2x2 E-bikes....


Big ian said:
It would be very hard to capitalize on traction, the front end has enough to do with steering and braking.
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The only thing that came to my mind regarding traction was initially getting moving when dragging something. Then 2WD might come in handy.

My home built E-Bike. I've got a thread on the build here somewhere.

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Ebikes are a fun option for now, would definitely go DIY Bafang 750-1000W on a mid price Fat tire bike. The pre-built E-bikes are mental at the cost of used cars.
I had a plan to build a 1000w with trailer and spare battery for offroad adventures, one of the HAM guys I follow on youtube does it and loves his, but just waiting on funds right now hahah. Too many projects.
Had a gas engine bike back in college and it ran ok, but it was extremely loud.
 
Morrow7x said:
I'm most interested to see how they stand up to the disuse/neglect most regular bikes receive once the new wears off. (But still not terribly interested...)

What will it take to rehab one that's been sitting under a patio deck or in the corner of the garage, covered in grime and sawdust for $everal years?

Will there be enough dealers willing to attempt repair on any and all makes/models with their proprietary electronic and drivetrain parts? Or is an Amazon, discount, or sporting goods store ebike going to be, for all practical purposes, just disposable...?
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I think we need to be clear, ebikes are part of the moped community, not the cycling community.

I don't have any problem with people using them, I'm perfectly happy that they give people access to places they might not otherwise have access to but these are not bicycles. They're electric dirtbikes, pedal assist or not.
 
Son had a home-built one that he used during college. After his first year in the dorms he did the math and found it was cheaper to buy a city lot nearby that had a large shed (16'x20') on it than it was to stay in the dorms for the next 4 years. Part of that plan was converting his mtn bike to an e-bike. Started with his existing mtn bike and added the battery pack and motor. Used it to get back and forth around campus. He remodeled the inside to be livable, added a large array of solar panels to the roof, and basically turned it into a stealth tiny house. The solar system was built around having mulitple batteries that could be used for the bike or the house. He had multiple battery packs for the bike that he could swap out when needing charged. The remaining battery packs were wired into the house/solar to be used for lights and his computer and other misc items while also being charged. After graduation, he sold the lot/house for about double what he paid for it. Much better ROI than a dorm room, eh?
 
Big ian said:
If it doesn't fit those categories, it's a motorcycle.

Around here, only what is listed as Class 1 above is considered a bicycle, and therefore allowed on the bike/multi-use trail network. Class 2, 3 and anything else is a motorcycle, prohibited on bike trails and subject to any laws governing motorcycle use on the lands/infrastructure they are riding on. Not allowed on hwys unless registered and insured, but allowed on FSRs (with the appropriate liability insurance), private lands and public/crown land (except where specifically prohibited by the powers-that-be). Public education on this has been an uphill battle, because most people think that if it looks like a bike instead of a motorcycle, it IS a bike.
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Correct, this is not a bicycle. I chose to use the word bicycle as many people call their motorcycles “bikes”.

I am not opposed to this new technology and the widespread acceptance of ebikes, but how and where people use them can be an issue. I do find it funny when I see many of the riders of these bikes never pedaling. They will have a rude awakening when the battery runs out one day (use it on a cold day and the battery doesn’t last as long as you expected) or there is a malfunction and they actually need to pedal home. Who am I kidding, they will just call someone to pick them and the bike up. LOL
 
AKAK said:
I think we need to be clear, ebikes are part of the moped community, not the cycling community.

I don't have any problem with people using them, I'm perfectly happy that they give people access to places they might not otherwise have access to but these are not bicycles. They're electric dirtbikes, pedal assist or not.
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I think much depends on where you like and the resident demographic. Here, ebikes are most definitely primarily considered bicycles, even when powerful enough to be by definition motorcycles. Because they span two de facto user groups, they tend to blur the line between them, and invariably (because people are people) you'll get some guy who thinks it's completely OK to do 25mph on a multi-user paved trail network full of sightseers, joggers, kids riding to/from school, dogwalkers, etc. Often, said user does not have a lot of cycling experience prior to boosting along at such a clip, and we've seen an increasing number of 'accidents'. It's really hard to convince this guy that what he's on is not really a bicycle anymore, especially when it looks like and is marketed like this.....

Specialized-Levo-Comp-Carbon-Blue-7838-1400x934-401850570.jpg

I've gotten my DIY build up to ~40mph (on a straight road) and it's scary as s#!t, way different than a proper motorcycle at twice that speed. On a motorcycle, you are the minority mass incorporated into a ~400lb machine designed to accelerate, stop and turn at speed. On a bike (in my case), I'M a 200+lb mass perched high on a ~60lb on a twitchy, tall, underbraked narrow wheelbase with a small traction pad. If the bike turns/stops suddenly, I'm likely to keep going as per Mr. Newton.
 
Big ian said:
I think much depends on where you like and the resident demographic. Here, ebikes are most definitely primarily considered bicycles, even when powerful enough to be by definition motorcycles. Because they span two de facto user groups, they tend to blur the line between them, and invariably (because people are people) you'll get some guy who thinks it's completely OK to do 25mph on a multi-user paved trail network full of sightseers, joggers, kids riding to/from school, dogwalkers, etc.
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Yes, and we need to understand that these aren't bicycles should not be considered as such. Our paths here all say quite clearly, no motorized vehicles, and honestly I don't really care if they're there, but if they are (and I'm including the motorized scooters and skateboarders and all that stuff too) they need to be fully liable for any accident they're involved in.

