August 31, 20241 yr There you go, I never even knew they made 8 speed freewheels. I should buy that Trek for £80 OR BEST OFFER. Strip it down for spares. It's in Leeds though, I live in the soft south. Then there's the wife's reaction *sigh* For rear hub conversion, the Shengyi DWG2NC motor has freehub, 135mm rear dropout. Same price as XF08C. The good thing about cassette is you have 11T on the smallest cog. That allows leisurely cadence up to 18mph with standard 44T chainring. Freewheels are not as good. Firstly, they wobble. Just spin the rear wheel and look at it. Not good for the chain and gear shifting. Secondly, you have 13T on the smallest cog, you have to pedal 17% faster compared to a cassette. 135mm rear dropout is pretty much standard nowadays. The DWG22C will drop in without effort.
August 31, 20241 yr It's certainly pointed me in the direction of what I would want for conversion in future for myself - a step-through aluminium frame with rigid forks, disc brakes and 650B wheels. I think a Cannondale adventure would make a good donor bike, here's one for sale 6 miles from me (650b wheels, disc brakes, but has front suspension) https://www.facebook.com/marketplace/item/1172481134108086/
August 31, 20241 yr I've made templates in the past to answer queries here, and the chainstays are almost like the maker wanted to be awkward! I used templates and searched internet to find if my bikes can be converted with TSDZ2B and TSDZ8. In both cases answer was: "NO. It can't be done". I don't like to hear that something can't be done, so I tried and I tried and I did it. In both cases I had to butcher frames and file motor case a bit, but I made it work and I am very pleased with both conversions. You might be right. Maybe your frame is to awkward, but it is worth to try. Especially if you already have bike and motor.
August 31, 20241 yr Mirror hitting close shave from yesterday! Does the van not stopping constitute leaving the scene of an accident? [ATTACH=full]59602[/ATTACH] I only do leisure riding and have over time found local routes that avoid those type of roads as above. I'm too frighten to do that sort anymore. But I'm still amazed at how many near misses drivers are prepared to take on the roads/lanes I use. I can't avoid fast roads like that, and while cycling along a fast road yesterday, I reflected on how nice it is that the Oxford lollipop sticking out of the end of my right hand side handlebar end, commands a bit of the road drivers would otherwise drive through, without putting myself in danger of being driven over. You won't believe it's effectiveness until you try. Edited August 31, 20241 yr by guerney
August 31, 20241 yr I think a Cannondale adventure would make a good donor bike, here's one for sale 6 miles from me (650b wheels, disc brakes, but has front suspension) https://www.facebook.com/marketplace/item/1172481134108086/ Yes, I clocked that a few months ago. Has the advantage of bottle cage fixings high on the downtube so no problem fitting a battery. As you say, it has front suspension which I definitely don't want though. It's also too dear ATM for this skinflint. In a couple of years they might be had for sub-£100 - much more like it!
August 31, 20241 yr For rear hub conversion, the Shengyi DWG2NC motor has freehub, 135mm rear dropout. Same price as XF08C. The good thing about cassette is you have 11T on the smallest cog. That allows leisurely cadence up to 18mph with standard 44T chainring. Freewheels are not as good. Firstly, they wobble. Just spin the rear wheel and look at it. Not good for the chain and gear shifting. Secondly, you have 13T on the smallest cog, you have to pedal 17% faster compared to a cassette. 135mm rear dropout is pretty much standard nowadays. The DWG22C will drop in without effort. Do you have some reservations about the 11t free wheels ? DRIFT MANIAC 7 Speed Freewheel For E-Bike 11-28T/11-34T Screw On Freewheel https://amzn.eu/d/inm6bap Edited August 31, 20241 yr by Peter.Bridge
August 31, 20241 yr Yes, I clocked that a few months ago. Has the advantage of bottle cage fixings high on the downtube so no problem fitting a battery. As you say, it has front suspension which I definitely don't want though. It's also too dear ATM for this skinflint. In a couple of years they might be had for sub-£100 - much more like it! https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/266971767597?mkcid=16&mkevt=1&mkrid=711-127632-2357-0&ssspo=-JXmvRPDTIu&sssrc=4429486&ssuid=e7wJGK-DRD6&var=&widget_ver=artemis&media=MORE
August 31, 20241 yr https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/266971767597?mkcid=16&mkevt=1&mkrid=711-127632-2357-0&ssspo=-JXmvRPDTIu&sssrc=4429486&ssuid=e7wJGK-DRD6&var=&widget_ver=artemis&media=MORE No space for battery.
August 31, 20241 yr It's also too dear ATM for this skinflint. In a couple of years they might be had for sub-£100 - much more like it! £200 is a very good price for "like new" Cannondale Adventure. You can wait few years for lower prices, but then nobody will give you back lost time. I paid £500 and don't regret.
