More power from a Giant?

Benjahmin

Esteemed Pedelecer
Nov 10, 2014
2,745
1,798
71
West Wales
Can you help my wife keep up?
Having been out for our first joint ride since I installed my cyclezee kit, the power difference between that and my wife's Giant Twist Esprit, is almost painful. Once again I am waiting for her, which is why we bought her a pedelec in the first place.
Does anyone know if it's possible to increase the power a bit/some/at all? This bike is the one with the vertical 8.8Ah battery down one side of the rack. The motor is Sanyo supplied, licensed from Rabbit Tool co USA.
I've put in some 'photo's of the motor and controller, in case it helps.
Thanks
Ben
 

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Deleted member 4366

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Everything is possible, but the question is how complicated? The motor is small and so is the battery. How capable are you at modifying electrical things? Do you understand how booster batteries work?

It would probably be better to sell that bike and get something like a Woosh Big Bear stepthrough version or an Ezee bike.
 

flecc

Member
Oct 25, 2006
53,559
30,848
I agree with d8veh that it's an unpromising basis to work from. These were always one of the slowest e-bikes, experienced reviewers A to B magazine remarking on riding one version that it was akin to dying of boredom.

The motor is a very old design, first sold as the regenerating "Motorised Wheel" by the Berkestrand Corporation of America (aka Rabbit Tool Co) but failing to sell well in that role. Later Sanyo licenced the design for use in their own e-bikes in Japan where the pedelec law is very restrictive and all e-bikes slow in consequence. It was from Sanyo much later that Giant picked it up after discontinuing their use of Panasonic crank drives.

Giant are a fine bicycle manufacturer producing many excellent bicycles, but in 15 years of trying have never succeeded in producing an e-bike that is both proficient and profitable, only ever managing one of those at a time.
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Benjahmin

Esteemed Pedelecer
Nov 10, 2014
2,745
1,798
71
West Wales
Thanks guys, you're confirming my suspicions. I'm an electrician by trade so wiring is no problem, however all the control and D.C. side of things is a learnable unknown.
I have suggested the Big Bear but having only purchased the Giant earlier this year, 'she who must' is a bit reluctant. We paid £800 for it and, in hindsight, should have done a lot more research.
So, d8veh, just how complex would it be?
 

RobF

Esteemed Pedelecer
Sep 22, 2012
4,732
2,312
Swap bikes.
 
C

Cyclezee

Guest
Lateral thinking Ben, swap bikes with your wife or ride the eZee powered bike on level 1 power setting;)
 
C

Cyclezee

Guest
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Given the eZee motor power at maximum, a tow rope like this? ;)
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Thanks Tony, I now have images of RoadRunner cartoons and a bungee cord made by Acme;)

Oh yeah, and reliving the nightmare of sitting on my broken down Honda MTX 200 which was being towed by car across a busy junction in Surbiton:eek::eek::eek:
 
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Benjahmin

Esteemed Pedelecer
Nov 10, 2014
2,745
1,798
71
West Wales
Lateral thinking Ben, swap bikes with your wife or ride the eZee powered bike on level 1 power setting;)
Wot me ride a sit up and beg? I may be an old git but I do have some sense of style left.
Perhaps we should take it to holland and 'loose' it !