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Show your e-MTB

PB Forum :: eMTB
Show your e-MTB
Author Message
Posted: Mar 21, 2022 at 14:34 Quote
rick26 wrote:
There's no way that this rear wheel is strong enough to take the abuse regular eMTBs can with regular & stronger rear wheels.

I would not consider this an eMTB as it's being powered by continuous power with a throttle and would get refused at pretty much any trail center.

You can basically ride this with 0 pedal input, it's really more of an electric MX.

You seem to know a lot about it from this one picture. Please tell me more

Posted: Mar 21, 2022 at 14:54 Quote
GDMN wrote:
rick26 wrote:
There's no way that this rear wheel is strong enough to take the abuse regular eMTBs can with regular & stronger rear wheels.

I would not consider this an eMTB as it's being powered by continuous power with a throttle and would get refused at pretty much any trail center.

You can basically ride this with 0 pedal input, it's really more of an electric MX.

You seem to know a lot about it from this one picture. Please tell me more

I'll bite, because now I'm curious. Doesn't look like it has a dropper post, and it doesn't have gears. What's the thumb paddle for if not a throttle?

The 2 issues I see with the wheel build is radial lacing instead of cross, and the use of alloy nipples. I've built a small stack of this style of wheel for customers, usually for commuter recumbents. Never did one radial laced because the weight penalty of a 1 cross was negligible anyway. And while I occasionally use alloy nipples on personal builds because I love colors, they do have a tendency to seize, break, and get awful wear marks. Usually all of the above.

It wouldn't be welcome anywhere I currently ride since it's basically an e-moped because of the throttle, but looks like it'd be huge fun in the right place.

Posted: Mar 21, 2022 at 15:07 Quote
GDMN wrote:
rick26 wrote:
There's no way that this rear wheel is strong enough to take the abuse regular eMTBs can with regular & stronger rear wheels.

I would not consider this an eMTB as it's being powered by continuous power with a throttle and would get refused at pretty much any trail center.

You can basically ride this with 0 pedal input, it's really more of an electric MX.

You seem to know a lot about it from this one picture. Please tell me more

Is he wrong?

Posted: Mar 21, 2022 at 16:25 Quote
delta5 wrote:
GDMN wrote:
rick26 wrote:
There's no way that this rear wheel is strong enough to take the abuse regular eMTBs can with regular & stronger rear wheels.

I would not consider this an eMTB as it's being powered by continuous power with a throttle and would get refused at pretty much any trail center.

You can basically ride this with 0 pedal input, it's really more of an electric MX.

You seem to know a lot about it from this one picture. Please tell me more

I'll bite, because now I'm curious. Doesn't look like it has a dropper post, and it doesn't have gears. What's the thumb paddle for if not a throttle?

The 2 issues I see with the wheel build is radial lacing instead of cross, and the use of alloy nipples. I've built a small stack of this style of wheel for customers, usually for commuter recumbents. Never did one radial laced because the weight penalty of a 1 cross was negligible anyway. And while I occasionally use alloy nipples on personal builds because I love colors, they do have a tendency to seize, break, and get awful wear marks. Usually all of the above.

It wouldn't be welcome anywhere I currently ride since it's basically an e-moped because of the throttle, but looks like it'd be huge fun in the right place.

The thumb control has 6 toggle positions for 3 different levels of assist in 2 different modes; it is not a throttle. I have to pedal and depending which position it's in the power will feed in based on either pedal speed or torque. I used to have a normal throttle but this was initially only for testing the battery and setting up the motor controller. I also used to have a button next to the left grip for regen braking but removed this as it would sometimes short out in heavy rain so I would lose assist. Every system on the bike is fail-safe, if/when I fell off the cables to the battery disconnect as soon as my hand comes off the bar etc.

I originally had a traditional 'throttle' with proportional torque control (not speed/voltage control, like most of the conversion kits have). The bike has a PAS, so what rick26 said earlier regarding it being an e-MX was wrong, as were some of his other assumptions. The PAS is a legal requirement by law here, otherwise it counts as an MX/moped. Also, even when it was like this I was let into bike parks with no issues.

Your point about wheel lacing is correct, I had a few problems with this and working out spoke lengths initially, and the first wheel I built used a different rim (a Halo T2 36 spoke). In the end I had to use radial lacing with no crossing because otherwise the spoke angles didn't work out. Even using 1 cross the angle was too small and I was worried the nipples weren't seating properly. There is also about 20mm of dish on the wheel which didnt help. I used 12 gauge spokes which are probably overkill, the nipples are just anodised Al, not alloy though. These are also oversized due to the spoke thickness. In the first wheel I built I used the same spokes and nipple combo, had the worst case I have ever experienced by landing to manual on the corner of a rock. The rim actually split but no spokes/nipples were damaged. Rebuilt it after that with new spokes, nipples and a stronger/heavier Halo SAS rim as there were no T2's in supply, so the rim too is now probably heavier than it needs to be :-( Also went tubeless with inserts at that point to avoid it happening again hopefully.

