Convert Q45 to ebike

[JoFlo]

.If you have a Q45, then you it weighs 35-40 lbs, depending how you dress it out. E-assist adds an additional 35-40 lbs, depending which battery you choose. I haven’t weighed my bike yet.
** Weighed bike, 62 lbs with 4 racks, 2 water bottle carriers, 2 bags with misc tools. In race mode-hit 30mph. Rode 35 miles, avg spds 17mph, on level ground. Battery charged to 80%, still had 50% chg on battery. Next will be loading my camping gear and doing some hills.

 

[kizarmynot]

.If you have a Q45, then you it weighs 35-40 lbs, depending how you dress it out. E-assist adds an additional 35-40 lbs, depending which battery you choose. I have weighed my bike yet.

Thanks. Please keep the thread updated with your findings. Would be interested to hear runtime on a charge for a loaded ride.
Thanks again!

 

[JoFlo]

Yes CYC. Charged battery to 80%, rode 55 miles, still have 50% charge on battery, using level 1, Race mode. Speeds between 15-26 mph on level ground. Next will loading saddle bags with all my camping gear to test bike balance & handling.

 

[Flying Dutchman]

I'm in discussion with https://skarper.com/ - this looks promising. I'm hoping to get the kit within the next couple of weeks and will update on progress.
It's UK based so I don't know whether people in the US can get it but if it works, it might be something for @Robert Holler to start talking with them. They certainly are a friendly bunch.

For various reasons (nothing to do with Skarper) I finally got the Skarper last week and mounted it within an hour onto my Q45. It really is an incredible piece of engineering (the Red Bull Formula 1 engineers got involved!). They developed a disk that replaces the standard disk and has some very clever gearing in. The engine locks onto the clever bit inside the disk (see the disk picture) which is able to drive the rear wheel.
There's a wireless crank sensor to measure whether you're pedalling or free-wheeling (in which case the engine cuts out).
The motor has three support levels; eco, touring and turbo. I only used eco so far and it's more than enough, going up hills is a breeze. On the flat I wouldn't get tired doing several hours at 15mph (which I think is the regulated top speed for support).
I did have to make a temporary solution with the secondary attachment which is at the chainstay, I'm in discussion with Skarper for a better solution. There are two issues with their standard solution; they expect a relatively narrow tube as the chainstay and with the Q45 it's quite beefy so the standard attachment is too small. The other is that the wheel attachment is actually below the chainstay which makes the Skarper sit slightly slanted. So what I'm discussing with Skarper is to have two of the standard straps which would be able to wrap around the chainstay and then have a slightly raised block so that the Skarper engine would be more horizontal.
If any of you would be interested in motorising a S40, I think everything would work out of the box.
Anyway, I will keep you updated on further progress.

 

[Flying Dutchman]

I tried to post a video (mp4) but it didn't allow me so if someone can tell me how I will post a video as well

 

[Mathew Fy]

I tried to post a video (mp4) but it didn't allow me so if someone can tell me how I will post a video as well

You must first upload your video to another site (such as YouTube) and post a link to the video.

 

[SpotTheDog]

For various reasons (nothing to do with Skarper) I finally got the Skarper last week and mounted it within an hour onto my Q45. It really is an incredible piece of engineering (the Red Bull Formula 1 engineers got involved!). They developed a disk that replaces the standard disk and has some very clever gearing in. The engine locks onto the clever bit inside the disk (see the disk picture) which is able to drive the rear wheel.
There's a wireless crank sensor to measure whether you're pedalling or free-wheeling (in which case the engine cuts out).
The motor has three support levels; eco, touring and turbo. I only used eco so far and it's more than enough, going up hills is a breeze. On the flat I wouldn't get tired doing several hours at 15mph (which I think is the regulated top speed for support).
I did have to make a temporary solution with the secondary attachment which is at the chainstay, I'm in discussion with Skarper for a better solution. There are two issues with their standard solution; they expect a relatively narrow tube as the chainstay and with the Q45 it's quite beefy so the standard attachment is too small. The other is that the wheel attachment is actually below the chainstay which makes the Skarper sit slightly slanted. So what I'm discussing with Skarper is to have two of the standard straps which would be able to wrap around the chainstay and then have a slightly raised block so that the Skarper engine would be more horizontal.
If any of you would be interested in motorising a S40, I think everything would work out of the box.
Anyway, I will keep you updated on further progress.

