I finally took my ebike for a test ride.

[PCeBiker]

I'm months overdue, so I just threw it together and took it for a test ride,..

It's got a new seat with a backrest, a new Suntour NCX suspension seatpost, a new Topeak rear rack, a Bafang rear hub motor, a new Bafang mid-drive motor, two batteries, two displays, and two throttles.


It worked great
I only used one motor at a time because I had a lot to get used to, and I didn't have my brake switches or speed sensor connected yet.

The mid-drive worked pretty cool, and I realized that I only have to ghost pedal to change gears and just for a second, so I still ain't really pedaling.

I've got two new KMC e8 chains that need to be cleaned and waxed before I install them.

 

[stompandgo]

How are you going to synchronize the motors?

 

[PCeBiker]

How are you going to synchronize the motors?

You kinda don't need to.

I just use the hub-drive normally, and the mid-drive simply replaces me as the crank input.
Instead of pedaling, I operate a second throttle.

Lots can still go wrong, I got a throttle in each hand.

 

[stompandgo]

So they will be synchronized by you. That means that when both motors are engaged, they will be fighting each other, right? How do dual hub motor bikes deal with that? Is there a special dual motor controller to keep them in sync?

I'm not busting you, I sincerely don't know how these systems work.

 

[Gionnirocket]

I'm not sure but I don't think the motors will fight each other as they both freewheel.
I'm thinking like any motor going down a steep hill with minimal call for power.

 

[PCeBiker]

So they will be synchronized by you.

Yeah, it's up to me to mesh the motors gently.

My biggest problem will probably be trying not to Slam the pawls in my freewheel when the mid-drive needs to get the chain line spun up to catch up with the hub motor.

I do have an upgraded freewheel, but it's still a freewheel.

 

[Gionnirocket]

If you use something similar to my BBS02B programming scheme there's a few things you can do to make things more gentle.
Set the Stop Decay above 100... I think I last was using something like 135
Set the throttle start current low.. an amp or two
In practice if you tap PAS up while pedaling it will accelerate faster
If you pause pedaling before PAS up (like when switching gears) it'll elongate the acceleration curve.

Maybe set your global current low until you get a feel for things....

 

[PedalUma]

Wow, I can't imagine my first ride of almost 7 months from January First. It is my tradition to do a New Year's Day ride in the hills.

 

[Gionnirocket]

Another thought is to set the throttle to By Displays Command. This will give you 9 different maximum throttle outputs (matching PAS) and you can just hold it wide open instead of trying to vary rotation.

 

[PedalUma]

I know that bike snobs would disagree. I like freewheels on bikes. I purchased a new bike on super sale for $450 six-years ago. My plan was to fix it up, convert it and flip it. I have ridden it almost every day since. A nice nickel plated 11-34 freewheel costs about $28. And it uses a wider 8-sp chain than 9,10, 11, 12, so they last longer. I also like that you took the added up-front effort to wax the chain. It is such a simple bike. New tires are $60 for a pair. I don't mind if I need to replace the rear every six-months. I put 4,500 miles on it a year and no car payment.

 

[Marcela]

Good job. How's the power up hills and such? I don't think the motors have to by sync'd by any degree. The laggard will just be kind of freewheeling. As long as your mind can keep track of what's going on, you should be alright

 

[PCeBiker]

So,..
I got home from my ride yesterday, and decided to clean up the rats nest of wires wrapped around the steering tube on the frame,..

I stuffed the two loops of 1-4 cable into the downtube and came up with this,..

Way Cleaner looking!!

I moved the mid-drive display to the other side of the bars, and I was getting it spiral wrapped (keeping in mind the front brake line flex) when I thought I'd plug everything in and test it.

Nothing.
The display will not light up and do it's start up routine.
Dead.

I shouldn't aughta used a screwdriver and needle nose pliers to jam the cable into the downtube?



So,.. no-go for the mid-drive for the time being, but I bought a new one of these,..

It's 25 cm shorter than the original, and I'll be more careful installing it.

I hope I just broke a wire and didn't short out the damn controller?

Wow, I can't imagine my first ride of almost 7 months from January First.

It was actually mid October for me.

So I was rushing to get the damn thing outta the house, with my lazy ass on it.


I actually bent a pin in my display connector by not paying attention and not wearing my reading glasses.

