Hey folks, just wanted to share my new build. Anyone else trying all wheel drive? It works so awesome I can’t believe everyone is not doing it! It has added so much power and speed to the bike I had to upgrade the brakes just to keep it safe. Now this bike is a beast - with only 48v battery! Now I want to commute… :thumb:
San Jose ebike build
- Thread starter Scootdan
- Start date
Quite a few.Scootdan said:
Some links to threads with 2wd or awd in the title; there are others that aren't found with this method. It also includes trikes like my SB cruiser thread, which is 2wd and was about to be 3wd at one point (life stuff came up to interfere with trying that).
https://endless-sphere.com/forums/search.php?keywords=2wd&terms=all&author=&sc=1&sf=titleonly&sr=topics&sk=t&sd=d&st=0&ch=300&t=0&submit=Search
https://endless-sphere.com/forums/search.php?keywords=awd&terms=all&author=&sc=1&sf=titleonly&sr=topics&sk=t&sd=d&st=0&ch=300&t=0&submit=Search
(not all the links in those searches are actually build threads; many are discussions or questions about the process, success, implementation, etc.,)
BTW, if you don't have a thread / etc about your MC brake on bicycle fork / wheel mounting creation and performance, you should start one. If you do, then a link would be handy.
Chalo
100 TW
You could use one motor and send it twice as much current at the same voltage, if it can take the heat. That's just as much power with less weight and expense.
I do like the idea of doubling torque and also doubling the mass of motor to get heated up. Also you can get single fault redundancy that way. But the main benefit I can see of using one motor in your case is that you could have saved the cost of one motor wheel and one controller, and used that budget to get a better bike. Then you might not have had to upgrade your brakes plus whatever else lies ahead.
What the heck kind of front brake is that anyway? It's not from a bicycle for sure.
I do like the idea of doubling torque and also doubling the mass of motor to get heated up. Also you can get single fault redundancy that way. But the main benefit I can see of using one motor in your case is that you could have saved the cost of one motor wheel and one controller, and used that budget to get a better bike. Then you might not have had to upgrade your brakes plus whatever else lies ahead.
What the heck kind of front brake is that anyway? It's not from a bicycle for sure.
Hey thank you amberwolf. Wow! That’s a lot to read. I have already learned so much already about overall efficiency of 2wd.
Thanks for the great advice Chalo. That was the cheap but tough bike I had to chop up at the time for a side project, just for fun, and to see how well I can make it work. If this was my only project I would have planned it differently. This is what I could do with what I could afford for this baby.
I like the efficiency but I am hooked on the power. 2wd rocks for a commuter bike guys. I can run the front motor, 500w, alone for a relaxed and uber controllable ride, or add the 1500w rear motor to kick in the big grins. And the big tires are like riding on big marshmallows, compared to stock tires. It is heavy as an old moped, but faster off the line than my old 250cc 4stroke motorcycle! It is really really fun.
The brake is a 260mm disc motorcycle 4piston system. I got these for these monster motors I purchased for another project. The largest 203mm bike discs I could get for the bikes hub motors barely slowed the bike, so I had to grab one of these and adapt it. Big bonus is now the brakes are virtually silent. Really next level of control. It is easy to stop very quickly from full speed with one finger. I love racing brakes. I always heard power is nothing without control!
Thanks for the great advice Chalo. That was the cheap but tough bike I had to chop up at the time for a side project, just for fun, and to see how well I can make it work. If this was my only project I would have planned it differently. This is what I could do with what I could afford for this baby.
I like the efficiency but I am hooked on the power. 2wd rocks for a commuter bike guys. I can run the front motor, 500w, alone for a relaxed and uber controllable ride, or add the 1500w rear motor to kick in the big grins. And the big tires are like riding on big marshmallows, compared to stock tires. It is heavy as an old moped, but faster off the line than my old 250cc 4stroke motorcycle! It is really really fun.
