I have significant joint problems, so I can't just get stronger to keep riding. I have put a motor on my folding commuter, and now I'm going to do this with my Q45. I will get more exercise if I'm not daunted by hills or headwinds, or lousy weather while commuting. If I damage my joints anymore, I stop riding.
I bought one of the returned Q45s, and while I expected a 2019, I received a 2021 model. This presents some challenges - primarily the thru-axles. There is a wide selection of motors for a quick-release or bolted axle, but as far as I know, the only choice for thru-axles comes from Grin Technologies in Canada in the form of their own-design All-Axle hub motor.
I already used one of those for my folding commuter.
I received the slow-wind motor today, with a 26" rim. On my folding bicycle, I used the PAS 24 cadence sensor, and it's also not fixed there although it is a closer fit to the bottom bracket. But it's floating and works well there, so something like that will be what I manage here. I can also start with just the throttle.
I chose the 26" rim so I can mount 2"+ tires. The Q45 is the 'adventure' model, and I fully intend to ride on gravel and nice trails. I know the bicycle is not suited for air time.
I put the rotor on the wheel and mounted it to consider the fit. The disk rotor is millimetres away from the motor cable. The torque arm means there are 6 orientations. The first one I tried seems close to what Tortue described, and I can see why he relieved the edge of the swingarm.
I also tried the position that rotated the motor cable towards the front from there and I think I like that better. I'm thinking to have it go out and curve up and then bend forward at the top. I'll screw something into the mudguard mounting threads which are just forward of the axle to fix the cable so it is pulled upwards and remains several millimetres away from that disk.
Tortue added some pictures including his cable routing below.
With my approach, the stock thru-axle will not unscrew - the cable will block the arm. But I have already replaced the front axle with one from the Robert Axle Project which has the cones to fit my training stand, and I have one for the rear as well so I can mount a trailer hitch. Those are hex driven, so there won't be any interference from the cable.
You can get one for the rear that fits if you don't want a trailer hitch, too. The Robert Axle Project thinks it's a 100mm front wheel axle - nothing odd about it.
I'm going to have to do something about the seat pan - my bones are at the edge, and one hip joint is being very painful. I may get it widened, or research other solutions.
There is a business here which can make anything for bicycles - he fabricated the battery mount for my folding commuter. I didn't see a rectangular extrusion as Tortue described from my local hardware chain (Bunning's Warehouse) and I don't have space for any serious work so I may hand it to him. He can probably widen the seat pan as well, but there's some time before I'm ready for that, so I'll try moving the seat around first.
I have foamcore board and tape. I'll design the battery mount and work out the Phaserunner mounting.
Rain and rain this week (it's winter in Perth), so I wont be on the road soon. I'll contemplate that cable route. But it seems that it can fit together well, and that's nice to know.
I bought one of the returned Q45s, and while I expected a 2019, I received a 2021 model. This presents some challenges - primarily the thru-axles. There is a wide selection of motors for a quick-release or bolted axle, but as far as I know, the only choice for thru-axles comes from Grin Technologies in Canada in the form of their own-design All-Axle hub motor.
I already used one of those for my folding commuter.
I received the slow-wind motor today, with a 26" rim. On my folding bicycle, I used the PAS 24 cadence sensor, and it's also not fixed there although it is a closer fit to the bottom bracket. But it's floating and works well there, so something like that will be what I manage here. I can also start with just the throttle.
I chose the 26" rim so I can mount 2"+ tires. The Q45 is the 'adventure' model, and I fully intend to ride on gravel and nice trails. I know the bicycle is not suited for air time.
I put the rotor on the wheel and mounted it to consider the fit. The disk rotor is millimetres away from the motor cable. The torque arm means there are 6 orientations. The first one I tried seems close to what Tortue described, and I can see why he relieved the edge of the swingarm.
I also tried the position that rotated the motor cable towards the front from there and I think I like that better. I'm thinking to have it go out and curve up and then bend forward at the top. I'll screw something into the mudguard mounting threads which are just forward of the axle to fix the cable so it is pulled upwards and remains several millimetres away from that disk.
Tortue added some pictures including his cable routing below.
With my approach, the stock thru-axle will not unscrew - the cable will block the arm. But I have already replaced the front axle with one from the Robert Axle Project which has the cones to fit my training stand, and I have one for the rear as well so I can mount a trailer hitch. Those are hex driven, so there won't be any interference from the cable.
You can get one for the rear that fits if you don't want a trailer hitch, too. The Robert Axle Project thinks it's a 100mm front wheel axle - nothing odd about it.
I'm going to have to do something about the seat pan - my bones are at the edge, and one hip joint is being very painful. I may get it widened, or research other solutions.
There is a business here which can make anything for bicycles - he fabricated the battery mount for my folding commuter. I didn't see a rectangular extrusion as Tortue described from my local hardware chain (Bunning's Warehouse) and I don't have space for any serious work so I may hand it to him. He can probably widen the seat pan as well, but there's some time before I'm ready for that, so I'll try moving the seat around first.
I have foamcore board and tape. I'll design the battery mount and work out the Phaserunner mounting.
Rain and rain this week (it's winter in Perth), so I wont be on the road soon. I'll contemplate that cable route. But it seems that it can fit together well, and that's nice to know.
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