-
After 15+ years, we've made a big change: Android Forums is now Early Bird Club. Learn more here.
E-Bikes
- Thread starter olbriar
- Start date
Milo Willamson
Android Expert
That is so incredible through an Illinois local like myself, I never ventured there..
The only good thing about the bike not working is the weather has been lousy for the last couple of days. I've been shopping for another bike. 
I hope not to be a consumer but I'll not be without a bike. I'm running short of things to try so I've been looking at options. I'm satisfied that I'll have to live with less bike than I have. My wife wanted me to shop local and not online so I looked to see what is offered here. There is a Scheels here and they seem to have the best inventory. The only bike they have that comes close to matching mine is over seven grand. That makes my $1,500 bike seems like one heck of a buy. In my internet search, which is far from done, I found a couple of bikes that I could live with. I quit looking when I ran across what looks to be a stripped down version of my bike. It is being sold by the same site where I first ordered the replacement sensor that promptly refunded my money when I found a much quicker supplier. The bike is called a RipCurrent-Base. It is supposed to have the same hub motor and controller that my bike has. I don't know about the display. The bike is the same 52v system and takes the same battery as my bike. That is a huge plus considering I ride more than a battery ride often and I have over two grand of batteries that could be used with the bike. I know the bike is built out of leftover stock.. that's evident. If it is leftover stock from my exact bike, the RipCurrent S, all of the parts would be interchangeable. I sent them an email and hope to hear back from them. I asked about the bike matching mine and the possibility of exchanging parts.
I asked if the display was b&w or the upgraded color display that came on the last revs of the bike.
The specifications listed an upgraded controller. I asked if that was the controller with the tail light / brake light wiring. And my last HUGE question was... is this bike in your California warehouse ready to ship or is it in China. I hope to hear back from them soon. They weren't quick to respond about the sensor so I'm not expecting anything quick.
The one difference that I noticed right off is the bike is a medium and not a large that I have. My son has a large and his wife a medium. I don't remember exactly now but it seems like the medium was up to 5'10" and the large 5'10" up to six foot plus. I'm 5'10" and have often thought that the smaller bike might have been the better fit for me. I'm not getting any younger and the large is a bit of a trick to mount.
I hope not to be a consumer but I'll not be without a bike. I'm running short of things to try so I've been looking at options. I'm satisfied that I'll have to live with less bike than I have. My wife wanted me to shop local and not online so I looked to see what is offered here. There is a Scheels here and they seem to have the best inventory. The only bike they have that comes close to matching mine is over seven grand. That makes my $1,500 bike seems like one heck of a buy. In my internet search, which is far from done, I found a couple of bikes that I could live with. I quit looking when I ran across what looks to be a stripped down version of my bike. It is being sold by the same site where I first ordered the replacement sensor that promptly refunded my money when I found a much quicker supplier. The bike is called a RipCurrent-Base. It is supposed to have the same hub motor and controller that my bike has. I don't know about the display. The bike is the same 52v system and takes the same battery as my bike. That is a huge plus considering I ride more than a battery ride often and I have over two grand of batteries that could be used with the bike. I know the bike is built out of leftover stock.. that's evident. If it is leftover stock from my exact bike, the RipCurrent S, all of the parts would be interchangeable. I sent them an email and hope to hear back from them. I asked about the bike matching mine and the possibility of exchanging parts.I asked if the display was b&w or the upgraded color display that came on the last revs of the bike.
The specifications listed an upgraded controller. I asked if that was the controller with the tail light / brake light wiring. And my last HUGE question was... is this bike in your California warehouse ready to ship or is it in China. I hope to hear back from them soon. They weren't quick to respond about the sensor so I'm not expecting anything quick.
The one difference that I noticed right off is the bike is a medium and not a large that I have. My son has a large and his wife a medium. I don't remember exactly now but it seems like the medium was up to 5'10" and the large 5'10" up to six foot plus. I'm 5'10" and have often thought that the smaller bike might have been the better fit for me. I'm not getting any younger and the large is a bit of a trick to mount.
I got no love from the Napune site. The Base model is sold out. It took some effort to receive that information. My email to them was returned undeliverable. It left me thinking they are all but out of business. However, Monday they responded. I next asked about a rebranded bike they have for sale which looks to mostly be a RipCurrent S. That was Monday AM and I've not heard back. I talked to the kid who had his bike ripped off and I bought his battery. He bought one of the rebranded bikes. He said it's mostly a RipCurrent S but there are a few differences. I told him I was trying to buy one and he told me he thought they were out of business. He also eluded that he was sorry he bought the rebranded but knows it's the best bike out there for the bucks. The lack of parts moving forward has him second guessing his purchase. I told him I was on the other end. I heavily invested in the Juiced bike stuff and jumping ship now was damn painful. He said... You've given me something to think about.. hadn't thought about selling the bike but I've only put 300 miles on it in a year. I told him that if he decides to sell it, contact me first. That is my only real chance of landing a juiced bike to use my juiced parts.