Fortunately I remembered @harryS 's post (I think it was?) about shorting out and wrecking his controller with a tiny metal , so I used my tiny ceramic and managed to not blow anything up.

 

[PCeBiker]

I know that bike snobs would disagree. I like freewheels on bikes.

It has nothing to do with snobbery or ridiculously light weight for me.
I'm all about strong and durable.


I took @m@Robertson 's advice and bought a DNP / Drift Maniac freewheel.

Tough as nails.
It's specifically designed for Maniacs to Drift their off-road Mountain Bikes..

Non of this lightweight alloy crap. Old-school quality alloy steel.
It needs to have mass to be strong, regardless of what it's made of.

Bafang Ultra Motor (M620) Ridden Very Gently for 3,000 Miles - Service Required or Not Necessarily?

Kind'a looks like it was rode hard and put away wet..... as the saying goes.

forums.electricbikereview.com

 

[PedalUma]

I normally go for a bamboo toothpick to straighten pins in a connector. I have a drawer full of just about every color of nail polish. I can mix them to make custom colors and adjust the degree of gloss when touching up bikes. I will put a small dot on each side of a connector before disconnecting. The arrows are almost always black on black. This solves that. I have used those Drift Mechanic freewheels for six or seven-years. Unlike many, they are not forged from soft ripened stinky cheese, or pot metal, or whatever. They actually hold up. I just try to avoid the smallest cogs unless I really need them because typically, those are the first to go.

 

[PCeBiker]

Good job.

Thanks.
Sort of, but I did wreck it.

How's the power up hills and such?

No hills, just boring flat gravel roads,..
And I can only go 20 mph

What makes it fun is 10-20 mph crosswinds and no-hands.

You have to lean the bike into the wind, but you don't lean yourself, so you're sliding off the seat sideways to keep the ebike going in a straight line.

Then you get slapped with a gust right while you plow through a hidden pothole.

There's only been twice, when I was actually kinda scared and didn't want to let go of the bars.
There was 25 mph crosswinds.

Head winds are fine, even at 25 mph now with the two motors, but tailwinds are Awesome with no wind in your ears and your going 20 mph using 1or 2 amps.

I don't think the motors have to by sync'd by any degree.

As long as they're both pushing at the same time.
It's the mid-drive catching up from an idle chain to slamming the freewheel that should be the only issue?

The laggard will just be kind of freewheeling.

I'm almost positive that when I've got both motors pulling, I can give one motor more power (visible on the display) and the second motor will show an almost equal drop in power to maintain the same speed?

As long as your mind can keep track of what's going on, you should be alright

All that stuff needs to happen without thinking, but you have to think about everything to learn.

Training my muscle memory is the hard part.
You never know if you're ready until some sort of adrenaline inducing event slaps you outta nowhere.



I went for another ride today with two, fully charged batteries. (But only one motor )

I had a great day !!
I am now inspired to charge my batteries and ride again tomorrow.

Then we're off into 39°C without the humidex, so I ain't goin nowhere.

 

[PCeBiker]

The arrows are almost always black on black. This solves that.

My arrows are white.
How can you mess that up?

I messed that up.

I almost punched a sixth hole into my five hole receiver,..

Luckily, I only bent the pin sideways at the base, and didn't actually bend the pin.

My non-conductive Ceramic didn't short nothin out, and it's stronger than a tooth pick or bamboo BBQ skewer.


I've learned that the best way to connect a connector is to line up thd grove in the housing and push the two together, starting at the notch.

I have used those Drift Mechanic freewheels for six or seven-years. Unlike many, they are not forged from soft ripened stinky cheese, or pot metal, or whatever. They actually hold up.

So I've heard from a freind that passed.

I just try to avoid the smallest cogs unless I really need them because typically, those are the first to go.

I've got a 52 tooth chainring and a 20 mph speed limit.

I'm sure that I'll be fine in 3rd or 4th gear


Once I replace my 1-4 cable of course?
And maybe my controller?

We'll see how it goes

I gotta clean, boil, and wax a couple chains first.

I gotta clean up that mess first.

 

[PedalUma]

Then we're off into 39°C

At the coast it is 56F or 13.333C with 35 mph/56 k winds today. Then the fog bank will roll in with cold humidity. It is either sunny and dry or cold and damp.

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