BiggKidd
Well-known member
The E-bike bug has bitten me hard. Now I'm still playing with my first ever E-bike but that has opened me up to the idea of building my own design from scratch. I will grant you I don't have much bike or E-bike experience with only 500 odd miles on my 2024 E26 Pro. Before that my last time on a bike was in my very early teens 40 years ago. Lots of MC's since then though including the two mentioned below.
Now I find myself wanting to custom build a bike or three. lmao You guys and gals have been so great about helping me with all my stupid questions along the way and I thank you! So I thought I'd post here with my thoughts and ideas and see what other good ideas you all might have.
Now I find myself a somewhat disabled single dad in my mid 50's with grown kids and a couple grandkids and I'm wanting to have some fun again. I have plans for some touring here in a few years once I pay off my homestead. But in the meantime I think I'd like to build a stupid fast totally custom E-bike. Capable both on and off road.
The idea I have currently rattling around my mostly empty head is to build something similar to an oversize OCC Schwinn Stingray. Now this will have to be a budget build over some time as funds are sorely limited. Luckily I do have some experience with building crazy fast stuff and custom building many different things over the years. Most notably a street driven 1979 Z28 that I ran a best ever 8.73 quarter mile in back in the early 90's. This was a back yard / shade tree build much like the bike build would be.
Starting from the rear I'm thinking a 24-26 x 4-5 rear tire. Full suspension is a must IMO! A 5-15kw hub motor or mid drive with a second chain. I want to have at least 7 pedal gears. For a front tire either a 26 if I use a 24 rear tire or maybe a 29 if I use a 26 rear tire. Something along those lines anyway. Not sure at this time but I'm thinking possibly a front hub motor too, maybe geared to keep the size and weight down. While this will look more like a pavement princess it MUST be off road capable! So the front end will probably not have as much rake to it as the OCC does and it will need more ground clearance.
The frame will need to be stretched pretty good as I want the battery down low as possible just above the bottom bracket and the seat height just above the rear tire height and just in front of the tire.
For power I'm thinking LifePO4 cells with a MINIMUM of 50AH and 100AH+ would be better. 48 volts minimum and much more likely 72-96V although the 16 cells of a 48V system would fit better in my minds eye.
Think of a bicycle cross of an 89 Kawasaki 454LTD and a KX250. More along the look of the LTD with the performance of the KX and possibly AWD.
Right now this is nothing more than random thoughts in a bored old mans mind on a rainy day...
I would love to hear y'all's thoughts!
Now I find myself wanting to custom build a bike or three. lmao You guys and gals have been so great about helping me with all my stupid questions along the way and I thank you! So I thought I'd post here with my thoughts and ideas and see what other good ideas you all might have.
Now I find myself a somewhat disabled single dad in my mid 50's with grown kids and a couple grandkids and I'm wanting to have some fun again. I have plans for some touring here in a few years once I pay off my homestead. But in the meantime I think I'd like to build a stupid fast totally custom E-bike. Capable both on and off road.
The idea I have currently rattling around my mostly empty head is to build something similar to an oversize OCC Schwinn Stingray. Now this will have to be a budget build over some time as funds are sorely limited. Luckily I do have some experience with building crazy fast stuff and custom building many different things over the years. Most notably a street driven 1979 Z28 that I ran a best ever 8.73 quarter mile in back in the early 90's. This was a back yard / shade tree build much like the bike build would be.
Starting from the rear I'm thinking a 24-26 x 4-5 rear tire. Full suspension is a must IMO! A 5-15kw hub motor or mid drive with a second chain. I want to have at least 7 pedal gears. For a front tire either a 26 if I use a 24 rear tire or maybe a 29 if I use a 26 rear tire. Something along those lines anyway. Not sure at this time but I'm thinking possibly a front hub motor too, maybe geared to keep the size and weight down. While this will look more like a pavement princess it MUST be off road capable! So the front end will probably not have as much rake to it as the OCC does and it will need more ground clearance.
The frame will need to be stretched pretty good as I want the battery down low as possible just above the bottom bracket and the seat height just above the rear tire height and just in front of the tire.
For power I'm thinking LifePO4 cells with a MINIMUM of 50AH and 100AH+ would be better. 48 volts minimum and much more likely 72-96V although the 16 cells of a 48V system would fit better in my minds eye.
Think of a bicycle cross of an 89 Kawasaki 454LTD and a KX250. More along the look of the LTD with the performance of the KX and possibly AWD.
Right now this is nothing more than random thoughts in a bored old mans mind on a rainy day...
I would love to hear y'all's thoughts!
