e-bike finished , still need some lights tho

[tatonka]

My 500watt 36v e-bike , all finished . Goes about 10 miles then needs a charge and will go 20mph. The middle gear section allows me to have no cogging when I pedal. The bike weighs about 104 lbs , and batts are 24lbs of the 104 . Yet it is still easy to pedal because I put a larger gear in the rear pedal side.

[burner von braun]

Nice job Tatonka! Congrats on being ahead of the game and already having your bike working this soon!

I'm not very familiar with ebikes. So what am I seeing.. you have independent drives, and the middle dual sprocket spins freely so the electric drive chain can remain idle while you pedal? Is that right?

Something tells me you're really going to enjoy this on the playa!

[tatonka]

Nice job Tatonka! Congrats on being ahead of the game and already having your bike working this soon!

I'm not very familiar with ebikes. So what am I seeing.. you have independent drives, and the middle dual sprocket spins freely so the electric drive chain can remain idle while you pedal? Is that right?

Something tells me you're really going to enjoy this on the playa!

thks yes they call it cogging , but with my set up , you can pedal and it doesnt turn the motor

[Token]

Oh what a tease!

All that sexy and you cover up the gear-porn in the rear with that silly bag?!

You gotta fix that or we gonna blue-ball it all summer. Snap a few more pics but get her nekkid first!

[Token]

Btw, love the rust. Works real well. Reminds me of the ol’ contraption LeChat built back in the day.

I’d take it a step further and patina up the chrome on the handlebars. If they are nickel coated, quick strike of copper plating with vinegar and peroxide, then let it age.

Lighting should be an old dented chromed headlight can from a motorcycle salvage (looks like you got a small one up there) and for the ass end an old railroad lantern, swinging gently as you glide the playa.

And the “engine is a bit too shiny ...

Swell job.

[tatonka]

Oh what a tease!

All that sexy and you cover up the gear-porn in the rear with that silly bag?!

You gotta fix that or we gonna blue-ball it all summer. Snap a few more pics but get her nekkid first!

the rear hub I made with sheet metal , the wheel is from a old 10 sp , have larger gear for pedal.









the chain tensioner I made from a 650 yamaha engine mt, and a clutch handle mt .

[Token]

Fucking far out!

High-art and misdemeanors!

You made my week!

[tatonka]

Btw, love the rust. Works real well. Reminds me of the ol’ contraption LeChat built back in the day.

I’d take it a step further and patina up the chrome on the handlebars. If they are nickel coated, quick strike of copper plating with vinegar and peroxide, then let it age.

Lighting should be an old dented chromed headlight can from a motorcycle salvage (looks like you got a small one up there) and for the ass end an old railroad lantern, swinging gently as you glide the playa.

And the “engine is a bit too shiny ...

Swell job.

Thanks I was hoping the playa would age it well

[Token]

Thanks I was hoping the playa would age it well

You know how that’s done, right?

4 shots of rye whiskey, a light beer after every two shots, then piss on the fucker!

[tatonka]

Thanks I was hoping the playa would age it well

You know how that’s done, right?

4 shots of rye whiskey, a light beer after every two shots, then piss on the fucker!

I can do that

[Jay the Unicorn]

I really love the bike and agree with loving the rust. Its both beautiful and bad ass. As for lighting bikes, I have tried three ways. El Lighting, LED lighting, and fairy lights. All of the lights can use battery packs but I'm sure you can find a way to attach them to your bike battery with a switch. El light are like neon lights in a plastic wire that you can tape or strap on the bike. They require a driver and I have have had mix results on reliability. You can use LED strips which are very bright and have drivers in the battery packs that allow them to change colors. I find they break when attached directly to the bike so I will make a long sheath or sock to put them in. They will glow through white fabric. Often folks make glowing scarves to wear out of the stuff. This year I am trying fairy lights. These are cheap LED lights on a wire strand and they are pretty reliable. I have a few sets sitting in my backyard exposed to rain and sun and they still turn on. There are a million ways to use all of these on your bike and I have no doubt you will find a way non of of thought of. THANK YOU for sharing your project. May I share in in facebook?

Trying fair lights this year

Last year's attempt at EL Wire

Working on a unicorn bike with lights and sound

This is a dino bike I made. EL Wire is used at the head and tail and LED strip is used on the body.

[tatonka]

I really love the bike and agree with loving the rust. Its both beautiful and bad ass. As for lighting bikes, I have tried three ways. El Lighting, LED lighting, and fairy lights. All of the lights can use battery packs but I'm sure you can find a way to attach them to your bike battery with a switch. El light are like neon lights in a plastic wire that you can tape or strap on the bike. They require a driver and I have have had mix results on reliability. You can use LED strips which are very bright and have drivers in the battery packs that allow them to change colors. I find they break when attached directly to the bike so I will make a long sheath or sock to put them in. They will glow through white fabric. Often folks make glowing scarves to wear out of the stuff. This year I am trying fairy lights. These are cheap LED lights on a wire strand and they are pretty reliable. I have a few sets sitting in my backyard exposed to rain and sun and they still turn on. There are a million ways to use all of these on your bike and I have no doubt you will find a way non of of thought of. THANK YOU for sharing your project. May I share in in facebook?

