Stealthy Cruiser EBike

[PedalUma]

A few mm up or down is fine. You need to press about 1/3rd more than where you will end up. The problem for me of the over-powered 'bikes' is the backlash on the rest of us. There is a gang of 16 year-old boys on unlawful bikes in my town. They are doing 30 on multi-use paths where there are families, dog walkers and moms with strollers and distracted tots. Most people put all electric bikes into one category. That is understandable. It is going to get shut down because of the over-powered throttle bikes. Those kids don't pedal. All it will take is one maimed dog.

 

[tomjasz]

LOL, yeah, I wasn't very clear. I have an old Schwinn cruiser maybe 55 years old, which has a rear hub spacing of 110mm. I was just curious if it was even possible to spread it out to 135mm, because it's steel... But no I wouldn't do something like that...

Mike...

Weird! I have a 1973 Schwinn here for a cheap stealthy build. It and everyone I've seen has the typical 135MM dropouts.

 

[PedalUma]

Weird! I have a 1973 Schwinn here for a cheap stealthy build. It and everyone I've seen has the typical 135MM dropouts.

Is the '73 a coaster brake?

 

[mikeschn]

That's weird. I went downstairs and took a couple photos. It's a single speed with coaster brakes.

Definitely 110mm.

I also checked the serial number... it was made in 1977.

Even if I were to convert this to an ebike, it has no brakes, unless I add some caliper brakes using the fender mounting holes... Definitely not safe.

Mike...

 

[PedalUma]

That's weird. I went downstairs and took a couple photos. It's a single speed with coaster brakes.

Definitely 110mm.

View attachment 122153
I also checked the serial number... it was made in 1977.

View attachment 122155
Even if I were to convert this to an ebike, it has no brakes, unless I add some caliper brakes using the fender mounting holes... Definitely not safe.

Mike...

I would convert it. I would install a 117 OLD SA with coaster brake and use a coaster brake motor. There is also a solution for the American BB.

 

[tomjasz]

Is the '73 a coaster brake?

No. Rim brakes.

 

[mikeschn]

I would convert it. I would install a 117 OLD SA with coaster brake and use a coaster brake motor. There is also a solution for the American BB.

@PedalUma

But what would you do for brake? Put caliper brakes in the fender holes?

Mike...

 

[PedalUma]

@PedalUma

But what would you do for brake? Put caliper brakes in the fender holes?

Mike...

You would use the coaster brake. Just like on that cruiser that I showed you. Earlier this year I made a bike for a woman without thumbs. She has an eight speed Nexus with a coaster brake, so she can slow down or stop using back pedal pressure. I flipped the thumb shifter so she can tap it with her palm. It is a torque senor bike so the throttle is actuated with forward pedal pressure.

 

[PedalUma]

The tube behind the BB that leads to the chain stays needs to be drilled for the secondary motor mount. I have done that on many bikes. Here was my first attempt.

 

[mikeschn]

The tube behind the BB that leads to the chain stays needs to be drilled for the secondary motor mount. I have done that on many bikes. Here was my first attempt.

@PedalUma

Definitely something to keep in mind when looking at potential candidates... The old Schwinn doesn't appear to have that issue.

 

[mikeschn]

@PedalUma

I've also got this, which would give me the option of adding front disc to anything with a 1" threaded steering tube.

 

[PedalUma]

@PedalUma

I've also got this, which would give me the option of adding front disc to anything with a 1" threaded steering tube.

View attachment 122168

Looks good but heavy. What about a Surly?

 

[EMGX]

Where do you plan on riding in SE MI?
I was thinking of riding the DALMAC but timing around Labor Day wasn't good and all of the 5 day west side route slots have been filled.

2022 — 2022 DALMAC - Dick Allen Lansing to MACkinaw Bicycle Tour —

2022 DALMAC - Dick Allen Lansing to MACkinaw Bicycle Tour 4301 Farm Lane, Lansing, MI, USA - RIDE, RIDE, RIDE!The 2022 DALMAC (Dick Allen Lansing to… - August 31, 2022

raceroster.com

 

[mikeschn]

Looks good but heavy. What about a Surly?

