Howdy All

[Iren Masot]

Hi there, I'm a Chicago native who recently lived in Minnesota. Well, I'm back on the Chicago streets and looking to go to UIC this coming fall. With that in mind, I've decided to whip together a easy way to get from point A to point B, and settled on a motorized bike as my method of choice. I've already got a good bike for the conversion: my grandfather's beach cruiser, from Schwinn. I'm not really sure what year it's from--serial number on the front badge is "0627"--but it's a solid bike regardless, and I think it'll do just fine.

That said, I've got some questions regarding two-stroke engines, the NuVinci hub, blah blah blah...but I'll clog up a different sub-forum with that stuff. Looking forward to talking to you all!

Iren Masot

 

[Fabian]

Everyone wants a Nuvinci Hub on their bike. Unfortunately they are not strong enough to be used in a motorized bicycle application.

The 2-stroke engines can be made to be surprisingly reliable with aftermarket accessory parts from various vendors.

It's pertinent to invest in a bike with front and rear disk brakes; upgrading the front brake to the largest available disk rotor and mechanical disk brake caliper:

http://motorizedbikeforum.the-talk.net/t195-hayes-9-adapter-on-an-is-mount

 

[Iren Masot]

You sure about that? I recall reading about a few members who used that hub for their bikes, and they didn't suffer any problems...though now that I think about it, I don't recall reading any follow-up posts, where someone reported back their experiences after extended use. I'll do some more digging and see if I can find someone's long-term experiences with the NuVinci hub, but in case I don't find anything, could you tell me what kind of problems I would face?

Thanks for the advice on disk brakes, by the way. I know I'll need better brakes than I have now, and that's something important to keep in mind.

 

[wheelbender6]

Welcome to the forum. A vintage schwinn is a primo candidate for motorizing.

 

[074KU]

I can say from experience, that a Shimano Alfine hub in your flavor of speed will be strong enough. I too started out wanting a Nuvinci found they were to weak and took a gamble with an 8 speed Alfine hub.



Several thousand KM later it is still running quite well (new computer there as somebody lost my last one "borrowing" my bike)

 

[Iren Masot]

I can say from experience, that a Shimano Alfine hub in your flavor of speed will be strong enough. I too started out wanted a Nuvinci found they were to weak and took a gamble with an 8 speed Alfine hub.

Was looking to use NuVinci because standard speeds don't cut it for the hills in my area. For that matter, I thought it could handle a China Girl without self-destructing. Correct me if I'm wrong, of course.

 

[Fabian]

Good to see the Shimano Hub is holding up.

Are you running a front derailleur operated dual range gearing setup on your bike?

 

[074KU]

Are you running a front derailleur operated dual range gearing setup on your bike?

Not on this bike, but after having a little squizzy at yours I am considering it for my next build. Standard SBP HD shift kit onto an 8 speed Alfine hub with the 22tooth sprocket adapter for the Alfine.

 

[074KU]

I thought it could handle a China Girl without self-destructing. Correct me if I'm wrong, of course.

My understanding, from research done some years ago suggests that the hub itself will hold up. The problem I found was the transmission fluid would "burn" and have its viscosity changed to a point where the ball bearings in the hub can no longer transmit power via that fluid (hydraulic drag). This would possibly not be such an issue but it was also suggested at the time there was no fluid on the market to replace the "burnt" fluid, essentially rendering the hub throw away. This may have changed in the last few years however, and I could be recalling incorrectly.

 

[Fabian]

A Nuvinci Hub that works in an application where you can haul a truckload of weight behind you is my dream transmission system.

I wished that SickBikeParts could get in bed with Nuvinci and design a proper motorized bicycle hub.