Electric Bicycle

[RudimentaryPeni]

I have this bike I aquired, nothing special, just a regular ten speed. It's nothing like my schwinn beach cruiser. So I started thinking... how can I FIRST this bike up. Then it came to me, I should make it motorized! I had an idea to put a motor by the sprocket by the pedals, but i cant just hook a battery to a motor. Any one else have any ideas, or tips, or have you done this already?

[KenWittlief]

you are right, you need an ON/OFF switch at least

that may sound simplistic, but if you can pedal when you want to go slow, why not have the motor be your turbo-boost?

usually when you are riding a bike you want to go as fast as possible, right?

[VEN]

two of the big CIMS geared together onto one sprocket which goes to the wheel. and a few FIRST batteries of course :D

[KenWittlief]

one way to have the motor stay independant of the pedals is to put the motor on the front wheel

then you can motor and pedal at the same time if you want for climbing hills, or coast the pedals while the motor is active, or let the motor freewheel and pedal the bike (at slower speeds).

it should be possible to put the back wheel from a 10 speed on the front of a bike, and link the motor with a chain. This would let the front wheel freespin when the motor is not driving it.

[RudimentaryPeni]

i apreciate the suggestions. I also am considering making a generator so ill never have to recharge the batteries, any ideas, schematics?

[Bill_Hancoc]

one way to have the motor stay independant of the pedals is to put the motor on the front wheel

then you can motor and pedal at the same time if you want for climbing hills, or coast the pedals while the motor is active, or let the motor freewheel and pedal the bike (at slower speeds).

it should be possible to put the back wheel from a 10 speed on the front of a bike, and link the motor with a chain. This would let the front wheel freespin when the motor is not driving it.
While theorectically possible it may require a front fork modification. The rear forks are wider and off set and inch or so to keep the wheel centered while still having the gear cassette on it.

[KenWittlief]

Im willing to bet one could grab the ends of the fork and pull it apart enough to get the rear wheel to fit!

esp if the fork is steel. Some of the exotic light weight forks might break if you try to bend them.