Hi to everyone!!

[SpanishFlyer]

Dear friends,
Hope everybody is doing fine.
What brought me into this forum is the fact that after a terrible motobike accident in 2009 (run-over by a car), I haven't been able to do much exercise, since even though I had a total ankle replacement, I can barely walk. A couple of weeks ago I remembered I had an old electric bike (bicycle) in the attic, a Yamaha XPC 26 PAS; actually it was spanking new, since I had done with it less than a mile!! Now after 22 years I brought it down, charged the battery for two days and it runs!!
Problem is that with my overweight and the fact that the battery cannot be all that healthy, the bike could barely take me up a small hill. For that reason I have decided to add a front hub motor wheel and an extra battery so I can start doing some much needed exercise and at the same time enjoy some fresh air. I live in the most amazing countryside in northern Spain and all around me are hills, with no flat roads.
So that is my main reason to join your forum; I will need your help to fit the hub motor, add a front disk brake and manage the dual motor system so I don't end-up in the ditch ...or worse.
I added a photo of my "new bike"
Best regards,
Charles

 

[Nealh]

Welcome Charles, it's a shame you joined to late for advice as you might have saved some money. The original battery could have been re-celled with lithium cells to make the mid motor work better. Adding another motor and battery will make the bike so much heavier.

 

[warmrain]

I don't know the specifications of the Yamaha bike but the battery is not the main problem as it is clearly capable of powering the current motor (albeit total capacity might have reduced). I suspect the maximum torque from the motor is low and inadequate, especially on this old model of e-bike and hence the problem with hills. The point about not adding more weight is also relevant as it may not give you the best weight-vs-performance ratio.

I am sorry to hear of your health problems, but you might be better off selling off your old bike to someone who lives in a flat city/town and use the proceeds to supplement purchase of a new bike with motor capable of delivering at least 85nM max torque? [With a good range of gears.]

 

[Nealh]

At over 11 years old if the batteries are original then they will only be of scrap value as they just won't be able to deliver any suitable current under load.

 

[warmrain]

I have lithium cells in my laptop more than 11yr old which are working just fine albeit the wattHour capacity has declined.

 

[Nealh]

That may be so but on a bike the controller asks for more current them a lap top, on a bike the cells sag terribly and the voltage will crash when a load is asked.