Knowledge Base: Misc

System Weight
Using SLA batteries, our largest system weighs about 70 lbs, the smallest about 45 lbs. The chart below shows the weights of motor and battery. Add another 8 lbs for the controller, wiring, bag, and rack/basket.

Compatibility with Bicycle Frames
Sparrow and RoadRunner motors have been used on all sorts of front forks with and without suspension for years, and no one has ever told us about a failure. Phoenix is another story entirely. Every time someone puts a Phoenix motor on an aluminum front fork, the motor tears the dropouts from the fork. The result is that the wheel takes off without the bike, and you're left behind. Do not put a Phoenix motor on aluminum front forks. Most manufacturers claim aluminum frames, but in fact the forks are steel. Take a magnet off your refrigerator. If it "sticks" to the fork, it's steel. Magnets are not attracted to aluminum. Many have used rear Phoenix motors on aluminum. We have not been told of any failures. Cromoly is said to be stronger than steel, so it should work fine, and we have had no reports of failures with Cromoly.

Front Suspension Forks
RoadRunner and Sparrow are compatible with most suspension forks. The Phoenix motor is too powerful for any stock production bicycle suspension fork available.

Choosing a Frame
We believe there are many, many good choices of bicycles, and everyone can find more than one frame or style that is comfortable and suits their needs well. The ability to offer choices was one of the primary drivers behind our initial investment in hub technologies in 2003. The approach we recommend is to visit your local bike shops. Educate yourself on what is available, and speak to the people about electric power systems. We caution that most bike shops still see their primary customers as traditional pedal bicyclists who want a bike that weighs 10 ounces. If they don't like the idea of electrifying one of their bikes, go to a different store. More and more bike shops are selling our systems. They are finding a whole new set of customers in the commuter market, and those who are embracing electric power are growing.

Mixing water and electronics
We do not advise riding electric bikes on slippery surfaces, especially commuter motors like Phoenix. They are too powerful for any wet road conditions, and a wheel can easily spin out from under you if you give it too much throttle. The controller is not waterproof. When you buy a kit from ElectricRider, we pre-wire your battery pack and place the controller inside the power bag (pannier). Except in rare cases when ambient temperature is high and/or you are running it hard, the controller should stay inside the bag for protection. If you controller overheats, it may be necessary to move it to the bungees on top of the bag. The motor is not waterproof, but water would have to be forced into it, and whatever gets in should eventually drain out the bottom. Repeated exposure to water over a long period of time may rust the magnets. ElectricRider can refurbish motors in the rare event that this happens to you. Cost is 1 hour labor + shipping.

Weak Links
When a system is designed, it's designed to work cooperatively with all the parts in the assembly. The system could be thought of as a chain where all the links need to be able to withstand whatever forces are required of them. There is always a weakest link, whether it's a toaster, a car, or an electric power system. ElectricRider tests extensively to assure the cooperative harmony is achieved in the kits it offers. There is always a use we didn't think of, such as pedicabs, three-wheeled cargo transports, and many others. When you build, you need to think of how all the parts work together, and assure they can all take the stress. The vast majority of problems people encounter relate to weight. For instance, if you build a bicycle using a rear motor and extra-large batteries, think about the forces you're putting on the wheel, and how that affects the reliability of that wheel. It's a bicycle, after all, and putting 300 lbs on a wheel is just asking for problems. It is better to distribute the weight by using a front motor or putting some of the batteries toward the front of the bike. Simple solutions can almost always be found.

Questions about delivery time? Click here for Delivery Zone Chart.

	Phone Hours Mon-Fri 9AM - 5 PM Central Time Local: 325-227-6903 Toll Free: 866-807-4337	Email: sales@electricrider.com Service Dept: 325-227-6903   Go green with a company who will back you up! Buy with confidence, we'll be here when you need us!	ElectricRider 1301 Pulliam Street San Angelo, TX 76903 In our 10th year of service to the electric bike and LEV community
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