On Wed, 28 May 2008 10:21:32 -0700 (PDT),
" wrote:

On May 28, 5:58Â*pm, johns wrote:
Before I start building my ebike, I'm reading everything I can find
on what is available. So far, I'm learning more about what not to
get ..

1. Front wheel hub motors can generate enough torque
Â* Â* to break the front forks. So that company only
Â* Â* recommends rear-wheel hub motors.
2. Most hub motors .. no matter what their "power
Â* Â* rating" don't have enough torque to pull more than
Â* Â* a 4% grade.
3. Only gear motors ... even low power ones .. can
Â* Â* generate enough torque to pull an 8% grade.
4. ( another group ) .. Gear motors weigh about 35
Â* Â* to 40 pounds. WHAT ???????????
5. Regenerative braking is a joke. To recharge a
Â* Â* battery using RB, you would have to coast downhill
Â* Â* for 20 hours. Ordinarily, RB can return about 3% of
Â* Â* your charge.
6. Hub motors are unsprung weight. They cause a
Â* Â* very uncomfortable ride. The emotor should go up
Â* Â* between the pedals, and drive the chain.
7. Battery ratings are for flat terrain at about 10 mph.
Â* Â* In real life, they get about half their rated milage per
Â* Â* charge.
8. The average finished ebike will weigh more than 60
Â* Â* pounds.
9. Some of the ebike "kits" require machining of your
Â* Â* bikes parts in order to fit. They also require calibration
Â* Â* of the hub motor sensors in order to get the motor to
Â* Â* rotate in the proper direction. These operations can
Â* Â* void your kit warranty.
10. An ebike can save you $20,000.00 over 3 years,
Â* Â* Â*so it is worth the $14,000.00 they are asking for it.

Sounds to me like the ebike has a ways to go.

johns

No wonder I've never seen one.

Joseph


I've got one factory built unit and am building a "homebrew". It will
have 7 speeds and front wheel drive, with 18 or 21 speeds on the rear
"pedal power unit" The geared motor I am using IS a bit heavy - and
the front fork is VERY beefy. NO suspension.

The ebike is here.
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