Never thought I would consider an E-Bike.
#1
Senior Member
Thread Starter
Join Date: Aug 2011
Location: Ponca City Oklahoma
Posts: 199
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 24 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times
in
0 Posts
Never thought I would consider an E-Bike.
I doubt I will get one but I have recently thought about it being a part of a stable of bikes.
If I did get one it I would only want to use the battery on only 5-10 percent of the time so I would want it to be rather on the light side as E-Bikes go. What are some of the lightest E-Bikes around? If I want it to be light would I be better of building one from an existing regular bike frame?
If I did get one it I would only want to use the battery on only 5-10 percent of the time so I would want it to be rather on the light side as E-Bikes go. What are some of the lightest E-Bikes around? If I want it to be light would I be better of building one from an existing regular bike frame?
#2
Senior Member
Join Date: Jul 2014
Location: socal
Posts: 4,260
Mentioned: 9 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 880 Post(s)
Liked 817 Times
in
617 Posts
If you want a light bike you're going to need to wait a year or two, or look at Chas58's threads and DIY.
Last edited by 2old; 02-16-18 at 07:11 PM.
#3
Full Member
Join Date: Apr 2017
Posts: 203
Bikes: Stromer ST-1; Gary Fisher SAAB edition; Dahon Speed D7; Motobecane Grand Touring 1972
Mentioned: 3 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 38 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 2 Times
in
2 Posts
Faraday Pourter (sp?) perhaps.
I'm very happy with my Stromer ST-1. It's not light, but with assist it feels light ;> It's still a workout, but it cuts my commute time by enough to allow for 4+ days of commuting.
Checkout local dealers, take long test rides.
I'm very happy with my Stromer ST-1. It's not light, but with assist it feels light ;> It's still a workout, but it cuts my commute time by enough to allow for 4+ days of commuting.
Checkout local dealers, take long test rides.
#4
Senior Member
Join Date: Jul 2015
Location: Chicago Suburbs
Posts: 1,406
Bikes: GT Transeo & a half dozen ebike conversions.
Mentioned: 5 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 340 Post(s)
Liked 275 Times
in
192 Posts
Here's an ebike kit I purchased a month ago. This combo weighs 9.8 pounds. If I subtract the weight of wheel, rim, spokes, it will add 7.8-8.0 pounds to the rear of your bike, and you have to use a freewheel. I included the handle bar levers, but I forgot to put in the LCD display, so it evens out.
A battery will weigh anywhere between 4-9 pounds. Maybe more if you get a bigger one.
So it depends on your donor bike. My lightest one is 46 pounds with battery. As this is a geared motor with very little drag, it rolls/pedals reasonably well by my standards. Someone with a 20 pound bike would disagree.
A battery will weigh anywhere between 4-9 pounds. Maybe more if you get a bigger one.
So it depends on your donor bike. My lightest one is 46 pounds with battery. As this is a geared motor with very little drag, it rolls/pedals reasonably well by my standards. Someone with a 20 pound bike would disagree.
#5
Senior Member
Join Date: Jul 2014
Location: socal
Posts: 4,260
Mentioned: 9 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 880 Post(s)
Liked 817 Times
in
617 Posts
DW, only eight or so pounds plus battery is pretty impressive. Luna mighty mini and my 21 pound Zaskar and the result should be <35 pounds. Maybe next project after the one in progress.
#6
Cycleway town
My old 24v 250w bike is 26kgs but it has an old-tech battery and some heavy components. I recon i could get it to 20kgs.
#7
Senior Member
I am looking at a couple of E fat bikes.
I as well would use the battery only when tired or when needed.
I want to live in the country away from the city lights.
An E fat bike would extend my range as far as errands are concerned.
I as well would use the battery only when tired or when needed.
I want to live in the country away from the city lights.
An E fat bike would extend my range as far as errands are concerned.
#8
Senior Member
Join Date: Jun 2014
Location: SF Bay Area
Posts: 3,462
Bikes: Trident Spike 2 recumbent trike w/ e-assist
Mentioned: 25 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 1321 Post(s)
Liked 374 Times
in
288 Posts
When I get my shareroller sometime this spring or summer (hopefully) it will add a whopping 4.5 lbs inclusive of batteries to my sub 20 lb Bike Friday. Super easy on and off (10 seconds or less). Ideal in my mind for someone who only wants to use it on an infrequent basis, and prefers to ride "manually" 95% of the time. shareroller.com
#9
Senior Member
Join Date: Jun 2013
Posts: 224
Mentioned: 2 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 44 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 1 Time
in
1 Post
When I get my shareroller sometime this spring or summer (hopefully) it will add a whopping 4.5 lbs inclusive of batteries to my sub 20 lb Bike Friday. Super easy on and off (10 seconds or less). Ideal in my mind for someone who only wants to use it on an infrequent basis, and prefers to ride "manually" 95% of the time. shareroller.com
#11
Senior Member
Join Date: Aug 2015
Location: SoCal
Posts: 734
Bikes: As my watts decline, I’m amping up!
