Perhaps things have changed since your order / model but it looks like swytch can mount in many places, from front to back. A shame about the battery. I would love to electrify my clem
On Monday, June 3, 2024 at 12:11:43 PM UTC-4 Hoch in ut wrote: > Thanks, Stephen! That’s unfortunate. Although I was thinking of going with > a GO+ model. The Betty has a front basket so I’ll have the battery pack in > the basket. This should give a bit more range. We don’t ride long. 10-20 > miles or so. > I’m hoping the ebike (whether Swytch or a dedicated ebike) will get her > fitness up enough to eventually ween her off of it. > > On Monday, June 3, 2024 at 9:52:00 AM UTC-6 Stephen wrote: > >> >> Hey Hoch, >> >> To be honest, it hasn't been the best. Even though he hasn't been riding >> that much since getting it, the times he does ride it still tends to be his >> REI ebike. The downsides of the swytch kit are the limited battery range >> and being forced to have the battery mounted to the handlebar. Its a fair >> bit of weight to have up on the quill stem, and I think it puts the bike >> into flexy noodle territory. I imagine a betty foy would be affected >> similarly, and again it just doesn't go that far. I think it lasts maybe 45 >> minutesish. >> >> I think the better option is to try and riv-ify an ebike rather than >> ebike-ify a rivendell. >> On Sunday, June 2, 2024 at 8:33:13 PM UTC-7 Hoch in ut wrote: >> >>> This is an old topic. But curious how your dad has liked the Swytch kit. >>> >>> I was originally thinking of getting my wife a Specialized ebike. As she >>> has troubles riding the hills around here. But she loves her Betty. I >>> figure if this Swytch will work, that would be great for her. Hopefully >>> they make a 650b kit. >>> >>> On Wednesday, July 19, 2023 at 9:10:06 AM UTC-6 Stephen wrote: >>> >>>> Joe, >>>> >>>> I can see why you feel that way. If a bike is designed from the ground >>>> up to be electric it can't help but work better as a complete system than >>>> a >>>> converted bike, and theres been so much work done in the field in the last >>>> few years. In the future, I could see myself being interested in some type >>>> of cargo electric bike. >>>> >>>> Patrick, >>>> >>>> So I did another test ride yesterday and rode till the battery was >>>> pretty much completely drained. Heres a link to the rwgps recording: >>>> https://ridewithgps.com/trips/128471987 >>>> >>>> It appears the handlebar indicator is the more accurate indication of >>>> battery level. On the flats and downhills I rode on the lowest power >>>> setting, 1/5, and on the uphills would goose it up to 3/5. I tried to keep >>>> it so I was pedaling very conservatively to try and imitate what my >>>> father's fitness level may be. That said, with this set up I think I >>>> should >>>> put a bigger front chainring on the bike as I would too quickly top out of >>>> my gears on any downslope. Right around mile marker 12 is where the >>>> battery >>>> first started to give out on me, which is consistent with the company >>>> stated range of 15k(they also have an optional bigger battery pack listed >>>> at 30k). >>>> >>>> As the battery got low on power, the motor would quit pushing and the >>>> indicator would flash, and then it would kick back in for a while before >>>> doing so again. How quickly depended on how hard you were pushing the >>>> motor. After the first shut off I kept the power level to 1/5. When the >>>> motor would shut off the sensation was similar to riding in sand or some >>>> other resistant surface on a normal bicycle. You get used to the motor >>>> assistance and when it disappears you get the illusion of riding through >>>> some sort of resistance. >>>> >>>> Charging time took approximately 3 hrs, potentially less. Put it on >>>> around 7pm, checked around 9 wasn't done, remembered again at 10:30. >>>> >>>> Another note on handling, it is a significant weight to have hanging >>>> off of your handlebars. I flipped the battery mount around to have the >>>> weight