PortCityMopeds
New Member
Good morning all,
Steve here with Port City Mopeds in Portsmouth, NH. You can check us out at www.portsmouthmopeds.com. As the name suggests, we're typically focused on (gas) moped and scooter repair and sales. We've been in the business for 10+ years, and are just now (considering) adding electric bicycles to our product line.
Me and my staff are pretty darn good as far as wrench-turning goes, and we're acquainted with a variety of motorbikes - moped, scooter, motorcycle, European & Asian, vintage and contemporary. We've got hobby-level experience only when it comes to bicycle (and ebike) repair and services, but we're pretty technically capable and I'm confident in our ability to learn these new machines and provide excellent quality service.
I ordered a handful of Fuji e-bikes at the end of last season. https://www.fujibikes.com/usa/bikes/electric/. I got a bit of a sample pack of the more affordable units - E-Crosstown in men's and women's, E-Traverse M&W, and an E-Nevada.
I have to say I am quite happy with the products. While they may not be perfect, or the top of the line product, I think their price points are great, customers will be attracted to them, and frankly I think the build quality, fit and finish is all at least "good" if not better. Importantly, Fuji is a name folks recognize, which gives some confidence and brand recognition which helps with sales.
Personally, I've been in love with the products after some "rigorous product testing" . I'm 31 and in decent shape... not particularly active but I've always loved bicycling, and everything on two wheels. I've only ever bicycled recreationally and casually, usually owning older Motobecane road bikes as I have an affinity for the brand, like vintage styling, and the old road bikes just work for me. More avid and current bicycle enthusiasts may be used to the luxuries and amenities of a more modern bike, but form my perspective, I went from vintage tech to high tech overnight! These things have hydraulic disc brake front and rear (DAMN! brakes that work! Endos are easy! woulda never thunk it), easy twist-grip shifters or paddle-style shifters, all quick-adjust seats and handlebars, Shimano components, and, of course, a 250W hub motor in the rear!
The bikes are super capable and great for an urban environment. A good workout, despite some folks' concerns that the electric motor does all the work. Not quite the case, given the variable motor assist control, and that you can still pedal your heart out. For me, the electric assist acts as a motivator.... for every pump of the crank, I get 3 in return! That motivates me to push it even harder than I would on a vintage steel frame, knowing I sort of need to conserve my energy as I go... on these e-bikes, I can go balls to the walls all day and vary the assist level to accommodate my stamina.
Now enough about me and a little more about the bikes and what I am looking to learn. I ran a bit of a search, but to be honest I dont know exactly what I'm looking for.
I think the pedal assist feels great and is generally well programmed. That said, I am hopeful that there is a method by which I can interface with the controller to, perhaps, reparameterize some of the control features. For example... after about a half a revolution of pedaling, the motor kicks on. I think that's reasonable. However, even after I stop pedaling, the motor stays on for a second or two or three. At speed, this isn't bad... but during low speed maneuvering and jockeying, the extra time the motor stays on is a bit clutzy. It'd be cool if I could decrease the "stay on" time.
Otherwise, and I think you knew this one is coming... the machine is classified as a "Class 1" electric bicycle, in that it ceases to provide assistance at 20mph. Hear me out - I'm generally ok with that, and I don't need assistance after 20mph. However, it does feel like the bike not only does not provide assistance after 20mph, but also actually speed-limits me. By that I mean, if I pedal all the way up to 20mph, and I'm in top gear, and still have some muster left in me and the gears... no matter what... I just can't get past 20. Similarly, it takes the joy out of bombing a hill. I will accelerate downhill until I reach this max speed... then thats it... I'd be going faster on my vintage Motobecane on the same hill, as it is not speed restricted.
The e-bike uses Bafang hub motors (spec sheet attached) and associated controller. I am looking, if such thing exists, for a hardware/software configuration that would allow me to interface with the controller via PC, and ideally adjust some of the parameters associated with the controllers operation. This may be an easy, obvious, or overasked question... but after a little research I am hoping you folks can help me get my bearings and point me in the right direction. Thanks!
