Not model specific.
Convert Q45 to ebike
- Thread starter Black Hawk Down
- Start date
Awesome - so a no-model specific addon
love it! Can't wait to hear news!Flying Dutchman
Well-Known Member
Further update on my Skarper experience after I've done a couple of 20-mile commutes.
My commute is mostly flat with a couple of relatively easy hills. For the hills the Skarper does exactly what's expected - it gives that bit of help to get up them more easily. I find I go uphill doing 10mph very easily. Now here in the UK, e-bike motors are restricted to provide support to 25kph (about 15.5mph). This appears to be my typical speed on the Q45 though so I tend not to get any or hardly any support from the engine. The funny bit is that if I stay just under the 25kph I get support and it runs very easily, so much so that I want to change gear. However when I do that, I go past the 25kph at which point the motor cuts out, so I have to shift down again.
But apart from that I am very happy with this solution. I still get a good workout (some 2 1/5 hour on the bike) and I am not totally shattered by the time I get to work. Win-win. As for battery usage, I use about 50% each way so I can make it there and back on one charge - just about. It might be different if I have strong headwinds in one direction though - I haven't had that as yet.
To answer @llavalle - the solution that I got from Skarper is not the standard solution but it is basically doubling up on the strap that comes as standard.
@Robert Holler Skarper will come to the Taipei Cycle where they will try to link up with you.
My commute is mostly flat with a couple of relatively easy hills. For the hills the Skarper does exactly what's expected - it gives that bit of help to get up them more easily. I find I go uphill doing 10mph very easily. Now here in the UK, e-bike motors are restricted to provide support to 25kph (about 15.5mph). This appears to be my typical speed on the Q45 though so I tend not to get any or hardly any support from the engine. The funny bit is that if I stay just under the 25kph I get support and it runs very easily, so much so that I want to change gear. However when I do that, I go past the 25kph at which point the motor cuts out, so I have to shift down again.
But apart from that I am very happy with this solution. I still get a good workout (some 2 1/5 hour on the bike) and I am not totally shattered by the time I get to work. Win-win. As for battery usage, I use about 50% each way so I can make it there and back on one charge - just about. It might be different if I have strong headwinds in one direction though - I haven't had that as yet.
To answer @llavalle - the solution that I got from Skarper is not the standard solution but it is basically doubling up on the strap that comes as standard.
@Robert Holler Skarper will come to the Taipei Cycle where they will try to link up with you.
Interesting. I would definitely prefer their solution over the BiMotal one. I feel like pulling on the 2 small M5 screws of the flatmount caliper is just asking for trouble.... (and not officially supported anyway)
So I reached out to BiMotal.
Their answer :
I'm already have FM 140mm to PM 160MM adapters on the way to put MTB hydraulic disk brakes on my A4X (was planning on cheap MT-200 with the longer reach handles but I guess I could get a set of MT420 instead)
Interesting to say the least.
bhave
Member
I have the 2019 Q45 with the QR axles. Have put a 1500W front wheel motor with a 52v 20ah battery on the rear. The bike became a recumbent motorcycle.
Update on Bimotal : it doesn't fit on the A4X. Might be super tight fit on a Q45 or other frame but the A4X rear end does not fit a 180mm rotor (and the others are awfully close too...).
llavalle's A4X Build
Posting here (the Adventure series forum) since this is likely where the A4X will end up :) I'll document my build and try to get it updated. The plan : Get a A4X Frameset in order to avoid paying 13% tariffs into Canada (bike parts are 5% instead) this gives me roughly $2700 CAD to pay for...
forum.cruzbike.com
Looking forward to this - I'm almost tempted to get a Grin All Axle kit but holding off for now! (well, not doing nothing, 3d printing different batteries to see what they would look like and where I can put them)
I also discovered this company : https://bikeebike.it/en/
They make an odd contraption called the "Lightest" but it clearly can't have a throttle. Their "Best" system might have one but it's ... humm.. fugly?
There is a new company running a Kickstarter campaign. Presently there is only a rear wheel version, but it is thru axel.
142x12mm - it won't fit in the rear of a Cruzbike (unless I'm out of date and the rear dropouts are more than 100mm now).
The Q45 is particularly an adventure model, with many attachments for touring, bike packing. For that use case, I chose the Grin motor as it provided good support for that sort of riding. It's even possible to put a Rohloff in the front wheel with the Grin in the rear.
By the page, this is targeted as only a 'stealth' motor providing some support for a recreational/sport rider. Based on the 23N-m specs it looks to fit that bill. It might satisfy that sort of ride well.
24/28 spoke count?
There is no discussion of any battery protocol. Bosch and some others put proprietary signalling into their battery connections so that you can use a Bosch battery and only a Bosch battery. When the time comes to replace the battery, or if you want more capacity for longer rides, you must buy from them at their price.
If they stop making replacement batteries, you have a paperweight. But I don't know about this - perhaps it's just a two-wire connection.
I read this as a motor for the cafe riding crowd, and in turn I wonder about the battery. 50km is fine for Sunday rides with no luggage. This motor seems not to offer much outside of that envelope. However, there are many riders who would be happy within that envelope.
Curious about your motor - is it a QR/axle mount or a thru-axle? What model motor and what model Cruzbike?
Black Hawk Down
Senior Rookie
Bafang are all QR axles. I have the same rear wheel setup.