Trying fair lights this year

Last year's attempt at EL Wire

Working on a unicorn bike with lights and sound

This is a dino bike I made. EL Wire is used at the head and tail and LED strip is used on the body.

thanks , those fairy lights look cool , will check it out , thks again

[FlyingMonkey]

tatonka, That's a kick-ass bike. Well done.

Jay, for some reason I can't see the pictures of your lighting. Personally I have never liked how thin & janky EL wire looks so I have been working with side glow fiber optics over the last few years. I'm not knocking your pics because as I said I can't see them but I mean in general. The fibers come in several different diameters and glow their whole length for at least 15' before noticeably dimming. I can only compare them to neon in terms of brightness & vibrance. The light sources are small & can easily run off small back-up battery packs. I also made an 8' tail for my bike last year out of white pool noodles with RGB LED strips in the middle. That worked very well, was extremely visible, and was a bright yet diffused light.

I'm totally impressed with Sideglow fiber optics but I tend to go way overboard with lighting & colors. I'll post pics if I find any but I typically don't take any during the burn.

[tatonka]

tatonka, That's a kick-ass bike. Well done.

thanks

[XPTom]

Spark plug on an E-bike is a nice touch.....I assume it was added for entertainment value......

[tatonka]

Spark plug on an E-bike is a nice touch.....I assume it was added for entertainment value......

thanks you are correct

[EGAZ]

Nice job Tatonka!

[tatonka]

Nice job Tatonka!

Thank You

[Elorrum]

Beautiful, Tatonka! I love the photo loacation as well.

[tatonka]

Beautiful, Tatonka! I love the photo loacation as well.

thks , that was at Jeffs Harley shop in town

[mournlight]

Tatonka, that looks great! I really like that you left the rusty character alone. I looked into building an e-bike, and have some of the components and may get it finished, but then I ran across a really good deal on a complete one that I couldn't pass up. I don't have enough understanding (yet) to build one from scratch like you did; I was just buying the components to install on my existing bike. Yours really, really looks awesome! What stopped my install, too, was the price of the battery. $500!

I'm trying to figure out the best way to charge the bike on the playa. What have you come up with? I have a 200 watts of solar, but I'm not completely sure it will charge it, even on a trickle. Mine is 48v, 13amp. You were smart to go smaller. I have a small Harbor Freight generator, but I really hate the idea of running a generator out there. I may have no choice, though. The bike is supposed to be delivered tomorrow, so I have some time to play with it over the next few months. The other thing I'm researching is trying to playa-proof the electronics, and a good chain/lock combo. I'd sure hate to have it stolen, or have the battery stolen.

I recall some articles from the past on another forum about a specific model of an old alternator that you could use with a wind or water turbine to create power. Wouldn't it be awesome to create a self-perpetuating electric bike, where the turning of the wheel turns an alternator, which recharges the battery.

I'll be trying it here at home, but I'm thinking that the 20 miles it should go will last me a lot longer on playa than what I imagine, and of course there's always the option to pedal. Hell, ten miles would be four trips all the way across and back, and I probably only tried to do that my first year, lol. This is going to be a really exciting addition to my experience. I can't wait!

Thanks for sharing the pictures!

[tatonka]

Tatonka, that looks great! I really like that you left the rusty character alone. I looked into building an e-bike, and have some of the components and may get it finished, but then I ran across a really good deal on a complete one that I couldn't pass up. I don't have enough understanding (yet) to build one from scratch like you did; I was just buying the components to install on my existing bike. Yours really, really looks awesome! What stopped my install, too, was the price of the battery. $500!

I'm trying to figure out the best way to charge the bike on the playa. What have you come up with? I have a 200 watts of solar, but I'm not completely sure it will charge it, even on a trickle. Mine is 48v, 13amp. You were smart to go smaller. I have a small Harbor Freight generator, but I really hate the idea of running a generator out there. I may have no choice, though. The bike is supposed to be delivered tomorrow, so I have some time to play with it over the next few months. The other thing I'm researching is trying to playa-proof the electronics, and a good chain/lock combo. I'd sure hate to have it stolen, or have the battery stolen.

I recall some articles from the past on another forum about a specific model of an old alternator that you could use with a wind or water turbine to create power. Wouldn't it be awesome to create a self-perpetuating electric bike, where the turning of the wheel turns an alternator, which recharges the battery.

I'll be trying it here at home, but I'm thinking that the 20 miles it should go will last me a lot longer on playa than what I imagine, and of course there's always the option to pedal. Hell, ten miles would be four trips all the way across and back, and I probably only tried to do that my first year, lol. This is going to be a really exciting addition to my experience. I can't wait!

Thanks for sharing the pictures!

Thanks I have the heavy e-bike batts , they are 8lbs each and have 3 for 36 volts. Those were 115.00 for 3 but now I found them for 78.00 for 3 . So Im going to buy a extra set and also a generator . I found a 36 volt batt that only weights 9 lbs but its over 400.00 so I will just use the cheap ones for now thanks again