-Steve
Steve here with Port City Mopeds in Portsmouth, NH. You can check us out at www.portsmouthmopeds.com. As the name suggests, we're typically focused on (gas) moped and scooter repair and sales. We've been in the business for 10+ years, and are just now (considering) adding electric bicycles to our product line.
Me and my staff are pretty darn good as far as wrench-turning goes, and we're acquainted with a variety of motorbikes - moped, scooter, motorcycle, European & Asian, vintage and contemporary. We've got hobby-level experience only when it comes to bicycle (and ebike) repair and services, but we're pretty technically capable and I'm confident in our ability to learn these new machines and provide excellent quality service.
I ordered a handful of Fuji e-bikes at the end of last season. https://www.fujibikes.com/usa/bikes/electric/. I got a bit of a sample pack of the more affordable units - E-Crosstown in men's and women's, E-Traverse M&W, and an E-Nevada.
I have to say I am quite happy with the products. While they may not be perfect, or the top of the line product, I think their price points are great, customers will be attracted to them, and frankly I think the build quality, fit and finish is all at least "good" if not better. Importantly, Fuji is a name folks recognize, which gives some confidence and brand recognition which helps with sales.
Personally, I've been in love with the products after some "rigorous product testing" . I'm 31 and in decent shape... not particularly active but I've always loved bicycling, and everything on two wheels. I've only ever bicycled recreationally and casually, usually owning older Motobecane road bikes as I have an affinity for the brand, like vintage styling, and the old road bikes just work for me. More avid and current bicycle enthusiasts may be used to the luxuries and amenities of a more modern bike, but form my perspective, I went from vintage tech to high tech overnight! These things have hydraulic disc brake front and rear (DAMN! brakes that work! Endos are easy! woulda never thunk it), easy twist-grip shifters or paddle-style shifters, all quick-adjust seats and handlebars, Shimano components, and, of course, a 250W hub motor in the rear!
The bikes are super capable and great for an urban environment. A good workout, despite some folks' concerns that the electric motor does all the work. Not quite the case, given the variable motor assist control, and that you can still pedal your heart out. For me, the electric assist acts as a motivator.... for every pump of the crank, I get 3 in return! That motivates me to push it even harder than I would on a vintage steel frame, knowing I sort of need to conserve my energy as I go... on these e-bikes, I can go balls to the walls all day and vary the assist level to accommodate my stamina.
Now enough about me and a little more about the bikes and what I am looking to learn. I ran a bit of a search, but to be honest I dont know exactly what I'm looking for.
I think the pedal assist feels great and is generally well programmed. That said, I am hopeful that there is a method by which I can interface with the controller to, perhaps, reparameterize some of the control features. For example... after about a half a revolution of pedaling, the motor kicks on. I think that's reasonable. However, even after I stop pedaling, the motor stays on for a second or two or three. At speed, this isn't bad... but during low speed maneuvering and jockeying, the extra time the motor stays on is a bit clutzy. It'd be cool if I could decrease the "stay on" time.
Otherwise, and I think you knew this one is coming... the machine is classified as a "Class 1" electric bicycle, in that it ceases to provide assistance at 20mph. Hear me out - I'm generally ok with that, and I don't need assistance after 20mph. However, it does feel like the bike not only does not provide assistance after 20mph, but also actually speed-limits me. By that I mean, if I pedal all the way up to 20mph, and I'm in top gear, and still have some muster left in me and the gears... no matter what... I just can't get past 20. Similarly, it takes the joy out of bombing a hill. I will accelerate downhill until I reach this max speed... then thats it... I'd be going faster on my vintage Motobecane on the same hill, as it is not speed restricted.
The e-bike uses Bafang hub motors (spec sheet attached) and associated controller. I am looking, if such thing exists, for a hardware/software configuration that would allow me to interface with the controller via PC, and ideally adjust some of the parameters associated with the controllers operation. This may be an easy, obvious, or overasked question... but after a little research I am hoping you folks can help me get my bearings and point me in the right direction. Thanks!
-Steve