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E-Bikes

I started my attempted bike stalling solving today by factory resetting the controller, which solved nothing. I next removed the upgraded controller I installed when the bike was all but new. I reinstalled the original controller in hopes it might fix the cutting out problem. It took about an hour and a half to swap controllers and it solved nothing. Tomorrow I plan to undo what I did today and put the upgraded controller back in the bike.... it's not the problem. I'll install the old black and white display and see if that buys me anything. I'm sure it won't but why not try. I'm running damn short of things to try. The guy I bought the new sensor from had a couple of suggestions. One was to make certain the battery to bike connection was secure. The other was to make certain that the battery was physically affixed to the bike. I don't think the batteries are moving at all in the designed cradle and the connection I'll take a close look at tomorrow when I exchange controllers. The connection on the bike has to be removed to access the controller. I'm certain the batteries are plugging in and not moving but I have not examined the wiring to the back of the plug. My guess is it is fine. If it were a total power outage, I would think the display would momentarily wink out when the motor cuts out.

I read today that most e-bike motors last between 7k and 10k miles. I have over 20k on my motor. It is the most likely item to be failing in my opinion. I only thought it was the sensor causing my grief because when the assistance totally quit, I was able to use the throttle to get home. I rode some with the throttle yesterday and today. I have yet to have the motor cut out when being powered by the throttle. Maybe it just hasn't happened yet... I simply can't make any sense of it.

I rode 12 test miles today... sheesh
 
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 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.
 
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.
 
If every you're looking for a good tire inflator, check this one out, bought it at Costco a few months, one of the best I ever used, works great


Tire Inflator.jpg
 
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 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.
 
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.
Napune Aquila.jpg
 
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, ;)
 
DonB said:
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, ;)
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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.
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 was able to ride today after I had my lawns mowed. I rode the RCS 36 miles. I think it's getting closer to a total failure. Instead of momentarily cutting out, it was cutting out more often and for five and up to seven or eight pedal strokes before recovering. I'm not looking forward to the bike quitting on me somewhere but maybe I can get onto what's wrong at that point.

My granddaughter's car is in the shop and wanted to borrow the Iguana that I recently tuned up. I took it over to her today and wished her luck. I also picked up a RCS rack and rear fender that my son had for his bike and never installed it. I brought it home and installed it on the Aquila. With my track record of having flats, I don't dare ride far without my air pump, spare tube, and the tools to change the tire while out riding. After the install, I took the Aquila for a little ride. It is a sweet ride! I looked tonight for a color display but I guess they are all sold out. I didn't look for bike pedals yet.

It's supposed to get into the low seventies tomorrow. I think I'll put the trunk of tools on the Aquila and ride a battery dry tomorrow. It really is a sweet ride and it is far more relaxing when I'm not concerned about it breaking down. I might be able to ride it home without the motor but it sure wouldn't be easy. At around 87 pounds and lousy gearing, riding without any assistance will test this old man.

Today I received the additional warm gear I had ordered. I think I will enjoy wearing the jersey like zip up jacket. It's supposed to be windproof and is meant to be a tight fitting garment. It should be perfect for tomorrow's weather. Seventy degrees is warm until you add a 20+ mph wind.
 
I was only speaking theoretically when I typed seventy degrees and twenty plus mph wind in my last post but that seems to be today's forecast. 😢 I only have three lawns left to mow today and I'm to meet a customer after two PM to settle up for the year. That leaves a lot of afternoon to battle the wind. I plan to do just that and hope the forecast is exaggerating the wind velocity. It is to be out of the South which is my preference if I am to fight the wind on my normal loop. Any change in the weather always blows in from somewhere here in Kansas.

I mentioned that I installed a bike rack on the Aquila yesterday. I failed to mention that it is a love / hate install. I sure don't care for the looks of the rack on the bike. I didn't like the rack on the RCS but at least the black rack seemed a better optical fit on the black bike. The black rack on this blue bike stands out like a sore thumb. The biggest problem I see with the rack is the fender sits very close to the rear tire. I fear it will have to be removed to change the back tire. It is only attached with four bolts but it will add the removal and reinstall time with every flat. Being as I average over a flat every thousand miles and it's always the rear tire, it will be bummer. I need the tools and pump when I ride so I don't see a work-a-round.
 
It was uncomfortably windy today. I see that I logged a 51 mph gust this afternoon. I rode the Aquila in three against the wind and two assist with the wind at my back. The bike did a good job compensating for the wind. Wind like that, even if compensated for, just puts me in a sour mood while riding. In spite of fighting the wind on half of the miles I logged today, I was glad to be riding. I rode my four loops then I rode around town and rode around town some more. I was tired of riding in town when I finally had the battery drained. I logged 47 miles which blows my mind. Riding with this battery on the RCS in the windy conditions of today, I would be luck to get 37 miles on a charge. On a day where there is all but zero wind and I ride in two assist the entire time, I can barely squeak 42 miles out on the RCS. There is a lot of difference between the volts used between the 1000w and the 750w motors. You can feel the difference of power output as well but both deliver a great ride. I'm not into racing the bikes. I enjoy having the extra power but it's not worth the battery drain for a long distance rider.
 