August 31, 20241 yr Do you have some reservations about the 11t free wheels ? DRIFT MANIAC 7 Speed Freewheel For E-Bike 11-28T/11-34T Screw On Freewheel https://amzn.eu/d/inm6bap I've been using a DNP 11-28T freewheel (probably the same manufacture as The Drift Maniac one) for over a year now (around 600 miles) on my steel framed Giant MTB without problems. I took the precaution of flushing out the grease and dunking it in Hypoid 90 gear oil overnight, then letting it drain out a bit before fitting. I have a 48-38-28T front triple and have found that if I'm in the middle ring I only use the 11T on rare occasions. The 11T is reserved for the big 48T ring, but only if I'm in the mood to go faster than around 15mph - which isn't often these days. The objective in all cases is to try and keep the chain line as parallel as possible to reduce the wear stresses on the freewheel bearings, sprocket teeth and chain. Of course, one of the advantages of rear hub motors is much reduced wear on chains, chain sets and freewheels/cassettes anyway.
August 31, 20241 yr Oh no... I've just searched Facecrook Marketmenace, and Dahons are underpriced compared to ebay... which of course means this is yet another online souk I'll regularly be searching, for rare Dahons with rear 135mm dropouts. Edited August 31, 20241 yr by guerney
August 31, 20241 yr £200 is a very good price for "like new" Cannondale Adventure. You can wait few years for lower prices, but then nobody will give you back lost time. Very true, but ATM a step-through is just a "nice to have". In a couple of years time it might become a "need to have". Until then I'll just make do with what I've got, not least because I've been told by the domestic authorities that If another bike arrives I'll be sleeping in the garage with it! I do like your bike though. Hmmmm..... I
August 31, 20241 yr For rear hub conversion, the Shengyi DWG2NC motor has freehub, 135mm rear dropout. Same price as XF08C. The good thing about cassette is you have 11T on the smallest cog. That allows leisurely cadence up to 18mph with standard 44T chainring. Freewheels are not as good. Firstly, they wobble. Just spin the rear wheel and look at it. Not good for the chain and gear shifting. Secondly, you have 13T on the smallest cog, you have to pedal 17% faster compared to a cassette. 135mm rear dropout is pretty much standard nowadays. The DWG22C will drop in without effort. Advantages and disadvantages. The disadvantages of freewheels that you mention don't actually give problems in use. Some look a bit wobbly, but they still give years of service. Freewheels give two main advantages: Firstly, the mechanism is inside the freewheel, which is easy and cheap to replace, unnlike some freehub motors that become scrap when the pawls wear. Secondly, freewheel motors always have wider stator than freehub ones, so they can handle more power. Also, the cost of replacement of a freewheel is a lot less, and freewheels generally last a lot longer than cassettes. Finally, freewheel motors are generally cheaper than freehub ones. For anyone that's pragmatic, freewheel is better than freehub for normal bike riding.
August 31, 20241 yr Advantages and disadvantages. The disadvantages of freewheels that you mention don't actually give problems in use. Some look a bit wobbly, but they still give years of service. Freewheels give two main advantages: Firstly, the mechanism is inside the freewheel, which is easy and cheap to replace, unnlike some freehub motors that become scrap when the pawls wear. Secondly, freewheel motors always have wider stator than freehub ones, so they can handle more power. Also, the cost of replacement of a freewheel is a lot less, and freewheels generally last a lot longer than cassettes. Finally, freewheel motors are generally cheaper than freehub ones. For anyone that's pragmatic, freewheel is better than freehub for normal bike riding. The vast majority (99%+) of customers never need to replace the freehub and I always keep spares. Customers should go for the best available solution within their budget, otherwise you could save a few quid and never experience what a good bike can do for you. Secondly, freewheel motors always have wider stator than freehub ones, so they can handle more power. The Shengyi DWG2NC and the MXUS XF08C are both available with freewheel motor lid. The difference in price is small. I chose cassette body because of their superior features. Edited August 31, 20241 yr by Woosh
August 31, 20241 yr Author I can't avoid fast roads like that, and while cycling along a fast road yesterday, I reflected on how nice it is that the Oxford lollipop sticking out of the end of my right hand side handlebar end, commands a bit of the road drivers would otherwise drive through, without putting myself in danger of being driven over. You won't believe it's effectiveness until you try. 85 mile day yesterday with only 2 of busy road! We are never safe!
