Need help with low end torque!

[rhb]

So I bought a new Aventon Aventure and really like it. But there is a problem. It goes too fast. I need a bike that will "climb a tree"! I want a crawler. I think this rear hun bike will go without a chain so obviously gears don't change a thing if I don't pedal. which I don't want to in many situations.
I often need to drag my feet for obstacles and balance in rough backcountry environments. I don't need all the speed of this bike (which is crazy fast) I want more pulling power...think weight in cart up hill!

So my questions are this...
1-can this aventon be modified?
2-should I sell it and start over with another brand?
3-should I build one?

I don't want to spend a fortune. I need to stay under 3 gran.

Suggestions?

 

[PedalUma]

If you build you can have exactly what you want. And with lower maintenance costs. Let's say you start with an $800 new bike and the mid-drive motor and battery together are another $800. You would still have $1400 for installing climbing gears or what ever else you want. Builds can look nicer than store bikes.

 

[rhb]

So how do I build one?
What base fat tire bike do I start with?
Bafang 1000 watt crank motor?
Battery?
How do I find out?
Are there any people who do this?

 

[PedalUma]

So how do I build one?
What base fat tire bike do I start with?
Bafang 1000 watt crank motor?
Battery?
How do I find out?
Are there any people who do this?

Ask @tomjasz and @M@Roberson. 750W is legal. And can prevent over stress. Torque sensor systems have much more feel than Cadence only. I happen to do this locally only, daily. Mid-drives kick A5S. Here is a recent build with a cargo, twin clutch motor on a comfort comuter bike. It is getting a rack, paniers, and relaxed HB this week. The battery fits in the 'water bottle' cage. Non-proprietary! That is what eBikes look like. Not much. The starter bike was a Giant Vida. Fat has big downsides. Don't go there.

 

[tomjasz]

Jeebus. Aventon too fast? Sell it.

 

[gromike]

Look for a ten year-old, give or take, full suspension mountain bike that has been sitting in somebody's garage. Probably been there for almost all of its ten years!
Put a Bafang BBSHD on it, a twist throttle, and a 52v battery, gear it to your desire. You will have the power to do what you want to do.
Although you should probably take the entire bike apart and put it back together again, right and tight. You're going to take apart the bottom bracket anyway, so wtf. I'd say 40 hours of work if you have the mechanical skills.
You know, I just put a BBSO2 on my Trek 7.2 in a week. That's researching on the interweb, buying the parts online, and waiting for shipping. All I did was replace the chain and do a tune-up. It was so easy, though I do have an American Beauty soldering iron for big fat wires.
You can build a monster for two thousand bucks! To make it look as nice as one of PedalUma's bikes, well, that's your problem. All them wires is a b*tch.

 

[rhb]

Rome...thanks.

 

[rhb]

one more question...
is it possible to take a stock (factory) crank motor (mid motor) ebike and change sprockets so you have a LARGE crank sprocket and a SMALL rear sprocket (like for a trials motorcycle) so there is more low end torque???

 

[kevinmccune]

If you build you can have exactly what you want. And with lower maintenance costs. Let's say you start with an $800 new bike and the mid-drive motor and battery together are another $800. You would still have $1400 for installing climbing gears or what ever else you want. Builds can look nicer than store bikes.

PedalUma strikes again and He is right! OTH I tried out a 36 volt 350 watt middrive trike and that thing pulled like a draft horse.

 

[kevinmccune]

one more question...
is it possible to take a stock (factory) crank motor (mid motor) ebike and change sprockets so you have a LARGE crank sprocket and a SMALL rear sprocket (like for a trials motorcycle) so there is more low end torque???

You have it backwards( Think the distance ratio of the gears or cogs)

 

[Nvreloader]

Is there a site where a person can learn about changing the crank/cassette gears/ratios?

 

[PedalUma]

Here you go. Just plug in and hit calculate. Low gear means spinning a small chainring to a large = slow cog. https://www.sheldonbrown.com/gear-calc.html

 

[PedalUma]

PedalUma strikes again and He is right! OTH I tried out a 36 volt 350 watt middrive trike and that thing pulled like a draft horse.

Is there a site where a person can learn about changing the crank/cassette gears/ratios?

Thanks Kevin! I purchased this bike late last week for $449 new. Now it is a 36V 350W with 85Nm of torque. Was 7-sp, now 9.

 

[AHicks]

So I bought a new Aventon Aventure and really like it. But there is a problem. It goes too fast. I need a bike that will "climb a tree"! I want a crawler. I think this rear hun bike will go without a chain so obviously gears don't change a thing if I don't pedal. which I don't want to in many situations.
I often need to drag my feet for obstacles and balance in rough backcountry environments. I don't need all the speed of this bike (which is crazy fast) I want more pulling power...think weight in cart up hill!

So my questions are this...
1-can this aventon be modified?
2-should I sell it and start over with another brand?
3-should I build one?

I don't want to spend a fortune. I need to stay under 3 gran.

Suggestions?

Your issue lies in the motor controller. Have you looked at the owner's manually carefully to see if your PAS 1 speed can be changed? If you have the option to have 5 PAS levels or 9 PAS levels, the 9 PAS level may allow for a lower PAS 1 speed.

