mdd0127
100 kW
- Joined
- Sep 30, 2008
- Messages
- 1,084
Hi guys,
Here's the deal. I'm building a prototype ultra light electric dirt bike with pedal assist. Why? Because someone needs to build something REALLY COOL to get the EV market to take off in the USA. The current offerings in the market are not up to par, or are extremely overpriced for what they are. The only way people will start to look at electric vehicles as a viable alternative is if they are enticed by an awesome product. Just like the Tesla came in and jump started the car market, I'm hoping that my product will stimulate the two wheeled market. I'm not an ME, EE. I build things. I've been a fabricator/mechanic/electronics repair nerd for years. I know what works and how things should go together. I've been refining my design for almost five years and now I've actually got a pile of parts building up.
I want to have the prototype done in the next few months but I've run into a couple of snags. I do have investors on this deal but my budget is extremely limited for what I'm trying to build. Little things like the Hammerschmidt not coming with a shifter or bottom bracket, and crazy shipping costs are starting to throw me off. I know that once I have a working prototype, money won't be as big of an issue. I compiled a parts list and figured prices and reasonable shipping before I started ordering. I ended up splurging a little on the suspension which took most of the wiggle room out of my budget. I just got my business account set up and finally got my debit card so now I can start ordering parts from the internet. I went to order the motor from hobby city and for some reason, the shipping is almost $50 for a $100 motor! I can't afford that much shipping! I need to get the motor ASAP so I can rewind/modify it and get it working with my controller. Do any of you guys have an extra motor laying around? I figured $120 for the motor in my budget. I know, it's only $30 difference, but this is happening on the batteries and controller as well and to be honest, I'm basically unemployed and spending all of my time getting this thing together.
I would love to post the entire build on here, but for the first time in my life, I'm actually interested in making a little money off this concept. I am not a greedy person. When this thing takes off and I have resources to work with, my main goal is to help fund others like me and help move EV technology forward. I've survived on $15K a year for many, many years, like my lifestyle, and don't want to change it too much. I feel that investing in good people and their ideas is much more important than having a lavish lifestyle. The only thing I'm doing differently than what has already been done is packaging everything better so you're really not missing out on any real technological breakthroughs. I will reveal a couple of specs though: 8 inch travel, under 85lbs, top speed governed at 45mph(pedal assist-able all the way up), 44v 20AH lipo, no derailleurs, adjust on the fly seat height, tough enough to ABUSE. The M55 has some serious competition. I would really like to get help from others as soon as the budget allows but for right now, the only way I can pull this thing off is disappearing into the cave, firing up the mill, and going at it. Sorry to type your eyes out but I really need a motor ASAP. Can anyone help? Maybe I can give you a huge discount on a bike later on or something? I'm hoping that once the proof of concept is there, I can get more funding and maybe pay some of the gurus here to help me with building a custom motor, controller, and bms.
Thanks,
Danny
Here's the deal. I'm building a prototype ultra light electric dirt bike with pedal assist. Why? Because someone needs to build something REALLY COOL to get the EV market to take off in the USA. The current offerings in the market are not up to par, or are extremely overpriced for what they are. The only way people will start to look at electric vehicles as a viable alternative is if they are enticed by an awesome product. Just like the Tesla came in and jump started the car market, I'm hoping that my product will stimulate the two wheeled market. I'm not an ME, EE. I build things. I've been a fabricator/mechanic/electronics repair nerd for years. I know what works and how things should go together. I've been refining my design for almost five years and now I've actually got a pile of parts building up.
I want to have the prototype done in the next few months but I've run into a couple of snags. I do have investors on this deal but my budget is extremely limited for what I'm trying to build. Little things like the Hammerschmidt not coming with a shifter or bottom bracket, and crazy shipping costs are starting to throw me off. I know that once I have a working prototype, money won't be as big of an issue. I compiled a parts list and figured prices and reasonable shipping before I started ordering. I ended up splurging a little on the suspension which took most of the wiggle room out of my budget. I just got my business account set up and finally got my debit card so now I can start ordering parts from the internet. I went to order the motor from hobby city and for some reason, the shipping is almost $50 for a $100 motor! I can't afford that much shipping! I need to get the motor ASAP so I can rewind/modify it and get it working with my controller. Do any of you guys have an extra motor laying around? I figured $120 for the motor in my budget. I know, it's only $30 difference, but this is happening on the batteries and controller as well and to be honest, I'm basically unemployed and spending all of my time getting this thing together.
I would love to post the entire build on here, but for the first time in my life, I'm actually interested in making a little money off this concept. I am not a greedy person. When this thing takes off and I have resources to work with, my main goal is to help fund others like me and help move EV technology forward. I've survived on $15K a year for many, many years, like my lifestyle, and don't want to change it too much. I feel that investing in good people and their ideas is much more important than having a lavish lifestyle. The only thing I'm doing differently than what has already been done is packaging everything better so you're really not missing out on any real technological breakthroughs. I will reveal a couple of specs though: 8 inch travel, under 85lbs, top speed governed at 45mph(pedal assist-able all the way up), 44v 20AH lipo, no derailleurs, adjust on the fly seat height, tough enough to ABUSE. The M55 has some serious competition. I would really like to get help from others as soon as the budget allows but for right now, the only way I can pull this thing off is disappearing into the cave, firing up the mill, and going at it. Sorry to type your eyes out but I really need a motor ASAP. Can anyone help? Maybe I can give you a huge discount on a bike later on or something? I'm hoping that once the proof of concept is there, I can get more funding and maybe pay some of the gurus here to help me with building a custom motor, controller, and bms.
Thanks,
Danny