Hello from Russia

[Dmitri]

It's about time I wrote here, though I've posted in the forum a lot already.

My name's Dmitri, I'm from St.Petersburg (Russia), I have a number of different ebikes (Crescent, R&M, Haibike). I'm very much into tuning and generally rebuilding bikes to my liking. Russia isn't big on ebikes, and most of them are moped-style DIY bikes rather than road-legal pedelecs. This explains why I mainly ride with people on good old mechanical bikes.

One of my side hobbies is actually making bikes. So far we've built a few mechanical fatbikes (custom, premium-level stuff) but want to build our own ebikes using quality components (none of that mental Aliexpress nonsense). To that end, I'm slowly learning SolidWorks though I suspect that alone won't be enough.

 

[Oldbkr]

Welcome semi new guy

 

[Gator]

Welcome Friend

Keeps us updated on your ebike building efforts. I would love to see some designs.

 

[Kurt in CT]

Hello Dmitri,from USA! Great to have you in this forum. You remind me what a small world it is!

 

[JRA]

Welcome Dimitri, that's a beautiful build but where are your e bikes?

A person with your abilities should be able to make an excellent eBike. Are you thinking of using one of the big brands engines and making a proprietary style build with a built in battery or sourcing another engine/battery placement that is more adaptable to the inevitable advancements in technology that are in the near future? Particularly the switch to 20/21700 cells?

 

[Solom01]

Dimitri your English is flawless. Are you a native English speaker who lives in Russia, or did you learn English as a second language?

 

[Dmitri]

Welcome Dimitri, that's a beautiful build but where are your e bikes?

A person with your abilities should be able to make an excellent eBike. Are you thinking of using one of the big brands engines and making a proprietary style build with a built in battery or sourcing another engine/battery placement that is more adaptable to the inevitable advancements in technology that are in the near future? Particularly the switch to 20/21700 cells?

At the moment, the goal is to construct an ebike frame to work with the Bosch motor, particularly because Bosch actually works with small builders. That said, it's very difficult to build a frame without materials engineering knowledge. I'm slowly learning SolidWorks. This does imply using proprietary batteries: I wouldn't mind building 3rd-party batteries, but this only works with Yamaha drives, not Bosch ones.

Dimitri your English is flawless. Are you a native English speaker who lives in Russia, or did you learn English as a second language?

I lived in the UK and graduated from a British university.

 

[JRA]

At the moment, the goal is to construct an ebike frame to work with the Bosch motor, particularly because Bosch actually works with small builders. That said, it's very difficult to build a frame without materials engineering knowledge. I'm slowly learning SolidWorks. This does imply using proprietary batteries: I wouldn't mind building 3rd-party batteries, but this only works with Yamaha drives, not Bosch ones.

While I have never been a big fan of the BB series Bafang motors they are not just a kit motor company and the new M600 looks like the real deal and is the one I am most interested in. Torque assist, conventional Q factor of 177mm, splined bb spindle, 3.4kilos, similar to the Shimano in that it allows for the ability to have short chain stays, integrated battery system that will take different wh batteries of which 370wh and 600wh versions are available with a 1000wh one in the works and an app that seems to provide all the info one would need. Oh, and they can easily be run at 48v and as advertised have 120nm of torque.

 

[Dmitri]

While I have never been a big fan of the BB series Bafang...

To me, the smaller Q factor is a disadvantage. If I build my own ebike, it will be for 4"-5" wheels. I see no reason to have smaller wheels. In my opinion, an ebike should be universal: dual-sus, fatbike, integrated fenders, the works. Sadly, building an electric fatbike is hard: for example, Bosch recommends offsetting the motor on the frame (!) and using cranks with different Q-factors, something I'm not to keen on. This should explain why there are few Bosch-driven fatbikes (there's BULLS, but I don't know of any other; I have a Haibike).

My idea is to build a 'proper' cargo fatbike which would be the electric equivalent to the wonderful Salsa Blackborow:

 

[JRA]

I agree that Q factor becomes the X factor if you are starting out with a 120mm bb. Bosch may or may not see their way to build a wider motor in the future but quite frankly that sector of the market, at least in most parts of the developed world, is too small for them to invest in it. I have installed plenty of 120mm BBSHD's on 5" tire bikes, the 4" bikes take the 100mm version, and they do the job. At least it provides for a symmetrical pedal stance wide as it may be. But bottom line is that they are very dependable and are more adaptable to non proprietary batteries. The only real drawback is the cadence sensing PAS which compared to torque sensing is second tier as far as human/motor interface goes. They also are able to configure to far exceed the wattage of the Bosch system which is either a good or bad thing depending on your needs I suppose.

I have to admit that a placement of one to get you going similar to the Lenz eBike as shown, while overall is quite ugly, looks like it would lend itself well to a design like the bike in your picture?



An issue with kit motors installed conventionally is that they hang down below the chainring and Devin's design has made the adjustment necessary to get it out of the way and allow for the shortest possible chain stays.

I am sure you can make something that will please you though no matter what system you use as you obviously are putting some thought into it. Have fun with your project!

 

[mogleygull]

Howdy! I've heard many great things of your city! I'd really like to come one day and take some of your e-bikes to go (they say, in Russia bikes are quite popular)! Ah, and I'm really interested in sightseeing. I've recently read the story about Church of the savior on spilled blood https://petersburg.expert/blog/church-of-the-savior-on-spilled-blood-history-photos-tickets/ and consider it the most beautiful manmade landmark.

 

[Dmitri]

Howdy! I've heard many great things of your city! I'd really like to come one day and take some of your e-bikes to go (they say, in Russia bikes are quite popular)! Ah, and I'm really interested in sightseeing. I've recently read the story about Church of the savior on spilled blood https://petersburg.expert/blog/church-of-the-savior-on-spilled-blood-history-photos-tickets/ and consider it the most beautiful manmade landmark.

It's a nice church. It gets very crowded oftentimes because it's one of the principal landmarks. The palaces and parks outside the city are also very pretty. Culturally, there's lots to see here.