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Hi Rob, Since there's different voltages at each stage, it's easiest to work in watt-hours (Wh). Your bike battery is 10ah at 36v nominal, so 360Wh check the nameplate on your charger to see it's maximum output (likely 2A @ 36v, so 72w). That's your minimum inverter size. If you plan on...

Keep it simple. Get one 12v battery and charge it with the solar panels using a charge controller. Then get a small 100w 12-120v inverter to supply your regular ebike battery charger. You will lose a bit of energy in the conversions, maybe 10%, but it'll all be off-the-shelf components which...

I carry a Gaadi tube so I won't have to remove the wheel and hopefully get going sooner. Would rather sort things out later at home than fumble around with the wheel on the side of the road. There's so many options these days for preventing flats in the first place, that it wouldn't even...

Oh man, the video on the website is hilarious. Multiple kung-fu scenes as dudes cruise around in sport bike gear. If that's the image they are selling, buyers are going to be sorely disappointed with their 250lb, 32km/h, 500w Lead Acid (!) ride. http://www.daymak.com/em2.html

I like the abus bordo line of locks, mostly because they fold up so nicely. Not the most secure, but convenient for quick stops. I prefer to pay a little less on the lock, and little more for great theft insurance.

As much as I would like to see those scooter-style bikes and their legal-dodge pedals driven from the streets, I don't think the traffic cop is interpreting the legislation correctly. The key word is the "or" in (2)(b). As long as one of those three requirements for disengaging the motor is...

Some great advice already given! Mtl_biker is spot-on about learning the cycling ropes. Your motorcycling experience will be helpful for defensive driving though. Some things that might influence your choices: -The second charger at work is a great idea. Some are outrageously priced...

Interesting listen from BikeSnob NYC radio show regarding mandatory helmet laws: https://www.wbai.org/archive/program/episode/?id=4596 The meat of the argument is from minute 4:00 to 12:00. Takeaways: Mandatory helmet laws put cyclists at greater risk because fewer people cycle, reducing the...

Hmm, I just noticed the "unwatch" button for threads. Think I'll give that a little clicky click.

An advantage of mid-drive is the ability to use the bike's gearing. If you aren't using any gearing, a hub motor would be much simpler, less wear on the drivetrain, and likely cheaper. I find I mostly use the 52-13 combo on my cassette and could easily get by with only that gear, with 26"...

As mentioned somewhere else in this forum, Scooteretti, Basil and others makes very nice neoprene battery covers. I suppose they would also help protect the battery from road grime. just google "neoprene ebike battery cover" From the plots I've seen, you can expect to lose about 20% of your...

By that logic drivers shouldn't have to pay taxes to cover any of your bike injuries because biking is more dangerous per mile traveled than driving. Where does it end? People are terrible at interpreting actual risk, and the reality is we all insure each other against what we may think are...

Here's a good video on waterproofing electronics for RC airplanes, mostly using anti-corrosive sprays and conformal coatings. Maybe some of that could be applied to your system, although I'd be careful with the heat that the controller can produce.

Store the battery at roughly 50% charge, and don't charge it below freezing temperatures. Lithium ion batteries are ok to discharge and store in freezing temperatures if you must, but charging them when they're that cold causes lithium plating and shortens their life.

I routinely run 2.3 bike tires at 25psi. If I'm expecting a long ride on pavement or somewhere traction isn't an issue, I might pump them up to 35psi. The pressure spec on the side of the tire is maximum pressure, not necessarily what you should be running it at. Don't be afraid to go much...

The term for that part is "freehub body". They probably use an inexpensive one that requires more rotation until the prawls engage. There are very nice freehub bodies that tout "immediate" engagement with six or more prawls, but they are usually matched to the hub so it's unlikely you could...

I assume you have a mid-drive bike, based on how often you are changing chains and cassettes. I'm also guessing you are in Vancouver or thereabouts, where the winter riding is wet and grimy. One thing I found made a big difference in my drivetrain maintenance was having a front fender that...

I replaced the QR skewers on the front wheel and seatpost with hex key units, and keep the tools in the bottom of the basket which clips to the front of the bike. I also have an ABUS Bordo folding lock which is nice and compact. When I stop for errends, I just lock the bike frame and grab the...

I've always had good comfort with WTB SpeedV saddles. Reasonable price and durability, sporty looks, comes in versions from super light to gel, and they've had a loyal following for many years. While there is probably a more comfortable seat out there for me somewhere, this one has been a...

I just bought a rechargeable "Xlite 100" tail light, which has an internal accelerometer and goes bright when you slow down. Battery lasts about two weeks of daily commuting. Turns itself on when I start moving, and off when I park. The only thing I don't like about it is it senses ambient...