Where do you think is the best way of battery mounting?

[Kudoscycles]

Eddie...I decided not to have the slide in type battery behind the seatpost on most Kudos bikes because I disliked the way it extended the wheelbase,on some bikes unless carefully designed I think it looks like the battery has been included as an afterthought,maybe that is the case if the electric is a conversion based upon a non assisted bike. Also I found the handling strange,good in a straight line but not good viraging on tight bends.
I hadn't considered the extra length would make it difficult to mount on the back of a motorhome-good point.
The slide in type battery installation is cheaper but I like the rack mounted battery-because
1.It keeps the wheelbase as a normal bike
2.Access to the battery is very easy
3.The battery rack also make a good luggage carrier
4.The battery cn be easily disguised/hiiden by pannier bags
5.Most new battery developments seem to concentrate on these battery types.
Dave
KudosCycles

 

[bode]

I agree with your reservations about the behind-seatpost battery position, but it does have the advantage of a lower centre of gravity.

 

[eddieo]

I like the in frame battery with reservations. better with a hub motor bike then with a crankdrive as all weight dead centre. with my wisper with front motor its the nicest balanced bike I have ever ridden. with the Bosch (all weight in low centre) it just felt heavier even though it was only a kg or 2

only motorhome owners really need e bikes with normal wheelbase to fit rack and weight in this situation important also..most of you will not be bothered by this. but saying that lighter bikes much nicer to ride.....

I was even considering the new S class Panasonic yesterday until common sense kicked in after weighing everything up, (the new 36V Panasonic getting v good reviews)

I just have a mental block about battery's high on rear rack! I cant help it honest......

Dave, nice to see someone is still talking to me...all the best

 

[Cakey]

Have a look for specialised turbo ebike . That's how it should be done

 

[Cakey]

Dave
The neo is the way I like it . Looks like a bike

 

[eddieo]

Have a look for specialised turbo ebike . That's how it should be done

Yep absolutely stunning...... looks like that 250 watt Go Swiss drive again

 

[Kudoscycles]

I agree I like the look of that bike-but I bet replacement batteries are expensive-the BH emotion Neo x/Treme and Neo Cross are similar in style, but without profit, replacements batteries are £450.00. Any of these special battery shapes inevitably are expensive-thats why we try to use volume produced batteries with the Kudos range.
Dave
KudosCycles

 

[flecc]

Yep absolutely stunning...... looks like that 250 watt Go Swiss drive again

Hopefully the battery comes out easily for charging indoors.

However, we'll never see it since it depends on them getting the pedelec legislated 15 mph assist speed limit changed to 30 mph, and that will never happen!

 

[eddieo]

but we now know to register as a 30mph e moped is £70 (as long as it has COC) + moped insurance..and your away!..makes new Panasonic look a bit of a bargain!

 

[flecc]

but we now know to register as a 30mph e moped is £70 (as long as it has COC) + moped insurance..and your away!..makes new Panasonic look a bit of a bargain!

Not so I'm afraid. It would still have to be modified to comply with the moped laws. That means lighting, brake light, mirror, illuminated number plate with mudguard, tax disc holder, and I think regulation indicators as well. What would it look like with all that done? I dread to think! And having to ride that with an approved motorcycle helmet would look a bit soppy.

 

[Jimod]

When I started looking for an ebike I quickly decided I wanted one with the battery on the rack or on the tube like cytronex. The cytronex batteries weren't big enough to do a decent range so it was the rack for me. I don't like the look of the battery behind the seat tube. The prime point in the bike for me was, it had to look like a 'normal' bike.

I've Been sitting on my bike talking to people and they had no idea it was an e-bike. I was stopped on a hill talking to a friend and as I was about to leave his daughter said "you should get a wee motor on that, you'd get up that hill a lot easier" . That's what I'd call, a result.

 

[eddieo]

but a BIG battery high up on rear rack looks terrible ascetically, and handling must surely be compromised....Add panniers full of shopping and handling even worse.

 

[Kudoscycles]

Eddie....careful the spelling police will be after you again...'aesthetically'
I bet all that shopping wrecks the handling of your 'Furari Toasterrosa'
You wait to see the giant panniers on our new Kudos Safari,real packhorse stuff!!!!
It is said that a gentleman always rests on his elbows and never corrects another's spelling mistakes.
Dave
KudosCycles

 

[flecc]

I bet all that shopping wrecks the handling of your 'Furari Toasterrosa'
You wait to see the giant panniers on our new Kudos Safari,real packhorse stuff!!!!

Here's mine on my Q-bike, huge Dutch panniers and all the weight at the back, me + battery + rear-motor + pannier load + whatever is added on top on the flat area, and often plus trailer.

It handling is great.

 

[jhruk]

but a BIG battery high up on rear rack looks terrible ascetically, and handling must surely be compromised....Add panniers full of shopping and handling even worse.

An ascetic would probably not own an e-bike.

In frame batteries may look impressive but when it comes to replacement you’re stuck with the manufactures offering, together with their pricing. And that’s if they still make them.

Like many others I carry my batteries in rack packs, which just look like normal luggage. These I can easily swap between bikes, enabling me to run several bikes with just the one battery, or swap batteries between bikes - something that would be impossible if the batteries were all unique to their bikes. I can also fit in the tools, pump etc that I would normally take on any ride.

I agree it is probably not the ideal place handling wise, but once on the move I don’t find it a problem. - It’s more noticeable when you’re stationary - you need a strong stand. More often than not I ride with panniers as well and find they make no more difference than on any other bike.

Of course if I was younger, and doing sporty trail riding, I might think differently - but then I probably wouldn’t be doing the shopping.

 

[Jimod]

but a BIG battery high up on rear rack looks terrible ascetically, and handling must surely be compromised....Add panniers full of shopping and handling even worse.

A battery stuck in front of the rear wheel looks worse in my eyes. As to handling, I'm not into racing lycra clad club riders so the handling is OK for me. I normally carry my spare battery with me which is on top of the rack and adds to the weight. You feel it when wheeling it out of the garage. i've bought bigger panniers than the standard Kudos ones as I wanted the bit on top to carry my spare battery in.

I guess the looks of a bike is a personal taste but the battery on the rack doesn't botrher me as you can't see it as I've always got the panniers on.

 

[smudger1956]

I do prefer the behind seatpost mounting, it is more ascetically pleasing....
I have also had comments of 'I did not realise it was an electric bike' it was thought my battery was a small carrier and my hub motor was a dynamo...

 

[bode]

Well, in aesthetic terms, I cover both options, as I have my big Ping battery hidden in the top part of a triple pannier set, but I have retained the old battery casing behind the seatpost as a convenient place to store puncture repair kit and pump (and the bike just looked weird with nothing there).

It is undoubtedly the sight of this non-motive battery housing that prompts people to ask if it is an electric bike (or shout "that's cheating!").

 

[Cyclezee]

How about this for discreet battery location, low centre of gravity too

 

[eddieo]

NICE!.......Don't be giving your ideas away to Dave for free mind!