(Art)istic eBike

[Art Deco]

When I was a member of guitar and bass forums, the most often used phrase was "Save up for something better"

I apologise for my behaviour. We have "dog days" or rather "dog nights" in Poland right now. I cannot sleep because of the heat.

You are doing fine, really, heat isn't anything compared to the conditions on your border, my Polish friend ... and your Engish is awesome.

 

[Deleted member 57338]

Funny to think either of my e-bikes fits my junk Renault Megane station wagon without folding or removing the front wheel of the bike or the bike rack installed.

Perhaps I own a wrong car


You're gonna be smoking Vados soon

yes funny....you reminded me of a car we had when I was in high school. I learned how to drive a clutch in a Renault R10! We actually had two of them! Motor in rear, trunk in front. Those things were so square shaped...HA!

 

[Art Deco]

I toke during the day then find myself staring at pictures of bike frames for what seems like Hours !!

I thought I understood geometry, until I started messing with bikes.

 

[Art Deco]

So some necessary bling for the lady. @PCeBiker , the picture isn't very good. A mirror, a whistle, a compass, and a beer opener.

 

[Stefan Mikes]

yes funny....you reminded me of a car we had when I was in high school. I learned how to drive a clutch in a Renault R10! We actually had two of them! Motor in rear, trunk in front. Those things were so square shaped...HA!

Now i recollected a situation from a family vacation in Norway many years ago. At that time, we owned a new Daewoo Nexia, which had an impressively big trunk. We carried a folded wheelchair of our daughter inside.

We were joined by a family of Polish immigrants to Norway. The man who I have to describe as a "Polack" owned a brand new big Mercedes Benz in gold colour. I asked him for a favour: could he help us transporting our wheelchair in the trunk of his car? The man said "Sorry the trunk of my car is too small" to which I replied with contempt: "Then you own a cheaper car than I do!"

 

[Art Deco]

Totally cool!
My mind is trying to run the movie of how to fold it. I "think" I have the movie right... I think...
Does the front fender/mudguard rub the tire at all? Looks close.
She's a peach mate, can't wait to hear the test ride results! Congrats!

Half cocked. Some say that's my favorite starting point.

 

[PCeBiker]

Half cocked. Some say that's my favorite starting point.

Well now I'm confused again,..

Somehow the frame needs to connect to the big metal tab?
So either the bottom connector rises up to connect with the tab, or there is some sort of connection bushing to insert in between to mate the two ?

Perhaps it's a urethane bushing ?

That would be Fricken Cool !!!

Instead of a wet noodle, you would have controlled lateral frame flex at that connection point !!

You could pick the durometer of the urethane bushing to choose how stiff the lateral frame flex is !!!

That Would Be Fricken Cool !!!

 

[Art Deco]

When I decided to buy an ebike I spent a few weeks reading through this forum learning as much as I could.
One phrase that stuck with me was "Don't try to buy your last e-bike first"

That's why I only spent $2,400 CAD on my first ebike.

Now I kinda think I know what I want,..

View attachment 160510

View attachment 160511

I'm trying to decide whether to upgrade what I already have or start over with a brand new ebike.

I'm thinking of buying these for my current bike,..

View attachment 160509
Plus $107 shipping and maybe import duties?

But I need to get all my measurements figured out and I would need to convert my current front wheel from 9mm QR to 15mm through axle.
My current wheel has a 135mm dropout spacing, but my axle has about 15mm of spacers on the axle, so I might be able to get a set of forks with 120mm spacing?

I need to smoke another Vado and do some more research,..

$2400 CAD ... about what I spent on my first ebike too. Might cover the fork on the Harley ... @J.R. am I in the right range?

 

[Art Deco]

Well now I'm confused again,..

View attachment 160514


Somehow the frame needs to connect to the big metal tab?
So either the bottom connector rises up to connect with the tab, or there is some sort of connection bushing to insert in between to mate the two ?

Perhaps it's a urethane bushing ?

That would be Fricken Cool !!!

Instead of a wet noodle, you would have controlled lateral frame flex at that connection point !!

You could pick the durometer of the urethane bushing to choose how stiff the lateral frame flex is !!!

That Would Be Fricken Cool !!!

Think really BIG quick release with a nylon (ish) bushing that drops over the big metal tab ...

 

[Art Deco]

Totally cool!
My mind is trying to run the movie of how to fold it. I "think" I have the movie right... I think...
Does the front fender/mudguard rub the tire at all? Looks close.
She's a peach mate, can't wait to hear the test ride results! Congrats!

The tires are temporary, and the front does rub against the frame. She came with skinny knobbies (maybe 36 cm) ... @PedalUma replaced them with something wider (too big, 44 cm I think) I am open for suggestions on new shoes for the lady...

 

[PCeBiker]

Think really BIG quick release with a nylon (ish) bushing that drops over the big metal tab ...

OK, that makes sense.
Nylon is the toughest plastic that I know of.
It would make a solid connection with a bit of cushion so it doesn't wear on either the frame tab or the lower frame connection.
And it's easily replaced if it does get sloppy.