more centered over the steerer which was helpful, but I'd say it >>>> still loosened up the feel of the bike though not in any seriously >>>> detrimental way. And I imagine the exaggerated length of the clem >>>> contributes to that feeling. For extra reference I'm 6'2 170 lbs and its a >>>> 59cm clem (also a liter of water on there). >>>> >>>> [image: IMG_5918.jpg] >>>> >>>> On Wednesday, July 19, 2023 at 8:30:37 AM UTC-4 James Valiensi wrote: >>>> >>>>> Hi, >>>>> I had our Clem converted to an Ebike with the Bafabg mid motor kit. >>>>> 750W system. We got the rack mounted battery. I did it for my 85 year old >>>>> dad, who only rides ebikes now. He found it too hard to get on and off >>>>> the >>>>> Clem and stuck with his small-wheeled ebike. >>>>> I’ve ridden it several times. >>>>> 1. The added weight does not affect the bike handling. >>>>> 2. I generally pedal faster than the motor on the flats, so it is >>>>> still a workout >>>>> 3. It is fun to go up steep hills at 15mph. >>>>> 4. The wires and motor hanging off the bike kills my OCD, its ugly and >>>>> my was done by a professional. >>>>> 5. You have to be careful when making tight turns, have the motor off >>>>> or in the lowest setting, else the bike will throw you. >>>>> >>>>> On Jul 19, 2023, at 5:02 AM, Andy Beichler <andybe...@gmail.com> >>>>> wrote: >>>>> >>>>> My wife and I have converted two bikes with a mid drive kit very >>>>> similar to the Luna Cycle kit that Joe posted. We are very happy with >>>>> them, so far. It has been about a year and they are still going strong. >>>>> >>>>> On Tuesday, July 18, 2023 at 3:00:01 PM UTC-4 Joe Bernard wrote: >>>>> >>>>>> It's fits in a standard BB shell. >>>>>> >>>>>> https://lunacycle.com/bafang-bbs02-750w-middrive-kit/ >>>>>> >>>>>> On Tuesday, July 18, 2023 at 11:42:01 AM UTC-7 Wesley wrote: >>>>>> >>>>>>> >>>>>>> I was not aware that you can do a mid-drive conversion (I thought >>>>>>> the frame had to be special designed to accept the drive-unit instead >>>>>>> of a >>>>>>> bottom bracket). How did you do it? >>>>>>> -Wes >>>>>>> On Monday, July 17, 2023 at 11:03:34 AM UTC-7 Joe Bernard wrote: >>>>>>> >>>>>>>> Looks like you're good there, Stephen, 250W is pretty mellow. Yes >>>>>>>> it's the torque that would concern me with a more powerful hub motor; >>>>>>>> no >>>>>>>> bad experiences (I used 250W on an Appaloosa), I just try not to be >>>>>>>> too >>>>>>>> crazy with slim fork blades not designed with a motor in mind. Most >>>>>>>> front-hub-motor bikes I see are running really beefy forks. >>>>>>>> >>>>>>>> My first build was a ridiculously powerful rear-hub Clem, Grant >>>>>>>> rode it! Then I did a few with even more ridiculously powerful >>>>>>>> mid-drives, >>>>>>>> those were tons of fun. But I'm out of the ebike game these days. >>>>>>>> Maybe in >>>>>>>> the future I'll try one again. >>>>>>>> >>>>>>>> Joe Bernard >>>>>>>> >>>>>>>> On Monday, July 17, 2023 at 6:46:52 AM UTC-7 Stephen wrote: >>>>>>>> >>>>>>>>> Hey Joe, >>>>>>>>> >>>>>>>>> That would be because of too much torque on a weak fork I presume? >>>>>>>>> I'd be curious to hear more about your experiences with eRivs, and is >>>>>>>>> that >>>>>>>>> a determination you've made based on a bad experience? Have you done >>>>>>>>> both >>>>>>>>> front and rear type motors? I have to admit I'm pretty clueless when >>>>>>>>> it >>>>>>>>> comes to the details of ebikes in general, but I hope that since this >>>>>>>>> kit >>>>>>>>> is intended to be universal it will be safe enough for the type of >>>>>>>>> riding >>>>>>>>> my father will be doing and that the company would be responsible >>>>>>>>> enough to >>>>>>>>> highlight potential incompatibilities. It does seem like eBikes are >>>>>>>>> still a >>>>>>>>> bit of a wild west of little to no regulation.. Unfortunately the kit >>>>>>>>> website is pretty limited in describing its technical specifications >>>>>>>>> (it is >>>>>>>>> very much designed for non technical people) and I can't find a spec >>>>>>>>> as to >>>>>>>>> whether its a 250w or 500w motor, but it does list a 40nm torque. How >>>>>>>>> does >>>>>>>>> that speak to your experience? >>>>>>>>> >>>>>>>>> I didn't notice anything bad on my test ride yesterday, but I >>>>>>>>> suppose I'll give it a longer ride today and see if I notice any >>>>>>>>> dangerous >>>>>>>>> fork flex... >>>>>>>>> >>>>>>>>> On Sunday, July 16, 2023 at 10:02:46 PM UTC-4 Joe Bernard wrote: >>>>>>>>> >>>>>>>>>> Looks fun but - as a fellow who's built a few eRivs - I gotta >>>>>>>>>> throw in a warning here about wattage. If that's a 250W hub you're >>>>>>>>>> good, I >>>>>>>>>> would worry about 500W on Riv's spindly forks. >>>>>>>>>> >>>>>>>>>> On Sunday, July 16, 2023 at 4:33:14 PM UTC-7 Stephen wrote: >>>>>>>>>> >>>>>>>>>>> Thought I'd share my project of the day: electrifying this clem >>>>>>>>>>> L for my Dad. >>>>>>>>>>> >>>>>>>>>>> A little backstory: >>>>>>>>>>> >>>>>>>>>>> My family and I all chipped in a few years ago to get my Dad a >>>>>>>>>>> Clem complete in an effort to give him a fun and healthy exercise >>>>>>>>>>> activity >>>>>>>>>>> following a near death heart attack in 2020. Despite really liking >>>>>>>>>>> the look >>>>>>>>>>> and comfort of the bike, his level of fitness was really limiting >>>>>>>>>>> the >>>>>>>>>>> amount of time he could spend on it. He'd be wiped in under 30 >>>>>>>>>>> minutes, and >>>>>>>>>>> unfortunately living in the suburban south, safe and accessible >>>>>>>>>>> riding is >>>>>>>>>>> fairly limited and largely unexciting unless you're covering big >>>>>>>>>>> miles out >>>>>>>>>>> on country roads. Add to that the fact that his main riding >>>>>>>>>>> partner, my >>>>>>>>>>> mom, has been a long time road cyclist with a much higher level of >>>>>>>>>>> fitness, >>>>>>>>>>> they ended up getting him an ebike from rei. Its made a huge >>>>>>>>>>> difference in >>>>>>>>>>> how much he's able to ride and his willingness to ride, but he's >>>>>>>>>>> still been >>>>>>>>>>> partial towards the Clem. >>>>>>>>>>> >>>>>>>>>>> So my folks ordered an ebike conversion kit, gosh, like a year >>>>>>>>>>> ago and it finally arrived recently. Its a front wheel motor with a >>>>>>>>>>> handlebar mounted battery pack, and supposedly a pretty simple >>>>>>>>>>> install. >>>>>>>>>>> However, for some reason the axle on the wheel was 10mm as opposed >>>>>>>>>>> to the >>>>>>>>>>> 9mm clem fork drop outs so I had to do a bit of filing (on the >>>>>>>>>>> axle) to get >>>>>>>>>>> it to fit. Took it for a spin and it really goes! Feels a little >>>>>>>>>>> less >>>>>>>>>>> jarring/unnatural than other ebikes I've tried. I'm curious to see >>>>>>>>>>> how it >>>>>>>>>>> holds up. >>>>>>>>>>> >>>>>>>>>>> Please excuse the messy cables in the pics, still got some >>>>>>>>>>> neatening up to do. And for those curious, the kit is the swytch >>>>>>>>>>> bike kit. >>>>>>>>>>> >>>>>>>>>>> [image: IMG_5909.jpg] >>>>>>>>>>> >>>>>>>>>>> [image: IMG_5910.jpg] >>>>>>>>>>> >>>>>>>>>>> [image: IMG_5911.jpg] >>>>>>>>>>> >>>>>>>>>>> [image: IMG_5912.jpg] >>>>>>>>>>> >>>>>>>>>> >>>>> -- >>>>> You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google >>>>> Groups "RBW Owners Bunch" group. >>>>> To unsubscribe from this group and stop receiving emails from it, send >>>>> an email to rbw-owners-bun...@googlegroups.com. >>>>> >>>>> To view this discussion on the web visit >>>>> https://groups.google.com/d/msgid/rbw-owners-bunch/130ee007-a677-4a70-baa2-55ea183fb252n%40googlegroups.com >>>>> >>>>> <https://groups.google.com/d/msgid/rbw-owners-bunch/130ee007-a677-4a70-baa2-55ea183fb252n%40googlegroups.com?utm_medium=email&utm_source=footer> >>>>> . >>>>> >>>>> >>>>> -- You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups "RBW Owners Bunch" group. To unsubscribe from this group and stop receiving emails from it, send an email to rbw-owners-bunch+unsubscr...@googlegroups.com. To view this discussion on the web visit https://groups.google.com/d/msgid/rbw-owners-bunch/2319d439-2d5c-43bd-bde7-641b6ad79a17n%40googlegroups.com.