Yes, it's a bit heavy, but if it's an ebike, does it matter?

Surly is nice too, all steel. They don't have a cruiser frame, but they have everything else. And I think everything except the Cross Check has disc brakes... A bit more money though.

I suppose, one could always get the Retrospec Chatham 7-speed if a cruiser was desired, and use koolstop pads with ebike compound. Just eyeballing the Chatham, it looks like a 1" threaded tube on the fork, so I could swap in the double springer and have at least front disc.

Mike...

 

[mikeschn]

Where do you plan on riding in SE MI?
I was thinking of riding the DALMAC but timing around Labor Day wasn't good and all of the 5 day west side route slots have been filled.

2022 — 2022 DALMAC - Dick Allen Lansing to MACkinaw Bicycle Tour —

2022 DALMAC - Dick Allen Lansing to MACkinaw Bicycle Tour 4301 Farm Lane, Lansing, MI, USA - RIDE, RIDE, RIDE!The 2022 DALMAC (Dick Allen Lansing to… - August 31, 2022

raceroster.com

I will not be in town for Labor Day...

Mike...

 

[PedalUma]

On the Schwinn you could keep the chainguard. Chainguards are very rare on eBikes. Check the color of the secondary mounting plate.

 

[mikeschn]

On the Schwinn you could keep the chainguard. Chainguards are very rare on eBikes. Check the color of the secondary mounting plate.

Very nice. Black would have looked out of place. I wonder, could you have wrapped the bottle in some vinyl adhesive paper?

Do you ever build as low as 36V 250w on a middrive build with torque sensor?

I never thought abut the chain guard, but you're right... they are rare...

Mike...

 

[PedalUma]

Very nice. Black would have looked out of place. I wonder, could you have wrapped the bottle in some vinyl adhesive paper?

Do you ever build as low as 36V 250w on a middrive build with torque sensor?

I never thought abut the chain guard, but you're right... they are rare...

Mike...

I normally use 36V 350W. But a guy bought a 250 kit on Amazon, took one look at it and threw in the towel. He sold it to me for $250 and its just sitting here. I am not sure where it will land. I am in the land of the San Andres. That means big hills. We also have very high winds due to temp differentials between the sea where it is 49 degrees and Sacramento where it is 73. The wind is channeled by something called the Petaluma Gap. It will knock you over coming around a corner. Our airport says the gusts are 21.2Mph today. That is why I go for the 350 over the 250. Sometimes I will do a 750W. MI is not hilly like San Francisco, so 250 might be right for you.
One lady put Nike stickers from eBay on her battery. The second photo is from New Years day.

 

[PedalUma]

I finished the $120 bike. It just went out the door. It has a throttle and a torque sensor. One final detail not shown is he wanted a bell, so I included a Pride Bell from Public Bikes. I was given the original prototype for this design a few years ago. I only owned it for about one hour and gave it to a person who was feeling down on the train. It didn't cost me anything, but it made his day and as far as I know it is still one of his most prized possessions. The $120 bike owner is super happy. Again, I am not the customer. I wouldn't want to invest in a $120 bike or ride with a Pride Bell.

 

[Mike_V]

Resellers like Luna will someday be ass deep in the manure they spread. Skirting the law and common srnse will eventually bust their arse. I was Always bothered by the customers that bought BBSHD motors and installed the HD on crap bikes incapable of reasonable stopping distances. Maybe not in my lifetime, I’m nearly at the life expectancy for an American male, but more regulations are coming. There will be a Ralph Nader once cities have to scrap citizens off the pavement as the aftermath of high speed unregulated eBikes.

Nanny Flatlander spreading his stink as he internalizes the actions of others and dreams for the appearance of ghostly regulators.
Forever and a day: Anyone in the wide world may ride any one of a billion downhill roads and go extremely fast on any bicycle.