Electric Bikes Conversion Kits EMTBS eRoad/Commuting What's New?

New dahon - Jifo 16

C

cwah

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Jun 3, 2011
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Hello guys,

I was watching the new bike range from dahon and I've seen a new small size folding bike:


It's the jifo 16 and weight just under 9kg!!
Jifo 16 | Dahon Worldwide

Most of their frame are now in "dalloy aluminium". Same for this one.

Too bad it's not steel, I'd love to bend slightly the rear dropout to add an electric motor :p
 
jerrysimon

jerrysimon

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Aug 27, 2009
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Looks like a good weight though the geometry just does not look comfortable to ride, too short a wheel base maybe ?

I would definitely like to ride one first to make sure. Also again small 16" wheel and no suspension might prove uncomfortable. As I said go try it first :)

Regards

Jerry
 
flecc

flecc

Member
Oct 25, 2006
53,616
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My reaction too, handlebars and saddle very close and whole bike looks very short.

With a rear motor and that saddle with rider weight over the back wheel it would continuously want to do big wheelies going uphill. The rearward weight bias would also mean poor traction for a front hub motor.

I think not very practical as it is and definitely a no-no for a hub motor.
 
C

cwah

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Jun 3, 2011
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It's true it looks like a kid bike. :D

But a 8 kg bike seems so nice. Would love to have a fast and light bike.
 
jerrysimon

jerrysimon

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C

cwah

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Jun 3, 2011
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The dahon uno was my first choice initially.

Unfortunately, the rear dropout is 120mm only and I need 135 mm to install the motor I want (either Bafang or Mac). I know there are smaller motors but they are not powerful enough...

The frame material is aluminium so I can't bend it in order to fit the motor. Too bad :(
 
D

Deleted member 4366

Guest
cwah said:
The dahon uno was my first choice initially.

Unfortunately, the rear dropout is 120mm only and I need 135 mm to install the motor I want (either Bafang or Mac). I know there are smaller motors but they are not powerful enough...

The frame material is aluminium so I can't bend it in order to fit the motor. Too bad :(
Click to expand...
I think you would be able to fit the motor with some minor mods, but what would you do about a back brake?
 
C

cwah

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D8v3h, my savior! Really? It's possible? How?

Brakes are mandatory in uk legislation. Bike would have brake and they can't be sold in uk. If they are too poor I'd just change them to better V-brake
 
flecc

flecc

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Oct 25, 2006
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In the UK two brakes are compulsory but both can be on the front wheel, many trikes are designed that way. So you could have the existing front caliper plus a Shimano front hub roller brake.

Alternatively a second caliper brake on the rear of the front fork.

Both these ways are legal on a bicycle.
 
Z

z0mb13e

Esteemed Pedelecer
Jul 28, 2009
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Could you not get away with regenerative breaking? You don't have to use the recovered energy, dumping the current into a load would be enough...
 
C

cwah

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Is it complicated to install a rear brake?? Couldn't I just buy an additional one?

And for regenerative braking, it means direct drive motor. The only light enough is the crystalyte 209. But I'm not sure about its performance. I've seen poor values from a user of the 206. (around 16 wh/km at max speed of 34kph)
 
D

Deleted member 4366

Guest
How doesn the back brake work on the Dahon Uno. I can't see one anywhere, but I think it's a fixed wheel, so when you fit a motor with a free-wheel - no back brake and no way of fitting one which would be no good on a 30 mph bike!
 
Z

z0mb13e

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Jul 28, 2009
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d8veh said:
How doesn the back brake work on the Dahon Uno. I can't see one anywhere, but I think it's a fixed wheel, so when you fit a motor with a free-wheel - no back brake and no way of fitting one which would be no good on a 30 mph bike!
Click to expand...
The original rear wheel is a back pedal brake.
 
Z

z0mb13e

Esteemed Pedelecer
Jul 28, 2009
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cwah said:
Is it complicated to install a rear brake?? Couldn't I just buy an additional one?

And for regenerative braking, it means direct drive motor. The only light enough is the crystalyte 209. But I'm not sure about its performance. I've seen poor values from a user of the 206. (around 16 wh/km at max speed of 34kph)
Click to expand...
You would need the mounts which I don't think are in the frame. I'm sure they could be added if you feel like brazing inserts into the frame... it's gonna ruin the paint job though :)

You can create a hell of a lot of resistance (or should that be reluctance?) in a hub motor by shorting phases. I've done this by accident when truing a hub motor wheel and have been surprised just how hard it is to turn the wheel...
 
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C

cwah

Esteemed Pedelecer
Jun 3, 2011
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d8veh said:
How doesn the back brake work on the Dahon Uno. I can't see one anywhere, but I think it's a fixed wheel, so when you fit a motor with a free-wheel - no back brake and no way of fitting one which would be no good on a 30 mph bike!
Click to expand...
Hmmm... Maybe I should just buy a dahon jetstream like you then. Downtube seems good but I haven't seen many news from this company. (not sure if they are still alive)

How do you install 135mm motor on a 130mm fork dropout? And why do you want to install it on front wheel and not on rear wheel. It would be much more stealthy behind.
 
jerrysimon

jerrysimon

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Front wheel installs are by far the simpler. They can be still be stealthy especially if you use a Tongxin :p

I agree front hub motors are not to every ones tastes, but in the case of small wheeled folders IMHO they are probably the best option.

Regards

Jerry
 
C

cwah

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Aaaahhh... If only the tongxin was able to handle more watts... :rolleyes:

But I can still dream lol
 
jerrysimon

jerrysimon

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Do you want to go faster than 15mpg unassisted ? The Tongxin 260rpm will propel you at 15mph on the flat.

If not, the Tongxin has more than enough power to get you up hills albeit not at high speeds.

I always pedal with my Tongxin motor engaged anyway.

An alternative may be the Cute Q85 motor. Check BMS battery for details. I am about to get one and try it out in a small wheeled bike.

Regards

Jerry
 
C

cwah

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Jerry, I've already been through the speed debate here many times and I don't want to into this debate again...
Yes, I'm looking for something faster and with better torque. That's why I'm only looking into 135 mm motors. And I'll have more motors choices (except for the 209 but I'm not sure about its efficiency)
 
jerrysimon

jerrysimon

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Aug 27, 2009
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Oh I wasn't trying to open the speed debate (that's been done to death) just trying to work out your requirement.

I hope you have found my replies helpful as that was my intention :)

Regards

Jerry
 
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