Cyber Monday 2017 Ebikes and Kits - Last Chance and Latecomers

Nope, I've never posted about the Fantic Bikes (did not know they had electric bikes until today) or LEED bike kits (but I have read great things posted by their customers).

 

And then there's the RadWagon that I may have posted about 20 or 30 times...

 

Loving the Fantic Seven Days frame

(even if I'm not a big fan of super-fat tires and I can't afford Italian two-wheelers)

The Fantic Website

 

LEED USA Bike Kits

I'll be glad when this sale is over

(so my RadWagon temptation will greatly diminish!)

 

May you find something that'll get you riding gas-free, snagit!

More 2017 Ebikes on Holiday Sale - RadPower (Minipost)

Yep, the Radwagon of my dreams (and the whole 2017 Rad lineup) is on sale.

 

Rad Power has done some upgrades and redesigns on all of their bikes, so they're discounting the 2017s to make room for the new stuff. Most of the upgrades are small, but the Radwagon gets a new aluminum frame and the RadCity is now available as a step-through.)

 

Below are the sale details:

 

Woohoo!

The new Radwagon in town

 

The Old Model - $300 discount!

(I like the looks of the old one better.)

 

 

The other big news at Rad Power - the RadCity Step-Thru!

(On the right)

 

Yep, these are some tempting prices on very solid bikes from a vendor with a very good reputation. And (if you live in the contiguous 48 or Canada) you get free shipping!

 

Sigh...

 

If you've been looking for a good deal on a ready-built e-bike (especially an e-cargo-bike), now's the time!

 

May the e-bike of your dreams cure your gas-powered headaches!

Fossil Free Friday: $500 Simple DIY Electric Bike Formula (The non-sequitur apocrypha)

You're probably wondering why this post? This is the mop up of all the loose ends, or maybe just the proof that the Mesquite Hugger mind is indeed a messy desk.

Answering a few questions:

Why 36 volt/500 watt when we could've easily gone for 48V/1000 watt?

• Well, first, we were shooting for low money, and 48 volt batteries are not cheap.
• Second is the efficiency versus speed issue. 500 watts should let us travel around 20 mph for a much longer distance than 1000 watts at 25 mph (and I've met very few e-bikers who have tremendous restraint when it comes to a throttle or pedal assist.)
• Also, the intended audience is beginning e-bikers who are focused on inexpensive transportation. Fast e-bikes create a lot of new problems - one of the biggest is the problem of speed perception. Car drivers do not expect to see a bike traveling at 30 mph, so they misjudge and cut you off. If you ride a bike at 30 on the street you will have close calls on a regular basis. (You better have great brakes and even better judgment.)

Why choose a cruiser?

Mostly because they are cheap, readily available, and often have just the layout needed for an entry-level e-bike. Also, you want a fat, heavy, laid-back bike for an old guy who is fat and laid back.

Why not a fat bike like the Sondors Original?

Quite simply, the the components are much more expensive and flats tend to be a bigger issue on them than on the more readily available sizes. (And they ride like a tractor.)

Just a bunch of random stuff I did not include in the other posts:

The motor found in the Sondors Thin e-bikes

How to build a pretty killer mid-drive bike for less than $1000

Order this kit (while it's still on sale) and add it to a used mountain bike with really good brakes:

Luna Cycle website

The Schwinn Blackwell dropped in price on Ebay

Can you build a decent-ish $350 e-bike?

Sure, but be prepared to sacrifice the LCD screen, pedal assist, and the advantages of a geared hub motor.

If I'm a glutton for punishment, which bike should I choose for my build?

Drool!

It's all about the jacksons! (Need fixing = run away!)

If I'm a Parrothead, what bike would you recommend?

It has a squawking parrot in place of a horn or bell!

What is the Mesquite Dream Build (this week)?

The cargo bike equivalent of the Karmic Koben S

Benny Carry-On

plus the Bafang BBS

plus the Nuvinci N380

What's your most fervent Mesquite Hugger wish?