Mentioned: 2 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 153 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 3 Times
in
3 Posts
I doubt I will get one but I have recently thought about it being a part of a stable of bikes.
If I did get one it I would only want to use the battery on only 5-10 percent of the time so I would want it to be rather on the light side as E-Bikes go. What are some of the lightest E-Bikes around? If I want it to be light would I be better of building one from an existing regular bike frame?
If I did get one it I would only want to use the battery on only 5-10 percent of the time so I would want it to be rather on the light side as E-Bikes go. What are some of the lightest E-Bikes around? If I want it to be light would I be better of building one from an existing regular bike frame?
I just finished building a similar trail bike build using a 2013 Niner Jet 9 and an MY1018 motor. It is setup for hill climb assist ONLY. The rest of the time I ride it like a normal MTB;I pedal it. Here it is completed, but I haven't purchased the battery yet. I ride it like it is as a pedal bike now.
Last edited by NoPhart; 02-19-18 at 02:19 PM.
#12
Junior Member
Join Date: May 2014
Posts: 13
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 2 Post(s)
Liked 0 Times
in
0 Posts
Thats a cool idea, using it for hills only. I just installed a kit on one of my bikes. I wouldn't ride it all the time, and don't always like the idea of a motor, but I think for commuting it will be great. It's jarring to go from power to manual because it feels so sluggish, it's the weight of the battery I think. I'm curious to get your feedback once you get on the trails with your build.
#13
Senior Member
Join Date: Jun 2008
Location: Vancouver, BC
Posts: 9,201
Mentioned: 11 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 1186 Post(s)
Liked 289 Times
in
177 Posts
I have a Copenhagen wheel which I use 1-2 days a week for commuting. I swap it on and off one of my bikes. Total weight with the wheel is around 35 lbs which is reasonably light for an e-bike. I've run the battery down before and pedaled with no assist and it's not a big deal but I wouldn't want to do it all the time. The extra weight makes the bike sluggish. When I have it on I use it in the highest assist mode as I'm interested in shortening my commute. I don't really pedal any different than without the wheel but my commute times are shorter.
#14
Junior Member
Fazua-based bikes are clocking in at 30lbs or less so that's promising. But the battery is not too big, but if you're saying you want to do a lot of the work, it's not a big deal.
#17
Senior Member
Join Date: Jul 2010
Location: Michigan
Posts: 4,863
Bikes: too many of all kinds
Mentioned: 35 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 1147 Post(s)
Liked 415 Times
in
335 Posts
Build it yourself is probably the lightest way to go – especially if you can tune it for what you need. Do you want a higher top speed, or the ability to climb hills, or both? If you can choose just one, you’ll be lighter than an OEM bike that has to do both.
My bike has (if I remember) about a 4.5lb battery and a 4.5lb motor. Both are very small and light for what they are. On a 19lb bike I’m around 29lbs all in – and it feels like a normal bike (even with the motor off). That and a bike that will do 25+ mph for 25 miles
Friction drive sounds like a good option (motor driving the tire directly). There are very few of these, so there must be some drawbacks. From what I have seen, the power ratings are misleading, and they are pretty noisy, and of course wear the tire rapidly. We are pretty interested to see how linberl’s set up works when he gets it going.
My bike has (if I remember) about a 4.5lb battery and a 4.5lb motor. Both are very small and light for what they are. On a 19lb bike I’m around 29lbs all in – and it feels like a normal bike (even with the motor off). That and a bike that will do 25+ mph for 25 miles
Friction drive sounds like a good option (motor driving the tire directly). There are very few of these, so there must be some drawbacks. From what I have seen, the power ratings are misleading, and they are pretty noisy, and of course wear the tire rapidly. We are pretty interested to see how linberl’s set up works when he gets it going.
#18
Newbie
Join Date: Apr 2018
Posts: 4
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 0 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times
in
0 Posts
A build it yourself approach is great and is probably the way to go in order to achieve an end result that is a bike built from various components everyone of which is excellent in its own way, depending on available budget of course. However, for me as a newbie biker it looks like too advanced a project at this time.. I would love to build a bike from various great parts and make it "my own" in the future though..
#19
Full Member
Join Date: Apr 2015
Location: Ann Arbor, MI
Posts: 282
Bikes: '97 Bianchi CDI, '97 Specialized RockHopper, '13 Specialized Sirrus Pro, '13 Trek 8.5 DS, '13 BH EasyMotion NeoXtrem, '14 Trek Domane, '86 Schwinn AirDyne ;)
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 39 Post(s)
Liked 23 Times
in
21 Posts
My EasyMotion bike is 50 pounds. When I shopped a few years ago, that was the lightest front-suspension, cool-looking one I could find. Weight is the only limitation for me, and weight-savings is the only reason I would replace a bike I'm very happy with otherwise.