August 31, 20241 yr £200 is a very good price for "like new" Cannondale Adventure. You can wait few years for lower prices, but then nobody will give you back lost time. [ATTACH type=full" alt="59603]59603[/ATTACH] I paid £500 and don't regret. Really nice to see how your bike turned out, i think we brought them at the same time, unfortunately i have to rely on a friend to convert mine. He told me it was done at the start of summer but has yet to deliver it, so been tootling about on my carerra bbs02 he did for me previously, fingers crossed i get it in time to ride through the winter. I went for a bafang rear hub on mine.
August 31, 20241 yr 85 mile day yesterday with only 2 of busy road! We are never safe! Surely it's got to be worth the price of a plastic lollipop and GoPro extension mounts trying? That mirror could have knocked you down to be squished, by whatever heavy metal wheeled and mirrored object was behind it's metal box on wheels. We mustn't be shy requesting 39.9cm of road space from the end of our handlebar, especially considering they're supposed to allow 150cm. I've used this thing for years, and not even one close pass - it has never been struck by a vehicle. Edited August 31, 20241 yr by guerney
August 31, 20241 yr Do you have some reservations about the 11t free wheels ? DRIFT MANIAC 7 Speed Freewheel For E-Bike 11-28T/11-34T Screw On Freewheel https://amzn.eu/d/inm6bap Yes. None of them (dnp, sunrace, ventura etc) is anywhere as reliable as ordinary cassettes. You need to understand how they are built. Some are freewheel to cassette adapters. They fail well before 3000 miles. Some have a very small and thin core. They pop out into 10 pieces when you don't expect. All of tgem wobble when you look at them. The ordinary cassettes are a simple set of rings and they don't wobble. There is absolutely no surprise. I have replaced more 11t freewheels than any member on here has bought. I often learn the hard way. Nowadays, I go for tried and tested rather than niche and novelty.
August 31, 20241 yr Author Surely it's got to be worth the price of a plastic lollipop and GoPro extension mounts trying? That mirror could have knocked you down to be squished, by whatever heavy metal wheeled and mirrored object was behind it's metal box on wheels. We mustn't be shy requesting 39.9cm of road space from the end of our handlebar, especially considering they're supposed to allow 150cm. I've used this thing for years, and not even one close pass - it has never been struck by a vehicle. If I was an urban rider, I'd have one. Main issue is the end of season condition of my trusty Guernicar Deflector ©®™! And it being end of rush hour on a Friday. I am having to make do with some appalling camp spots on this trip.
August 31, 20241 yr Respect [mention=34503]matthewslack[/mention] for the Hilleberg tent (Enan?). Nearly finished a road e-touring build, and an old Akto is going in the panniers. But, man are they expensive!
August 31, 20241 yr I have replaced more 11t freewheels than any member on here has bought. I'll challenge you on that one. I used to buy boxes of them direct from DNP and sell them both on Ebay and to forum members. I bought and sold both 7-speed and 8-speeds- probably about 200 in total. I also sold a substantial number to Hammer bikes for their conversions until I explained to them that it would be better for them to buy them direct from DNP too. So did you have to replace more than 200?
September 1, 20241 yr Not as many as 200 but they are not a reliable solution. Just looking at the reviews on Amazon for the Drift Maniac (which are mostly favourable) , there is a significant number reporting those problems you described (usually between 2000-3000 miles of use)
September 1, 20241 yr Those 11t freewheels are the only solutions when you have already got your motor.
September 1, 20241 yr Just looking at the reviews on Amazon for the Drift Maniac (which are mostly favourable) , there is a significant number reporting those problems you described (usually between 2000-3000 miles of use) The trouble with reviews of freewheels is knowing how they are used. If you use it on a conventional bike then they get a real test when climbing hills and if you use them with a mid-drive motor they can be almost instantly destroyed but with a hub motor they can deliver a decent lifespan because the hub motor is taking a huge amount of stress and wear off them as the hub motor works in parallel with the drivetrain not through it. You get ebikes in the US with 1000W motors and they simply don't care what freewheel they fit as the hub motors does most of the work when climbing hills and even for lower power 250W hub motors they still get a much easier life than a conventional bicycle. Personally I prefer front hub motors but I think you can make a strong case for freewheels over freehubs for rear hub motors although both are good options with different positives and negatives. For any mechanical product which may fail its always worth bearing in mind the ease of solving the problem and removing a old freewheel from a hub motor is surely a better option than having to replace a freehub on a rear hub motor. However for cheaper e-mountain bikes and I mean real e-mountain bikes not pretend e-mountain bikes I think a freehub is a better option just like on real mountain bikes as its better supported and stronger to deal with impacts to the rear wheel when used off-road because of the bearings placement. It can take greater weight and there is less pressure on the axle to bend. There are quite a few variables to consider to make an informed choice about such ebikes basically. Your use may dictate different options to someone else.
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