Cool! I was interested in buying the Q45 until I saw that it wasn't ever electrified so I ended up getting the T50 as I knew that it could be. This way I could keep up with the wife on her e-trike if needed. (Yup, we are both in our 70's) Keep posting updates. I may need to trade in the "T" for the "Q" at some point in the future. ;-)

 

[Flying Dutchman]

You must first upload your video to another site (such as YouTube) and post a link to the video.

Here's the video

 

[cpml123]

For various reasons (nothing to do with Skarper) I finally got the Skarper last week and mounted it within an hour onto my Q45. It really is an incredible piece of engineering (the Red Bull Formula 1 engineers got involved!). They developed a disk that replaces the standard disk and has some very clever gearing in. The engine locks onto the clever bit inside the disk (see the disk picture) which is able to drive the rear wheel.
There's a wireless crank sensor to measure whether you're pedalling or free-wheeling (in which case the engine cuts out).
The motor has three support levels; eco, touring and turbo. I only used eco so far and it's more than enough, going up hills is a breeze. On the flat I wouldn't get tired doing several hours at 15mph (which I think is the regulated top speed for support).
I did have to make a temporary solution with the secondary attachment which is at the chainstay, I'm in discussion with Skarper for a better solution. There are two issues with their standard solution; they expect a relatively narrow tube as the chainstay and with the Q45 it's quite beefy so the standard attachment is too small. The other is that the wheel attachment is actually below the chainstay which makes the Skarper sit slightly slanted. So what I'm discussing with Skarper is to have two of the standard straps which would be able to wrap around the chainstay and then have a slightly raised block so that the Skarper engine would be more horizontal.
If any of you would be interested in motorising a S40, I think everything would work out of the box.
Anyway, I will keep you updated on further progress.

How much weight does it add? Also what's the range?

 

[Flying Dutchman]

How much weight does it add? Also what's the range?

It's about 4.5kg (just short of 10lbs)
According to the documentation it's supposed to have a range of 30 miles in Eco mode but I haven't been able to confirm that and I guess that's in optimal conditions (no hills). I did find that having it fitted and not engaged did not have any negative effect on the ride (on the flat) so my use would typically be support up hill and then disengage for the flat. I don't think it does regen

 

[Flying Dutchman]

Update on the Skarper - it has an upgraded attachment, attaches very neatly onto the rear fork now.
Weather is still awful here in Yorkshire UK, roads are in a dreadful state so I haven't tried it out on a long ride yet but that will soon come.

 

[Robert Holler]

Update on the Skarper - it has an upgraded attachment, attaches very neatly onto the rear fork now.
Weather is still awful here in Yorkshire UK, roads are in a dreadful state so I haven't tried it out on a long ride yet but that will soon come.

These types of additions are what we should be aiming for IMHO. They are more realistic of what these should be - an assist - and not the idea of tuning a bike into basically an electric motorcycle meant to be run throttle only for a metric century. True assist only. I can get behind that.

Also as far as thing we are doing: All I can stay is "stay tuned"

 

[CruzRider]

Also as far as thing we are doing: All I can stay is "stay tuned"

@Robert Holler I am very tempted to buy this skarper unit. However, can be patient for what you have cooking. Ball park, how far away are you from sharing? Weeks, Months

 

[Robert Holler]

@Robert Holler I am very tempted to buy this skarper unit. However, can be patient for what you have cooking. Ball park, how far away are you from sharing? Weeks, Months

It is not going to be for a while as I have to scope out some things at Taipei Cycle which is at the end of March. The Skarper concept though is sound and it looks like it is easily adapted.