The weather has been cold and rainy so I couldn't ride anyway. I would love to get the bike out of the shed and put the upgraded controller back in the bike and test the only electronic component untested, the display, for a possible culprit for my problems. I'll get to it eventually and doubt it buys me anything.
I can't give up. The bike is my life.
The weather has been cold and rainy so I couldn't ride anyway. I would love to get the bike out of the shed and put the upgraded controller back in the bike and test the only electronic component untested, the display, for a possible culprit for my problems. I'll get to it eventually and doubt it buys me anything.
I can't give up. The bike is my life.
I manufactured a washer to put on the hub motor to increase the space between the sensor and the first gear ring. It needed to be a bit thinner than a dime with the inside diameter correct to fit the motor shaft and the outside diameter small enough to go into the recess the three quarter orienting washer fits into. Increasing the space to the recommended thickness of a nickel between the sensor and the first gear will not likely fix anything but it will be correct. The new sensor is just a wee bit thicker than the original making it that increased thickness that much too close. I had planned to install the washer and replace the upgrade controller in the bike today. Not only was it cold, it was extremely windy. It was just too uncomfortable to work on the bike outside on the patio and I really don't have room or lighting in the shed to easily do the repair.
I spent my day doing bicycle research. There area a lot of options out there to consider. However, the bikes that draw my attention are sold out or out of my budget. I found a few that I have earmarked for future research. They are bikes that have huge batteries and some have front and back hub motors. They are bikes that are basically made for the riders that are after going crazy fast on the bikes. I'm attracted to them not for their speed but for their ability to go a long distance if you are pedaling them. One hundred plus miles on a charge calls my name. Going fifty mile per hour and not pedaling and using up that battery in thirty miles seems damn ignorant to me.
I spent my day doing bicycle research. There area a lot of options out there to consider. However, the bikes that draw my attention are sold out or out of my budget. I found a few that I have earmarked for future research. They are bikes that have huge batteries and some have front and back hub motors. They are bikes that are basically made for the riders that are after going crazy fast on the bikes. I'm attracted to them not for their speed but for their ability to go a long distance if you are pedaling them. One hundred plus miles on a charge calls my name. Going fifty mile per hour and not pedaling and using up that battery in thirty miles seems damn ignorant to me.
I almost have that exact inflator. It is a great tool. It has plenty of charge and is quick to inflate. It holds its charge forever it seems. You will love yours.
I caught up on my mowing and then worked on my bike. My son was coming over after work so I had a small window. I once again removed the original controller and put the upgraded controller back in the bike. I then remove the back wheel and slipped on my manufactured washer. I put a battery on the bike and went for a very short ride. The washer, though as thin as I could make it, was too thick. The sensor didn't detect torque or cadence. I rolled the bike back to the olbriar's bike repair shop and removed the washer and tried riding again. I only had time to ride five miles and was putting the bike up when my son drove in. The bike didn't mess up while riding but I suspect it will. I didn't do anything but return the bike to the state it was in prior to all the checking this and replacing that. Pretty darn frustrating.
It's funny how things work out sometimes. I was telling my son about the RipCurrent Base being sold out. I told him how I emailed the Napune site asking about the rebranded bike and my conversation with the kid that bought one and him telling me he was sure they were out of business. I was just telling my son that his bike was my best shot at buying a bike that my Juiced batteries and stuff would work with when I got a text. It was the kid saying he'd sell me his bike for $1,200 with two batteries and two chargers. I told him I would likely be his buyer but I needed to inspect the bike. I'm meeting up with him Saturday afternoon. The site has the bike listed for $1,400 and I have no idea about taxes and shipping. It seems like a fair deal to me unless the bike is trashed. My thought is that I can surely keep one bike running out of two bikes. I'm not 20 like the kid.. I'm 73. I just need a bike to ride off into the sunset with.
It's funny how things work out sometimes. I was telling my son about the RipCurrent Base being sold out. I told him how I emailed the Napune site asking about the rebranded bike and my conversation with the kid that bought one and him telling me he was sure they were out of business. I was just telling my son that his bike was my best shot at buying a bike that my Juiced batteries and stuff would work with when I got a text. It was the kid saying he'd sell me his bike for $1,200 with two batteries and two chargers. I told him I would likely be his buyer but I needed to inspect the bike. I'm meeting up with him Saturday afternoon. The site has the bike listed for $1,400 and I have no idea about taxes and shipping. It seems like a fair deal to me unless the bike is trashed. My thought is that I can surely keep one bike running out of two bikes. I'm not 20 like the kid.. I'm 73. I just need a bike to ride off into the sunset with.
