Electric converted vintage bikes
04-07-20, 09:41 PM
#76
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Thread Starter
A recent hill circuit the bike went better than I'd hoped given I've now only got one gear. To power it, I engaged cruise control set at 20kph, this makes the speed controller vary the power to the motor automatically depending on speed and how hard I am pedaling.
Over the 31km we climbed 769m, with the circuit taking us 1:16. According to Google, it takes about 2:47 on a non electric bike.
Over the 31km we climbed 769m, with the circuit taking us 1:16. According to Google, it takes about 2:47 on a non electric bike.
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09-11-20, 09:43 AM
#77
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02-25-21, 07:05 PM
#78
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Bikes: Wow, where to start? A collection of 1980's and early 90's road, touring, and MTBs from the likes of Trek, Schwinn, Cannondale, Fuji, Miyata, Univega, Panasonic, and GT. It has gotten rather out of control.
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I inadvertently started a similar thread today since I am getting ready to convert a vintage bike myself. Chime in there and I will chime in here. Converting my 1988 Shogun Alpine GT with a mid-drive Bafang BBS02B.
https://www.bikeforums.net/classic-v...nversions.html
https://www.bikeforums.net/classic-v...nversions.html
Last edited by casanewt; 02-25-21 at 09:03 PM.
02-25-21, 08:20 PM
#79
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I'm a bit mystified at the idea of electric assist on lightweight drop-bar bikes - but nothing is ever discovered by being conventional. All the power to you - go for it!
I've done one extremely tame (24V 250W) conversion on a modern bike share bike (which was not originally made with e-assist in mind), and prefer hub motors for their appearance, but I've become very spoiled by the idea of Bafang's torque-sensing bottom brackets. They put PAS sensors to shame, but motor controllers for the six-pin signal are not common at all, and the Bafang BB's are prohibitively expensive.
If you find one of these Bafang BB's cheap, the wires have usually been severed as these index to the left BB cup - haven't been successful re-soldering one of these...yet.
-Kurt
I've done one extremely tame (24V 250W) conversion on a modern bike share bike (which was not originally made with e-assist in mind), and prefer hub motors for their appearance, but I've become very spoiled by the idea of Bafang's torque-sensing bottom brackets. They put PAS sensors to shame, but motor controllers for the six-pin signal are not common at all, and the Bafang BB's are prohibitively expensive.
If you find one of these Bafang BB's cheap, the wires have usually been severed as these index to the left BB cup - haven't been successful re-soldering one of these...yet.
-Kurt
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Last edited by cudak888; 02-25-21 at 08:32 PM.
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02-26-21, 04:10 PM
#80
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I'm interested in eventually adding a small motor to my baby; just a little pedal assist to help get me up the steepest hills. I'm completely ignorant, but my thinking is that mounting it in or around the bottom bracket would put the stress where it was designed to have it. I'm hoping batteries will improve in the next 5 - 10 years so it won't take up as much space as they do now.
'Hey, what's in the big pink box?'
'Hey, what's in the big pink box?'
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02-26-21, 04:42 PM
#81
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To see electric (race-geometry) bikes from companies like Pinarello et al is pretty weird. I mean, I get it. The thicker DT isn't fooling anyone, but then, they've slimmed those DT-mounted battery packs considerably in the few years that it's been done. Pretty soon we won't be able to tell which bike is an e-bike and which is just a thicc-tubed carbon race bike. Visually speaking. Replicants, I tell you!
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02-27-21, 12:11 AM
#82
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When the time comes, I'll roll my own. Low trail, 650b electric assist. And it'll plane, baby, it'll plane.
Motor cabinet for Bosch Gen 4 motor system
Motor cabinet for Bosch Gen 4 motor system
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If someone tells you that you have enough bicycles and you don't need any more, stop talking to them. You don't need that kind of negativity in your life.
If someone tells you that you have enough bicycles and you don't need any more, stop talking to them. You don't need that kind of negativity in your life.
02-27-21, 07:03 PM
#83
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Bikes: Wow, where to start? A collection of 1980's and early 90's road, touring, and MTBs from the likes of Trek, Schwinn, Cannondale, Fuji, Miyata, Univega, Panasonic, and GT. It has gotten rather out of control.
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Changed my mind and decided to convert a different bike. I knew my old motorcycle buddy Michal was a serious mountain biker, but I did not know until a few years ago that he was also a big e-bike builder. Mike had a used Bafang BBS02B 750W he was selling and I jumped on it. He came over today and we built up this 1985 Panasonic ATB. I absolutely love the conversion. I wanted an urban assault bike that could also do gravel rides. I think I will throw some more gravel appropriate tires on it soon, but for now it rules the tarmac.