That we'd stop fighting each other and fight climate change together.

May your messy desk inspire something better for others!

Fossil Free Friday: $500 Simple DIY Electric Bike Formula (The bike)

[If you missed Part 1, you can find it here]

We'll start with a simple and inexpensive bike. It will need to have:

• a steel frame - easier to adapt and less prone to break under the stress of added weight and torque (if a magnet will stick to it, it is steel)
• 26" wheels/tires - the most common size for hub motors - other sizes tend to cost more 
• multi-gear capability - preferably 7-speed (with a hub motor there is no need for 21 gears)
• hand brakes - hub motors don't have coaster brakes
• it needs to fit you comfortably

Cruisers, comfort bikes, and mountain bikes all make great candidates and can often be found at low prices. I'll focus on cruisers for this project, but you should pick the type you like most (or already have in your garage.)

$108 shipped brand new, hmmm

Don't expect a whole lot of bike in this price range, but a bike like this cruiser will still work fine. Let's look at it with our checklist in mind:

and here are some extras that might be nice:

• front suspension (heavier but easier on the wrists)
• a built-in cargo rack (to carry your homemade panniers)
• disc brakes (sometimes better stopping and more adaptability - see Post 4)
• fenders (to help you avoid the dreaded butt-stripe)
• a comfy seat and/or a suspension seatpost (for a happier bum and spine)
• lights (the better to see you)
• a horn/bell (e-bikes are often fast and silent - you can skip this if you like yelling, "Get the !@##$% out of my way!" But the bell is a little more polite.

Here's another cruiser to check out in case you want something a little nicer with a few more virtues:

Sure it's $50 more, but this Schwinn from Ebay has larger tires, better brakes, and a longer wheelbase. It has great potential for this project and reminds me of the $1300 Juiced Ocean Current of my dreams.

Two important things to add to any bike you choose:

• thorn resistant tubes or tire liners (it's not much fun to have/fix a flat on your e-bike)
• better brake shoes - with greater power comes a greater need to stop

If those don't appeal to you or just cost too much, definitely check out the used bikes. I find lots of great deals on Craigslist and at garage sales. Look for ads that say things like "barely ridden" or "just needs new tubes." Feel fee to offer a little less for used bikes, but don't be a jerk about it. Life is too short for that, no matter what reality TV tells us.

A few tips on buying a used bike:

• Buy a nice bike, if it it's worn out, weathered, or broken, you will spend a lot of time and money in the wrong places.
• Buy a bike that has all the stuff you need - parts are more expensive than bikes. For example, it's not hard to find a $50 bike with good tires and tubes but a new set of tires and tubes will easily cost $50 or more. It's also expensive (and a pain in the tuckus) to upgrade a single-speed bike into a multi-speed bike.
• Look for higher quality brands while shopping used. It's not rare to find a $350 Giant or Trek being sold for $75 lightly used.

Not a bad start and it would leave a little more room in the budget

(especially if you could get it for a little less money.)

This Raleigh could be a great (and very old-school cool) e-bike!

One other great source of inexpensive bikes - ask your friends, neighbors, relatives or co-workers. Throw a request out on social media. You never know who has a really great bike gathering dust and taking up garage space. You know the old saying - One man's trash is another man's dream e-bike conversion! [Love ya, Matt! Thanks for the bike!]

Okay, so that's it for the bike portion of our search. So, let's budget $150 for our bike. That leaves us $350 for the electric running gear, battery, charger, assorted hardware, and a way to contain the controller and battery. Is it possible?

Tune in next time for our exciting third post!

May you find the right bike and enjoy the ride.

Fossil Free Friday: $500 Simple DIY Electric Bike Formula (Intro)

Here at Mesquite Hugger, the goal is pretty simple - to encourage people to make more earth-friendly choices without going bankrupt. When it comes to low-carbon transportation, almost nothing beats the efficiency and affordability of an electric bike, but not everyone has the money in their budget to run out and buy a $1000-$4000 e-bike.

