Urbanx e bike wheel
#1
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Urbanx e bike wheel
They just added 20" so I ordered one for my Bike Friday. I'm only going to use a powered wheel a couple times a month so did not want a permanent solution. Using the bluetooth pedal assist controls on a smartphone, you don't need to install anything other than the wheel. Hope it works out okay (this is the 2d gen for them) and doesn't turn out like the Helix bike, a fantasy. https://www.kickstarter.com/projects...60/description
#2
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That actually seems pretty good for first time buyers, and for someone who wants to mainly pedal their bicycle and get a bit of assistance... I would say the range for assistance is more like 10 Miles tho, IMO...
#3
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They responded to my question about range and said they got 30 miles on flats with 1:1 pedaling and a 150 lb guy. That it ran 15 miles throttle only. For my purposes 10 miles would be okay and they offer additional batteries as well. I initially owned a dedicated e-bike for about a year and half while getting back into cycling, but now prefer personal power except when I ride with my adult son who has to wait for me to catch up. I'm hoping this will reduce his wait time without me having a motor stuck on my bike all the time.
#4
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Drop outs on some folders are sometimes less than the typical 100mm on big bikes. I assume the urbanz is 100mm. Yours will fit?
Wow. $299. My battery on my folder cost $250, but I wouldn't trust my samsung to run a bike.
Wow. $299. My battery on my folder cost $250, but I wouldn't trust my samsung to run a bike.
#5
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My only concern is they probably won't be in business when I need a new battery and the battery is proprietary. Hopefully, I will be able to find someone good at wiring to either open the case and replace the innards or wire a standard e-bike battery to it a few years from now. Unless this kind of thing gets so cheap it's easier to just replace it.
It's an adventure ;-)
#6
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I injured my MCL and a friend, with way more bikes than anyone should own, put a 20" hub motor on my Bike Friday so I could still ride until it got better. The docs informed me that the MRI made it clear I should not be pumping out of the saddle on big hills anymore, so I wanted something I could easily swap on and off since I only ride that route a couple times a month. I looked at friction drives because they are lightweight and small, but the decent ones cost nearly as much as a bike.
The Urbanx is an all in one wheel. Replace the front wheel. If you don't want to use throttle and just want the pedal assist, then that's all you need to do. A smartphone controls the amount of assist. While Kickstarter is always "iffy" this is the second interation of their device so I feel pretty confident they will ship and it will work. And since it was $299 plus $80 shipping, I won't be homeless if I don't receive it. It weighs 15 lbs which will make my Bike Friday a 40 lb bike when I use it, but I won't be taking it on public transit when I have the ebike wheel attached so no lifting. And my front load of groceries is often way more than 15 lbs so not worried about handling (folders actually like front loads).
Here is the original campaign page, if you are interested: https://www.kickstarter.com/projects...ric-bike-in-60 And here is the 20" wheel option: https://www.kickstarter.com/projects.../posts/1865329
The Urbanx is an all in one wheel. Replace the front wheel. If you don't want to use throttle and just want the pedal assist, then that's all you need to do. A smartphone controls the amount of assist. While Kickstarter is always "iffy" this is the second interation of their device so I feel pretty confident they will ship and it will work. And since it was $299 plus $80 shipping, I won't be homeless if I don't receive it. It weighs 15 lbs which will make my Bike Friday a 40 lb bike when I use it, but I won't be taking it on public transit when I have the ebike wheel attached so no lifting. And my front load of groceries is often way more than 15 lbs so not worried about handling (folders actually like front loads).
Here is the original campaign page, if you are interested: https://www.kickstarter.com/projects...ric-bike-in-60 And here is the 20" wheel option: https://www.kickstarter.com/projects.../posts/1865329
#7
Interesting, hope to hear your experiences with the wheel. That's a pretty sweet price point to electrify your bike. As an urban dweller, my mind goes immediately to securing the wheel while it's out.
