Skeeter

To be fair, its not great. But this is a problem I have come up against when living in the bastions of Middle England too. People are c*@#s. Well, some of them anyway.

In the world of ordinary pedalos, the current fashion for MTBs is a small chain ring (34 teeth?) and an 11 (I hear there is a 12) ring cassette. The purpose is to provide a closer spread of ratio while using fewer parts so that wear is minimised, but strain on the rider is reduced...etc. I would guess that the same is true of a motor, and if it results in a smoother power delivery for the rider then Shimano gets more kudos. Certainly the reviews sing its praises. Will it be a reliable unit? Who knows. Even the cheapest car has its charms so long as everything works.

Wow that is so 21st century! It makes perfect sense if you are lugging a lithium battery around with you. Again though I don't like the idea of leaving it unattended with gadgets attached. I once saw a German design where the lights were built into the frame tubes - I thought that was very good indeed. I bought one of those cheapo solar rear lights for a fiver. Quite pleased with it (so far runtime @ 8 hrs and still going) although I hear it isn't waterproof - I see a session with some silicon looming. Considering a front light if I see a design I like the look of, but in the meantime bought some LED AAA-powered items for a tenner! (Mr cheapskate here).

Anyway once more I feel I've learnt a lot about the scene, And once again thanks to all for the patient answers to dumb questions.

Funny you should say that, just received the pannier rack! And yes, two locks. So between defeating the opportunist and being ignored by the career thief, maybe I'll survive. But I know from experience it doesn't stop some tosser stealing things from it. Or trying to. I spent ages looking for some lights which have a bracket that clamps to the frame! It seems things like that are out of fashion. Pifco anyone?

Honestly, which lock is that? And nothing defeats the angle grinder. There's a you tube vid of a guy repeatedly stealing his own bike in broad daylight in very public places. And no-one gives a flying f.

This is entirely my strategy but I've developed a desire to have the frame powder-coated. Damn. Gloss black though, nothing too flash.

Yep that's why I'm messing with on oldie! Trouble is its looking better by the day...

Just a bit leery about leaving it outside the supermarket. TBH, I had imagined a progressive delivery of power derived entirely from pedal input.

Is KT a brand or a type?

Mmm...interesting but disagree. Some scrotes would steal or attempt to steal anything, whether or not it was any use to them or even if they knew what it was or not.

TBH, being a wuss I'd go for the 250W item. Mind you if it was a case of just a sticker...I once had a race exhaust engraved with a fake CE kitemark...never got pulled though so never found out if that worked. The non-detachable screen bothers me. Left unattended that would generate unwanted attention. The answer would be a throttle. Poxy government.

Anyway for the moment I think I have all I need...special thanks to VFR whose help I appreciate. One last thing though...I notice that the 350W rear wheel drives are quite popular (and only a tad more expensive) despite their illegality...is the performance over the 250W item that good? Also, I suspect the difference in range (my favourite subject) between the two on the same battery isn't much. Correct or not? Thanks again.

Thanks Fat Rat.

So the battery is connected to the controller...any way you can or want to, perhaps with bullet connectors?

Another really important point: this is another kit from the same mob, much the same, but sans battery and thus cheaper. https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/36V350W-26-Rear-Motor-fit-for-Cassette-Electric-Bicycle-Conversion-Kit-Black/223948138826?hash=item342459694a:g:mOUAAOSw5gVeXhDg Is it reasonable to assume someone else's battery will have the same connectors?

Drill the frame for rivnuts! Not keen. I've never used a rivnut, only seen pictures, fairly hands-on, but drilling the frame is not a welcome prospect. I've noticed most of these batteries come with a locking system which all seem a bit crap. Do you habitually leave the battery on the frame when the bike is unattended?

Just noticed the section discussing which kit...maybe everything I need to know is there. Here's one that might do me though, any thoughts? https://www.ebay.co.uk/sch/i.html?_from=R40&_trksid=p2047675.m570.l1313&_nkw=36V350W+26"+Rear+Motor+fit+Cassette+E-bike+Hub+Motor+Conversion+Kit+Black&_sacat=0

Ok well misconceptions altered. Paradigms shifted. Thinking about mopeds... Re VFR's last comment, I'm looking at ebay offerings for you all to criticise (and I welcome the crit). I'll post a link or two shortly. One thing that bothers me is the recommendation to find a kit with a display. Why is this so great? I can't help but feel that will be the first thing to get nicked if it can't be removed by the user (and the ones I have seen advertised don't look like they can). ETA is there a rear wheel kit anybody would recommend?

Thanks VFR, I will do exactly that - but tomorrow. Also I found your comment about folding bikes to be most apt and also very funny. I have considered this (a bit). Ps I think your choice of motorbike to be very cool. I always wanted one of those. Big Honda fan here.

Thanks all for the input. I'm taking it all on board. I have two main desires from an e-bike: 1. Go to the supermarket. Haul lots of shopping back home. Round trip: 10 miles? This seems easily achievable. 2. I live about 30 miles from London. So I would like to be able to make the return journey. Sometimes, not every day. If I could do it then this would constitute a 'car replacement' - about 80% of my need for a car anyway. But I can see from your comments that my expectations here are unrealistic. Another area of interest - I would like to spend the least amount on my home-build - don't we all. I am thinking of a max £200 spend on a rear wheel unit in order to have as much left in the kitty for a decent battery. Please feel free to criticise this notion. I can take it. Thanks again. Skeeter

Hi VFR400. My 'research' amounts to watching a few youtube vids, grazing some ebay offers, and reading through some posts on a different forum where everybody disagrees with each other as a matter of principle. So your post seems to me to be hugely informative. One question if I may - does it follow that a 36v 30ah battery would give approximately a 90 mile range, or does the law of diminishing returns hold true? I take your point about comfort and road bikes; this may very well not be the only project! Many thanks Skeeter

Hello all, I was pointed in the direction by a e-bike fan and I have a few questions. I'm in the middle of fixing up an oldie, and I've recently warmed to the idea of adding a conversion kit. But this post isn't about 'which kit is best' so relax... Breaking the speed record does not concern me much but rather the central question that concerns all electric vehicles does - range. I recently read a post on this forum where someone claimed 100+ miles. That seems surprisingly high. If I could have that I would be happy. I have heard the opinion that pedal-assist is better for range than throttle control and that CD is the best all-round choice but since I would be largely sticking to tarmac I am leaning toward rear-wheel drive. So (I assume) its all about the battery. I could buy one of many kits which are supplied without one, so if I did what (lithium) battery would be an ideal choice? I freely admit I don't really understand why 48v may (or may not?) be more betterer (by what scale of reckoning?). Nor do I have much of an idea of the ideal min/max Ah capacity I should be aiming for (another poorly-formed assumption is that more in both categories is better), or even what would be best on a capacity vs cost analysis. Any wisdom offered will be gladly received and obsessed over for ages, I expect. Thanks in advance. Skeeter.