There's also a series of aftermarket controllers by KT. This conversion replaces your existing controller with one that IS adjustable, but it's not for the faint of heart. There's no directions, and there is no "drop in" kit available. You'll be required to use some resourcefulness to get through it. Depending on your DIY abilities, this kit would do what you are asking about....

 

[Nvreloader]

PedalUma​

Thank you for that information, just what I was looking for,
have lots of reading to do now, and see if a 50T chain ring will make the difference.
TIA,
Don

 

[m@Robertson]

I need a bike that will "climb a tree"! I want a crawler. I think this rear hun bike will go without a chain so obviously gears don't change a thing if I don't pedal.

I don't want to spend a fortune. I need to stay under 3 gran.

Suggestions?

As you have already noticed, with a hub motor, the motor doesn't use the gears and yes, you can flat out remove the chain if you like. If you want a motor for stump-pulling, its a mid drive. Hubs are great for other jobs but not that one.

So how do I build one?
What base fat tire bike do I start with?
Bafang 1000 watt crank motor?
Battery?
How do I find out?

I did sort of write something up that might be in this wheelhouse Also lots of other stuff related to the subject. The site's mission statement is "DIY does not have to be half-assed."

How To Build An Ebike From Scratch

You want to build an ebike, but the project seems overwhelming. Lets de-mystify the entire process, including planning, parts and perfecting the end result.

talesontwowheels.com

The subject bike in that series uses a frame I found on Ebay for $200. I spent well over that, but a really good starter would be a Mongoose Dolomite bike, do the same motor install and then upgrade individual parts as your budget allows. You should be well under 3 grand even with those upgrades.

 

[kevinmccune]

Thanks Kevin! I purchased this bike late last week for $449 new. Now it is a 36V 350W with 85Nm of torque. Was 7-sp, now 9.

good enough, seen a 9 spd freewheel( I think) in a little outdoor store, much trouble to adapt?.This little shop had a lot of nice trek bikes and 2 ebikes ,the ratio spread on this assembly was something like 11-25, I suppose would work good with a 30-something crankset. This close ratios remind me of the newer truck engines that do not necessarily have high torque rise I hope People garner an understanding of appropiate gearing for conditions,
Got an almost new "Cadillac" step thru for $70 doesnt look its ever been ridden, hope to do the conversion on it.

 

[PedalUma]

good enough, seen a 9 spd freewheel( I think) in a little outdoor store, much trouble to adapt?.This little shop had a lot of nice trek bikes and 2 ebikes ,the ratio spread on this assembly was something like 11-25, I suppose would work good with a 30-something crankset. This close ratios remind me of the newer truck engines that do not necessarily have high torque rise I hope People garner an understanding of appropiate gearing for conditions,
Got an almost new "Cadillac" step thru for $70 doesnt look its ever been ridden, hope to do the conversion on it.

I have seen those bikes. A generic cluster of gears in the 11-34, 36 range is something like $35 on Amazon. A generic long cage derailleur is $32ish. Stick with a 36 ring or even 42 to get a 10mm offset so you can hit first gear without dropping the chain. Otherwise it will be cross chained and won't climb.

 

[kevinmccune]

Well I will admit I am kind of a "grinder", rather than up the assist or even drop a gear I will usually just zone out, till I hit the top, that is a reflection on my old single speed days were I would sit down a pedal past the Guys pushing their bikes OTH I noticed the bike was a lot easier to get up the grade 2 gears down. Actually its one reason I do not think the older acoustic bike riders will have to worry about the torque as much, most of them will feel like they have wings with a 350 watt hubdrive. One trick to make do with less power is just do not try to pull the grade as fast, the slower you go the less power it takes. Getting on a bike with a higher gear ratio was the only way I could outrun the other bikers.
Now a compliment for the "Roadies", these People have power and pull both, my hats off to them, I was watching a youtube video about a Guy on a nice ebike riding the bike trails at a pretty good clip, a young Woman went by Him on an acoustic bike like He was sitting still, She sez in a clear normal tone( not with the slightest sign of being winded""you are cheating" His reply" Am not!" to Her rapidly retreating backside

 

[fooferdoggie]

Well I will admit I am kind of a "grinder", rather than up the assist or even drop a gear I will usually just zone out, till I hit the top, that is a reflection on my old single speed days were I would sit down a pedal past the Guys pushing their bikes OTH I noticed the bike was a lot easier to get up the grade 2 gears down. Actually its one reason I do not think the older acoustic bike riders will have to worry about the torque as much, most of them will feel like they have wings with a 350 watt hubdrive. One trick to make do with less power is just do not try to pull the grade as fast, the slower you go the less power it takes. Getting on a bike with a higher gear ratio was the only way I could outrun the other bikers.
Now a compliment for the "Roadies", these People have power and pull both, my hats off to them, I was watching a youtube video about a Guy on a nice ebike riding the bike trails at a pretty good clip, a young Woman went by Him on an acoustic bike like He was sitting still, She sez in a clear normal tone( not with the slightest sign of being winded""you are cheating" His reply" Am not!" to Her rapidly retreating backside

the problem is that most e bikes are not geared low enough to go slow up a hill. if your only doing 3o or 40 rpms its far harder to make it up that hill then if your spinning at 80 rpms. so on a e bike you need to go faster to keep your cadence up. grinding is hard on the knees.