Forum menu
So I fancy building a fat E bike for a bit of fun really, partly because I don't like using my nice bike in nasty conditions and partly because I am curious.
So has anyone found a good way to do this? I have read lots of reviews but they all seem to say that their product is the best, I am thinking rear hub motor to reduce wear on chain, cassette and rear mech and I still want to pedal so no need for a 3KW mid drive motor or a throttle.
As for bike to do it with I was thinking of a Specialized Fatboy but open to persuasion.
Any helpful comments gratefully received
Can you get e-hub's in 150/170/190mm axle widths?
I think that'll be the first stumbling block to clear - then decide on the frame
Unless of course you got an 'old' offset 135mm like my charge cooker frame
I build my own mid drive ebike.
Don't get a hub motor you'll only be disappointed they are cheap but the cheap direct drive ones drag the not so cheap geared ones are better but still lack torque.
Look at bafang motors they do theirs in 100mm shells and are easy to work on- strip and rebuild
Try e3 emv Paul's really helpful and knowledgeable. Prices not quite as good as they used to be pre brexit vote but still decent plus has reputable after sales. Unlike Dillinger/pedalease/ebay
I want to do a powered recumbent trike for my next project 🙂
Thanks Trail_rat
Do you have any pictures of your bike? what size mid drive did you go for and does it eat chains and cassettes?
[URL= http://i38.photobucket.com/albums/e114/Topdrive100/IMG-20161007-WA0000_zpstkv2tanm.jpe g" target="_blank">
http://i38.photobucket.com/albums/e114/Topdrive100/IMG-20161007-WA0000_zpstkv2tanm.jpe g"/> [/IMG][/URL]
done about 250 miles on it . i just use it for errands have not noticed excess wear on the chain/cassette but i do only shift under my power rather than mash the cogs under motorpower.
my top tip is dont buy a 17.9 ah battery as pictured there. The lads over on pedelecs like to use them as motorbike or something. my 30 mile round trip uses less than 1/5th of the battery at 15.5mpheven with 70kg on the back. I suspect they spend their days reprogramming to get max speed or something to need such big batteries . I reckon a 11ah battery would have done me .
i have one of the limited power and marked as such to be legal bbs02s but i have the torque needed to haul big loads up the road to my house. All ive done is drop the front cog down to 36tooth and it cruises at 15.5mph under my legs and the motor kicks in on hills or when loaded.
Ive been tempted to try a snowroads loop on it for crack. I reckon the batteries up to it.
Same as Trail_rat, i went down the bafang route, ordered from em3 ev, arrived within 10 days,had to pay a little bit of customs £25.
You might be forced into buying the bbshd 1000w motor,
I wanted to fit a bbs02 750w with a 100mm bb but was advised by em3 ev that their might be some issues with clearing the chain stays.
After quite a bit of research This proved to be correct, so i ordered the hd 120mm fat bike one,
This needed no shims to make it fit, i didn’t have to start adding washers behind chainrings to get the correct chain line,or use a punch to dint the chain stay,
Unlike trail_rat, my top tip is make sure you get a 17.9ah battery, just get it made into a dolphin case instead of a frame bag, fat bikes are heavy mine weighs well over 55lb un-loaded. ( surly moonlander. )
The battery fixes to one of the water bottle mounts and you still have room for a small frame bag.
I purchased a data cable and like Trail_rat have limited the top speed to 15.5 mph but made all the torque available i can cover 45 miles offroad before i need to charge it.
I built mine to help bailiff a Private syndicate carp lake and its been perfect.
17.9 of Samsung cells won't go in a dolphin
correct
17.5 Ah actual 17 will though
Ah hold the phone.
Your using 36v then if 17fits in a dolphin.
I have a 48v that's where the wires crossed I think
nope im using 48v
Thanks Merchant-Banker your system does sound good, do you have some pictures ?