It was overcast today so it didn't seem nearly as warm as yesterday. I took my bike for a test ride and it turned into a 17 mile ride about town. Though cold, it sure felt good to ride some. Sadly, my bike is not fixed. I'm beginning to think it is the cadence part of the sensor that's not behaving. I have a new theory as to what might be the problem. I ride almost exclusively in nineth gear which is the gear ring nearest the sensor. I'm noticing quite a bit of chain slap and maybe that's confusing the sensor. I don't know of a way to take the slack out of the chain but I'll be looking. After 20K miles it is quite possible that the chain is stretched. Anyway, it's something else to check. If there is an adjustment, it will be in the derailleur. If there isn't an adjustment, riding in eighth gear instead of nineth will move the chain away from the sensor. Replacing the chain is also an option. I don't think it's special. It just needs to be quality and the right length.
Buying the Aquila is looking better all the time. I hope the bike is as represented. If I buy the bike, I will likely be riding it, weather permitting, this weekend. My RCS hasn't quit me since I started working on it but I don't want to be miles from home if /when it quits. I don't want to ride around town all the time either. It's far safer on the sidewalk and the highway siding. Very limited intersections to traverse for one and zero people backing out of their drives. It's the drivers that blow through the stop signs in the residential areas that you had best be watching. In town takes a lot of attention and stop and go riding. I don't really care for it.
Buying the Aquila is looking better all the time. I hope the bike is as represented. If I buy the bike, I will likely be riding it, weather permitting, this weekend. My RCS hasn't quit me since I started working on it but I don't want to be miles from home if /when it quits. I don't want to ride around town all the time either. It's far safer on the sidewalk and the highway siding. Very limited intersections to traverse for one and zero people backing out of their drives. It's the drivers that blow through the stop signs in the residential areas that you had best be watching. In town takes a lot of attention and stop and go riding. I don't really care for it.
Today was a great day. I got my new aids this morning and then hooked up with the bike kid and bought his bike. Out of fear for having it ripped off like his last bike, it has been stored in his house.
I bought his battery from that first bike the first of April. His later text said he bought this Napune Aquila the following week. So the middle of April until now, he put 340 miles on the bike. It's like new and rides new. I bought the bike and two batteries and two chargers for $1,200. It's a medium size instead of a large that I ride but that makes it only two inches lower. Riding it today prove my thinking that the medium is a better fitting bike for an old man. It has the 750W motor like my first bike that I sold to my buddy. I don't race around so it has plenty excess power to use and isn't the battery hog the 1000W motor. The bike was rebranded and sold with an upgraded shifter and better brakes. Parts can be swapped between the two bikes and five batteries is insane
Though there was a stiff cold North wind blowing this afternoon, I went riding once I had my bike home and bike rack back in the shed. I only rode 13 mile, one loop South, but the bike is the real deal. It was a lucky ducky deal that I text the kid. He pretty much moved on after replacing his stolen bike and was ready to sell while the bike has value.
I bought his battery from that first bike the first of April. His later text said he bought this Napune Aquila the following week. So the middle of April until now, he put 340 miles on the bike. It's like new and rides new. I bought the bike and two batteries and two chargers for $1,200. It's a medium size instead of a large that I ride but that makes it only two inches lower. Riding it today prove my thinking that the medium is a better fitting bike for an old man. It has the 750W motor like my first bike that I sold to my buddy. I don't race around so it has plenty excess power to use and isn't the battery hog the 1000W motor. The bike was rebranded and sold with an upgraded shifter and better brakes. Parts can be swapped between the two bikes and five batteries is insane
Though there was a stiff cold North wind blowing this afternoon, I went riding once I had my bike home and bike rack back in the shed. I only rode 13 mile, one loop South, but the bike is the real deal. It was a lucky ducky deal that I text the kid. He pretty much moved on after replacing his stolen bike and was ready to sell while the bike has value.
Exactly! That bike is constantly on my mind. It's a damn mystery that has a solution. I want to ride the RCS. With its upgraded controller, it samples the pedaling almost twice as often as the Aquila. That makes the bike more responsive. I don't need the extra power of the RCS but riding the Aquila yesterday I missed the responsiveness. I can certainly live without it however. I don't know if the upgraded controller will work with the smaller motor on the Aquila. I think it would with both being 52v systems. I know it will physically fit in the Aquila. I want to rob from the Aquila and give to the RCS if I have to. For now, I'm not swapping parts. I'll ride the Aquila now and then and ride the RCS mostly and continue to diagnose the problem.Great, and now you'll have plenty of time to figure out the older bike, which I know will drive you crazy until you get it right,
Speaking of riding.... I plan to ride the Aquila today. It's the new toy and I want to see what sort of range difference the smaller motor has. I'll have to figure out my riding time, if it warms up enough, to watch my teams play football and likely smoke something out.
