Sonders Experience and modding

one4torque

one4torque

Active Member
I've had my sonders ebike for over 1 month now, and have logged about 275 miles to-date.
I try to ride 20miles/day, more on weekends.

Mods to date:
1. Added a frog-style seatpost 2nd battery to double my range. It's a 36v/12ah from China. I added a DTDP switch 15amp, so I can switch between the two on the fly. I chose not to run them in parrallel, not knowing the qualify of the chinese frog-battery. I'm 205lbs, riding @ 17.5mph avg, I can get 17 miles out of one battery with alot of p-assist. I generally ride 10 miles out, switch batteries, and ride 10 miles home with plenty of charge left.

2. Added some fenders. I bought some 29er plastic fenders for mtn bike tires, cut them in halt, and added an al strip in the middle to make them fit over the 4.9" tires. They help alot with puddles, etc..

3. Bike Tech - when you rec'v your sonders bike be sure to go over all the bolts.... axles where too tight causing friction, chain was too tight causing friction, all tweaked and lubed up she runs great.

4. GIzmo's.... gps, head-light on bars and helmet, tail light, drink holder for the latte's.

5. Back-pack: spare inner tube, patch kit, 18mm/15mm wrenches, mini-pump, lock, cell phone, etc..
I had a flat 1 mile out....... this bike is a tank to roll on a flat.

I will eventually upgrade to either a higher voltage rear wheel motor, and possibly a front wheel motor.... but we'll see.

I've got the bug now..... I'm turning the wife's old trek single track 920 into a hub drive.... with a lightening rods sm block kit. Should climb very well, and run out at 40+ but we'll see when it's all done..... the hub kit is being built now.

Cheers,
Jeff

BTW - I deleted my thread below with my full name, as I was getting spammed already. so new acct... handle is one4torque.
 
I ordered and paid for the sonders kt-lcd-3 display controller per the 1st email that came out. I contacted sonders through paypal to be sure it's really on -order, and they replied units will ship mid sept.
I've researched alt similar sources for this controller..... there is on for $30 USD which comes with a different connector, and another one that claims to sell the sonders plug-n-play unit. Just was not comfortable giving my cc info to an int'l unknown website at this stage. They did not take paypal.

I'll report out as soon as I get the kt lcd-3. I max out @ 20-21mph with pedal assist..... hoping to change my hub gear for more teeth, and re-program the controller so I can cruise with pedal assist @ 25..... more to come. Cheers.
 
Another update on this bike capability..... I see alot of threads/posts/vids etc.. complaining this bike will not climb xx grade, or go through deep sand, etc...... You are probably better off with a motor-cycle or a high-tq unit like lightening rods sm/block or big/block if you want a motor-cycle experience.

The sonders is an ebike.... pedal assist experience.... meaning you will get best results if you pedal ;)
The motor is in it's sweet spot above 10mph with pedal assist....... I'm 205lbs, and I carry another 15 lbs of gear/extra battery and this bike will allow me to climb hills, ditches, curbs, single track mtn bike trails, the motor provides a nice boost for climbing.

Do not expect this bike to drive you up a steep grade.
 
I'll be making a version 2 of the fenders using a wider strip of al so as to get more coverage of the huge ballon tires.

I've got some 3m reflective tape in blue color coming..... so I can swap out that ugly red trim strips in the wheels.... not sure what that was supposed to match :) Plus the reflective will give some add'l vis for the night rides.
 
Like your creativity and the reality check on what this bike can do, one4torque! :)
 
Looks good one4. Torque

I would stay away from the controller shunt mod. That frog battery won't handle it.
 
Ann - thx for the support.
Flyma - sm-block build pics coming soon.
Hurley - thx for the support.
PowerM - "knarly.... totally knarly"
Llcj - I presume I'll be pulling more amps as I raise the speed limit?......... so only do this with the stock bottle battery? with samsung cells? What will happen to the frag batt? heat, fail, or worse? Fire?
Cheers,
 
Here is the "before" pics of the TREK 920 Single Track LR Small-Block Build.
This bike was a garage queen of my wifes from 23 years ago.
The tires/tubes were dry-rotted.

