Electra Lux Fat with BBSHD

[g725s]

Here is what looks like the same tire for $50. I have ordered from this company. I got my rim, spokes, and nipples from them. Very good service. http://www.niagaracycle.com/categori...3-5-bk-bk-fold

Good find. That is the exact same tread. The maker must brand them for whoever can sell them.

I really like the look of the stock tires best. I think Electra choose the best LOOKING tire for the Lux Fat for sure (all black with no standout logo).

And I don't have time on them yet. But my soon to be time will be spent ascending a few sandy paved roads(beach sand). If they handle, no problem. But my gut is thinking is that having a bit better traction would be a good thing, at least on the rear tire, and especially on the beach and sandy paved roads. As the stock tires are basically slicks.

So I was just curious what was out there.

And these aftermarket tires with that BIG white logo would not fit the Lux theme...IMHO.

[Wiggy]

I ordered my Electra Lux 7d fat tire last week. I will start the conversion as soon as I get it. My wife has been riding the Townie (women's version) with Nexus 3 speed IGH for the last 13 years. It uses the coaster brake on the rear. So we bought her a new Townie 7d that has regular front and rear mechanical brakes. I'm picking up the Luna 750w BBS02 kit from UPS tomorrow. I can't wait to get her pedal assist conversion done. I'm hoping I learn from my mistakes on this project so the Lux fat tire project goes super quick.

i just want to thank Spinningmagnets and Calfree for the awesome, thorough info and detail provided on these threads. I pretty optimistic about this first conversion simply because of the work these guys have done before me.

[calfee20]

Wow 4 Electra Lux Fat builds............outstanding. Maybe we should start our own topic.

[Wiggy]

I'm happy if you decide to start a new thread. I don't see doing a separate thread for my wife's new Townie 7d, unless requested by concensus. I haven't seen someone try to wedge a mid drive inside the frame (but under the women's low step over bar).

My wife and I are all about exercise and pedal assist. We want to always do some of the work. I'm hoping to have a highway gear that lets me crank along going to work. I'm hoping 48T front will work with the 14-34T rear cassette. Central Arizona is very flat.

[calfee20]

That free wheel was to slow for me on a regular cruiser. However your larger tires and larger chain ring should make it just right. I checked it against my bike with Sheldon Brown's gear calculator. If you need to make an adjustment free wheels are easy to change and the tool is about $10.

[wagonrd]

Chain alignment is always a big problem when installing a BBSDH on a mountain bike. The primary solution is a dished drive sprocket. There are 2 choices: 1). The Stock 46 tooth metal sprocket, or 2). the Lunar Eclipse 42 tooth sprocket. I live in the mountains and the Lunar eclipse is my choice. My MTB, a Santa Cruz Bullit downhill bike, has an 8 speed cogset with a 12-34 spread. I can use the top 4 big chain rings on this cogset with the 46 tooth sprocket, but the last 4 smaller cogset gears throw my chain out of alignment.

[g725s]

SpinningMagnets, was there any trick you found best for getting the handlebar grips off the handlebars of your Electra Lux Fat bike?

[spinningmagnets]

To remove rubber handgrips...I have read about blowing air underneath them with a basketball needle and an air-pump. I usually take a long slender screwdriver and shove it between the grip and the handlebar (just to make an airspace). Then, I squirt some WD40 in there, then twist it back and forth, which spreads the thin oil around until the grip pops off. I originally feared the grips would not "stick" anymore, and would always slip, but it has been fine.

[g725s]

I will try the basket ball needle trick and report back. As I'm pretty sure I've got one of those for my air compressor, if I can where I put it. Thanks!

[calfee20]

To remove grips use a pointed air gun with your compressor directly on to the end of the grip The grips usually have a vent hole in the end but if not drill a small hole. The air will swell the grip and probably blow off the opposite one. Now find a way to block the handlebar end and repeat. I have a pointed rubber bushing that has a hole in the middle. I insert about half of it and then hammer a golf tee into the hole.

