electric sherpa

[ians]

those of a nervous disposition should look away now.

I've installed a Bafang mid-drive motor onto my Sherpa, so that I can keep doing the thing I love - riding my bike.  Early test rides are just fantastic - I can keep up with my wife now.  I won't go on about the details of the conversion, but if anyone is interested in the details I will of course reply.

ian

[geocycle]

Is that a new bike, it looks immaculate!  I would imagine tourers like the sherpa soak up the extra weight very easily.

[ians]

I bought the frame last year and built it up from bits from my other (now redundant) bikes.  It looks clean because it hasn't had a lot of use - 10 miles has been about my limit.  Until now.....

It rides so well - you're right - I think the Sherpa does deal with the extra weight very effectively. And it's concentrated low down and towards the centre.   

ian

[jags]

Ian that is one sweet build  how did u come up with that plan .
how many miles will you get before it needs charging up ,fair play its a hell of a job.
ian give me a quick run down on how you use that bike,is the motor on all the time or only when the cycling gets tough,

i know a guy on here who could do with a build like that 

anto.

[Andre Jute]

That is one beautiful bike, Ian.

I too am interested in how you use it, with the pedelec facilities or the throttle or both.

[Danneaux]

Ian,

The result is just lovely and looks so nicely integrated. What a great conversion, and I'm so glad it is meeting your needs.  Getting out on the bike -- by whatever means -- surely beats the alternative!

All the best,

Dan.

[ians]

Ian that is one sweet build  how did u come up with that plan .
how many miles will you get before it needs charging up ,fair play its a hell of a job.
ian give me a quick run down on how you use that bike,is the motor on all the time or only when the cycling gets tough,

i know a guy on here who could do with a build like that 

anto.

Thanks Anto.

It's early days yet so hard to judge mileage from the battery.  There are different levels of assistance.  There are a couple of guys on the pedelec forum with this motor who claim 60 miles from the battery in the lowest setting.

I have it on all the time right now while I'm getting the hang of how it works.  I have it on the lowest setting most of the time and it's just like a gentle hand in my back when I start off.  Once I get going it's not really noticeable.  It cuts out when it hits 15mph, which is fine as far as I'm concerned. 

I've had to use it at a higher level into a severe headwind and when I hit the hills.  But, make no mistake - this is not a moped, or a free ride.  I can still make me sweat.  Which is fine because I need to give my heart a work out. 

The sherpa is a great bike to convert - it's steady as a rock (probably weighs like one now) - and just rolls along nicely.  I'm taking it across the channel in a couple of weeks so I report back on how it goes.

cheers

ian

[jags]

Fantastic Ian i could have done with it on my hilly spin this morning ,it makes perfect sense to me if a fella is struggling for one reason or another.
i seen a few bikes here in town with electric motors and have to say im impressed fair play to you ian i sure hope you have many a happy mile on that beauti.
btw be sure to post some photos of your spins great to see what you guys are up to.
i have pics on my facebook page but not thorn realated 


anto

[ians]

That is one beautiful bike, Ian.

I too am interested in how you use it, with the pedelec facilities or the throttle or both.

Thanks Andre

I'm using it in pedal assist mode and was going to forgo the throttle.  But I fitted it and I'm glad I did.  I had to negotiate a staggered double barrier across a cycleway - going up hill.  Most people either get off and walk round or do a tricksy track stand-type manoeuvre - it's hard to simply keep pedalling around the tight bends (hope this is all clear).  So I tried the throttle - and just whizzed round it.  It may seem a trivial point but I can see that negotiating obstacles, especially going up hill, is much easier with the throttle.  So it stays for now.

The whole thing was a breeze to fit together.  The plug and play colour coding system really works well.  I fitted a 44T chainring sourced from Italy - just because I could, I suppose.  I'm using the supplied brake levers - they're working fine.  Bafang now supply brake interrupters so may get some and revert to my own levers.  But that's a job for the future.

ian

[ians]

Ian,

The result is just lovely and looks so nicely integrated. What a great conversion, and I'm so glad it is meeting your needs.  Getting out on the bike -- by whatever means -- surely beats the alternative!

All the best,

Dan.

thanks Dan - and thanks for getting the forum back on track.

[energyman]

It looks beautiful and if you can now continue riding well is that what the bike was invented for.
Maybe a belt drive one will appear in the future