Q100H Front Motor build for wife question

[addicted2climbing]

Hello All,

I built a Q128 CST bike using a 36V 201 RPM motor and a 48V Pack and its been hassle free and I commute on it a few times a week when its warm out. My wife & I had a chance to ride a front motor (huge integrated motor and battery) when we rented bikes in Monterey. I was surprised that the Front drive did not feel much different. She loved it and wants me to build her a bike now. To keep the weight down, I want to use a Q100h and either the 36V pack at 260RPM or 48V at 201RPM but wanted advice before buying anything. For her speed will never be an issue. Not too heavy likely more so. Should I just keep it at 36V to help with weight? Or is the 48V the better setup. I am looking at the Shark pack with the integrated 18amp controller.

Bike will be a Bikes Direct Kensington with a nexus 8 speed hub, but that may change as its a bit on the small size for her being 6'0" tall. I am waiting on their reply. http://www.bikesdirect.com/products/windsor/kensington8.htm

Since we rented a bike with a very heavy front wheel setup with everything integrated, will the light weight front of the Q100h feel more loose?

Open to an advice and or suggestions.

Marc

 

[addicted2climbing]

Forgot to mention I was considering just buying the prelaced 700C wheel instead of having a wheel built like I did on my Q128 bike.

I also plan to try and use the front fork accessory mount to attach a custom torque arm. Unless one already exists that has the hole for the accessory mount since it might be a standard location.

 

[motomech]

Assuming you will be riding together, do you want to build her a bike slower than yours? She may think she doesn't want to go 20 mph now, but as she gets time on it, I would imagine she would be comfortable doing that speed. I've built several 18 mph Q100's and they were just to slow anywhere other than a boardwalk or ped. path, boring.
I have always felt the 20mph to 24mph range to be the "sweet spot", fast enough to be entertaining, but not so fast as to increase the risk of a boo boo.
The bike you linked is cute and reasonably priced, but as you are probably starting to realize, once a motor is installed, one starts to shift less and less. Even on my lowest powered Q100's, I only use about 3 gears, so I would say the Nexus hub is not really needed.
Personally, I would put the $$ into something w/ a quality frt. suspension fork to lighten the shocks to her hands, wrists and shoulders. I know this will probably ignite a firestorm, but any decent fork can take a low-powered Q100 safely. Just a little care during installation and a pr. of BMS Batt's genaric torque arms are needed.
Most of my motor kits have come in a wheel and other than some surface rust on the spokes, they have been fine. One of the nice things about a frt. mount is, there is no need for "dishing". Just snug the spokes up and it's good.
I don't remember which controller you used, but I would recommend a simple square wave w/ a 3-speed PAS. I really like the ones from Elifebike's Ebay store;
https://www.ebay.com/itm/36V-48V-250W-14A-6FET-ebike-Electric-Bicycle-Brushless-Motor-Controller-with-LED/222373438955?hash=item33c67d65eb:m:mgxcwDHTuIgK4sxrLPhfyrQ
The 5-level "Torque Imitation" units w/ the LCD screen aren't really needed on a 20mph bike.
The only hairy moment I have ever had with a frt. mount was when I inadvertly leaned against a thumb throttle w/ the fork cocked. The bike tried to launch into a ditch, but of course, I could just muscle it to a stop. Anyhow, these days I only use half-twists, the left-hand from BMS B. is my fav.
To recap, I would build it to basicly the same parameters as yours, but with a low-power, soft start controller like I linked. 201, 48V batt(I doubt there is much of a weight savings by going with a 36V unit).
That's my 2 cents.
BTW, you should fill out your profile.