#8
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Indeed. They are looking at hexlok bolts but I also could easily run a cable or mini u lock through the very short spoke area and lock it to my front rack which is attached to the fork. It would probably deter most thieves. And 20" stuff doesn't get stolen as often around here as the market is so much smaller so the return on effort is greater with regular bike gear.
#10
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I was....my friend swapped the hilltopper off one of his bikes which was also a 20" wheel. I returned it the start of April and have been riding "naturally" since but not hitting any big hills. It worked okay but I did not like the little button throttle - not comfortable for me. And basically on/off with no assist adjustment. However, it kept me on the bike for a few months where I might not have been able to ride at all, so I was grateful for it!
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Hilltoppers are interesting and appear real simple to install, but I hear what you say about the on/off throttle. Still, if it had enough power to conquer your hills, then you know what works as a minimum.
#13
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I actually ended up canceling and having my credit card chargeback. I emailed the creators pictures of my forks to see if the wheel would fit my bike WITHOUT modification and they said yes. However, the wheel has a wider axle fitting than the space in my dropouts and I do not want to file them down to make this thing fit. Additionally, a lot of people have had problems (you can read the comments on kickstarter) and the creators have not exactly been responsive. OTOH, I was fortunate to subsequently find someone tired of waiting for the Shareroller on Kickstarter (it's more than a year late) and I originally wanted that unit but missed the funding period. The project creator has arranged a swap so I'm now backer #38! I'm not worried about receiving it or about the quality because the creator is already known as reputable for his first version and a brompton accessory.
I hope you get yours and everything works out with your wheel - some people have had good success.
I hope you get yours and everything works out with your wheel - some people have had good success.
Last edited by linberl; 09-08-17 at 04:24 PM.
#15
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The "August" deliveries seem to be showing up in September. If you sign up with "my ups" you will be able to see your shipping info, otherwise it will just show up when it does. Fingers crossed that you get a good one.
#17
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Got my 26" wheel 2 weeks ago, and have used it 4 times. My bike with the Urbanx wheel is about 60lbs, I weigh 225 lbs, and with about 15-20lbs of groceries in my twin saddlebags, it struggles somewhat on the 150ft, 20-30 degree uphill stretch of road, on my way back home. So it's obviously not a vert high torque motor. With just me on it, it flys...but I noticed it goes from full charge to yellow (30%-70%) quickly either way, and I'm wondering what the true distance is, under nominal weight load. I'm thinking it will stay in the yellow percentile for quite a while, but I don't want to get starnded too far from home, just trying to figure it out. Any knowledge, or advise, on this?
#18
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Ride 5-10 miles from your home and back, then around the neighborhood until the battery is exhausted. Then, you'll be close to home.
#19
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Got my 26" wheel 2 weeks ago, and have used it 4 times. My bike with the Urbanx wheel is about 60lbs, I weigh 225 lbs, and with about 15-20lbs of groceries in my twin saddlebags, it struggles somewhat on the 150ft, 20-30 degree uphill stretch of road, on my way back home. So it's obviously not a vert high torque motor. With just me on it, it flys...but I noticed it goes from full charge to yellow (30%-70%) quickly either way, and I'm wondering what the true distance is, under nominal weight load. I'm thinking it will stay in the yellow percentile for quite a while, but I don't want to get starnded too far from home, just trying to figure it out. Any knowledge, or advise, on this?
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Thanks for the info. I was going to get a backup battery, and the 350 watt, but if there isn't that much difference, and the mileage is better, I'll stick with the 250watt battery. Cheaper too. Now, I just need to find a link where I can order one...lol.
#24
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I think it's all the same hardware, and the controller setting determines the watts and peak watts.
#25
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Well I'm glad to hear some actual people have received theirs, I was supposed to be in the July delivery group but am still waiting on my first one ordered. I'm frustrated to the point where I'm considering having the payment flagged for fraud.