electric bikes, electric conversion kits ~ ? (Full Version)

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pahunkboy -> electric bikes, electric conversion kits ~ ? (4/7/2008 5:24:42 PM)

http://www.electric-bikes.com/trikes/trikes.html#ElecTrike    how doable is this.

1. how much would you spend?

2. what would you use it for?

3. would you convert a regular bike?

4. would cars let you on the road?



MichiganHeadmast -> RE: electric bikes, electric conversion kits ~ ? (4/7/2008 5:51:32 PM)

Didn't Ford have a partnership with such a bike company in 1999?  The Th!nk, ir iThink, or something?  How did that work out?



Real0ne -> RE: electric bikes, electric conversion kits ~ ? (4/7/2008 6:02:13 PM)

quote:

ORIGINAL: pahunkboy

http://www.electric-bikes.com/trikes/trikes.html#ElecTrike    how doable is this.

1. how much would you spend?

2. what would you use it for?

3. would you convert a regular bike?

4. would cars let you on the road?



hmm for the price, unless yo uhave a full shop at your disposal thats a pretty good price.  My first thought when reading this thread is about 1grand probably better off buyiung it in this case.  Then you dont have to warrantee your own work :)



DomKen -> RE: electric bikes, electric conversion kits ~ ? (4/7/2008 6:51:48 PM)

1) less than $1300

2) Short range travel. Same thing gas scooters and the like have been used for for years.

3) No. Conversion kits intended to fit any make/model of anything tends to be fairly tricky. I'd let them pick a frame and put their kit on it etc.

4) Cars would have to. The thing is basically a motorized tricycle, IOW a moped, and would be legal anywhere mopeds are legal. Which does exclude the interstate system, and other highways of that style maybe, but as far as I know it would be legal virtually everywhere else.



slaveboyforyou -> RE: electric bikes, electric conversion kits ~ ? (4/7/2008 7:17:46 PM)

When I was a kid, they sold electric motors for bicycles in the backs of comic books.  Of course they sold a hovercraft you made out of a vacuum cleaner, so I don't know how reliable it was.



DesFIP -> RE: electric bikes, electric conversion kits ~ ? (4/7/2008 8:12:52 PM)

16 miles range on level ground. That's as far as I need to go to the grocery store and back but it's all hills. That's meant for urbanites, not us rural types.



badprofessor -> RE: electric bikes, electric conversion kits ~ ? (4/8/2008 7:17:09 AM)

Unless there is something physical that makes it difficult to ride a regular bike, why waste the extra money on an electric one? Maybe, just maybe, if you live near a monster hill and just can't handle getting in shape enough to pedal up it. I'm 45, ride a minimum 150 miles a week, and I'm regularly dusted by guys who are at least 65. 



pahunkboy -> RE: electric bikes, electric conversion kits ~ ? (4/8/2008 7:49:55 AM)

I noticed  that the models dont have much of a way to carry groceries. I doubt I would use it when too windy, rAiny, cold.   when i shop for one i still buy 4ish bags of food.



badprofessor -> RE: electric bikes, electric conversion kits ~ ? (4/8/2008 8:15:18 AM)

If it's based around  a bicycle, you can get large panniers (saddlebags) or a trailer. Lots of people here do their shopping like that. Some thngs are not practical to carry, but most stuff should be okay. If you do plan on carrying a lot of things at one time, you should make sure that you have some heavy duty rims to handle the weight.

And for those things that you can't carry on a bike, you might want to check around and see if you have an autoshare or similar service in your neck of the woods. These are very short term car rentals--like an hour or an afternoon.



pahunkboy -> RE: electric bikes, electric conversion kits ~ ? (4/8/2008 10:08:31 AM)

I dont know how i would cross the bridge over the river.   It is highway. much of the road should is broken glass.  what a lovely planet.  people are slobs.



DomKen -> RE: electric bikes, electric conversion kits ~ ? (4/8/2008 11:32:12 AM)

quote:

ORIGINAL: pahunkboy

I dont know how i would cross the bridge over the river.   It is highway. much of the road should is broken glass.  what a lovely planet.  people are slobs.

That's not as big a problem as it used to be. Kevlar tire liners or kevlar tires provide very good protection for the tube from small sharp objects.



sub4hire -> RE: electric bikes, electric conversion kits ~ ? (4/8/2008 12:11:48 PM)

Why not go this way instead? 
http://www.gmimotorsports.com/?gclid=CPC3qLqVzJICFQKwPAod_ifirw

Cheaper and probably more reliable. 



Moloch -> RE: electric bikes, electric conversion kits ~ ? (4/9/2008 9:17:00 AM)

quote:

ORIGINAL: sub4hire

Why not go this way instead? 
http://www.gmimotorsports.com/?gclid=CPC3qLqVzJICFQKwPAod_ifirw

Cheaper and probably more reliable. 




Ummm dont EVER buy a chinese or italian  scooter.  You want a good scooter buy Japanese.



stef -> RE: electric bikes, electric conversion kits ~ ? (4/9/2008 10:55:00 AM)

Yeah, avoid those Italian scooters.  Vespa, Piaggio and Aprilia are all pieces of junk.  [sm=rolleyes.gif]

~stef



Moloch -> RE: electric bikes, electric conversion kits ~ ? (4/9/2008 2:12:33 PM)

quote:

ORIGINAL: stef

Yeah, avoid those Italian scooters.  Vespa, Piaggio and Aprilia are all pieces of junk.  [sm=rolleyes.gif]

~stef



No they are overpriced peices of junk with way overpriced parts. And the jap scooters are still more reliable.




thompsonx -> RE: electric bikes, electric conversion kits ~ ? (4/9/2008 2:39:03 PM)

FR:
PAH:
From the link you put up it says one of those bicycles is about $1500.  For that kind of money you can get an awful lot of motorcycle on ebay.
Japanese bikes are extremely reliable and easy to work on.  Look for something 20 to 30 years old with less than 50,000 miles on it and less than 600cc, it will last you for the rest of your life.
thompson



pahunkboy -> RE: electric bikes, electric conversion kits ~ ? (4/9/2008 3:58:07 PM)

last time i did errands- recling and bank, i dont know how much ild use a bike. i have a $600 mountain bike in the basement- [i love moving sales] i should get that out-maybe some kind of basket.  you know to carry ALL my money!  :-)

PS keep me out of thrift stores and garage sales. i have ample JUNK.



stef -> RE: electric bikes, electric conversion kits ~ ? (4/10/2008 2:50:56 PM)

quote:

ORIGINAL: Moloch

No they are overpriced peices of junk with way overpriced parts. And the jap scooters are still more reliable.

[sm=rofl.gif]

Thanks, I needed that laugh.

~stef



kinkbound -> RE: electric bikes, electric conversion kits ~ ? (4/10/2008 3:33:46 PM)

Check this out:

Honda Zoe Zipper





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