The problem of course is, no one wants to say, "hey, you need a license plate to be on the street either"** -- but no one ever thought that about a Tesla. But until there's a limiting principle on speed/size/power unfortunately I think its going to be a problem that gets more and more dangerous.

** and the reason they don't want to say this is that they believe these are zero emission vehicles and want to encourage their use, and there's certainly something to that, but grown men on bikes like the first one in the thread running 30 on bike paths ain't it. (and I see it)
 
Morrow7x said:
That's the weirdest thing to me about the ebike market. Folks that would never, ever, have dropped even seven or eight hundred bucks on a decent bicycle will now spend thousands and thousands on an ebike. Something about it has captured their imaginations and created a perceived value. :33:

Now, similar to the vehicle in the OP, when Honda introduces an electric version of the Trail 125, I could be interested. Just as something to run to the store, or goof around on country roads... ;)
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It goes to show that it isn't the cost that deters them from buying a decent bike for seven or eight hundred bucks.

The problem is, that they have to pedal it.
 
AKAK said:
Yes, and we need to understand that these aren't bicycles should not be considered as such. Our paths here all say quite clearly, no motorized vehicles, and honestly I don't really care if they're there, but if they are (and I'm including the motorized scooters and skateboarders and all that stuff too) they need to be fully liable for any accident they're involved in.

The problem of course is, no one wants to say, "hey, you need a license plate to be on the street either"** -- but no one ever thought that about a Tesla. But until there's a limiting principle on speed/size/power unfortunately I think its going to be a problem that gets more and more dangerous.

** and the reason they don't want to say this is that they believe these are zero emission vehicles and want to encourage their use, and there's certainly something to that, but grown men on bikes like the first one in the thread running 30 on bike paths ain't it. (and I see it)
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100% agree. Doesn't matter the vehicle or discipline, hooligans will infiltrate, and with the industry being in it's infancy, it's difficult to regulate on any particular metric (wattage vs top speed, etc). The guy doing 30 on an ebike weaving through other users could just as easily be a guy on a pedal bike going down hill at 30 doing the same thing, or on a onewheel, or a segway, etc.
 
Big ian said:
100% agree. Doesn't matter the vehicle or discipline, hooligans will infiltrate, and with the industry being in it's infancy, it's difficult to regulate on any particular metric (wattage vs top speed, etc). The guy doing 30 on an ebike weaving through other users could just as easily be a guy on a pedal bike going down hill at 30 doing the same thing, or on a onewheel, or a segway, etc.
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I mean, I've gone over 50 on a 17 lb piece of carbon, I'm all for stupid. But it was out in the middle of nowhere with other idiots doing the same thing. We live in a society!
 

Electric Vehicle as an Off Grid Prep

I suggest that everybody rides an ebike. It is an eyeopener. It really eliminates hills better than a Caterpillar D9. You ride as if you own the road. Silent, sneaky, fast, swift. Best scout vehicle on Earth. The sneakiness is real.
bushcraftusa.com


Electric Bikes

I have about 6 bikes but I am thinking about adding an e-bike to my stable. Looking for an all around e-bike, little bit of on road and little bit of off road but not too rough off road...anybody got one they recommend?
bushcraftusa.com

Ebike awesomeness, who has one?

i'm old enough to remember when cyclists and couch potatoes didn't have to co-exist. Yeah, lazy people should quit driving to work and jog instead too:confused: And gas powered log splitters…don’t even get me started
bushcraftusa.com
 
Burlap said:
They list the price on their ebikes at 6 & 7 grand. Power packs (batherries) run 2.5 & 1.5 grand. 75 mile range.

No thanks! I could think of a lot of other things to buy with that amount of money.
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With your background as a machinist and metal fabricator / welder you could probably make one cheaper and better than they offer.
 
Around here you take the price of the bike (motorcycle) and add 1500-2000 to it for shipping and setup. Well above the price of an E bike unless you are buying one from a known manufacturer like Trek or someone who has higher priced bikes to begin with.

I'm guessing, but I think I have 4000 in my E bike and that's only because I splurged on the donor bike and bought American built.
 
One can pick up a quality ebike for around 3-4k. Still expensive but bicycles are expensive anymore. Build you own using components from Luna cycles for around 1.5k

My mom has a dual suspension Trek Ebike. I occasionally take it out for a ride and honestly can say it is one of most enjoyable bikes I have ridden. It is Class 1 so no throttle, only pedal assist, and the motor kicks out at 20 mph. We have a lot of illegal moto riders that have destroyed the local FS trails but on Ebike they are a hoot to ride.
 
buckfynn said:
With your background as a machinist and metal fabricator / welder you could probably make one cheaper and better than they offer.
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I could easily build one from scratch or modify an existing bike. But I have no interest in ebikes. I'll stick with my human powered bike. Plus I need the exercise.
 
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