1st e-bike conversion, talk me up, or talk me down!

[Clyde]

Oh, and Ive already started dreaming of a future build mating a LightningBolt or Cyclone and an old Nuvinci N171 CVT!

 

[tomjasz]

Thanks Thomas,

Yeah. Getting the hearing right would be critical for a single-soeed. But whyspend extra for a mid-drive and not take advantage of the possibility of a low and high gear option, amirite? I think a 42-44T up front and an 18 out back should make for a nice all-around street/trail range. If my Nexus-4 were disc rather than just a freewheel I'd have tried that, as it's 1:1 in first gear. Speeeeeeed!

Whatever floats yer boat! I now ride low power BBS01B motors for walking/biking path use and for quick bikes and being able to use all my batteries, a 10T MAC and ebikes.ca controllers. Really liking a goosed up front wheel lifting torque. But I still seem to get on my 1000W FD DD MXUS. A little-used 4-year-old Luna 52V triangle 20AH (maybe PF cells) still has very little sag and rocks at 28MPH for the first 20% of voltage, and 25-26 until LVC.

 

[Dewey]

As excited as I was to use the Sturmey 5-speed IGH, more research last night reveals that nothing beats a 3-speed for durability in the IGH world (Sheldon Brown needs a hobby!)

Good call, there have been discussions on this forum about the Sturmey 5 failing on the Luna Babe, at least one ebike designer on this site @pushkar changed his mind after replicating the fault and specced the Shimano Nexus Inter-5E on his upcoming WattWagons model.

 

[tomjasz]

Good call, there have been discussions on this forum about the Sturmey 5 failing on the Luna Babe, at least one ebike designer on this site @pushkar changed his mind after replicating the fault and specced the Shimano Nexus Inter-5E on his upcoming WattWagons model.

Buddy has an 8-speed Nexus from Electra, a Townie from the frame built in WI years. Rim failed and was rebuilt and the Nexus still rocks on! These days it doesn't see heavy use but still impressive! No goofy Gearsensor either.

 

[tomjasz]

Oh, and Ive already started dreaming of a future build mating a LightningBolt or Cyclone and an old Nuvinci N171 CVT!

LighteningRod? Beats the crap out of Cyclone (mediocre design by comparison) Unfortunately the LighteningRod is more spendy but made in USA and very well supported.

 

[Dewey]

Buddy has an 8-speed Nexus from Electra, a Townie from the frame built in WI years. Rim failed and was rebuilt and the Nexus still rocks on! These days it doesn't see heavy use but still impressive! No goofy Gearsensor either.

Yes I use a Nexus 8 for my BBS01 I bought from Doug because I wanted the lower gear range for pedalling up hills. I think the Nexus Inter-5E would work fine for a more powerful motor that doesn’t need lower gears - on that model 1st gear is the 1:1 ratio so no granny gears, no problem if the motor can handle it

 

[Clyde]

Yes I use a Nexus 8 for my BBS01 I bought from Doug because I wanted the lower gear range for pedalling up hills. I think the Nexus Inter-5E would work fine for a more powerful motor that doesn’t need lower gears - on that model 1st gear is the 1:1 ratio so no granny gears, no problem if the motor can handle it

Hmmm... the plot thickens! A new contender! Is 5th gear direct? To the Interwebs!

ETA: was hoping to avoid a centerlock disc. Should I not?

 

[tomjasz]

Yes I use a Nexus 8 for my BBS01 I bought from Doug because I wanted the lower gear range for pedalling up hills. I think the Nexus Inter-5E would work fine for a more powerful motor that doesn’t need lower gears - on that model 1st gear is the 1:1 ratio so no granny gears, no problem if the motor can handle it

You, Sam, and I must be the last BBS01 users two 350W 36V, and 2 36V 250W here. Our path bikes.

 

[Clyde]

A little-used 4-year-old Luna 52V triangle 20AH (maybe PF cells) still has very little sag and rocks at 28MPH for the first 20% of voltage, and 25-26 until LVC.

Don't get me started on batteries. Like, really don't. Honestly that's the part of this whole build I'm most dreading. Why are they all so... visible? Clunky? Insecure and subject to theft/vandalism? Eager to explode if insulted or abused? Why can't I just stuff the entire frame with lithium and ions and crap and be done with it?

 

[tomjasz]

Don't get me started on batteries. Like, really don't. Honestly that's the part of this whole build I'm most dreading. Why are they all so... visible? Clunky? Insecure and subject to theft/vandalism? Eager to explode if insulted or abused? Why can't I just stuff the entire frame with lithium and ions and crap and be done with it?

