Weight Weenies Rejoice
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Weight Weenies Rejoice
Well, at least a little. Bulls has a new full-suspension model with a Fazua motor that weighs about 35 pounds. Finally, eMTB's are heading in the right direction. My fully rigid BBS02-equipped bike is sub-35 while laden with a porky 10 pound motor.
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Cool
They need to make a lot of these e-Bikes lighter and stronger. More alloy, less steel ...
But there is an alternate side to this. Bultaco has decided to get serious about off-road e-Mopeds. 2kw motors and a more robust build, but still coming in under 48 Kgs. So there is a good spread from lightweight bikes to robust fast off road offerings
They need to make a lot of these e-Bikes lighter and stronger. More alloy, less steel ...
But there is an alternate side to this. Bultaco has decided to get serious about off-road e-Mopeds. 2kw motors and a more robust build, but still coming in under 48 Kgs. So there is a good spread from lightweight bikes to robust fast off road offerings
Last edited by BrocLuno; 12-10-18 at 11:22 PM.
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I thought I was the only weight weenie, with my old 29lb bike. ;-)
Its good to see things starting to go in that direction though. There are a couple of light road bikes starting to come available, but of course light means less power and smaller batteries. Thank goodness the battery technology has gotten better (I went from a 10lb battery to a 3lb battery).
And, small motors/batteries are mostly for people who want to do some work pedaling - and that seems to be a small portion of the populace...
Its good to see things starting to go in that direction though. There are a couple of light road bikes starting to come available, but of course light means less power and smaller batteries. Thank goodness the battery technology has gotten better (I went from a 10lb battery to a 3lb battery).
And, small motors/batteries are mostly for people who want to do some work pedaling - and that seems to be a small portion of the populace...
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I would only buy another if a "weight weenie" e-bike was offered. What would it look like?
Take a single speed Mercier Kilo WT (22.6#), add a 250 watt hub motor (6.6#), 10AH battery (4#), plus ( .5#) for some kind of cadence sensor/battery management system and you could have a 33.7 e-bike that far outperforms my old e-bike. Cost? Likely $700-$800 from a manufacturer, perhaps a couple hundred less home-built with all new parts.
Some will want gears, so add a Nexus 8 speed IGH and that's another 6 pounds and $200 or so. I used the Kilo example because I prefer a steel frame to aluminum, carbon or titanium for multiple reasons. Most folks want that throttle option. Don
Last edited by ollo_ollo; 01-14-19 at 11:50 AM. Reason: spelling
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That would be a great plan. I had the original Kilo TT – actually the original design by KMS that I used as a road and a track bike. The WT has fatter tires and less velodrome geometry, steel frame at a good price. Single speed bikes with horizontal drop outs make great electric bikes because they are just about the only light weigh frames with dropouts strong enough to really hold a motor. Can’t say that I miss having gears on an electric bike. If I really needed gears I’d get a mid drive anyway.
You will need to use it with a flat bar to get a throttle though.
You will need to use it with a flat bar to get a throttle though.