Use the same method to install the grips. Wipe the bar and the inside of the grip with alcohol and let dry. Grips should always be put on dry.......glue never seems to work. The air will swell the grip while you install and position it. It works really slick. I learned this years ago in my motor cycle days.

[g725s]

That was a kick! I put the air nozzle up to the little hole on one of the grips and could see the other one bulging a bit. So I assumed air was coming out of that one as it did not come off. So while I put my finger blocking the hole on the other side I put the air nozzle up to the grip and because I only have 2 hands on the side where I was holding the nozzle up to the grip it came off so fast that it was a bit of a shock. Now off to work, but will figure out a way later to plug the handlebar and get the other side off in similar fashion.

[Wiggy]

My fat 7d arrived the day before Christmas. I've only had a chance to ride it twice. Planning to install the 100mm BSHD that I bought from Luna on Black Friday.

I've been riding the 750 watt BS02 on my Electra road bike. It has to come off and go on my wife's Townie.

[g725s]

Hope you post a build thread on how you set it up.
You will need an Eclipse chainring if you want the best chainline using the 100mm BBSHD, or you could cut down the BB on the right chainwheel side and use a Bafang Alloy and get a good chainline as well.

https://electricbike.com/forum/forum/builds/ebike-building-directions/21378-electra-lux-fatt-7d-bbshd-installation?p=22014#post22014

[Dale H]

Ok here's my tip for the grip removal, used it to remove my grips twice. Everyday rubbing alcohol. Insert screwdriver part way to get the alcohol started, tip bike to one side and squirt or spray a decent amount in beside the screwdriver and the grip slips off no problem, without leaving any oily residue behind.

[Wiggy]

I rode my Lux Fat 7d with the 1000w BBSHD today. I'm not totally done. I need to connect the magnet for the speedo pickup and drill/install rivnuts for the battery mount. So far, the battery is just temporarily mounted with a ratchet strap to the rear rack. I used the 46T chainring. Chain line is ok for highest gears and I live in flat central AZ. I run out of my ability to pedal at about 26mph. I'd like another few teeth on the chain ring or two less on the freewheel, but I'm still very happy. I hit 28mph briefly on my gps, but I can't pedal that fast on a regular ride. My cruise will be about 23/24mph.
It took 3 hours to do this one. Maybe half the time I spent doing the first one. Thanks to everyone for posting so many useful bits of info and tips.

[Wiggy]

Now I've got to take the BB02 off of my Verse and put in on my wife's Townie (like I promised her 2 months ago). The Verse is fast, but I admit the Lux is more more comfortable with my bad back. I really love being able to ride as hard as I can pedal all the way to work without getting tired. An hour of exercise every day is really helping me.

G725s - I agree that the extra 6mm of offset with the Eclipse chain ring would be nice. The 42 teeth is a deal breaker. I'd need a much smaller gear on my freewheel. The 46/14 is almost too low already.

[Rider]

SpinningMagnets I just love this cruiser bike. How tall are you? Anything to report now that you've had this ride for a while? I thought of this cruiser for a BBS conversion with a suspension fork added, but my existing RockShock TK 30 Gold Straight I was working with wasn't as ideal as a fat Bluto fork. This would just be a kick to go eMTBing on with all the fancy MTB bikers. An off-road cruiser, how sweet it would be!

[spinningmagnets]

I am still happy with it. If it was stolen, I would get another. I don't need more speed than 30-MPH, more than that and you really should get a proper suspension frame. I occasionally would enjoy having a little more power. More power costs more money, so...I think I would be happy with around 2000W...1500W is very nice, but 3000W for what I do would be too heavy and too expensive.

I ride past police all the time, and they don't have any concerns with the old guy riding a "bicycle"

[Rider]

30mph on a full-hard cruiser, scary! 750W is way more than I really need for my style of riding, even at 230lbs.

[spinningmagnets]

I normally ride at 15 to 20 MPH, because I like to blend in. I ride past the police all the time, and we get along great. However, since I ride on the side of the street most of the time, I feel I really need to have the ability to accelerate briskly to 30-MPH for my safety.