Hi all, I have a couple of dogs that (like me) are now getting on a bit. I can no longer walk any real distance so I treated myself to an eBike which has pretty amazing performance - but that's the problem! I really want to be able to just quietly cycle along at pretty much average walking pace so that the dogs can keep up easily but the bike is just too fast! It is a 48 volt with 500 watt motor and although I have tried restricting the speed via the controller (you can set from 5 to 25 kph) but that didn't work. I can slow the bike down with the hand throttle but that results in me losing balance because it's so slow. So now I have one last idea but I don't know enough about the electric motors to know if this will cause damage - I can choose what voltage to operate the bike at from 12, 24, 36 or 48 - my thinking is if I reduce the voltage that will reduce the power and hence the speed of the bike, yes? So if I do that then just pedal slowly I might get what I want SO, what do you guys think?

Hi, is the bike restricted to 15mph max assist and dose it have a magnet on one of the spokes To measure the speed. if the answer is yes to both questions then putting a second magnet opposite the first will half you assisted speed (7.5mph)

No the speed is not restricted and when I tried it using first the hand throttle and then later by pedal it easily topped over 20 mph. There is no magnet on a spoke but you can change the number of magnets through the control unit and ( have found 46 seems to give pretty much the correct speed in mph).

If you went down to 24v, you'd get half the speed. For that, you'd need a new battery and controller.

This is the link to the Amazon listing for the bike: https://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/B084FJW4M5/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_asin_title_o04_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1

There is an option via the controller to select different voltages ie 24v / 36v or 48

There is an option via the controller to select different voltages ie 24v / 36v or 48

It might work with just a 24v battery then.

I can slow the bike down with the hand throttle but that results in me losing balance because it's so slow

Increase the speed gradually until you can balance.

I did try to gently increase speed but it's about 5 or 6 mph and that is just too fast for the poor old girl. I keep wondering if I select 24 volts from the controller will I do any damage? I think it would be really hard to find a 24 volt battery to fit this specific bike

I did try to gently increase speed but it's about 5 or 6 mph and that is just too fast for the poor old girl. I keep wondering if I select 24 volts from the controller will I do any damage? I think it would be really hard to find a 24 volt battery to fit this specific bike

That bike looks as if it designed for speed and may be difficult to keep slow and stable. I think using a 48v battery and setting controller to 24v is not going to work well; vfr400 will give a better answer on that.

 

Sounds as if part of the problem is that you just aren't stable when going slow enough for the dogs, and any amount of changing settings and voltages around won't help if that's the case.

convert the dog to electric

Can`t you ride it on the lowest Assist and use the throttle for pulling away ? My Fat Tyre has 5 Assist levels and I use the throttle from stationary only .

You can't just select 24v on the controller. All that does is change the low voltage cut-off point to protect the battery from over-discharge. You have to physically change the battery to a 24v one, then set the controller to match.

Have you tried a lower tyre pressure on the small fat tyres . to increase the contact area

The overall gearing could be reduced to give a lower speed by changing the front chain wheel [smaller]

Peter the idea of changing the front chain wheel might just be the answer! It had never occurred to me but it makes complete sense and means I could pedal at a slow, smooth pace which would let me keep my balance but with the bike travelling at a much slower speed! I will definately look into that tomorrow. Many thanks to all who replied.

If all else fails....

 

Is there an LCD where you can set the wheel size larger than it actually is? Might fool it into thinking you are going faster than you are.

yes there is - in fact the meter was set for 26" wheels when I got it instead of 20" so I will see how large I can set it for! Also I have found that there is a disc just inside where the pedal goes through the frame and it has 12 magnets with a reader that blinks as they pass round it.

The largest wheel size will be 28", 700c or 29" theoretically all much the same.

yes there is - in fact the meter was set for 26" wheels when I got it instead of 20" so I will see how large I can set it for! Also I have found that there is a disc just inside where the pedal goes through the frame and it has 12 magnets with a reader that blinks as they pass round it.

 

If it's already set for 26", setting it for 29" will only give about 5 to 10% reduction in speed, but I suppose every little helps

No, because I reset it to 20" thinking I was doing the right thing but now I know better

Have now looked at lcd and manual - wheel size is in inches and can be adjusted by 0.1 increments from 1 to 50

50 inch wheels?

Have now looked at lcd and manual - wheel size is in inches and can be adjusted by 0.1 increments from 1 to 50

 

A 50 inch wheel? Awesome! That's perfect for motorising your Penny Farthing

If balance if the issue, then going slower might not solve it. Need a trike, or maybe put those training wheels / outrigger back on?