Is this an ideal donor bike

[eddieo]

have been looking for a while for alfina 8 geared hub bike for conversion with the new Wisper kit. Getting fed up really and thinking is it worth the bother....but I would like a bike that rides like a nornak bike. Anyway, I think I may have found a decent bike but it is a bit expensive. It has carbon forks though..Is that a problem?

Just over 10 kg, so adding a rack, mudguards and kit should be well under 20 kg probably 18kg

have been looking for a nearly new in the usual places and there is a similar 2009 Bianchi Camaleonte Alfine for around £300 (half price) but its to big

Anyway this is it (and its black )

Review: Ridgeback Flight 04 | road.cc | The website for pedal powered people: Road cycling, commuting, leisure cycling and racing

 

[Stumpi]

Now I'm just starting out in the ebike world but the first thing that I notice it the bike has a front disc which may cause a few issues with some of the kits

 

[eddieo]

Now I'm just starting out in the ebike world but the first thing that I notice it the bike has a front disc which may cause a few issues with some of the kits

No its fine, the Wisper dapush kit accommodates a front disk I think......

 

[flecc]

No its fine, the Wisper dapush kit accommodates a front disk I think......

And so does the eZee front hub kit, disc included.
.

 

[1967geezer]

Hi eddio,

I looked at the Ridgeback flight 04 before eventually settling on the Ridgeback nemesis. The flight does not have horizontal dropouts, so you still have the chain tensioner hanging off the rear hub. A BIG minus in my eyes, why put an internal hub on a bike and then still have a derailleur-like contraption hanging off it?

The road.cc reviewer seemed wary of the alfine hub, I have to say I've had no problems at all with mine. It feels rock solid and very responsive. Even without electric, I can still beat all the cars away from the lights, gear changes are so smooth and easy.

But, if you don't mind the chain tensioner, I'd say it would be a very good donor bike. And it's black

Chris.

 

[eddieo]

Yes why the dangly bits or chain tensioners? All other Alfina bikes I've seen dont seem to have this set up

Chris, I thought the Nemesis had the nexsus hub, but it seems I was wrong and new ones have the Alfina?

I think, It may be a good enough base. non carbon forks as well and its cheaper. a few second-hand about but if you dint know what you are looking at (like me! lol) a bit risky me thinks ............

 

[1967geezer]

The chain tensioner is required because the frame has a vertical dropout (the dropout being the slot that the rear hub fits in to).

With a vertical dropout there is no facility for forward or backward movement of the hub, and therefore no way to put the correct tension on a chain.

So, in a derailleur equipped bike, the slack in the chain is taken up by the sprung derailleur. In a hub geared bike with vertical dropouts, the chain tension is maintained with the dangly chain tensioner. In a hub geared bike with horizontal dropouts, the chain tension is maintained by physically moving the hub backwards in the dropouts.

The flight 04 has vertical dropouts, and therefore needs a tensioner, the nemesis has horizontal dropouts and doesn't.

My nemesis has got alfine printed on the hub. When searching the web for alfine, remember its alfinE, with an E on the end, not an A

Chris.

 

[eddieo]

Thanks Chris for the explanation! I fully understand now........are you intending to fit a kit to yours, or is this just your normal bike?

My favourite bike ever was a ridgeback that was stolen from my garage...this may be kismet! lol

 

[1967geezer]

I bought the bike with the intention of fitting a homebrew kit on it, I will ride it without for a while until I can make my mind up on what to fit. I'm in no rush, and the bike rides so easy without electric anyway.

Chris.

 

[Stumpi]

And so does the eZee front hub kit, disc included.
.

Are there any links to these two disc ready kits?

 

[john]

It has carbon forks though..Is that a problem?

Steel forks are the safest to mount a hub motor, aluminium is not really strong enough (it can crack and break) and carbon is probably worse (but I don't have experience of these). A torque arm can help but it is not a substitute for a strong fork.

 

[flecc]

Are there any links to these two disc ready kits?

eZee kit at UK agents Onbike

The Wisper kit is due for release some time shortly, so you'll need to enquire, here's the contact link:

Wisper contact page
.