 

[llavalle]

Yes CYC. Charged battery to 80%, rode 55 miles, still have 50% charge on battery, using level 1, Race mode. Speeds between 15-26 mph on level ground. Next will loading saddle bags with all my camping gear to test bike balance & handling.

What's the reason with the wooden dowel covered with duck tape?

I'm considering buying a Q45 and electrifying it. First I was looking into a Grin kit (All Axle) for the back of the bike but the torque arm looked problematic and others had issue with the disk rubbing on the wiring. I'm in Canada so buying local made sense.

I then looked at the Skarper but I feared it wouldn't fit. @Flying Dutchman when you say "updated attachement" is that from the factory now?

My 3rd option was a Grin hub motor up front with torque sensing built in.... but then my brother told me "why don't you check the Photon from CYC" and I love it. I have a Bosch middrive right now on my diamond frame so it would be awesome to mimic it's functionality but with a throttle to get going easier!

Same as others here, I don't want to drive an electric motorcycle, I just need a bit of help on hills of if I'm super tired coming back from too far away ... I have a 500wh battery on my bike right now (Trek Verve 3+) and never used more than 40-50% of it on a ride... usually less than 30%

 

[llavalle]

Oh.. and the Skarper doesn't seem like it's available in Canada. The UK site doesn't want to ship here and the USA site is "launching soon"

 

[Robert Holler]

@Robert Holler I am very tempted to buy this skarper unit. However, can be patient for what you have cooking. Ball park, how far away are you from sharing? Weeks, Months

I have to wait until at least after this coming Taipei Cycle show (end of this month) as there are a few elements to work out for what I am testing - so I would say "months" but not necessarily "lots of months" haha

 

[CruzRider]

so I would say "months" but not necessarily "lots of months" haha

Alright. I am going to hold out for your solution. Thanks for your work on this. Sorely needed.

 

[Black Hawk Down]

A couple of years ago, I converted my S40 to an ebike with the Bafang motor from Amazon. It was fairly easy to do and the motor is very powerful. I got their largest battery. The point was to do touring and get a little help up the steep grades, but peddle on my own everywhere else. I'm not a tank but I was overweight (230 lbs). With the bags at around 50-60 lbs, getting up tough hill is no fun. Lots of walking. I did a 2400 mile ebike tour from San Francisco to San Diego to Dallas TX to Austin. The bike worked perfectly. I was able to last 2 days before I needed to charge the battery. I was riding about 50-60 mi/day normally. There were some longer and shorter days. I found that using the motor to help with the hardest hills really made the tour fun.

The ebike motor kit is no longer available but they have comparable kits if you search. This was my configuration:
48V 500W Front Hub Motor Electric Bike Conversion Kit for 26inch Wheel Drive Engine with Display with Battery (C18,Rear Battery 48V 17.5Ah)
It cost $936.35 out the door. I configured a new one on Amazon today that is about the same setup that I had and the total cost was only $538.45. Considering all the inflation since 2021, this is a steal. I can't give a link of the page with all the configurations selected but you can take my specs and configure it yourself from this link:
Bafang Ebike motor on Amazon

I have since changed my plan for the next tour. I'm losing weight with GLP1. I'm down 30 and need another 30 off, then I will do a tour with the S40 without ebike assist. This is my preference, but before I just couldn't lose the weight.

I documented my 2021 tour that spanned the whole perimeter of the US here:

2021 Tour around the USA perimeter, by billweberx

Includes the Adventure Cycling routes Southern Tier, East Coast, Northern Tier, West Coast, Rocky Mountains, Sierra Nevada and Cascade mountains

www.crazyguyonabike.com

The first part was 8710 miles and I rode the S40 without electric assist. I ended it in San Francisco as I just couldn't take another hill. I went home for 4 months where I made the S40 ebike conversion. Then I started out again from San Francisco back to my home in Austin. The total milage between the two trips was 10,952 miles. The second half was most defiantly more fun with ebike assist, than the first half.