 

[addicted2climbing]

Hello Motomech,

Thanks for the reply. You gave me lots of great advice on my first bike. I suppose I could go with the Q128 instead and be close to the same speed. Hers would be faster as I weigh a fair amount more. In regards to gearing, she wants just assistance. She wants to pedal and I also went with the Q series motors since I can set it at a low PAS and force myself to pedal. I usually set it very low on the way to work (no feeling of urgency to get there) so I get a bit more of a workout. On the way home if I have an appt or something, I set it at 4 or 5 and blast home. No throttle or levers with cutoffs and all is working well.

As for the bike, well she is French so it has to be pretty so the idea of a big fork is foreign to her. I have a thudbuster and would buy here the suntour seat shock. I did consider just converting a cruiser with bigger tires which would help with shock to her arms. Also BD has this and I like the 27.5 tires, Hydro Discs but not the battery arrangement on the rear with the hubmotor as well so lots of weight on the back: http://www.bikesdirect.com/products/gravity/ebikes/xrod-e-8-speed-ebikes.htm
Probably easy to add a 27.5 MTB fork to this. She will undoubtedly find it ugly.

BD also has this: http://www.bikesdirect.com/products/Mango/e-bikes-cruiser-ebikes/e-bikes-ebike-cruisers-superbird.htm

As for the battery and controller I like the integrated kits. I have the dolphin version on my Commuter. This is what I was considering.
Battery and ESC: https://bmsbattery.com/ebike-battery/774-16788-48v116ah-case-08-bottle-panasonic-battery-pack-battery.html#/26-ac_voltage-100132vac

Motor: Q128 based on your advice but then I need to buy a rim and have it laced. https://bmsbattery.com/ebike-kit/301-15723-q128-36v400w-500w-front-driving-v-brake-hub-motor-ebike-kit.html#/213-rpm-201

 

[motomech]

No no, the Q100 will get to 20 plus mph. I'm talking about using the 48 V batt. The 201 w/ the BIG whl.s, the 260 w/ 26" or smaller.
The suspension fork idea is because my ex used to complain that her wrists got sore when we used to ride dirt bikes. Don't want to sound sexist, but arm strength is the area where we are so much stronger. Legs, not so much. Seat suspension won't help her arms. I guess you could add a suspension fork later, when she thinks it might be a good idea.
When I refer to gearing, I'm talking about the chain drive, not the PAS. On my GT, I pedal all the time, but I don't shift it way down when I stop. Even pedaling on low power, if I try and use all 9 gears, it slows me down going thru all of them.
Anyhow, it's a cute bike and if she likes it,....

 

[motomech]

So to recap, go w/ your original plan; Q100 201, but with the 48 Volt intergrated batt./controller to bring the speed up a bit.

 

[motomech]

Wow, I just looked at the second bike you linked.
That makes the most sense I think. I mean after you buy the first bike and all the ebike stuff, it probably would be close to a grand. And those tires would be a lot better for ebiking.
Not to mention what your time is worth.
She might say it won't pedal as well, but w/ a motor, it doesn't really matter. you just set the speed and pedal on top of that.
Looks like it's a 36V system w/ a 260 mid-speed range motor, so it won't climb like a Q100 201 on 48 Volts. But that's probably not that important to her for rec. riding.

 

[addicted2climbing]

Hey Motomech,

Thanks again for the info. Are you talking about this one: http://www.bikesdirect.com/products/Mango/e-bikes-cruiser-ebikes/e-bikes-ebike-cruisers-superbird.htm
This is definitely the easy route but its for 5'3" to 5'10" and she is 6'0" so bit worried it will feel small.

This one has a bit better spec for $100 more but the frame layout is a bit funky and no fenders. We live in a dry area, but our paths usually have some water on them so Fenders are nice.
http://www.bikesdirect.com/products/Mango/e-bikes-cruiser-ebikes/best-ebikes-ekeys7-electric-hybrid-bicycles.htm

Also she is a school teacher so a matching rack with pannier bags will probably be added.

 

[motomech]

Your wife is French and 6 ft??
Forget your profile and post a pic of her!

 

[addicted2climbing]

Ha Ha, but were not young anymore...