Gathered so far:
Luna Cycles - 25r li ion battery
Luna Cycles - battery pouch
Lightening Rods SM-Block Kit - On order as we speak.

(Link Removed - No Longer Exists)
 
one4torque said:
Gathered so far:
Luna Cycles - 25r li ion battery
Luna Cycles - battery pouch
Click to expand...

O4T -- I would really like to know how that Luna Cycles battery works out. I would have bought one but already had a LiFePo battery in transit when they opened. Their prices are great, and if eveything works out that could bring a lot of people into the whole modding and experimenting part of ebikes.

Overall, looks like a great project. Thanks for all the updates!
 
George - I've spent some time with rc stuff, and I'm amazed at how the tech transfers over fairly easily. I'm an old school petrol-head, but my eyes are opened to the idea that this is the future. The rate of change of improvement of this tech year over year is astonishing. Perhaps similar to the gas auto development in the early days?

The real draw for me is the stealth factor..... lack of noise/smoke..... and the ability to apply this type of power in and around my neighborhood....... it opens up a whole new world.

I'm not sure how deep I'll get into the tech...... as I'm liking the exercise/riding part the most...... so I'll probably be a sophisticated retail rider/builder :)

..... I will admit I have my eye on a stealth bomber........... the thought of blazing down single tracks @ 40+, and getting there/back with no truck puts a smile on my face.
I put my order in last night for a nice white bomber. Should be here by x-mass via ship.. on the sea. ;)
 
O4T -- Our Stealth Bomber person, @Biknut has been doing a lot of stuff with the Facebook pages on the Storm. We're not supposed to disclose identities, so I won't way. Here's his bike.
 

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@one4torque Installing a Lightning Rods SM-Block Kit on that bike? Might want to upgrade the brakes... You're installing a 2 bhp motor rig, minimum, and those old rim brakes may not stop as quickly as you want. Electric Rider used to sell Bull Rim brakes but I think they phased them out.

May also want get the rear wheel spokes upgraded to 12ga and a double wall rim, like Alexis, and a HD Freewheel.. Don't worry about the number of gears you won't need many!

NM if you already know all this.

IMO after you spend all this money on the kit, you're going to wish you had a newer bike with a front suspension and disc brakes. OR just get a 750w kit and that bike should be fine.
 
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JP - THANKS for the tech input on that build! Super helpful. I just got back from an 8 miles ride on the HOST Trek 920 single track.... sans-motor.... and it is a slug to drive around...... it just takes so much energy to follow my wife on her trek gary fischer superfly cf full susp mtn bike! I can't wait to get a motor on this thing. I'm building this up for her..... so hopefully I can dial back the watts for her, and dial them up for me when I want to do some single track.

I did another 20 mile ride on the sonders with my dual battery setup. It is just such a treat to ride @ 20mph....... I'm addicted to riding this damn thing. It's particulary fun at night or early AM... light on helmet, light on bars, bluetooth radio on the bars, and railing through the trails near a river.... you get to see all sorts of wifelife.... this AM.... saw big wild pigs..... I mean BIG... size of a small cow, racoons, deer, and best sight was a big white owl... just sitting next to the trail staring at me........ super coojl.
 
one4torque said:
JP - THANKS for the tech input on that build! Super helpful. I just got back from an 8 miles ride on the HOST Trek 920 single track.... sans-motor.... and it is a slug to drive around...... it just takes so much energy to follow my wife on her trek gary fischer superfly cf full susp mtn bike! I can't wait to get a motor on this thing. I'm building this up for her..... so hopefully I can dial back the watts for her, and dial them up for me when I want to do some single track.

I did another 20 mile ride on the sonders with my dual battery setup. It is just such a treat to ride @ 20mph....... I'm addicted to riding this damn thing. It's particulary fun at night or early AM... light on helmet, light on bars, bluetooth radio on the bars, and railing through the trails near a river.... you get to see all sorts of wifelife.... this AM.... saw big wild pigs..... I mean BIG... size of a small cow, racoons, deer, and best sight was a big white owl... just sitting next to the trail staring at me........ super coojl.
Click to expand...

Sondors to stealth bomber.
That's a quantum leap !
Have fun watching wifelife :)
 
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