How do we hide 60-100 cells? It is what it is. I like EM3ev batteries. I have 6 year old batts from them still putting out decent amps. And the new builds have Bluetooth BMS that can be monitored with a smart phone. Full disclosure we sell them but I have a long positive history with them.

 

[Clyde]

Their 52v Super Shark looks nice and compact. Sadly, I have no Android device. Do I still not need a controller?

Is the Eggrider display the one used on the Super 73 bikes? Love the idea of programming presets that I can change on the fly!

Is there a way to secure a triangle battery such that a mildly interested tween couldn't make off with it in under15 minutes? Somehow those fish themed batteries make every bike look like something to cruise around the retirement village on, not that there's anything wrong with that.

 

[tomjasz]

Their 52v Super Shark looks nice and compact. Sadly, I have no Android device. Do I still not need a controller?

iPhones work too.
See the diagram of the sizing. Each mid-drive from Bafang has a built-in controller. And you need a display.

Is the Eggrider display the one used on the Super 73 bikes? Love the idea of programming presets that I can change on the fly!

I have no idea what a Super 73 bike is. EggRider is not for someone not able to sort through the setup and some computer skills. eggrider.com has a manual. Best to review that before plunging. They are also active on Facebook. Typically a new rider should start with a simple display. IMNSHO

Is there a way to secure a triangle battery such that a mildly interested tween couldn't make off with it in under15 minutes? Somehow those fish themed batteries make every bike look like something to cruise around the retirement village on, not that there's anything wrong with that.

You'd need a custom enclosure for a triangle. I use triangle nylon bags but live in a pretty low crime city.

I highly recommend spending some time watching youtube videos on installs. Well sa far as retirement villaiges, you'l be ahaed of the game. I have a new 52v 17AH. Reention cases and locks to the bottle mount.

 

[Clyde]

Truly appreciate the benefit of your wisdom and experience, Thomas. I did see a video last night on building a fiberglass battery holder that was inspiring, but uncertain how many new trucks this old dog can learn at one time. Since a functional, turnkey solution exists I'll likely resign myself to a shark battery of some kind and leave the high aesthetics for a future build.

No fear of a little UI settings tweaking from this IT pro, so I'll have a look at the eggrider manual and see how complicated it looks. It would be nice to be able to set it for class 1 or 2 if the Boy wanted to ride.

Super 73 has a range of mini-bike style ebikes at Super73.com, and claim app programability for their mid-drives, too.

 

[flymeaway]

Thanks Tim. I only consider the 1000w BBSHD, as I've heard that the BBS02 has issues with a nylon gear. I'd likely leave in in class 1/2, and unleash it on a future build with better anchors.

???....I have three bikes with BBS02 mid-drives, one has almost 15,000 miles on it. The other two combined have about 7,000, never had a problem with the gears. The only problem I've ever had was a burned out controller prior to the MOSFET upgrade.

 

[Clyde]

I know nothing I didn't read on the Internet, but a quick google of 'BBSHD peanut butter' turns up a lot of results.

 

[Dewey]

Hmmm... the plot thickens! A new contender! Is 5th gear direct? To the Interwebs!

ETA: was hoping to avoid a centerlock disc. Should I not?

The Shimano product page lists the gear ratios, 1st gear is the direct drive up to 263% in 5th. Did you want to avoid centerlock because you have a brakeset you like? There are 6-bolt to centerlock adapters so you could use the same rotors on both front and rear.

 

[Clyde]

I just vaguely recall reading somewhere that center locks were less desirable in some way. Maybe less compatible? The Betamax of discs? If they're fine, I'm fine. Thanks!

 

[Dewey]

I just vaguely recall reading somewhere that center locks were less desirable in some way. Maybe less compatible? The Betamax of discs? If they're fine, I'm fine. Thanks!

I looked on bikeforums.net and couldn't find any complaints

 

[tomjasz]

I know nothing I didn't read on the Internet, but a quick google of 'BBSHD peanut butter' turns up a lot of results.

All from a single source repeated ad nauseam. There were rotor issues but now corrected.

 

[JES2020]

Disc brakes are definitely preferred but are not the end all and be all. I’ve had a couple of ebikes with rim brakes, and I had one with cheap disc brakes. They were all problematical. You can do OK with rim brakes if you put on really good pads. I’d rather have rim brakes with good pads than cheap disk brakes. High quality disk brakes are the best, but you can make rim brakes work.

I also am getting a kit and using rim brakes on an old Trek...what would you consider a "good" pad to use vs disk brakes?