every day or on a bus etc.

Ta for the links Nebbs and pi22. Will check out. Rear hub pi22? Not too much drama if changing for a flat rear tyre? I looked at an e-lation on a bloke at work's bike today (couldn't quiz him as he wasn't there) and I like the idea there utilising the gears etc but couldn't ask if the battery dies if there is any drag etc.

BTW the ranges that I have see will cover my return trip easily and i just need to charge overnight or during work time.

Rellie always smells.

I guess the waft of lycra and reef oil with copious BO might add to his allure tho.

There is an electric power assist for bikes, it featured on the new inventors

this year,. Motor attachment to top of frame behind seat . When needed

rubberized wheel about 60mm diameter is engaged friction like, onto the tyre

surface of the back wheel. A small rechargeable battery attached under cross

bar. Was effective and didn't seem to be overly heavy or awkward. I thought it

was neat and practical. Australian designed and produced at home. So it is

around but i don't remember much more than that.

Yeh Jmuzz i searched for that clip on unit but came up empty found it eventually. EDIT: http://www.abc.net.au/tv/newinventors/txt/s2982354.htm

I'd assume that would be pretty weak compared to others but I like the put on/take off nature of it.


Hey MUN - I like barn's set-up but reckon i'd get a fair bit of attention from the constables riding sumpin like that through the CBD. More heat, fumes and maintenance (not my strong suite) too.

The e-lation unit quotes 1000 cycles life-span from memory. I may get away with a charge every 2 days or worse one a day so that should easily carry me through for the next 3-4 yrs with around 250 ride days max a year. Then it's another battery for around $400.

Probably some minor mechanical maintenance like drive chain/sprocket plus normal bike maintenance. Good new is my car will be only travelling about 20% of normal kms with associated maintenance.

Kewl.


EDIT: Hey Tobes, yeh - know what you mean. Until now the cumbersome cabling and bolt-on nature has put me off a bit but I am keener now the hip pocket is stinging!

CrMo are tuff but heavy, shows the age of my bike as CrMo seems to be making a slight comeback! LOL. Same as my ol' C kites.

Good point about 2nd hand market, keen for some front suspension due to shoulder/wrists aches from prev motorbike bingles.



Cheers for the pointers folks. I reckon the 3rd Gen e-lation may well be the G.O.

^^^ I like the guy on the right thinking: "Hmm.. just a delicate hint of stale onions, maybe even a touch of rancid socks.. Mmmm."


What can I say, I am a considerate colleague, and I know if I come into work all sweaty and reeking of manlyness and pheromones, the female colleagues in the office environ just won't be able to get any work done, what with their minds wandering south.

getfunky said...

Any suggestions on shops in Perf?

Cheers.

There is or was a guy selling on ebay
but had a shop in Kwinana Hub..

GF,
There was an article in one of the local Mandurah newspapers on someone who had built himself a powered Bicycle to get a round as he had lost his licence.

He got picked up and charged for driving an unlicensed, unroadworthy vehicle as well as driving without a license, which after going back to court gave him a longer period of pedestrianism.

Had something to do with speeds which the bike was capable of when powered, once a powered vehicle hits a certain speed it needs to be registered.

I'm sorry I couldn't find the article.