I rode the Aquila today. I rode some before the games and some between the games and some during the games. Sunday when both of my teams have network coverage cuts into my riding. I had fun and spent some time here and there fine tuning a few things on the bike. The saddle was all wrong for me. I had to raise it up a bunch yesterday to ride. I guess the kid likes his knees hitting his chin when riding. Seriously, it's amazing that he had it set so low. He is ever bit my height. Riding without fully extending your legs on the down stroke is hard on the knees and leg muscles. The seat post has a quick release so I would stop here and there and finely adjust the height until if was perfect. I also had to edit the angle of the seat. I kept sliding to the front of the saddle until I positioned it in a horizontal position. I tried to adjust the positioning of the brake levers. They angle down away from the handlebar where I like them pretty much level with the road. I didn't get them changed. Either he or the factory have them screwed on so tight that I rounded the end of my hex key. I can't imagine why they are so tight. If the bike becomes a daily driver, I'll take some liquid wrench to them. After they have soaked for a bit, I'll put a hex key in my impact gun and rattle them loose. I'm having a terrible time seeing the display that is back lit. I put a color display on the RCS and may order another for this bike. It's not only easier to read but it has more information on the larger screen. It has the time which I found very useful that I really miss. I got into the settings and turned up the back lighting. I also removed the screen protector that was still on the display. That helped but I still don't like it. I also slipped off the pedals once with each foot. The pedals are cheap plastic with less grippy surfaces and are about three quarters of an inch shorter from the crank arms than the RCS. I hope I don't sound disappointed. I love the bike and it was a bargain. With a little love here and there, it will be a fantastic bike.
I only rode 30 miles today. There was a heck of a wind from the South this afternoon which made my loop a bit difficult. I put the bike in 3 assist when riding into the wind and 2 with the wind on my back. The bike pretty much eliminated the wind factor except for the gusts and the fact it was cold.
I saw nobody on the sidewalk today. Now that I think about it. I saw nobody riding anywhere today.
It was crummy but not impossible to dress warm enough to ride. I enjoyed my ride.
Speaking of dressing warm to ride. I ordered some additional riding gear the other day. Today I received a new warmer balaclava. I also received a skull cap to wear to cut the wind that travels through my bike helmet. I have another base layer ordered as well as a zip up wind proof jacket that can be an additional layer when it gets bitter cold.
I had fun and spent some time here and there fine tuning a few things on the bike. The saddle was all wrong for me. I had to raise it up a bunch yesterday to ride. I guess the kid likes his knees hitting his chin when riding. Seriously, it's amazing that he had it set so low. He is ever bit my height. Riding without fully extending your legs on the down stroke is hard on the knees and leg muscles. The seat post has a quick release so I would stop here and there and finely adjust the height until if was perfect. I also had to edit the angle of the seat. I kept sliding to the front of the saddle until I positioned it in a horizontal position. I tried to adjust the positioning of the brake levers. They angle down away from the handlebar where I like them pretty much level with the road. I didn't get them changed. Either he or the factory have them screwed on so tight that I rounded the end of my hex key. I can't imagine why they are so tight. If the bike becomes a daily driver, I'll take some liquid wrench to them. After they have soaked for a bit, I'll put a hex key in my impact gun and rattle them loose. I'm having a terrible time seeing the display that is back lit. I put a color display on the RCS and may order another for this bike. It's not only easier to read but it has more information on the larger screen. It has the time which I found very useful that I really miss. I got into the settings and turned up the back lighting. I also removed the screen protector that was still on the display. That helped but I still don't like it. I also slipped off the pedals once with each foot. The pedals are cheap plastic with less grippy surfaces and are about three quarters of an inch shorter from the crank arms than the RCS. I hope I don't sound disappointed. I love the bike and it was a bargain. With a little love here and there, it will be a fantastic bike.I only rode 30 miles today. There was a heck of a wind from the South this afternoon which made my loop a bit difficult. I put the bike in 3 assist when riding into the wind and 2 with the wind on my back. The bike pretty much eliminated the wind factor except for the gusts and the fact it was cold.
I saw nobody on the sidewalk today. Now that I think about it. I saw nobody riding anywhere today.
It was crummy but not impossible to dress warm enough to ride. I enjoyed my ride.
Speaking of dressing warm to ride. I ordered some additional riding gear the other day. Today I received a new warmer balaclava. I also received a skull cap to wear to cut the wind that travels through my bike helmet. I have another base layer ordered as well as a zip up wind proof jacket that can be an additional layer when it gets bitter cold.