noob bike questions...

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hopbot
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noob bike questions...

hello all! nice new digs here! i used to lurk and ask a few questions on the old site, was very close to getting a cyclone kit but then tax time came, i need the money and my computer needed work. anyway, i'm back at it trying to see if i can put together a good bike for getting around town - san francisco - so it needs to be able to get up these hills! i know the guy over at cyclone usa has built a hill climber and i think i will go that route, i just need to find a bike.

i went into rei this weekend and it seems they have a better selection than the last time i checked, does anyone have any opinions on these bikes? i seem to remember i need a steel frame, is that right? i found a Scott steel frame hybrid bike for around 599, which fits the budget i have. most of their other bikes seem to have aluminum frames, so i figure they are not appropriate for my needs, anyone care to comment?

i would like a cool looking bike with at least front shocks and i figure i could get a set post shock (not sure what they are called). also, the guy at cyclone usa has a special hub on the rear wheel, anyone else have experience with this?

sorry for the noobiness and thanks in advance for any help

echuckj5
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Re: noob bike questions...

Under the collabrotive handbooks section, there is a subsection on building e bikes, there's a few bikes there. If you are using a hub motor in the rear, which I would recomend, the large overvolted crystalite motor's generally require a good steel frame in the 5xxx series. If your pretty handy and have good judgement, use of well made torque arms and a good aluminum framed bike will probably hold up well.

chuck

[b]AGM BATTERIES[/b]

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Re: noob bike questions...

` hopbot,
Welcome to our V is for Voltage Community, and thanks echuckj5 for the referral to our EV Collaborative Hand Books

Regards,
Board Moderator

Moderators are community volunteers who help keep V is for Voltage Forums running smoothly, and provide forum support.

Cheers,
Board Moderator

MB-1-E
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Re: noob bike questions...

Hi Hopbot,

... and welcome to the forum!
I'm not very knowledgeable on hub motors but I sure like the way they blend in for a nice looking bike. I'll be watching for your posts as you build.
Please keep us posted on your progress.

Dave

MB-1-E
Electric - Bridgestone MB-1 Mountain Bike
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Dave B

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<a href="http://visforvoltage.org/book-page/996-mountain-bike-conversion-24v-3-4h... - Bridgestone MB-1 Mountain Bike</a>

magudaman
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Re: noob bike questions...

I think cyclone would be a great way to go! I was very close to purchasing one of their systems but I needed it to be able to run on the 33v dewalt a123 packs, and was told the 24v cyclone system would not handle that too well. I love that they have a very large range of gearing that you control basically letting you have the best of both worlds, a high cruise speed and great hill climbing. I personally think non geared hub motor are not a very good way to go for very steep hills. They seem to have lots of torque but only at higher speeds. The cyclone you can change the power band range due to the changes in gearing. Let us know how everything works out.

hopbot
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Re: noob bike questions...

thanks so much guys for the prompt responses!

@echuckj5 & moderator: thx for the handbook link! i had trouble finding it at first. lots of great info in there. hopefully i'll be able to add some info of my own soon

@MB-1-E: yeah, the hub motors do look nice. i'm a graphic designer so unfortunately, the looks of the bike will be something i'll be picky about! i cant help it! ;)

@magudaman: yeah, i had several email exchanges about a year ago with the guy from cyclone-usa.com, and he was also convinced that the cyclone was the way to go for the hills of sf. i've emailed him a few times in the last couple of weeks though and haven't received a response.

there seem to ba a lot of reasonable bikes out there, but almost all the ones i see are aluminum frames. lots of deals like this one: http://www.rei.com//ProductDisplay?productId=48137904&storeId=8001&catalogId=40000008001&langId=-1 seem like good bikes but no steel frame :(

2007 Dahon Matrix - Cyclone 500w - 17Ah 24V LiFePO4

echuckj5
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Re: noob bike questions...

hopbot,

woody113, hope this is correct, sells a bb drive, He is in the user list. I think he is out of Australia, I think sturdly built this on a blog here.

On a bb drive, I would get the components first. There are different size of bottom brackets on bikes, I would make sure the kit components fit the bike.

I believe Reikimen, probably misspelled, sorry, was working on a bb and had quite a few issues with getting his replacement crank assembly working.

Jump in guys, this is out of my league

chuck

[b]AGM BATTERIES[/b]

hopbot
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Re: noob bike questions...

thanks echuckj5 for the good advice, i had never thought about buying the kit first and then scoping a bike that would fit the kit. smart! i guess the more standard the frame and crank assembly the better. still haven't heard back from the fellow at cyclone-usa. will have to ping him again today.

2007 Dahon Matrix - Cyclone 500w - 17Ah 24V LiFePO4

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