This project has taken many twists and turns as my original base for an e-bike build has changed no less than four times. As I gained more information or ran into issues with parts fitting this project ran into road block after road block. I’m sure more issues will arise but I see some light at the end of the tunnel with this project.

In the past two months I’ve lucked out and managed to source the final two parts I needed. A new, larger 4130 chromo bike frame that will be able to handle my eventual twin battery design. I also finally decided on a battery. The end goal is to build my own battery but I need a working prototype before I can focus too closely on the battery. I’m not saying the battery isn’t important it definitely is but I got too hung up on getting the best one available and it stalled the project badly.

I am really wishing I had bitten the bullet and bought one of the batteries I was considering last year. Now I’m looking at an almost across the board jump in battery price of about $100-250 for the quality batteries that are already expensive. Frustrated by that I pulled the trigger on a battery that won’t be junk but won’t be delivering eyebrow raising power either. It will be good at getting this stalled project rolling again.

After much frustration and delays the project is moving forward again. The bike that will be the base for the build has arrived and is assembled and the battery is inbound.

More to come soon.

This message has been edited. Last edited by: stickman428,

Forget e-bikes. There's a guy around here on a stand up electric scooter that plays in traffic. I was behind him this morning doing 40mph and he was pulling away from me.

However, it's good that your plan is coming together.

Here’s my E-Bike.

I did not build it…

The classic look is what attracted me to my bike.

nearest service station from here

That dude is crazy. Scooters and Stickman428 don’t mix. Those thinks have punted me sooooooo many times.

I do have to admit.....I wonder what it’s like to ride one of those electric scoots



PR64, that’s a neat set up. It definitely has a great look. Do you know the specs of that motor? I decided on a 48V 1500W rear hub drive motor. Had I gone front wheel drive the build would have been so much easier. But it wouldn’t do wheelies then so I think this will be worth the effort.

I think it’s a 750 W. Not sure though…

Rear drive Bafang.

Found the specs

quote:

Originally posted by PR64:
Here’s my E-Bike.

I did not build it…

The classic look is what attracted me to my bike.

nearest service station from here

PR64...Who makes that model? Very cool!


Sounds like a really interesting project stickman. It will be cool to hear and see more about your project too!

It’s a Revi Cheetah cruiser.

Comes in many color combinations.

I get a lot of attention when I have it out around town.

People want to know all about it. Make, cost, range etc.

Prices with accessories about 3K.

Those are good specs! I bet it’s a hoot to ride around. I can understand why it gets a lot of attention. I always approach e-bike riders and chat with them about their rig.

What got me interested in building an e-bike was an encounter I had riding the trails near my house. A gentleman much older than myself was maintaining a blistering pace and eventually I had to get out of his way. I tried as hard as I could to lose him but his pace was mental. When he passed me I tried to trail him and keep up. That failed too. I eventually caught up to him later on in a parking lot and saw he was able to maintain that mental pace with the assistance of a battery and electric motor.

His bike was one of the uber expensive full suspension electric mountain bikes. I began to do some research and was shocked to see the price tag those babies were going for (this was before the bike market went mental I bet they are even worse now). It eventually led me to a YouTuber in the UK who converted his Trek to electric assist. After a little research I discovered I should be able to build one for under $1,000 and the cost of a donor bike. In no time I was gathering components and beginning to formulate a design.

So long as I don’t run into too many more road blocks I should be around $1850 total including the donor bike from Marin.

I’m really excited that this stalled project is finally getting going again.

That looks like a great plan.

I’m not into building bikes so I just paid for the privilege of riding one.

Post some pics of your build. I would like to see it.

This company uses coil switching to get more efficiency and torque.

That's a nice looking ride PR64.

The website only lists the battery as having 800 cycles though. That doesn't seem like much. And at $550 for a replacement battery, that's probably a deal breaker for me.

^^^I can see your point of view.

I’m not a road warrior daily rider. I have had my Cruiser for about a year now and have charged it maybe 4 times. I mostly just ride it during the spring and summer to go to my little quaint Main Street sports bar and back. We are talking 5-6 blocks away from my house.

I figure at about 30 miles a charge x 800 I’m looking at 24,000 miles from the battery.

At my current pace of riding, I have about 240 more years of cruising around with the battery

I bought my bike for casual fun riding. It fits the bill for me.

PR64, where is the motor on that bike? In the rear hub?

I REALLY like the style!

You will likely wear out a hub drive motor around the same time or before a quality battery shits the bed and needs replacement. I wouldn’t worry too much on battery life, it is an area that most would want to upgrade eventually or buy a 2nd battery as a reserve anyway.

You can get a decent battery for $250 and can make a good battery for a lot less.


I will be happy to get 3,000 miles from this bike I’m building but I’m not exactly going to be babying the bike. It’s gonna get absolutely thrashed.

quote:

Originally posted by PHPaul:
PR64, where is the motor on that bike? In the rear hub?

I REALLY like the style!

Look at the picture above with the Bafang motor. It’s in the rear wheel with the sprockets.

Battery is in the (gas tank).

quote:

Originally posted by stickman428:
You will likely wear out a hub drive motor around the same time or before a quality battery shits the bed and needs replacement. I wouldn’t worry too much on battery life, it is an area that most would want to upgrade eventually or buy a 2nd battery as a reserve anyway.

You can get a decent battery for $250 and can make a good battery for a lot less.


I will be happy to get 3,000 miles from this bike I’m building but I’m not exactly going to be babying the bike. It’s gonna get absolutely thrashed.

Sounds like fun.

I definitely don’t pound on my bike.

If I was looking to off road I would get a much different bike like what you are building.

It’s not being built as an off-road bike.

The goal is to get close to achieving 45 mph top speed and for it to do wheelies.

It will see mostly street riding with some gravel and light trails but nothing gnarly.


This bike could easily be made into a hell of a sleeper. The rear hub motor will be concealed by the cassette on one side and the disc brake on the other. If I build a battery to look like a water bottle and conceal the cables it wouldn’t even look like an e-bike.

This will be able to go places much quieter than a motorcycle and won’t raise eyebrows since it will look like a standard hard tail mountain bike.

Wow

45 will be jamming down the road.

I get up to 25-28 for a bit and that’s plenty fast for me on my bike…

Oh my! This battery is heavier than I expected. The final part has arrived.

My mood right now.