Posted: Mar 21, 2022 at 17:09 Quote
BenLow2019 wrote:
rick26 wrote:
There's no way that this rear wheel is strong enough to take the abuse regular eMTBs can with regular & stronger rear wheels.

I would not consider this an eMTB as it's being powered by continuous power with a throttle and would get refused at pretty much any trail center.

You can basically ride this with 0 pedal input, it's really more of an electric MX.

It's still an ebike. There are different "Classes" of ebike. https://www.wired.com/story/guide-to-ebike-classes/

That's correct, it would be considered a class 2 ebike. So basically it has to be ridden on the same trails as a dirt bike.

Posted: Mar 21, 2022 at 17:22 Quote
jbrown-15 wrote:
BenLow2019 wrote:
rick26 wrote:
There's no way that this rear wheel is strong enough to take the abuse regular eMTBs can with regular & stronger rear wheels.

I would not consider this an eMTB as it's being powered by continuous power with a throttle and would get refused at pretty much any trail center.

You can basically ride this with 0 pedal input, it's really more of an electric MX.

It's still an ebike. There are different "Classes" of ebike. https://www.wired.com/story/guide-to-ebike-classes/

That's correct, it would be considered a class 2 ebike. So basically it has to be ridden on the same trails as a dirt bike.

'Class 2 ebikes are also limited to a top speed of 20 miles per hour, but they have throttles that work when you're not pedaling.'

It doesnt have a throttle that works when you're not pedalling....It's also not limited to 20mph and it's located in the UK so those rules dont apply anyway.

Posted: Mar 21, 2022 at 19:32 Quote
2022 Norco VLT A1. Can't decide on calling her Stella or Large Marge. She is a monster. Cheers

https://www.pinkbike.com/photo/22258429/

Posted: Mar 21, 2022 at 22:52 Quote
GDMN wrote:
jbrown-15 wrote:
BenLow2019 wrote:


It's still an ebike. There are different "Classes" of ebike. https://www.wired.com/story/guide-to-ebike-classes/

That's correct, it would be considered a class 2 ebike. So basically it has to be ridden on the same trails as a dirt bike.

'Class 2 ebikes are also limited to a top speed of 20 miles per hour, but they have throttles that work when you're not pedaling.'

It doesnt have a throttle that works when you're not pedalling....It's also not limited to 20mph and it's located in the UK so those rules dont apply anyway.

Well you said it has a 1200watt motor didn’t you?

My understanding is that a class 1 has 250watt? Correct if I'm wrong though, I thought that's why Shimano and Bosch mid drives are 250watt power rated.

Posted: Mar 22, 2022 at 2:31 Quote
jbrown-15 wrote:
GDMN wrote:
jbrown-15 wrote:


That's correct, it would be considered a class 2 ebike. So basically it has to be ridden on the same trails as a dirt bike.

'Class 2 ebikes are also limited to a top speed of 20 miles per hour, but they have throttles that work when you're not pedaling.'

It doesnt have a throttle that works when you're not pedalling....It's also not limited to 20mph and it's located in the UK so those rules dont apply anyway.

Well you said it has a 1200watt motor didn’t you?

My understanding is that a class 1 has 250watt? Correct if I'm wrong though, I thought that's why Shimano and Bosch mid drives are 250watt power rated.

You're right, it does have a 1200w motor. I had a read through the classes you have in the USA & Canada and don't think it fits in any of them exactly but it is probably closest to being in what you guys call class 1 Smile

Posted: Mar 22, 2022 at 17:10 Quote
XL Norco Range A1, Love this bike. She's big but devours rough downhill like nothing else!






Posted: Mar 22, 2022 at 18:41 Quote
Beautiful bike man.

Posted: Mar 23, 2022 at 3:32 Quote
These new Norcos are unreal

Posted: Mar 23, 2022 at 14:32 Quote
Cheers, it also looks unreal but rides even better! Very happy with my purchase.

Posted: Mar 23, 2022 at 19:01 Quote
Brasher wrote:
Cheers, it also looks unreal but rides even better! Very happy with my purchase.
Ya, I have the A1 and absolutely love it. Swapped to carbon bars and its even better.

Posted: Mar 25, 2022 at 17:38 Quote
Random question guys, anyone use a pickup truck bed outlet? I have a 2022 f150 that has a 400w 120v bet outlet and want to charge my levo on the way to the trails.

Anyone have experience?


 
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