Fork in the Road

[HillAversion]

I'm at a fork in the road. I built this conversion a couple years ago with a 2015 Specialized hybrid bike and a Bafang BBS02 motor kit. I wasn't sure if I'd even like it, but it's become part of my life. I love this bike. I ride it more than I ever thought I would. Every ride is a bonus!

So this year I broke a few spokes. A minor annoyance, but yesterday it caused me to miss a group ride I really wanted to be on. Bummer. I couldn't get the freewheel apart to change out the spoke (probably because the motor really torqued it down), so I took it to the bike shop. I've broken a few spokes this year and it's getting to be a drag. With the motor, battery, all the junk I carry and my big butt, the total bike weight is just about at the recommended maximum. Talking to the bike tech, he floated the idea of going with bigger, beefier e-bike rims with stronger spokes. I had been thinking of upgrading the 2" wide tires to a 2.5" tire anyway to make it more sure-footed on the trails. For about $500 I could do the whole upgrade. But I'd still have an older, lighter bike with V-brakes and a cadence sensor.

I've already got more money in this bike than I'll ever get out, so I'm wondering if the upgrade is worth it to me. I've always thought I'd eventually buy a real built-from-the-ground-up e-bike, maybe a Trek or Specialized or something. So I’m debating whether to keep trying to tweak my way to the perfect bike or just buy a really well-built bike with all the features I want. The bike I'd want would cost a lot more than the upgrade to my bike, but I'm pondering it. I'd be gaining a stronger frame, more suitable wheels and tires, disk brakes and a few other goodies. I can afford it either way, and I'll get a lot of use out of either bike.

Hmmmm...
What would you do?
It's a sickness, you know.

 

[HumanPerson]

When the other one breaks down you'll have the original one to fall back on.

 

[HillAversion]

When the other one breaks down you'll have the original one to fall back on.

Ha! I don't have space for two bikes.
I'll probably sell the old one for a third of what I've got in it.

 

[HumanPerson]

You'll miss it when it's gone

 

[danpenn]

When you come to a fork in the road, take it!

 

[HillAversion]

When you come to a fork in the road, take it!

Yogi Berra was a fountain of wisdom!

 

[Chuy]

I would fix the wheel, then buy a backup wheel on Offerup or Craigslist or flea market, etc … they are pretty cheap, but you can get a study one.

I have two backup 26” inch wheels ready to swap as needed. One came off a donor bike and the other I got for cheaps somewhere. I have a BBSHD on a custom Nasbar frame mtn bike. I only have 300 mikes on my converted bike with carryover drivetrain, and, knock on wood, nothing has broken, yet, on the bike. I did have to replace the left Bafang crank arm.

 

[Annieolnie]

I'm at a fork in the road. I built this conversion a couple years ago with a 2015 Specialized hybrid bike and a Bafang BBS02 motor kit. I wasn't sure if I'd even like it, but it's become part of my life. I love this bike. I ride it more than I ever thought I would. Every ride is a bonus!

So this year I broke a few spokes. A minor annoyance, but yesterday it caused me to miss a group ride I really wanted to be on. Bummer. I couldn't get the freewheel apart to change out the spoke (probably because the motor really torqued it down), so I took it to the bike shop. I've broken a few spokes this year and it's getting to be a drag. With the motor, battery, all the junk I carry and my big butt, the total bike weight is just about at the recommended maximum. Talking to the bike tech, he floated the idea of going with bigger, beefier e-bike rims with stronger spokes. I had been thinking of upgrading the 2" wide tires to a 2.5" tire anyway to make it more sure-footed on the trails. For about $500 I could do the whole upgrade. But I'd still have an older, lighter bike with V-brakes and a cadence sensor.

I've already got more money in this bike than I'll ever get out, so I'm wondering if the upgrade is worth it to me. I've always thought I'd eventually buy a real built-from-the-ground-up e-bike, maybe a Trek or Specialized or something. So I’m debating whether to keep trying to tweak my way to the perfect bike or just buy a really well-built bike with all the features I want. The bike I'd want would cost a lot more than the upgrade to my bike, but I'm pondering it. I'd be gaining a stronger frame, more suitable wheels and tires, disk brakes and a few other goodies. I can afford it either way, and I'll get a lot of use out of either bike.

Hmmmm...
What would you do?
It's a sickness, you know.

It's that last sentence that is just so true and there is no reasoning with it, so just embrace it. You can fix the old bike (there are some nice CST tires going for cheap on Ebay). You will miss it if you sell it. You are also going to keep looking at new bikes no matter what you decide, so I would do both. Actually, I did both. I built a Kona Munimula with a bbso2 a few years back and I bought a cargo bike during the winter discounts last year. I love both and ride both and still find myself looking at bikes as the winter sales approach. I would instead, look at buying or building a bike rack. There are a lot of innovative methods of storage. I'm sure there is room in your life for both sides of the coin.

 

[hugh]

Many spoke problems are caused by incorrect spoke tension. It is very important to have the wheel running true and just as important to have the tension set correctly. There are many spoke tension meters available and it is easy to check. Youtube videos can be a help.

 

[Smaug]

HillAversion, did you decide yet?

Responding late now, what I think you should do is look at eBike offerings from Trek, Specialized, Ride1UP, Priority and Aventon and treat yourself to a nice new eBike from them, designed from the ground up as such. You will have a frame & wheels that are designed to handle the different stress points created by the extra power, beefier brakes & tires, as well as built-in carrying capacity.

In the medium price bracket, and comparing to what you're doing with your current bike, I think the Aventon Pace 500.3 is designed for just your purposes. Add a fender set and rear rack and you'll come in under $2k and have a very nice bike.

One thing that would be nice to add in terms of convenience is belt drive with either an internal gearhub or Pinion gearbox. It is SO nice, not having to deal with maintaining a chain any more, though I will point out if you ride in sub-freezing temperatures, a chain is still preferable because it doesn't have an oil bath to freeze up like a gearhub or gearbox does. My next eBike is going to certainly be belt driven. Take a look at these models:

• Specialized Turbo Vado 5.0 IGH LINK
• Ride1UP Prodigy V2 (belt/CVT option): LINK
• Priority Current Plus (belt/CVT) LINK
• Lectric ONE (belt/Pinion gearbox) LINK

Since you only are going to have one bike, and since it'll replace your car for smaller shopping trips and such, I think you should spend a bit more and get something really nice that can be pedaled efficiently.

 

[m@Robertson]

As a general rule I always do beefed up wheels for my bikes. Rims that are a little wider than usual in particular so I can safely do bigger tires that still fit within the frame's constraints. For a 26" wheel size, the MTX39 rim can't be beat for sturdiness vs. price. Sapim Strong spokes and brass nipples and all you have to do from there is find hubs with a steel cassette body in the back (and preferably ratchet engagement) at prices you can live with.

New wheels would be an obvious, emphatic 'hell yeah!' except you are plugging them into an old bike. If you crack that frame tomorrow you are going to be pissed. Maybe its a better idea to stop feeding the money pit and move on to something new. The ebike market is depressed and deals are everywhere.