The brake is a 260mm disc motorcycle 4piston system. I got these for these monster motors I purchased for another project. The largest 203mm bike discs I could get for the bikes hub motors barely slowed the bike, so I had to grab one of these and adapt it. Big bonus is now the brakes are virtually silent. Really next level of control. It is easy to stop very quickly from full speed with one finger. I love racing brakes. I always heard power is nothing without control!
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Yeah you will never have to replace those pads, I go through some cheapie v-brake pads on the rear with only rear brake (I go slow) every 3-5 months.
I wonder what the weight penalty is for doing it your way because I'd be game for that, minus the fabrication needed.
Are there any cable actuated moped/motorcycle brakes out there? I will need to check but thats a good looking fat or shall we say "plus" bike with 26x3.0 tires.
I wonder what the weight penalty is for doing it your way because I'd be game for that, minus the fabrication needed.
Are there any cable actuated moped/motorcycle brakes out there? I will need to check but thats a good looking fat or shall we say "plus" bike with 26x3.0 tires.
Scootdan said:The brake is a 260mm disc motorcycle 4piston system. I got these for these monster motors I purchased for another project. The largest 203mm bike discs I could get for the bikes hub motors barely slowed the bike, so I had to grab one of these and adapt it. Big bonus is now the brakes are virtually silent. Really next level of control. It is easy to stop very quickly from full speed with one finger. I love racing brakes. I always heard power is nothing without control!
Yes! You should! :thumb: The more commuting by bike, the better for all!Scootdan said:
In addition to what others have already said:Scootdan said:
Extra expense of another hubmotor and controller.
More weight.
More complexity.
Not insurmountable issues, but apparently most don't perceive the need. But AWD does have its applications, and those that use it seem to really love it, as you have found out.
Can you share more about your build? It's very intriguing.
Hey Calab, I know they have some hybrid cable actuated hydraulic body brakes for bikes that might work for you. I have heard they work well for fast scooters. I think the advantages of full hydraulic brakes, if you can do it, are overwhelming. I bought a ebike front brake with two calipers, for two 203mm discs. Since my hub motors already had one disc, I thought it would not be too hard to adapt another and have two discs for the front. After feeling how fast, and heavy, the bike became with the second motor I knew even two bike 203mm discs would never satisfy me. I am absolutely in love with how well these brakes work brother. The weight of the motorcycle caliper is not much more than the two bike calipers I was going to use. The 3mm thick motorcycle disc is pretty heavy and the big lever is a little heavier than the bike lever. My estimate is it adds about 2lbs. extra. To me they are worth every penny and every microgram, and as you astutely noted the pads should last forever! And they sound so cool, very silent.
I am also loving the 26”x 3” tires. They fit 26” rims, but they are 27.5” diameter. I had to hog out my rear frame, and then reinforce the tubes cut, just to get them to fit in the back. They have at least twice the cushioning of the stock tires. Even with no suspension, on average roads it feels like riding on clouds. Highly recommended for those that can use them. I would like to see how the real 4” fat bike tires feel and act.
I am also loving the 26”x 3” tires. They fit 26” rims, but they are 27.5” diameter. I had to hog out my rear frame, and then reinforce the tubes cut, just to get them to fit in the back. They have at least twice the cushioning of the stock tires. Even with no suspension, on average roads it feels like riding on clouds. Highly recommended for those that can use them. I would like to see how the real 4” fat bike tires feel and act.
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Chalo
100 TW
Scootdan said:
Yeah, it's awesome for the cable to leak out and completely ruin the brake. Like they do.
Hey 99t 4. I started just adding a 48v 1500w ebike kit to my economy bike I bought brand new on Craigslist for about $120. I just wanted a bike to ride with my daughter. I had a few hub motor kits but the battery I have would not fit in the frame so thus the rear box. After I tried it I was hooked and just keep thinking of ways to improve it. It started here..
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I switched back to the bicycle 203mm discs and added a second caliper. Brakes are passably strong but I miss those big brakes. Man this bike is so fun to ride. Hard to stop riding in our great weather. 8)
