Electric Hub Motors ... ???

Bicycling Is More Fun and Better Exercise ... !!!

You will be better served with a GOOD quality scooter.

I don't want a scooter ... !!! I want to be able to ride my bicycle, but need an extra boost sometimes when I'm traveling to work ...

I'm counting on my bicycle lasting for many years ... !!! My 18-speed Mongoose Switchback is 17 years old, and still going strong, almost like new!!! And I left the Mongoose outside in the rain for 8 1/2 years (no room in our tiny apartment!).

I plan on taking much better care of my Townie, and have cleaned up my Mongoose. Both are inside, where they will stay. My dad has an old English bike that must be at least 50 years old, and still rides very nicely.

Besides, I really do need the exercise ... !!! I have hypoglycemia very, very, very bad, and have to eat quite often, so keeping my weight down is a constant problem ....
 
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adjust your expectations

you need to adjust your expectations - where did you get the idea that a merely average electric assist set-up would get you anywhere close to 35mph ? Also, what is your priority ? Fitness ? Going Fast ? Biking with your kids ? A 911 Turbo can't do what a Suburban can do and vice versa - looking for a machine to last a long time - go as fast as a baby motorcycle AND get good mileage is a dream - actually, it's a reality that can be acheived but it'll take a huge (relative to the normal price of current kits) financial investment.

Typical hub motor will get you to 17 to 20 mph - do not believe everything you read on the description of hub motor sellers on E-bay ! Typical SLA battery set-ups will go 10 to 14 miles - longer with Metal Hydride or "Li" style batteries. Obviously, there are folks who have hot-rodded set-ps on these boards and I think that's very cool but I can assure you that it is not the majority. If you have the skill and the means - more then a few people will happily give you advice on how to make your set-up more efficient or go faster - just follow the blogs.
 
Get a MoPed and use the pedal feature on it with the motor off in intervals, that should get you some (serious) exercise and get you the speed and distance that you need when you need it. You can even find one really cheap on Craig's List I would imagine.
 
I'll Stick With The Real McCoy ... !!!

Get a MoPed and use the pedal feature on it with the motor off in intervals, that should get you some (serious) exercise and get you the speed and distance that you need when you need it. You can even find one really cheap on Craig's List I would imagine.

Not interested in any kind of moped or scooter ... I'm sticking with the real MacCoy ... !!! Just need extra boost for commuting, running errands and shopping. I will probably get the 49cc gas-powered motor for my 18-speed Mongoose Switchback, so my oldest boy can ride along with me sometimes ....
 
"In the long run, I think batteries or gas would cost about the same ... ??? Has anyone figured that out in dollars .... I estimated, and it seems like it's pretty close ...."

Well, quick back of the envelope calculation -

Gas at $3.00 / gal (lower right now, but it'll be back) with a ~50cc HT motor getting around 100 mpg

VS

Somewhere around $600 in Li batteries... (an easy number to use for comparison)

$600 is equivalent to 200 gallons or around 20,000 miles to make batteries come close to equivalent in cost to gas (ignoring the electricity cost to charge the batteries)... but 20,000 miles at an assumed 20 miles per charge is 1000 charge cycles; you may be near having to replace your batteries again.

Cost does end up being close to the same from that standpoint... but there are of course a lot of other variables.
 
You really need to have a serious think about your requirements. You may be better off with your townie for fun and a moped / scooter to get you to and from work. Don't simply blow off the idea of infernal combustion power especially with your stated requirements. Be objective and realistic

35 - 45 Mph is do-able with electric HOWEVER
Safety; your townie was not designed to do 45 mph. The chassis dynamics are all wrong, your brakes will not be up to the task, there is a reason why intelligent motorbike riders wear leathers.... 45mph is an awful lot of strawberry jam to scrape off the road.

Cost;
in round figures, 500 for a motor that is up to the task
300 for the controller
and the kicker, at least 1500 for a LiFePO battery that's won't be stuffed after 300 cycles because your motor is flogging it to death
 
He's about right.

You really need to have a serious think about your requirements. You may be better off with your townie for fun and a moped / scooter to get you to and from work. Don't simply blow off the idea of infernal combustion power especially with your stated requirements. Be objective and realistic

35 - 45 Mph is do-able with electric HOWEVER
Safety; your townie was not designed to do 45 mph. The chassis dynamics are all wrong, your brakes will not be up to the task, there is a reason why intelligent motorbike riders wear leathers.... 45mph is an awful lot of strawberry jam to scrape off the road.

Cost;
in round figures, 500 for a motor that is up to the task
300 for the controller
and the kicker, at least 1500 for a LiFePO battery that's won't be stuffed after 300 cycles because your motor is flogging it to death

You would probably have to go with a dual (front and rear) hub motor setup. That's gonna cost you a bit of change along with the Batteries you will need.

Even if you spend 500 on EACH motor (48v Motor) and 300 for the controller, and considering a 48v 20ah LiFePo4 battery itself costs in the neigborhood of $400 and you'll need at least TWO (one for each motor) AND that will only get you about 10 miles. So if you're figuring about 30 miles round trip, you'll need 2 48v 60ah hours each and those will run you about $1200 each, so your grand total will be..

Motor(2) $1000
Controller(2) $600
Batteries(2) $2400

You're looking about about $4,000! If you're gonna spend that much just to ride your bike at 35mph and get 30 miles out of a single run, and THEN you have to charge the batteries EVERY DAY, you'll end up kicking yourself for doing that.

One of the other guys was right. Buy a decent scooter for going to work and use your "townie" for light trips and only go with a small Front Hub Motor kit for ~$500, you'll be MUCH happier in the end.

Just my .02

Frank

FYI... It would cost you approximately .20 per mile (in electricity costs) to ride it. It's the cost of the equipment that's the killer.
 
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