Full suspension bikes compatible with a frame battery
- Thread starter COAR
- Start date
2015 rocky mountain altitude 730 large frame. 27.5 wheels. CL price $1100 - this particular bike needs a lot of work and doesn't have particularly high end parts, but a nicer specced model seems like it'd make a good conversion candidate.
MikeSSS
1 kW
Early Specialized FS bikes had an open front triangle. So did some others. Look for a GT LTS 2 or 3, they have an open front triangle.
My FS bike didn't have an open triangle.
First I put the 52v, 20ah battery in a bag on top of a seatpost rack. That worked well until I stopped on a steep climb, then the front wheel became light, swept to the side and over I went. Actual riding was fine.
Second I put the big squarish battery on top of the top tube. That rode fine but looked funny and noticeable. Top heavy became a problem when stopped.
Third I put the battery on the side of the front triangle and sat slightly sideways. That rode fine and was much better when stopped. Then I put on a pedal extension on the battery side, that caused the crank bolt to loosen, it had to be retightened and Loctited once in a while.
That FS bike had a higher bottom bracket than a rigid bike, so when the seat was adjusted for good pedaling leg extension I had trouble touching toes when stopped on uneven terrain. This caused a few falls when stopped.
Finally I got a Townie that had front suspension and put a suspension seat post on it. This works better for most riding and has just as good a ride on the small stuff. Off a curb is different, FS wins then.
I wondered if the weight of a MAC geared rear hub would be a problem for the rear suspension. It never was a problem, not at all.
My FS bike didn't have an open triangle.
First I put the 52v, 20ah battery in a bag on top of a seatpost rack. That worked well until I stopped on a steep climb, then the front wheel became light, swept to the side and over I went. Actual riding was fine.
Second I put the big squarish battery on top of the top tube. That rode fine but looked funny and noticeable. Top heavy became a problem when stopped.
Third I put the battery on the side of the front triangle and sat slightly sideways. That rode fine and was much better when stopped. Then I put on a pedal extension on the battery side, that caused the crank bolt to loosen, it had to be retightened and Loctited once in a while.
That FS bike had a higher bottom bracket than a rigid bike, so when the seat was adjusted for good pedaling leg extension I had trouble touching toes when stopped on uneven terrain. This caused a few falls when stopped.
Finally I got a Townie that had front suspension and put a suspension seat post on it. This works better for most riding and has just as good a ride on the small stuff. Off a curb is different, FS wins then.
I wondered if the weight of a MAC geared rear hub would be a problem for the rear suspension. It never was a problem, not at all.
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