First off, I love this kit. Purchased over a year ago and have put nearly a thousand mile on it (I live in NE Ohio, so no small achievement weatherwise lol). So, kudos to LunaCycle for developing a pretty legit kit right from the getgo.
However, as with most one-size-fits-all "kits", specific adaptation to each bike can be challenging and can make the difference between a good installation experience, and a bad one. In my case I installed the BBS02 on a 29" Specialized Rockhopper with the intention of using it for mostly road commuting and occasional MTB useage.
During the install I immediately recognized one of three serious shortcomings - securement of the motor using the large nut on the lower bracket is a recipe for disappointment. With even mild off-road use the likelihood of those nuts getting loose is nearly 100%. The first mod was creating the large white triangular bracket that attaches to the motor case, the lower bracket, and a two-piece clamp. Solid. 100% not going anywhere.
After finally getting some time on the new setup it wasn't long before I realized that chain drop (chain popping off during bumps) is a huge and extremely annoying problem. This issue stems from the fact that the front derailleur is removed and therefore there is no longer any lateral containment of the chain. Any side to side jostling of the chain and zing the chain falls off. The solution came in the form of 3D printing a guide and mount that conveniently attaches the 2-piece clamp described above. Previously I'd averaged 1-2 drops per ride, and with the guide in place I got NONE ever since even with intentional attempts to drop it going over rough terrain.
The last bit is a battery support. Although the failure mode never actually revealed itself, my anticipation was that the two little water bottle screws holding that big ass battery weren't going to last long given how much the battery wobbles on that skinny attachment plate. In this case the solution was an aluminum bracket that holds the rearmost part of the battery and holds it firmly in place. The design is trickier than it seems because its size is optimized for support and rigidity, but still allows for battery removal (it's tight in there!).
All these parts have been designed in Solidworks (3D design program). With enough interest I could be talked into making more of these in quantity. The challenge is redesigning them to be flexible enough to fit the majority of bikes.
Geo.
However, as with most one-size-fits-all "kits", specific adaptation to each bike can be challenging and can make the difference between a good installation experience, and a bad one. In my case I installed the BBS02 on a 29" Specialized Rockhopper with the intention of using it for mostly road commuting and occasional MTB useage.
During the install I immediately recognized one of three serious shortcomings - securement of the motor using the large nut on the lower bracket is a recipe for disappointment. With even mild off-road use the likelihood of those nuts getting loose is nearly 100%. The first mod was creating the large white triangular bracket that attaches to the motor case, the lower bracket, and a two-piece clamp. Solid. 100% not going anywhere.
After finally getting some time on the new setup it wasn't long before I realized that chain drop (chain popping off during bumps) is a huge and extremely annoying problem. This issue stems from the fact that the front derailleur is removed and therefore there is no longer any lateral containment of the chain. Any side to side jostling of the chain and zing the chain falls off. The solution came in the form of 3D printing a guide and mount that conveniently attaches the 2-piece clamp described above. Previously I'd averaged 1-2 drops per ride, and with the guide in place I got NONE ever since even with intentional attempts to drop it going over rough terrain.
The last bit is a battery support. Although the failure mode never actually revealed itself, my anticipation was that the two little water bottle screws holding that big ass battery weren't going to last long given how much the battery wobbles on that skinny attachment plate. In this case the solution was an aluminum bracket that holds the rearmost part of the battery and holds it firmly in place. The design is trickier than it seems because its size is optimized for support and rigidity, but still allows for battery removal (it's tight in there!).
All these parts have been designed in Solidworks (3D design program). With enough interest I could be talked into making more of these in quantity. The challenge is redesigning them to be flexible enough to fit the majority of bikes.
Geo.
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