Is it mad to want two e-bikes?

[jeffpas]

@Garry Hallam my folder is 20" and looks very similar to yours.
Its not an expensive one but has a good solid build. I think its great. I still would like a full size for carrying heavier stuff back from the store, or to go about town.
As far as exercise, I have the self discipline to turn it off and pedal manually. Barely, when it has a throttle lever : P

The full size one I'm looking at is a Walmart Concord Commuter. Its also a budget model but I like everything about the feel of riding it. The battery has a 20 mile range.
They also have a Huffy Cadence for about the same price, that has a 40 mile range. However the Cadence to me feels cheap and it just doesn't ride as well.
It sounds weird, but I would rather have a bike I like riding with a 20 mile range, than one that I don't with twice that.
Also I wonder if maybe you could swap the battery out with a better one, and get a longer range? Thats one thing I'd like to find out.

 

[Waspy]

I have a 20" folder that I salvaged from a scrapyard. Shotblasted and powder coated. Fitted Sturmey AW 3 speed that I salvaged from a 700c town bike. My current favourite. I am tempted to swap the mid drive from the Voodoo over to this one but with a smaller battery.

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That is a tidy job. May I ask where you got it shotblasted and powder coated?

 

[Garry Hallam]

[QUOTE="jeffpas,]
Also I wonder if maybe you could swap the battery out with a better one, and get a longer range? Thats one thing I'd like to find out.
[/QUOTE]

Should be no problem as long as you can fit it somewhere.

 

[Garry Hallam]

That is a tidy job. May I ask where you got it shotblasted and powder coated?

My friend works at a Powder Coating company in Ashton Under Lyne. The cost per bike frame is £50.

 

[jeffpas]

Here is the battery for the Concord Commuter., the full size e-bike.
I'm interested in how common it looks. I am in the USA.... Illinois.... but its a Wal-Mart bike. Surprisingly, as I said it has a solid build and good welds as far as I can see.

I wondered first if this is any kind of a standard size that one can find generic replacements for. And also if you see the plug fitting, if that looks standard...... would it be possible to swap it out with a better grade battery.

This bike only has a 20 mile range- however there was a more cheaply built Huffy e-bike in the store that had a 40 mile range.
Thats what started me thinking, why can't I keep the bike with the better build, and just upgrade the battery? Maybe a better battery that would fit the bike, would get me a more comparable range to the Huffy.

What does anybody think?

 

[Peter.Bridge]

Here is the battery for the Concord Commuter., the full size e-bike.
I'm interested in how common it looks. I am in the USA.... Illinois.... but its a Wal-Mart bike. Surprisingly, as I said it has a solid build and good welds as far as I can see.

I wondered first if this is any kind of a standard size that one can find generic replacements for. And also if you see the plug fitting, if that looks standard...... would it be possible to swap it out with a better grade battery.

This bike only has a 20 mile range- however there was a more cheaply built Huffy e-bike in the store that had a 40 mile range.
Thats what started me thinking, why can't I keep the bike with the better build, and just upgrade the battery? Maybe a better battery that would fit the bike, would get me a more comparable range to the Huffy.

What does anybody think?


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Or just buy a different battery and connect it up to your existing controller ? If you don't have aesthetic objections to having a battery mounted on the down tube, can swap over the battery connections to the new one, and there is no comms between the battery and controller

 

[Chainmale]

Despite having been manufactured ages ago in April 2006, my Dahon Helios P8 BBS01B 20" wheeled mid-drive attracts too much attention. I think screeching magpie banshees are attracted by the shiny aluminium frame, or it's unusual shape. Usually, it merely makes groups of women burst into laughter simultaneously as I pedal by, I've no idea why. Attracts groups of people when left locked too,

The reason your Dahon attracts attention in certain areas is that the oiks see a man on what they perceive as an old ladies shopping bike. Add to that your bike has more add ons than a 1960s mod's scooter plus the full face helmet and leather jacket. I have an old Dahon and if I ride that in my local area it gets a few second glances if I'm wearing everyday clothes but no helmet, add a helmet and I get a lot more attention, add something that resemble cycling clothing even more attention. Ride the same area on my hybrid, no attention at all, just a bloke on a bike.

 

[jeffpas]

But isn't the battery I posted some kind of standard?
Or is every battery proprietary, and only fits with its model.
If so, that's a complete bummer.
I mean eventually this battery is going to die, and if only Concord Commuter batteries fit it, and these are no longer available.... I have to face the possibility that I will never find another battery that will fit in its slot.
So I'll either have to be left with a dead bike, or strap a battery on in a haphazard way that looks well, haphazard.

 

[jeffpas]

Maybe I need to just return the bike, and find another bike that has a battery slot, that can fit different brands of batteries instead of one that form fits into the frame like this one does, and only fits the proprietary Concord Commuter one.
.

 

[Nealh]

Maybe I need to just return the bike, and find another bike that has a battery slot, that can fit different brands of batteries instead of one that form fits into the frame like this one does, and only fits the proprietary Concord Commuter one.
.

Ther isn't a standard battery receiver/ fititng for electric bikes, if it is isemi - integrated in to the frame then one may have issues finding a replacement.
Any bike to me that uses a frame battery or semi -integrated battery is red flag that says it will be difficult to replace .

There are so many differing battery case types , they all require there own specific battery reciever / fitting to a bike. Even the well used Hailong case type have various different size cases and discharge fitting which makes them non compatible with each other.

Also one has to know whether any battery uses comm's wiring or is one of a simple two wire generic wire type.

 

[Benjahmin]

And this is exactly the reason that so often rcomendations, on this forum, are for bikes with generic parts where you don't get tied in to proprietary components, either at great expense or unavailable after a couple of years. These bikes can get referred to as, 'cheap chinese crap' by some. However the interchangeability of main components make them the better bet in the long run.
My own kit is now near 10 years old with around 20k miles on it. One new motor bearing, self replaced, and a new battery.

 

[Nealh]

My first two bikes were a Woosh Big Bear kit and a Woosh BBS01 , both used the Dolphin 09 case with Sam 29E cells. So both batteries were interchangable on both bikes meaning I could opt for much longer rides using both batteries. Eventually I also bought a third dolphin mounting rail for another bike and was able to use three bikes with the same batteries.

 

[Nealh]

My abovbe example is the only real route one has of standardising one's battery fitting if more then one bike is to be used.
It means though using a visible mounted on frame battery esp the type where one can buy extra mounting rails seperatlely.