Sorry, but the requirements are a little complicated. (1) The bike would be used only 4 months a year (will that ruin batteries?); (2) the roads are concrete, asphalt and dirt; (3) there are LOTS of speed bumps, some of which have cut-outs in the middle where a bike tire would fit (don't want small wheels); (4) I had a big toe and metatarsal removed at Christmas and cannot mash the pedal on that side (can pedal on the flats, but they are rare); (5) don't need range over about 5 miles but the hills are ferocious, so I must have torque; (6) I'm 5'10", 71 years old and 182 pounds. 120 V AC is readily available. I normally walk everywhere when I am there but Doc says I must get some form of transport when I go this year. There are a couple of E-bike shops in Mexico City and hub kits are available as well. It would be impossible for me to get a bike from the US to where I live (and would not be easy to get a whole bike from Mexico City to where I live). A hub motor and battery from Mexico City and buying a mountain bike near where I live would not be hard. Necessity may drive me to a little gas motor for a bike, also available; I don't have or want a motorcycle license, and the smaller 90-110 cc motorbikes available have smaller diameter wheels than I want given speed bumps that are 6" high and about 10" long. I don't care how slowly it goes so long as I can get up the darned hills, and I will use it exclusively for transport in the small village. Any suggestions?
Bike for a mountain village in Mexico
- Thread starter mwisch
- Start date
Bicyclista
Well-Known Member
As someone who has travelled extensively in Mexico, I can appreciate your problem. I drove the entire length of Mexico from Guatemala to San Diego. On another occasion I took the bus from Tijuana to Guatemala City. There have been many other trips as well... So, it seems your biggest problem is getting the right kind of ebike to the mountain village. Are you south of Mexico City or north?
It is also clear that your requirements include a throttle due to your foot issue.
One solution you allude to is a DYI bike conversion. Buy the electrical components, take them with you to the mountain village, buy a mountain bike nearby and convert the bike. If you have the mechanical and electrical skills, that is certainly one solution. But such a solution may not yield a great riding bike due to either the electrical conversion kit or the quality of bikes available near your mountain village (or both). But you will learn a lot.
In any case, you will need to acquire mechanical and electrical skills just to maintain your bike. Who else is going to do it for you?
Personally, I prefer bikes designed and manufactured to be ebikes and I avoid conversions. I had a bad experience with a LEED conversion kit. Maybe other people on this forum will chime in with an ebike conversion kit recommendation.
One complete bike that would meet your requirements is the Juiced HyperFat with the MAC motor and throttle options, fork suspension (standard), seatpost suspension (third party), and rack (being offered by Juiced sometime in the future). You can buy one in Chula Vista, California (their headquarters), only a few miles from the Mexican border. Then the problem is how to transport it to your mountain village, and I don't have a ready answer. My sense is that you would need to negotiate transport with one of the bus companies... but if you go this route be prepared to overcome many hurdles along the way.
As for keeping the battery in shape, get a GRIN Satiator, which Juiced also sells, and follow their recommendations.
It is also clear that your requirements include a throttle due to your foot issue.
One solution you allude to is a DYI bike conversion. Buy the electrical components, take them with you to the mountain village, buy a mountain bike nearby and convert the bike. If you have the mechanical and electrical skills, that is certainly one solution. But such a solution may not yield a great riding bike due to either the electrical conversion kit or the quality of bikes available near your mountain village (or both). But you will learn a lot.
In any case, you will need to acquire mechanical and electrical skills just to maintain your bike. Who else is going to do it for you?
Personally, I prefer bikes designed and manufactured to be ebikes and I avoid conversions. I had a bad experience with a LEED conversion kit. Maybe other people on this forum will chime in with an ebike conversion kit recommendation.
One complete bike that would meet your requirements is the Juiced HyperFat with the MAC motor and throttle options, fork suspension (standard), seatpost suspension (third party), and rack (being offered by Juiced sometime in the future). You can buy one in Chula Vista, California (their headquarters), only a few miles from the Mexican border. Then the problem is how to transport it to your mountain village, and I don't have a ready answer. My sense is that you would need to negotiate transport with one of the bus companies... but if you go this route be prepared to overcome many hurdles along the way.
As for keeping the battery in shape, get a GRIN Satiator, which Juiced also sells, and follow their recommendations.
J.R.
Well-Known Member
- Region
- USA
- City
- Piedmont Highlands
I don't think you can get past question #1. Unless you are driving back and forth to Mexico and can bring the battery back and forth in order to maintain it's charge. Lithium-ion batteries need to be stored at approximately 60% charge, in a space not too warm or too cold. You could possibly set a timer to charge, but that could be dangerous charging unattended.
An ebike doesn't seem practical for your needs. A 49cc gas powered moped would be far more practical and probably less expensive.
raymann112
Member
Depending on the slope, a 49cc moved might not be enough, I've seen them struggle to get over bridges, much less mountains.
I recommend a scooter as well but at least a 150cc one
I recommend a scooter as well but at least a 150cc one
Thanks for the ideas. A friend is an electrician, welder and general handyman in the village, which is 10 hours by bus South of Mexico City, so I don't think maintenance would be a problem. J.R.'s comments about the maintenance of the battery sounds like the death knoll of the electric bike idea, though.
Thanks. The information on the battery was exactly what I needed, even if it makes me sad. the size of the speed bumps, called "topes" in Spanish, might allow a moped if the wheels were at least 17", though I would prefer the 26" mountain bike standard. I cannot get a 49cc, though - they are not sold. The bigger ones, like the 90 to 110 cc motorbikes available and not expensive, supposedly require a motorcycle license. Sounds like the 80cc gas motors available for bicycle mounting in Mexico City may be my best bet.
Good points. A scooter has wheels that are too small for the speed bumps. I know folks use 80 - 110 cc motorbikes with no problems, and I think an 80CC add on gas motor to a mountain bike I can get at a nearby bigger pueblo would be adequate, particularly if I don't gear it for speed. Thanks for the warning; struggling on the inclines where I go would be no fun with my foot.
Question #1 makes it a no-go. You'll be leaving it in storage for 8 months, and Lithium battery needs a maintenance top-up more often. Generic advice from manufacturers is to top-up every 2-3 months, but it really depends on the built-in electronics (BMS). Leaving it on a charger unattended is a fire hazard.
From my experience with Mex long-distance buses, they will take most anything in cargo holds, though a trip from the border to central highlands will take 2-3 days with sleeping in hotels. Locals sleep on the bus (or trying to), for 50-60 hours, but you're not going to like it.
From my experience with Mex long-distance buses, they will take most anything in cargo holds, though a trip from the border to central highlands will take 2-3 days with sleeping in hotels. Locals sleep on the bus (or trying to), for 50-60 hours, but you're not going to like it.
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Thanks, Alex. There is a direct bus from Tijuana to a town only 20 minutes from where I go - it's 2 1/2 days direct, and I took a cheap electric bike 8 years ago, but it was not able to get me where I needed because of the climbing required. But I'm on the east coast now,. I think the answers on the battery have convinced me to go with internal combustion, sadly.
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