E-bike build to send to Ukraine for paramedic use

To get the front triangle space maybe a fat bike would be betterer…

How big and what size are the batteries?

You seem to be forgetting the kit they'll be carrying too.

I really doubt they'll be going flat out.

Think the fatbike is a more sensible approach. With racks front and back.

Has anyone asked what they need?

What equipment are they going to be carrying?

Steel frame and rigid, possible single speed. It’ll need to be as low maintenance as possible and fixable with basic tools.

That said, I’m surprised the answer isn’t already a pair of 125cc off-road motorbikes.

I’m surprised the answer isn’t already a pair of 125cc off-road motorbikes

That was my thought too, unless noise is a concern in which case confiscate all those Sur-Rons off of the nob heads that ride them round public places.

Tricky one as you've already had the kits donated but for me personally that would be a huge responsibility to take on given it would have to be reliable as lives are at stake. Surely they'd be better trying to crowdfund a pre-built off-road electric motorbike for this purpose?

It’s a bit of an experiment- yes they need to be silent.
It would be for army medic that would otherwise be on foot.
It’s gonna snow as well- I guess fat bike with racks then.
Battery pack is a bolt on jobbie I think- on a full suss it would go outside the front triangle- on a flat top tube if bottle mounts could be added.

Fat bike with racks is a good shout. Full suss being used all day every day would quickly need fork/shock servicing. Steel frame can be welded if it breaks.

If you have time, why not see if a UK bike company can help out? Is @Brant still about? Maybe STW could put you in touch with a friendly bunch?

Tonyd that’s a great idea, esp steel to weld it.
Balls, just remembered the wheel is a normal one, fat bike not an option without a rebuild of the back wheel.
Morning brain not working

I would have thought the On One Bootzipper would be perfect.
If it's muddy a fatbike is going to be useless and you must need a specific kit for the wide BB.
Bits for fatbikes are not exactly common either.

Zippy, good points.
So I’m back to hard tails.

Go Outdoors Calibre Saw? £350, it does have front suspension but of the steel stanchion no real damping sort, so nothing to go wrong.

How big is the battery pack?

Murray that’s awesome.
The battery pack is long, almost whole length of a medium bike down tube.
I think the Calibre is the one. No docking about finding bits.
What spares would I need to send- tubes, pads and chains?
Should I disconnect the front mech stick a chain gadget on instead maybe to help reduce the chance of it eating itself on the throttle.

Don't most kits come with a single chain ring?

Spares - tubes, pads and chains for sure plus Park tyre patches and Predos tyre levers. I can't work put if it's a 7 speed cassette - but 6/7/8 speed should be the same. Worth going for a low maintenance chain e.g. KMC EPT

I've got a Cannodale Prophet frame, IIRC they work with a 650b wheel in the tall setting as long as the tyre is about 2.1 or less.

Free if you need it. Also have some new 9s bits I can donate.

That’s very kind TINOS, but I think the point about shocks needing a little love is probably right. These things are going to get battered, and A ready to roll bike will be easier I think.
Zippy, this is one of those illegal massive hub motor jobbies.

Surely they’d be better trying to crowdfund a pre-built off-road electric motorbike for this purpose?

Particularly when you can get one made locally?

https://www.rferl.org/amp/ukraine-electric-bikes-war-russia-technology/31865559.html

See if you can find some s/h Surly Pugsley frames - steel, take 135mm OLN hubs and regular BBs plus will survive the apocalypse. Chances are that bikes are more likely to be pushed off-road rather than ridden so a wide tyre will be a help rather than a burden.
The notion that a regular MTB can be ridden off-road over any ground that a tracked vehicle has driven over doesn’t really stand scrutiny. They used to run tracked vehicles regularly around Test Valley in Aldershot back in the early 90s and attempting to ride my MTB there often resulted in negotiating water-filled ruts 2 feet wide and 3 feet deep, or really soft, churned ground where you’d sink past your ankles whilst carrying your bike.
Having pushed a laden fatbike for nigh-on 100km through deep slushy snow in the Arctic winter, the wider tyres help stop the bike sinking when you’re post-holing beyond your knees. A heavier, e-bike on skinny tyres will just sink up to the hubs and be a hindrance.

For the advantages that a fat bike might bring I can't help thinking that a bike with tyres that are a nightmare to source and cost a fortune makes no sense.

Dovebiker that’s a useful insight thanks.
I think for now we will go with the calibre.
I’ts only 2 bikes and after I agree really Suron knock offs are the way forward.