E-bike rims...
- Thread starter DMLPDX
- Start date
Is that Sun the Buchanon Spoke and Wheel house brand?
Their Sun motorcycle rims are very well built and nicely priced relative to the Excel's and such. Good stuff. They will build/drill anything you want. Motorcycle rims are available undrilled and then you drill as needed. I'm sure you could get one undrilled if it's from them. Dealer may or may not know that.
Their Sun motorcycle rims are very well built and nicely priced relative to the Excel's and such. Good stuff. They will build/drill anything you want. Motorcycle rims are available undrilled and then you drill as needed. I'm sure you could get one undrilled if it's from them. Dealer may or may not know that.
DMLPDX
Member
So, an update: I completed the wheel rebuild of this conversion after blowing a spoke on the rear Bontrager stock rim by replacing both front and rear rims with the Sun Ringle Rhyno Lyte rims built with DT Competition double butted spokes to Shimano Deore hubs.
At the time of the rebuild, because of the shifting problems with the stock rear 10 speed cassette and SLX derailleur, I went ahead and placed a new 9 speed Shimano 11-34t cassette upgrading the shifter/derailleur duet to Deore components. I also changed over the front disk brake mechanism from hydraulic to manual so that I could integrate the brake into the wiring harness. I also upgraded the chain to a KMC completing the drive train rebuild to everything 9 speed.
It must be the new bearings on the front and rear because as I was taking 'er out yesterday for a spin, well, all I can say is she really flew - seemingly faster than before. The shifting on the new Deore der was flawless - no more grinding, clinking, mis-shifts. Perfect! I was coming down Terwilliger here in PDX, which at points is a fairly steep downward incline - and in PS3 actually found myself throttling back. I usually go up to PS5 and in the past have wanted more, but this time...I just thought "wow". Huge difference.
Who know, perhaps a placebo effect, lol!
One of the things I'm concerned about for this build is the Trek 8.6 DS frame. I bought this bike while Trek was incorporating their IsoZone rear shock design, which they dropped the year after I purchased mine in 2014. It creates a bit of a wobble at high speeds and honestly, I'm not too crazy about it. Also, the lack of lateral stability in corners makes me think one of the reasons why the stock Bontrager blew the spoke - in a turn - was because of this.
I'm wondering about finding some way to convert this to a hard tail to increase the stability maybe incorporating a Thudbuster or BodyFloat. But the thought is crossing my mind to clear 'er up, and sell. The idea of doing a new conversion sounds kinda fun.
I'll post some new pics here in a bit.
David
At the time of the rebuild, because of the shifting problems with the stock rear 10 speed cassette and SLX derailleur, I went ahead and placed a new 9 speed Shimano 11-34t cassette upgrading the shifter/derailleur duet to Deore components. I also changed over the front disk brake mechanism from hydraulic to manual so that I could integrate the brake into the wiring harness. I also upgraded the chain to a KMC completing the drive train rebuild to everything 9 speed.
It must be the new bearings on the front and rear because as I was taking 'er out yesterday for a spin, well, all I can say is she really flew - seemingly faster than before. The shifting on the new Deore der was flawless - no more grinding, clinking, mis-shifts. Perfect! I was coming down Terwilliger here in PDX, which at points is a fairly steep downward incline - and in PS3 actually found myself throttling back. I usually go up to PS5 and in the past have wanted more, but this time...I just thought "wow". Huge difference.
Who know, perhaps a placebo effect, lol!
One of the things I'm concerned about for this build is the Trek 8.6 DS frame. I bought this bike while Trek was incorporating their IsoZone rear shock design, which they dropped the year after I purchased mine in 2014. It creates a bit of a wobble at high speeds and honestly, I'm not too crazy about it. Also, the lack of lateral stability in corners makes me think one of the reasons why the stock Bontrager blew the spoke - in a turn - was because of this.
I'm wondering about finding some way to convert this to a hard tail to increase the stability maybe incorporating a Thudbuster or BodyFloat. But the thought is crossing my mind to clear 'er up, and sell. The idea of doing a new conversion sounds kinda fun.
I'll post some new pics here in a bit.
David
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@DMLPDX Looks like you're serious about making this bike the way you want it! That SLX derailleur is excellent and it looks like that new wheel can take some abuse. Just check the spoke tension after ~100 miles and bring it or adjust it yourself.
A FS bike is the ultimate eBike so I wouldn't downgrade it.. Look for an upgraded Fox shock.. Check the MTBR forums for recommended updates..
Good job!
A FS bike is the ultimate eBike so I wouldn't downgrade it.. Look for an upgraded Fox shock.. Check the MTBR forums for recommended updates..
Good job!
DMLPDX
Member
Update:
Things have been moving along flawlessly until I made the decision to change out the Trek 8.6 DS "IsoZone" rear shock assembly. This consists of 2 posts which are threaded into the rear triangle member and through which they articulate with the center post. Over these 2 posts are two rubber "Isozone" shocks. I was able to easily remove one, but the other was far more difficult. Once I finally removed the post, I found the thread was stripped...much like the lug on a car wheel after the nut had been zipped on without first starting it by hand.
I went to the Trek LBS and everything was fine with the warranty until I mentioned the ebike conversion...then all bets were off. A real gotcha!
So, I'll ride this until the IsoZone member breaks down, then maybe replace it again, but eventually this threaded receiver unit will not hold the post and that will be the end. It's a shame a good frame is ruined by an overzealous pneumatic tool...
And so it goes...
David
Things have been moving along flawlessly until I made the decision to change out the Trek 8.6 DS "IsoZone" rear shock assembly. This consists of 2 posts which are threaded into the rear triangle member and through which they articulate with the center post. Over these 2 posts are two rubber "Isozone" shocks. I was able to easily remove one, but the other was far more difficult. Once I finally removed the post, I found the thread was stripped...much like the lug on a car wheel after the nut had been zipped on without first starting it by hand.
I went to the Trek LBS and everything was fine with the warranty until I mentioned the ebike conversion...then all bets were off. A real gotcha!
So, I'll ride this until the IsoZone member breaks down, then maybe replace it again, but eventually this threaded receiver unit will not hold the post and that will be the end. It's a shame a good frame is ruined by an overzealous pneumatic tool...
And so it goes...
David
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