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  1. #1
    allotmenteer is offline Senior Member
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    Nov 2006
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    Aldershot, Hampshire
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    229

    Default New hub motor kit - Nano motor?

    Hello all

    I've just seen this new kit for sale.

    Electric Bike Sales - Shop Online for Electric Bikes, Electric Vehicles and Cycle Accessories - 250 Watt Electric Bike Conversion Kit

    Looks quite neat, 4.5kg total weight. Is that the nano motor by any chance?

    10 Amp hour lipo as well!

    If you pre-order it's £150 off until Saturday 15th.

    I wonder if you can over-volt it like my other kit I got from them

    I think I'll email for further specs.
    Last edited by allotmenteer; 12th September 2007 at 21:25.

  2. #2
    flecc is offline Member
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    Oct 2006
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    24,591

    Default

    It sounds like the Nano, but if so, they have a cheek referring to it as the most reliable kit motor. The grapevine online doesn't agree with that. The Nano roller drive arrangement has been the main source of trouble it appears.

    The battery seems a bit tiny, judging by that all in weight, even for a 24 volt.
    .

  3. #3
    allotmenteer is offline Senior Member
    Join Date
    Nov 2006
    Location
    Aldershot, Hampshire
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    Default

    Quote Originally Posted by flecc View Post
    It sounds like the Nano, but if so, they have a cheek referring to it as the most reliable kit motor. The grapevine online doesn't agree with that. The Nano roller drive arrangement has been the main source of trouble it appears.

    The battery seems a bit tiny, judging by that all in weight, even for a 24 volt.
    .
    Yes it is a bit naughty of them.

    The stated battery dimensions don't seem to square with the photos either.

    My 6.8Ah (supposedly) li-ion weighs in at 1.5Kg, and the nano-motor is 2.2kg so I suppose it's feasible to total 4.5kg including the controller, cables and throttle.

    Some of the biggest and most trusted bicycle brands have decided to enter the electric bike market using this kit on their bikes.
    I wonder which brands they are?

  4. #4
    flecc is offline Member
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    Oct 2006
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    Default

    Which brands indeed! If they are referring to Tony Castles Brompton Nano mod, it's a bit of an exaggeration, though I believe some US bikes are using it. A couple of other UK companies are offering the Nano mod too.

    Of course, we're not sure it's the Nano, but that weight certainly makes it seem very likely.
    .

  5. #5
    Charlie is offline Member
    Join Date
    Apr 2007
    Posts
    32

    Default

    Hi Flec,
    Could you explain a bit what the Nano roller drive is please.
    Is the nano hub motor different technically to that used in my Torq.

    I must admit I like the idea of fitting a kit to my light weight road bike.

    Charlie.

  6. #6
    flecc is offline Member
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    Oct 2006
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    Default

    It uses orbital rollers driving on a smooth track in the hub shell instead of orbital gears acting on a gear ring in the hub shell like other motors Charlie. This makes it extremely quiet and can add some efficiency due to there being less friction and drag. But of course, smooth rollers have the potential to slip. I've no personal experience of them, but here have been various reports from the USA of failures. That drive gave no trouble to A to B during the Brompton Nano test, nor did it on a long trip from the UK into the continent recently undertaken, so the jury is out here.

    We'll have to wait and see, but if you're averse to taking a slight risk this might not be the best choice.
    .

  7. #7
    Leonardo is offline Senior Member
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    Dec 2006
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    Default

    It's now known which kind of problem did have Will Howard's Nano-Brompton on the way to Brussel?

  8. #8
    flecc is offline Member
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    Oct 2006
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    Yes, but I've forgotten what it was Leonardo. I'll try and find where I saw it for you.

    However, it was a very minor thing, nothing bad and easily fixed once seen.

    The only criticisms I've seen have been in the USA, but of course we haven't had them long yet.
    .

  9. #9
    Leonardo is offline Senior Member
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    Dec 2006
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    Default

    Thank you Flecc. I'd like to know because I'm always tempted by the Nano-Brompton but the reliability issue worries me. Do you know if the Nano-Motor is exactly the same as the Tongxin mounted on the American I-Zip and similar?

  10. #10
    rooel is offline Member
    Join Date
    Jun 2007
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    342
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    Default

    If you look here:

    Motor Kit

    and here:

    Brushless High-speed Motor

    you will see what looks like the nano and the name tongxin.

    Also some interesting prices, provided you buy hundreds.

    And get it all here straight from the horse's mouth: CHINA HANGZHOU ZHEDA TONGXIN ELECTRIC CO,. LTD.

    Nice sound effects too, and English translation.
    Last edited by rooel; 13th September 2007 at 17:17.

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Welcome to Pedelecs UK - here you will find all the latest news, reviews and features to help you with your decision to purchase an electric bike, or just to keep up to date with the latest developments in electric bikes in the UK and world wide.

Visit our busy forum where you can discuss the merits of various electric bikes, from suppliers such as Wisper Bikes, Kalkhoff (50Cycles), Kudos Cycles, Storck Raddar, Oxygen, Juicy Bikes, Gepida, Ultra Motor, eZee, PowaCycle, PowaByke, Monark (ECOBike), Giant, Sparta, Urban Mover, Synergie, Alien, BionX, FreeGo, Giant, Haibike and many others.

Online since 2006, Pedelecs came to life as a place for people from all walks of life to discuss their passion for cycling and their interest in electric bikes. The community is made up of a broad range of people, from those just getting to grips with the idea of purchasing one of the electric bikes on the market today, to knowledgeable veterans happy to share the technical nouse they’ve acquired.

While we know guides and news are an important aspect of learning about the world of electric bikes, equally important is the ability to share experiences and knowledge and to hear those views first hand. We welcome views and experiences from ‘first timers’ to the original, early adopters of electric bikes on our forum, and also from trade members supporting the site too of course.

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