 

[DaveMatthews]

The tires are temporary, and the front does rub against the frame. She came with skinny knobbies (maybe 36 cm) ... @PedalUma replaced them with something wider (too big, 44 cm I think) I am open for suggestions on new shoes for the lady...

Gotta say I'd make sure the stock tires are inflated to the "average" that they are rated for, and ride the carp out of it for at least 50 miles.
Some tires "look" like they are something that they may not be.
If the tires "feel" wrong after a bunch of miles after adjusting psi, it is then that I would consider alternatives.
What are the current tire specs?

 

[Art Deco]

Gotta say I'd make sure the stock tires are inflated to the "average" that they are rated for, and ride the carp out of it for at least 50 miles.
Some tires "look" like they are something that they may not be.
If the tires "feel" wrong after a bunch of miles after adjusting psi, it is then that I would consider alternatives.
What are the current tire specs?

Don't know yet, but my spec was lose the knobbies, and put something wide and soft on ... no suspension ...

 

[DaveMatthews]

Don't know yet, but my spec was lose the knobbies, and put something wide and soft on ... no suspension ...

You'll need to care about what the rims can handle, and what the fork and rear has width for...

 

[Art Deco]

So do I have this right?

You bought a non-powered folding bike that is being studied and set up at your local LBS, then you are going to fold it up and deliver it to @PedalUma so he can electrify it for you using all his special magic?

Is your local LBS willing to work on the bike after it becomes a magical e-bike?

One important detail...

 

[Art Deco]

In North America, "cheaper" means either inexpensive or junky.

Usually you get what you pay for unless you're paying for a name brand or something that is fake.

I say "cheap crap" to denote that it is both inexpensive, and a piece if crap.



That man's trunk was too small for your purposes but the car probably served every purpose that he needed it for.


I would have said with contempt,..

"Your Car Is Fricken USELESS !!
How Are You Supposed Carry Anything Big In It ??!!"

I owned a Subaru GL 1800 wagon in the 90's and a Mazda Protégé5 sport wagon until recently.
I could comfortably sleep in the back of my Subaru but my Mazda was shorter and I needed to fold the front seats down as well to get enough leg room to stretch out straight, but the front seat didn't fold flat.
I never did sleep in my Protégé but I sure could stuff a lot of crap in there.

13 bundles of shingles managed to Completely SLAM my car.
Unfortunately, after two trips with 13 bundles, I wrecked my wheel bearings.
They were a huge expensive PITA to replace.

View attachment 160516

Car = Truck = FALSE.

 

[Art Deco]

You'll need to care about what the rims can handle, and what the fork and rear has width for...

And what the supply lines will provide. The rear is Ok, the front has the mount for the 'almost a fender' right at the top of the fork.

Opps.

I rather liked the balloons on my Como, but Schaub? seems to be popular on here. More research required ... as the scientists say.

 

[PCeBiker]

Don't know yet, but my spec was lose the knobbies, and put something wide and soft on ... no suspension ...

I have the same problem with my e-bike.
My tires are 26"X4" but they have no knobs and I have about 3mm clearance between the rear tire and the frame.

EVERY replacement 26"X4" that I could find had knobs that would hit the frame.

The best that I could find was a V-Tire Speedster 26"X3.5" that will fit my 80mm wide fat rims.
It comes in both wire bead and folding.
I'm going to get the wire bead version. I don't want it to pop of my rim. I don't care if I can't fold it up and carry it as a spare.

Extremely Low rolling resistance but is still a long lasting, durable, supple tire.

I don't like knobs.
They waste energy.

That doesn't mean I ain't going to take my e-bike off-road and pound the snot out of them in the dirt.

 

[Art Deco]

I have the same problem with my e-bike.
My tires are 26"X4" but they have no knobs and I have about 3mm clearance between the rear tire and the frame.

EVERY replacement 26"X4" that I could find had knobs that would hit the frame.

The best that I could find was a V-Tire Speedster 26"X3.5" that will fit my 80mm wide fat rims.
It comes in both wire bead and folding.
I'm going to get the wire bead version. I don't want it to pop of my rim. I don't care if I can't fold it up and carry it as a spare.

View attachment 160520


Extremely Low rolling resistance but is still a long lasting, durable, supple tire.

I don't like knobs.
They waste energy.

That doesn't mean I ain't going to take my e-bike off-road and pound the snot out of them in the dirt.

When we see what fits, but the front fender is almost a crotch protector mudguard and the fork has a built in mount for it.Guess where they put the mount.

 

[PCeBiker]

When we see what fits, but the front fender is almost a crotch protector mudguard and the fork has a built in mount for it.Guess where they put the mount.

Yeah, I'd have the same fender mounting issue with those upside-down forks that I want.
There's nowhere to mount the fender.
I'd have to make a bracket that connects between the stantions 190mm above the tire.

I don't think that I can mount it to the lower mud guards to keep it closer to the wheel?

I really want a front fender. I don't want crap tossed in my face.

I don't think that I have a choice between having a fender sprung or unsprung?