Weight improvement limitations

[murbot]

About how much weight could be removed from the Mini 4?
Rounding up, we can say...
Battery is about 8lbs
Motor maybe 15lbs
Wheels/tires about 3.5lbs each for a total of 7
If the M4 total is about 68lbs, then the bike minus battery, motor and fat tires it's about 38lbs. Which is still heavy compared with even a cheaper regular bike frame.

Why? Cheaper metal? More sturdy metal to handle the e'ness of the eBike?

What I'm getting at, is how much weight could they possibly remove when they design the Mini 5?

 

[mrgold35]

I don't think there are very many e-bikes, e-motorcycles, hybrid gas/electric cars, or battery electric vehicle that doesn't come in at the same weight or lighter than the pedal power or fuel burning equivalent? I figure a pedal bike should have weight limit of X max lbs moving Y speed (probably around 8-12 mph avg). I'm thinking an ebike would need to have 2X-4X the frame strength because the ebike is moving X max lbs at 15-20 mph on the same terrain.

 

[PedalUma]

About how much weight could be removed from the Mini 4?
Rounding up, we can say...
Battery is about 8lbs
Motor maybe 15lbs
Wheels/tires about 3.5lbs each for a total of 7
If the M4 total is about 68lbs, then the bike minus battery, motor and fat tires it's about 38lbs. Which is still heavy compared with even a cheaper regular bike frame.

Why? Cheaper metal? More sturdy metal to handle the e'ness of the eBike?

What I'm getting at, is how much weight could they possibly remove when they design the Mini 5?

I make bikes all the time that come in at about 40 pounds. Sometimes they can be as little as 35. These bikes hold their own, out running and out lasting expensive bikes from stores. So, about 28 pounds could easily be removed. Put the weight in the middle and it does not negatively impact handling. Here is one that I made electric today by installing the motor between the pedals. The battery is low and centered. I remove all ugly connectors and wires.

 

[murbot]

Thanks. The Mini 4 will be on its way soon. Tested and returned an RR6 because it was just too much bike and the more I think about it, I felt like I was on display because of the seating position and size. It was a surprisingly good experience dealing with Rad on the return.
I'll use the M4 as a teaching mechanism and upgrade components on it before getting or maybe building something more specific to me in a few years. Eager to have something new to tinker with.