e-conversion on a 47year old bike.....

[spinnanz]

Here's my not quite finished conversion to an old Raleigh. Plan was to keep it as un-electric looking as possible, and to be able to cruise at 20-25kph. Weight with the new wheels/tires/motor/battery is 24kg. Total cost so far is $400nz (£200)

The new wheel set (28"/700s) were a almost a straight bolt on, a couple of bolts need machining down so the tires wont hit the fenders and I'll have to move the rear fender wire braces up 10mm. Originally I wanted to use a front hub motor so I could keep the original 3 speed rear hub but this set of unused wheels/tires/motor from a Easy Go Race came up cheap (£40) so I've gone with rear drive. The original rear hub was sprocket 18T, the new one is 16T, so my fixed gear is a little higher than "2nd" gear on the 3 speed hub. I think at 60rpm of the crank, I should be doing 25kph, which is what the quoted speed of the Easy Go Race was.

The saddle bag was purchased separately, and will hold the batteries (36v, 20ah) and the speed controller. The motor will be activated from a crank sensor and I plan to mod an old mechanical 3 speed throttle grip to activate an electronic throttle. Brakes will be swapped out for alloy ones with shorter reach as the original pressed steel ones flex heaps. The original lighting will run off the battery, through a small regulator to take it down to 6v.

 

[J.R.]

I like it. I have an old, 1970's pump that would work with those frame mounts. Wish I still had the bike that went with it. I have seen retro grips around that would look perfect on that bike. Have fun with it! Welcome to the forum.

 

[FlatSix911]

Great conversion... very stealthy and an unlikely target for theft!

 

[spinnanz]

I like it. I have an old, 1970's pump that would work with those frame mounts. Wish I still had the bike that went with it. I have seen retro grips around that would look perfect on that bike. Have fun with it! Welcome to the forum.

Ive a set of formally white, now yellowed grips to go on it, trying to keep with the "aged" look. Cheers for the welcome!

 

[spinnanz]

Great conversion... very stealthy and an unlikely target for theft!

Although unlikely to be a target to be stolen, I've already got a 36v alarm to go on the bike too, just in case!

 

[stanmiller]

Nice bike! Very cool project.

 

[ruffruff]

love it.

 

[spinnanz]

To further the bike, an electronic throttle doesn't look the part so Ive removed the Sturmey-Archer gear changeI'm adapting a 1980s Shimano 3 speed grip shift. It originally only had 1/8th of a turn and had an index click for the gears, so ive modded it. Now it has a 1/2 turn and no clicks. The cable that the grip pulls will be used to pull an electronic throttle that's hidden in the pannier.

 

[spinnanz]

Vintage kids sest to go on now too

 

[FlatSix911]

To further the bike, an electronic throttle doesn't look the part so I'm adapting a 1980s Shimano grip shift. It originally only had 1/8th of a turn and had an index click for the gears, so I've modded it. Now it has a 1/2 turn and no clicks. The cable that the grip pulls will be used to pull an electronic throttle that's hidden in the pannier.

Vintage kids seat to go on now too

The grip shift and child's seat will definitely enhance the retro vibe and patina of your bike.

 

[spinnanz]

The grip shift and child's seat will definitely enhance the retro vibe and patina of your bike.

The set should clean up faily well, most rusted surfaces of the bike gave come up with a clean but aged look after a scrub with a brass brush. Hopefully the kids seat should come up the same. At this stage the padding wll be replaced with worn wood from an old kids school chair. Below are the breaks, before and after being brushed and oiled.

 

[FlatSix911]

The set should clean up fairly well, most rusted surfaces of the bike gave come up with a clean but aged look after a scrub with a brass brush. Hopefully, the kid's seat should come up the same. At this stage, the padding will be replaced with worn wood from an old kids' school chair. Below are the brakes, before and after being brushed and oiled.

Well done! Now about that spelling of brakes... corrected above.

 

[spinnanz]

Well done! Now about that spelling of brakes... corrected above.

haha I'm normally the spelling Nazi!

 

[rich c]

I expected to see a 47 year old electric motor on a bicycle.

 

[spinnanz]

I expected to see a 47 year old electric motor on a bicycle.

sorted that thread title

 

[GypsyTreker]

Sweet! Love retro stuff and you did a really nice job keeping it stealth.

 

[spinnanz]

Sweet! Love retro stuff and you did a really nice job keeping it stealth.

Id have liked to used my new hubs on the original rims for extra stealth but the cost to get rims laced is expensive now!