 

Inexpensive electric bikes get a lot of web traffic around here. Anything under $1000 starts a feeding frenzy. The least expensive complete bikes I've found that I am comfortable recommending are the two bottom-of-the-line Sondors bikes -  the Original and the Thin. They both go for $499 + $150-ish shipping. And they are pretty basic:

• single speed (can be upgraded for $100)
• 350 watt powertrain (rear, geared hub motor)
• no suspension (can be upgraded for $100)
• no pedal assist (PAS) or LCD screen (can be upgraded together for $100)
• medium sized 36 volt battery (can be upgraded for $100)

It's pretty easy to end up with $1000 in a Sondors bike.

By the way, if you are less than 5'6" tall, the Sondors bikes are too tall for you (and there is no step-through version available so far.)

So, what's a cheap budget-minded e-bike customer to do?

Build your own e-bike!

 

The challenge - to build a very capable e-bike with more features than a bottom-of-the-line Sondors for $500 or less.

We'll use the Sondors Thin as our measuring stick.

 

Before you get intimidated by the thought of building your own, answer one question - do you (or someone you are close to) have the skills necessary to change a rear bicycle tube? If the answer is yes, then YOU CAN DO IT!!!

So, let's lay out the parameters we'll need (and want) to build a solid e-bike in the projected price range. We'll start with a simple and inexpensive bike. It will need to have:

• a steel frame
• 26" wheels/tires
• multi-gear capability - preferably seven-speed
• cable-operated brakes
• it needs to be comfortable (for you)

Now, let's lay out the electric components/abilities you will need to match or exceed what the Sondors Thin offers:

• 500 watt, 26" rear hub motor (more powerful than the Sondors)
• pedal assist (not included on the base Sondors)
• an LCD panel (not included on the base Sondors)
• a throttle (matches the Sondors)
• brake levers with a motor cut-out switch (matches the Sondors)
• a 36 volt, 8.8 amp-hour battery (matches the Sondors)
• a 36 volt, 2 amp charger (matches the Sondors)
• a bag, box, or basket to house the electrical components (It'll be hard to match the Sondors on this one, but it can be done with a little creativity.)

So there's the plan. In the next two posts, we'll cover more detail and see if we can create an electric bike worth having for less than $500.

 

Please stay tuned!

 

May you be encouraged to make more earth-friendly choices without going bankrupt, and may you have a great time doing it!

What Sondors has been up to (Electric Bikes)

One thing I've enjoyed watching with Sondors is the hop-up culture that has risen with it.

Take my friend Grizz and his two Sondors. They arrived as single-speed, 350 watt bikes with 36 volt batteries but without LCD screens. He immediately ordered aftermarket controllers and LCD screens and he has been making plans for more powerful motors, 52 volt batteries, and seven-speed running gear. And a lot of Sondors owners follow similar paths.

That's just not the case with most other electric bikes. There are now companies that offer exclusive lines of products dedicated to the Sondors e-bike.

The Sondors North American Line-Up

Having grown up around old cars and motorcycles, I recognize it - a new extension of the hot-rod culture. If it keeps people interested in green vehicles, I am all for it. But let's get back to what's been up at Sondors. They've introduced lots of new-ish products lately.

The Sondors 7

Now they offer all of the upgrades Grizz has been hoping to make - seven-speed bikes, 48 volt batteries, and 500 watt motors in several variations.

The 7-speed versions, the Sondors 7 ($699)  and the Sondors Thin 7 ($599) retain the 36 volt battery and running gear but now offer some upgrade options like larger batteries, front suspension, and LCD screens. Each upgrade will add $100 to the final price.

The Sondors X

The Sondors X ($899) is same as the Sondors Original ($499) but it upgrades the running gear to a 48-volt-17.5-amp-hour battery (!) and a 500 watt motor and controller. Optional upgrades include front suspension, an LCD screen, AND 7-speed gearing. A fully loaded Sondors X will cost you $1199 (plus $150 shipping).

