Electric Rat

[Wildcat]

I'm going to give it a shot and convert my big bike to electric. Riff Ratt is a build from last year and doesn't get much ride time, as it's a hike back up the hill when I go riding. The weight and size are issues.
My plan is to shore up the front end in anticipation of a front hub motor that can be laced to the 86mm rim. I think a 26" electric hub wheel should have the right spokes and I just need to swap in the hub.
I measured and cut some steel to replace the thin struts on the front end and change out the drops to something more solid.

I'm still studying the electric conversions to get a good idea while I work on the bike first. The local bike shop owner says he's going to try a conversion so I'll wait and see how successful he is first. I'm not investing a load of bike budget easily.
I'll also modify the frame to hold the battery(s) like it was made for it.

 

[LACABikeGuy.55]

I'm going to give it a shot and convert my big bike to electric. Riff Ratt is a build from last year and doesn't get much ride time, as it's a hike back up the hill when I go riding. The weight and size are issues.
My plan is to shore up the front end in anticipation of a front hub motor that can be laced to the 86mm rim. I think a 26" electric hub wheel should have the right spokes and I just need to swap in the hub.
I measured and cut some steel to replace the thin struts on the front end and change out the drops to something more solid.
View attachment 218195
I'm still studying the electric conversions to get a good idea while I work on the bike first. The local bike shop owner says he's going to try a conversion so I'll wait and see how successful he is first. I'm not investing a load of bike budget easily.
I'll also modify the frame to hold the battery(s) like it was made for it.

Cool. More power is better. I have a buddy in Vegas that builds 26” Stingray with E front wheel. 30mph. He’s around 6’3” but likes riding Stingrays. Good Luck

 

[LACABikeGuy.55]

I'm going to give it a shot and convert my big bike to electric. Riff Ratt is a build from last year and doesn't get much ride time, as it's a hike back up the hill when I go riding. The weight and size are issues.
My plan is to shore up the front end in anticipation of a front hub motor that can be laced to the 86mm rim. I think a 26" electric hub wheel should have the right spokes and I just need to swap in the hub.
I measured and cut some steel to replace the thin struts on the front end and change out the drops to something more solid.
View attachment 218195
I'm still studying the electric conversions to get a good idea while I work on the bike first. The local bike shop owner says he's going to try a conversion so I'll wait and see how successful he is first. I'm not investing a load of bike budget easily.
I'll also modify the frame to hold the battery(s) like it was made for it.

I need to correct my last post. My friend in Vegas just sent me a photo of his 26” E Stingray. I call him Vegas Bill but he’s on Rat Rod. I added another one of his very cool bikes.

 

[Wildcat]

I may need better brakes so I may look into a drum brake.

 

[Son of Kradus]

Good on ya man, i'll watch with interest here!

 

[Wildcat]

I redid the forks and it's a lot sturdier now. The old parts are leftover trussrods bolted together with dropouts from an old frame, changed out with flat bar.

I may also add a bracket from the crown to the struts in a "U" shape for even more strength.

New drillbits and a new grinder made it an easy job.

 

[Wildcat]

I'm planning to get all the bike engineering done before working on the electric part. I stretched it a little by going with the lower holes on the forks which put the wheel farther forward and lowering the bike slightly. I think it looks better like this. I put on my big cruiser seat and changed out the tiller bars for a big half moon set. The front brake went back on and it'll get some test rides to be sure everything is solid. I'm thinking of a mid drive being the easiest way to go right now, as I won't lose a brake like a hub motor will. It's still up in the air.

 

[JennieDraegon]

going with a 1500w rear hub motor on a 24x4.25 rear wheel.

 

[Wildcat]

Made some more changes. 3" tires with 57mm rims. SA kickback coaster hub improved the braking considerably. The new setup on the fork is solid, no flex left or right. It should be good for an electric hub. It's my exercise bike down in the shop for the time being.
Looking at the frame, I may redo the rear dropouts and the cantilevers also.

 

[rgrrbt]

Cool project. I really think the 57mm rims greatly improved the look and will likely make it a much better roller. Really like this build!

 

[toro1978]

A midmotor is a good choice because it usually has an integrated controller, which makes for a simpler and cleaner conversion. Most common bafang or tsdz2. When considering one should know that the bafang is not compatible with a coaster brake (or with the kickback hub). Tsdz2 however has a coaster brake version.
Looking at your frame you could probably mount it in the frame triangle instead of underneath, which looks much better imho.
The battery would look nice if mounted where you usually mount a tank.

 

[Wildcat]

I'm still researching. It's not looking any better than it did last year when I looked into electric power. The cost is still too high compared to a gas motor.

 

[Wildcat]

But I'm not giving up on it yet. I plan to upgrade the springer to make it stouter yet again. Not the knee action springer, but the Monark style one I made up in the past. Instead of an extra fork for the struts, I 'm going to use some flat bar and add stronger springs for a very solid front end. The springs are smaller, for a motorcycle seat, but are stronger than the big chrome springs. I'll do some cutting and drilling tomorrow and see how it sits.

 

[toro1978]

How about making a leading fork?

 

[Wildcat]

I had to look up what a leading fork is. That's a possibility. I can get steel pretty cheap in 20' lengths.

I did some cutting, bending, and drilling this morning and afternoon. It's cool enough to work most of the day out in the shop, about 75-78.

I made it wide enough and long enough for a fatbike tire and had room for my old headlight. The bigger springs won out, the others look too small.

 

[Wildcat]

The frame needs a complete workover to be stronger and look better. originally I kept adding on it to make it strong enough but it looks like heck.
I took it completely apart and laid it out. The cantilevers and upper part of the seat stays are coming off. The rear drops will be newly fabricated from 3mm steel once I see how they will fit in the stays.
It will have 4 cantilevers/seat stays.
Then I plan to do all the measurements and double check everything using the wheelset to align everything. I was going to start grinding on the welds but it's noon already, too hot.

Here's a crude depiction of my plan to upgrade this frame.

 

[toro1978]

The new version will look much better and cleaner.

 

[Wildcat]

Cutting up is done. It went pretty easy and I didn't damage any of the frame tubing. Now I need some kind of flexible tubing to mock up cantilevers to see what looks best.

 

[Wildcat]

I tried different layouts. I think the tubes will all be 5/8ths.
1.

2.

3.

4.

I'm leaning toward number two.

 

[Ulu]

I don’t know what to think about this yet.
Bamboo and green vines? Leaf-shaped drops, gussets, and attachments? Now, I’m thinking jungle trellis-bike.
(Ehhhh…Maybe I shouldn’t try to think so hard before breakfast.)