Hey all.
First time post but been lurking for a while, gaining tons of useful information.
I'm looking to convert my MTB to electric and have pretty much decided on a Q128C 201RPM 36V rear hub-drive motor. I've been considering crank-drive kits but I think the hub-drive may be better for me as I want to be able to retain as many of my gears as I can (I have a 9-speed cassette, can I retain this?). I'm also lead to believe that a hub-drive kit is easier to ride unpowered. Happy to have my choice changed though if you guys think I'm heading down the wrong road. I mainly ride trails and roads. No big offroad hill-climbing.
My bike is a 2008 Saracen Ariel 3 full sus:
As you can see, there is no space to mount a bottle battery inside the triangle. Being a full-sus, I can't really go with a rack-mount either (there is another issue in that I tow my son around on his bike with a Trail-Gator and a rack would get in the way of that). So, I was thinking of mounting the battery to the top-tube on the frame with some clamps. Has anyone else done this? I can see there being an issue with the weight being fairly high up but it's not going to be any higher than a rack I think due to the steep angle of the tube on my bike. I was thinking I could butt it up against the seat-post to centralise the mass as much as I can.
Any advice greatly appreciated.
First time post but been lurking for a while, gaining tons of useful information.
I'm looking to convert my MTB to electric and have pretty much decided on a Q128C 201RPM 36V rear hub-drive motor. I've been considering crank-drive kits but I think the hub-drive may be better for me as I want to be able to retain as many of my gears as I can (I have a 9-speed cassette, can I retain this?). I'm also lead to believe that a hub-drive kit is easier to ride unpowered. Happy to have my choice changed though if you guys think I'm heading down the wrong road. I mainly ride trails and roads. No big offroad hill-climbing.
My bike is a 2008 Saracen Ariel 3 full sus:
As you can see, there is no space to mount a bottle battery inside the triangle. Being a full-sus, I can't really go with a rack-mount either (there is another issue in that I tow my son around on his bike with a Trail-Gator and a rack would get in the way of that). So, I was thinking of mounting the battery to the top-tube on the frame with some clamps. Has anyone else done this? I can see there being an issue with the weight being fairly high up but it's not going to be any higher than a rack I think due to the steep angle of the tube on my bike. I was thinking I could butt it up against the seat-post to centralise the mass as much as I can.
Any advice greatly appreciated.