Hi folks—new member here. I could really use your help, so I would greatly appreciate it if you would take the time to read what follows.
I’m a 60-year-old guy in Daytona Beach, Florida, and I need to get an electric bike; for a few months it’s going to be my sole means of transportation. I’m pretty committed to going forward, so I started investigating the matter about a month ago.
I’m truly impressed with the level to which you folks have brought the science of electric bike development, and even more impressed with the level to which you’ve brought the art of designing and building these things. So, again, I am here seeking out the help of you, the experts.
I’m just not sure in what direction I should go—build, or buy new or used. I’d love to acquire, one way or the other, one of those magnificent ebikes I see that (seemingly) rightly go for thousands. And even more thousands. But the truth is that for the moment—for this autumn of 2016, my budget is in the $600–$800 range.
All of the riding I’ll be doing will be on paved, almost entirely level streets. Most of my trips will be in the 5–10 mile range; none will involve mud or snow. Twenty to twenty-five MPH will do just fine. My health has been declining for a while now, so much, if not most of the go is going to have to be provided by the motor.
Earlier in life, I built two different kit airplanes—one fabric and wood, and another all-metal. While I did pull it off, after having gone through those experiences, I realize that I’m just not that much of a work-with-my-hands builder kinda guy. What that means is that if I were to buy a kit to mount on an existing bike, I could probably pull it off, but not if I have to design, innovate, and/or create a significant number of solutions to building problems. I’ve got too much on my plate right now to spend more than about 40–60 hours total on building (if I can help it)—and since I don’t know what the heck I’m doing, that would be equal to about less than ten of your build-hours. Otherwise, I’d find some way, by hook or crook to get one of those BBSHD mid-drive units. Now those units appear to be the bomb!
So here it is: Would any or all of you be so helpful as to suggest some names of bikes, and/or names of kits that I should be looking at? How much power do I need—24, 36, 48 volts? How much battery do I need? I guess the question really is: With the tiny budget that I have available to me, if I were to start with a $100 bike (a $300 bike that I buy used for $100), what combination of motor and battery would you suggest that I get with the other $700 I have available to me?
The really important thing I want to avoid is spending my money with the wrong people, and wind up with a bike that doesn’t work at all, then having no warranty or even company support to fall back on. Through reading online forums, I seem to have gotten the impression that a Mac kit would be a fairly safe bet.
Finally, should I be looking at those little electric scooters that are legal because they have pedals somewhere on the thing? I’m pretty sure, though, that I’d rather have a real bike.
Anyway, I’d love to get your thoughts. Please help!
Thank you.
P.S. I feel just a tad foolish, in that right after I posted this, I happened upon your article about the Mac EM3ev, so I guess that answers that question. Is that a difficult kit to install on a basic bike frame? Also, on the link provided in the article, there are a number of choices of controllers, motor rpm speeds, and T number. How will I know what goes with what, so I'll know what to order? And I'd still like any additional input that any of you have.
Thanks again.
I’m a 60-year-old guy in Daytona Beach, Florida, and I need to get an electric bike; for a few months it’s going to be my sole means of transportation. I’m pretty committed to going forward, so I started investigating the matter about a month ago.
I’m truly impressed with the level to which you folks have brought the science of electric bike development, and even more impressed with the level to which you’ve brought the art of designing and building these things. So, again, I am here seeking out the help of you, the experts.
I’m just not sure in what direction I should go—build, or buy new or used. I’d love to acquire, one way or the other, one of those magnificent ebikes I see that (seemingly) rightly go for thousands. And even more thousands. But the truth is that for the moment—for this autumn of 2016, my budget is in the $600–$800 range.
All of the riding I’ll be doing will be on paved, almost entirely level streets. Most of my trips will be in the 5–10 mile range; none will involve mud or snow. Twenty to twenty-five MPH will do just fine. My health has been declining for a while now, so much, if not most of the go is going to have to be provided by the motor.
Earlier in life, I built two different kit airplanes—one fabric and wood, and another all-metal. While I did pull it off, after having gone through those experiences, I realize that I’m just not that much of a work-with-my-hands builder kinda guy. What that means is that if I were to buy a kit to mount on an existing bike, I could probably pull it off, but not if I have to design, innovate, and/or create a significant number of solutions to building problems. I’ve got too much on my plate right now to spend more than about 40–60 hours total on building (if I can help it)—and since I don’t know what the heck I’m doing, that would be equal to about less than ten of your build-hours. Otherwise, I’d find some way, by hook or crook to get one of those BBSHD mid-drive units. Now those units appear to be the bomb!
So here it is: Would any or all of you be so helpful as to suggest some names of bikes, and/or names of kits that I should be looking at? How much power do I need—24, 36, 48 volts? How much battery do I need? I guess the question really is: With the tiny budget that I have available to me, if I were to start with a $100 bike (a $300 bike that I buy used for $100), what combination of motor and battery would you suggest that I get with the other $700 I have available to me?
The really important thing I want to avoid is spending my money with the wrong people, and wind up with a bike that doesn’t work at all, then having no warranty or even company support to fall back on. Through reading online forums, I seem to have gotten the impression that a Mac kit would be a fairly safe bet.
Finally, should I be looking at those little electric scooters that are legal because they have pedals somewhere on the thing? I’m pretty sure, though, that I’d rather have a real bike.
Anyway, I’d love to get your thoughts. Please help!
Thank you.
P.S. I feel just a tad foolish, in that right after I posted this, I happened upon your article about the Mac EM3ev, so I guess that answers that question. Is that a difficult kit to install on a basic bike frame? Also, on the link provided in the article, there are a number of choices of controllers, motor rpm speeds, and T number. How will I know what goes with what, so I'll know what to order? And I'd still like any additional input that any of you have.
Thanks again.
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