Folding E-scooter

Thank you! Nice to know that I am legal!
The above is an ebike I built last Spring from my 40-year old bicycle with the 500-watt, 36-volt version of the Bafang BBS02 motor, which powers the bicycle through the pedal crankset. The advantage is the ability to use all the normal gears of the rear sprocket set (or internal hub, if so equipped ). I use the pedalec version in which the motor stops about 1 second after I stop pedaling and starts about 1 second when I start pedaling. Range depends on the battery installed, but we have 11-ampere hour batteries and can travel 24 miles on 1/3 of a charge.
I think this is a safer alternative to the electric scooter for speeds aver 8 or 9 mph, as the stability of the bicycle increases with increasing speed and the handling is predictable. I think the handling of a scooter becomes "twitchy" and more dangerous at higher speeds.
The second safety issue would be braking from higher speeds. The bicycle has a longer wheelbase and I am comfortable with braking from any speed up to about 20 mph and maybe 25 mph with good disc brakes. I would really not want to brake hard on a scooter at those speeds.
The third issue would be handling the bumps uneven paving of public roads. I'm using a medium width tire with no suspension, so I feel the bumps more than a "fat tire" bicycle or those with suspensions. But my experience with the scooters is that the bumps affect handling a lot more than a standard sized bicycle.

 

Especially good point about speed/stability, Robert. And a nice-looking homebuilt. I imagine you would suggest to people who see and want to emulate - to start with a frame that accommodates a wider rear tire.

Electric scooters are so common in urban China. Old news.

First thought on photo above was the rear carrier is a aquarium? That was funny because local vendors do carry like that. Goldfish salesmen. Meanwhile the water sloshes about and you can just imagine the little fish trying to grab on with little fins and saying Whooooooa!

Really need a photo of that.


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Oh, also you show it with rim brakes. Did you convert to disc?

 

Thank you! Advantage of a mid-drive versus a hub motor is being able,to work through the gearing. Low gear gives a lot of torque for hill climbing; high gear gives higher top speed on flat sections.

Would recommend NEWER bicycle with suspension, disc brakes and more width in rear frame triangle, especially if they would want a wider tire or a hub gearshift system(be careful the hub will take the torque!)

I read that Major Chinese cities outlawed ICE powered bikes and scooters in the downtown areas (around 2005??), thus leading to a market for ebikes and escooters in China. Is that correct?

Rear basket is simply a wire mesh cage sufficent for small shopping trips , but still small enough to swing my leg over! Mesh is impervious to spilled fluids and easily allows tying things down with bungee cords.

We only ride at 9-12 mph speeds, so I upgraded the old caliper rim brakes with larger brake pads and they are adequate for those speeds. Would definitely upgrade to disc if we rode faster, or start over with a new frame!

Yes would like to see pic of fish, as I have seen pics of the pet-fish-selling stores posted by my nephew on a visit to China!

 

I only know of Beijing restricting petrol scooters. Battery electric scooters are absent from towns and rural areas (only petrol there). Range anxiety I suppose. Lead acid batteries offer 20 to 30 km range (I am told). Have never seen 'lithium' here.

After you get over the amazement of how much transport and commerce are conducted on 2 or 3 wheels here. The next amazement is how few heads have helmets on them.

 

Maybe Shanghai also? Just read reference to it.
Helmets not popular here either, but those of us who have crashed morptorcycles and bashed the helmet rather than our heads, are firm believers. At least I know I am!

 

+1

 

Here's the deal (I guess)

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