Sadly, there is no Sondors Thin X. :-( (If, like me, you want a Thin X, check out the Juiced CrossCurrent Air - $1095 shipped).

 

 

[For those of you wondering about the Sondors Fold, check out our previous post to learn more.]

 

 

[And for those of you who just can't get excited about electric bikes, you might want to check out the Sondors electric car.]

Hopefully, this will help you satisfy some of your Sondors curiosity.

May you find the perfect fossil-free ride for you, and may it be your ticket to good clean fun, even if you have to hop it up a little!

Fossil Free (Almost) Friday: Back to the Big Electric Mini Bikes

Luna, Super 73, and now Moke - If you're in the market for a Maxi-Mini and have $2000 to $5000 to spend, you are very much in luck these days.

Have you heard about the Moke?

The Moke is the latest of the big minis, and it speaks Spanish. It hails from Barcelona. The Moke is currently finishing up a very successful Indiegogo campaign and they are selling a version for $1990 if you want to pick it up in Spain or $2490 plus shipping if you want it shipped. (There was a $1799 version, but that window has already closed.) After the campaign closes, the price will be 40% more.

The Moke has a rear hub motor and can be had in 250-watt, 500-watt, and 1000-watt versions.

It has a really big seat and some cargo-hauling capabilities.

The Moke seems a really cool machine, but by the time you can get it over here, you're probably better off buying a made-in-California Super 73 (or a Banana -  keep reading.)

After checking the Moke out, I hopped over to the Super 73 site to see if anything new is going on. Sure enough, there were two new, fancier, and more expensive models...

Holy (S)Moke, Batman! That's a $4500 maxi-mini!

(It has an extra battery, lights, and knobby tires.)

And there's a $3500 copper-plated model.

But there was also a model missing -  the $1600 Super 73 Scout:



Yep, it was completely gone (or so I thought.)

Learn more about the MIA Scout here: Follow-up on the Big Electric MiniBike

(If you look at the bottom of the Super 73 Adventure page, a little Scout lingers there.)

Not seeing the budget-model Scout broke my heart a little. This is Mesquite Hugger where we love bikes that are attainable for those on a tighter budget. RIP Scout.

What was that about a Banana?

The other Maxi-Mini out there is the Luna Banana.

This is the 1000-watt version

(with lots of upgrade options)

This is the Super Banana 3000-watt Bad Mamma Jamma!

The Zero-watt Luna Banana (pedal-only)

If you're like me, you're probably thinking, Hey Self, I wonder if we could build one ourself for even less money. It's that kind of thinking that keeps me (and Grizz) in all kinds of trouble, so let's trudge on and see what kind of trouble we can get started.

So, I started plugging along on the LunaCycle website and came up with a few lower dollar options.

  

The lowest dollar option - $1450 plus shipping (which came out to $115 for my house)

The drawbacks to this setup? The battery is only 36 volts (you can upgrade to 48 volts for $80 more) and you will need to pay someone to lace the motor up for you (or wait for Luna to get the $275 1000-watt already laced in a rim version back in stock, which would lower the price $25 too.) 

If you're not a fan of hub motors, you can spend a little more and go mid-drive:

This 48-volt setup would give you pretty similar performance to the other mid-drives we've already looked at.

This 52-volt setup will let you go a little faster, but not quite as far. (By the way, if you're over at Luna, be sure to check out the Rhino, what a cool amount of craziness!)

So, where would I start?

Me, I'm a glutton for punishment. I'd start over at GoKarts USA with this little jewel: 

Find it here

Okay, not really. If I were in the market, I'd pick up one of these:

The $1600 Radwagon

They are offering free shipping on the Radwagon of my dreams right now, and I'm afraid I'll look like a dork on a minibike! (Instead of looking like a dork on a cargo bike.)

Regardless of how dorky you look, I hope you find the low-carbon runabout that makes you smile, saves you money, and treads oh-so-much lighter!