Reid Alpha 26″ X 4″ MTB purchased December 2021 from Bike Crazy LLC in Bluffton Ohio ***.
*** This was my first build (bicycle conversion) which was actually THREE (3) builds on one frame as I tested out 2 different direct drive hub motors as well as a Bafang BBSHD mid drive over the course of about a year. The last motor I installed was an NB Power, 2500Watt max, together with 2 48V batteries and a Phaserunner controller with Cycle Analyst digital dashboard. Add to this a pair of Origin8 road tires and the bike was capable of about 40mph (maybe more) but I was unable to further test it out due to a collision with a car November 11, 2022.
I sustained a knee injury in this low speed collision where the driver of the car was looking straight down as if looking at a cell phone – the last thing I saw before impact was the top of the driver’s head lit up by my headlight. I was about a foot or so from the right hand edge of the road and the driver was clearly unaware I was there in spite of ample lighting on my bike.
I plan to make a video commemorating the 3 bike builds and what I learned from the process, as well as getting involved with educational courses on sharing the road with cyclists going forward. Also, I’m coming up with cool ways to add lights and a horn with minimal wiring, etc … so check back often and Thanks for your interest!!
(Right click on any image and open in new window for best viewing)
See this bike evolve as I test out the Ebikeling 1500W motor capabilities off road – complete with 12V off-road lighting – then transform it for street use by adding full lights/ turn signals and horn … and eventually mount the 48V/ 24Ah battery and cover it for added protection and improved aesthetics.
I wrote the following work of prose April 2, 2022 after about 400 miles of riding time, but it seems appropriate to put it in the beginning of this page to describe the rewarding affect of completing a project that has taken on a life of it’s own, or more specifically “Emotion in Motion“:
“stopping to smell the roses” … The phrase takes on a new meaning when one actually slows down enough to feel the moment .. feel the air coming in .. feel the breath going out .. picking up on the scents in one’s immediate surroundings … someone is doing laundry … Oh those are lilacs … something slightly minty in the air now … and the sounds of kids laughing and playing softball … the sound of the ball hitting the bat … the ball smacking in the leather glove … stones under the tires as I shift my weight from the seat to the pedals and glide around the corner as a couple geese squawk and flap away from me unaware that I’m so totally enjoying their presence because they make me feel a part of the moment, a part of THEIR lives, if only long enough for them to be irritated by me, they make me smile.
Hearing the tires on the pavement going faster and faster, similar to snow tires in the summer making a nice roar … rewarding to hear as it marks the success of a project – to build the two-wheeled machine to do more than 30 mph – now looking forward to getting low rolling resistance tires that make LESS noise so I can hear more sounds coming from my immediate surroundings … which necessarily induces an overall feeling of being part of said surroundings rather than merely on a vehicle passing by.
= = = = = = = = = =
Added 12Volt battery pack for off-road lights, some “dirt bike” flare & mounted battery on rack
Still more to add HERE (hint: Snow Vid)…
As of July 4, 2022 THIS is what it looks like:
I’m able to pedal to about 22mph and the 42 tooth chain ring should get me to 30+ … can’t wait to test it out as the motor will take me to 35 on a full charge!
*** O%O ***
As this page evolves, the images below will serve as links to relative “Behind the Scenes” footage – HAPPY TRAILS …
OTHER PROJECTS include: Two more 26″ fat tire mountain bikes, one hard tail and one full suspension, which means one for “trails” and one for “street”. The street version is getting full lights, horn and turn signals plus a cool powder coating paint job; while the other gets knobby tires and ample lights for those trails! These bikes will serve as DEMO’s, with the trail bike likely being raffled off (or similar) as a fund raising event.
STEALTH BOMBER: I have two more direct drive rear hub motors which I plan to build on “Stealth Bomber” or similar enduro-style frames, also for fundraising. One of these motors is 1.8Kw max and the other is 2.5Kw max, on 26″ fat tire rims, and should reach around 35 and 40mph, respectively.
MOPED STYLE: I have a 20″ fat tire, Vonax moped style e-bike with 7speed pedal assist, that I intend to sell outright. The 750W (1200W max) rear drive internal geared hub motor is getting replaced, and also includes the addition of running lights, turn signals and horn, upgraded 17.5Ah 48V battery, and nice all terrain (but tarmac friendly) tires. 
I also have a 20″ fat tire foldable Eahora moped style e-bike with 7 speed pedal assist and 750W (960W max) rear drive internal geared hub motor, for demo purposes as well. I have added running lights/ turn signals and horn, upgraded suspension fork, as well as BMX-style high rise handlebar and registered it as a “moped”. 
SUN “his” & “hers” road bikes were built for an
elderly couple who wanted some extra power for those hills and paths so I
picked these 500W/ 36V geared hub, front drive Ebikeling motor kits with
external controller and pedal assist. These bikes are good for about 22mph.
After the initial build, we decided to relocate the battery on
“HERS” from the frame to a luggage rack, so after finding the right
rack, I modified it to bolt on the battery mount and added about 10 inches of
cable since the battery was further away.
Hearing their laughter was truly music to my ears as they ran around from gravel to grass, now able to traverse the hills without getting “winded” !!!
*** O%O ***
Leave a Reply