I have been looking at different ways to carry batteries. I would like to place a battery pack on each side of the rear rack but I was leery of placing batteries in this location. First because they would be unprotected and second is I am not sure how they would upset the handling of the bike. I found these saddlebags for motorcycles which would provide the security and protection as well as hide the batteries.
Picture from this site.
Each bag measures: 12" W x 9-1/2" H x 6" D
I am not sure how they would work has anyone tried anything like this.
Thanks for your help,
Chas S.
Drawing upon my experience delivering newspapers 40 years ago and having to distribute the load of 90 Sunday units with full inserts I can state the following with utter confidence. You will find from a handling standpoint that getting the weight as close to the axle line is preferred. Much improved over just stacking on a rear rack. It also helps from a weight distribution standpoint to get as close to the center of the bike as possible. If you are running a heavy front hub motor your proposed set up is a good compromise.
I can feel a big difference when I hang my rather puny 10 pound or so pack over the top tube rather than the down tube. If I were to add more batteries I would most likely add the pack in a triangle configuration inside the open section of my frame and attach to the seat and top tubes. I like to keep the bag area for hauling things, like groceries.
Like those bags, would make a good addition to the Blast don't you think?
Sturdly,
Thanks for the info on battery placement. I have been following your conversion with great interest. I like the look of the Blast it is very clean and very much what I would like to do for my next bike. I have my Modified Merida which is a bottom bracket drive bike like the Blast. I think the BB drive is the best way to go. You can use a smaller motor and still get great performance from the bike. I wanted to know if the motor you are running is from Oatley. I also like the double kick-stand you are using, I use it on all my 2 wheeled bikes, even the ones without motors. If you were to add the saddlebags to the Blast you would have the ultimate grocery getter. As far as I can tell you have put together an ideal setup. I have been watching for you to get in a good ride an post some numbers, hope the weather gets nice soon so we can all ride.
I wanta Ride,
Chas S.
Anyone have saddlebags loaded with batteries?
Sturdly,
I was messing around in PhotoShop and I thought you might like to see what my purposed bike might look like and also what the Blast might look like with saddlebags. I thought it was cool looking.
Blast
EV Custom
Chas S.
Chas the motor is the 36v version of the Oatley sold 24v Unite motor. Performance is the same as the 24v but with less amp draw.
I like 'em both!
Where did you find the bags?
I found the bags on extragear1.com for only $107.95. They also have another pair called the Tourmaster Nylon Cruiser II Slant Saddlebags Medium that are only $85.99 and they are almost the same size and look good too. I still like ther first set called the River Road Braided Zip-Off Saddlebags Medium.
River Road Braided Zip-Off Saddlebags Medium
Tourmaster Nylon Cruiser II Slant Saddlebags Medium
Chas S.
ChasS, my experience with riding e-bikes is that it's best for the batteries to be centralized and low. I also prefer using batteries with a high energy density. It's not the same on my EVT scooter as on the bicycle.. on the bicycles a lead-acid pack makes the bicycle feel like you're riding through molasses.
- David Heron, http://davidherron.com/
- David Herron, The Long Tail Pipe, davidherron.com, 7gen.com, What is Reiki