Today was five degrees cooler than yesterday and the wind was gusting from the North instead of the South. I rode with more assist into the wind and less with the wind just like yesterday. I rode with my best battery today. It's the used battery I bought earlier from the kid that I just bought the bike from. I was riding my cool down in town loops when the display dropped to the last bar of power left. I have no idea how accurate any of the display is. It was showing 46 volts remaining and I have it set to shut down the bike when it hits 42v. I logged 49 miles today and the display leads me to believe there were additional miles to be ridden. It all depends... was the one bar indicator correct or the amount of remaining volts? One way or another, 50 miles on a charge on a windy day is sweet! I looked on the net and found a site that was selling the Ripcurrent S manual color display. I hope the place is legit. The display is ten dollars cheaper than the one I bought for my old bike. I guess that makes sense being as the bike went out of production a year ago. In any event, I was thrilled to find one and hope it is shipped in a timely fashion. The color display shows percentage of charge left instead of a bar graph. It also shows the time which I find very useful. It displays the motor temp which I like to monitor. It has both a trip and bike odometer. What the color display has that is just wonderful is it can be viewed in full sunlight. The backlit display isn't bright enough to see in my shed yet it is washed out in direct sunlight. While riding, it's rare that you can see it. It usually takes a stop and the right amount of shade to view. If I discover the new display won't be shipped soon, I'll pull the color display off of the RCS. I would rather just install and setup one unit so I hope I receive the new display soon.

I wore my new windproof jersey top today. Considering it is fairly light weight, it did a great job cutting the wind. Riding twenty miles per hour into a twenty mile per hour wind did not travel through the garment. It's a keeper.
 
You can't make up this weather. The high today was close to what it's been the last couple of days. The wind was ripping again but it was blowing from the South again like the day before yesterday. I finished up my mowing for the year today. There might be someone wanting mowed again but I'm guessing not. I hope the half warm weather hangs in there for a while. I would love to get in some good riding before the bitter cold sets in.
I received an email this morning with a YunExpress tracking number for my display. If your aren't aware, it is a Chinese shipper. The display is in their system and has been picked up. The first color display I purchased took a couple of weeks to arrive from Mainland China. I suspect it will take ever bit that long or longer now. With that in mind, I removed the color display from the RCS and installed it on the Aquila. I'll put the new one, when it arrives, on the RCS. The display worked well. It really is a very nice upgrade. The original display is small and backlit and pretty much a bad joke. I rode with the same battery as yesterday and it behaved the same. Once the display showed 20% power remaining the percentage turns red as a warning. On the RCS the battery was low enough at that point the bike starts throttling the assistance. With the smaller motor on the Aquila, I was able to ride another two in town loops before assist was throttled. I actually rode until the display showed 11% power remaining before I felt less assistance and I called it a day. I rode 49 miles just like yesterday.
 
And right on que, the wind was once again out of the North. Back and forth to the point it's crazy. I first rode with the original battery for the RCS that is showing it's heavy use. I didn't deplete it but I put the serious drain on it and came home. I took a break before I went riding again. The wind had beat me up. I grabbed another battery and went riding again. The wind had died down and it was perfect riding conditions. I actually saw two other riders enjoying the weather. I rode a total of 74 miles of pure fun. It's supposed to be super windy tomorrow so I don't know how much riding I'll get to do. I know it won't be as fun as today. I know one thing, I'll be taking the upgrade saddle and post off of the RCS and putting it on the Aquila. The upgrade has a shock system that makes it far more kind on the butt.
The ordered color display has left the sorting facility. I don't know where it's going next but it is on the move.
 
I made a wise decision for once. I went riding before the wind from the North became ridiculous. I can dress for cold but not for wind. The wind was barely stirring when I went riding at ten this morning. It was 58° but the sun was shining which always makes it seem warmer. I saw five other cyclists while out riding. One of them was my e-trike friend Tim. He rides the exact opposite loop as I so I saw him twice. He waved big time and so did I. We both know that the chances of seeing each other again before spring is diminishing daily. It was a great morning to be riding if you had some warm gear. I was into my third loop South when I stopped at the park on the far South end of town to visit the restroom. When I came out, the wind had hit and had blown my new bike over. It roughed up the end of the left grip and left brake lever. It had to be a hearty gust to blow the bike over the kickstand. I made what I now consider a mistake and continued my loop on South. I regretted my poor choice all the way back home against the wind. I see my weather station is logging twenty plus miles per hour winds and the max gust so far was 54.8mph.

I traded saddles on the bikes before I rode today. It amused me to find that without measuring, the two saddles were within a quarter inch of being the same from saddle to a downstroke pedal. I traded the saddles and measured instead of riding and adjusting over and over this time. It saved a lot of stop and adjusting. It felt great to be riding on the upgraded saddle post. I do think the saddle on the Aquila is very comfortable and would be just fine if it were installed on the shock seat post. The shock post was over a $200 upgrade so maybe just one between the two bikes is enough.

My ordered display has now arrived at the international airport.
 
It was too cold and windy to ride yesterday. I shopped at my local grocery store and back home and that was enough outdoors for me. Today's forecast is the same as yesterday so I'll be only dreaming about riding today. The good news is there is warmer weather predicted for the next few days. I'll definitely be taking advantage of that. A new bike that I've only put 300 miles on sits in my shed calling my name. :) My ordered display hasn't reportedly moved since late Friday. I'm anxious to have it delivered. In the scheme of things, there is no hurry.

It warmed into the low forties this afternoon so I gave it a go. I needed to dress warmer. :) I stopped riding after a short distance and put on my balaclava that I recently bought. It helped keep my face warmer but around my eyes still got very cold. It wasn't miserable riding but it wasn't that much fun. I rode three in town loops and put the bike up logging just under nine miles. My windchill factor chart showed that the felt like temp was around 30°. I could have dressed warmer and I could have put the handlebar mitts on. I could have put my skull cap on. I could have worn my coat vs the windproof jersey. I could have worn my thermal socks and underwear. I could have been warmer but it wasn't that important. It will be important as time passes.

I just checked and my display departed via international flight HK today.
 
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It is nine am and already warmer than when I was riding yesterday. With the warm, the wind is going to blow today. It's already gusting into the double digit range and with my luck it will be gale force by the time it's really warm. I'm satisfied I'll ride later so I'll update this tonight. The ordered display landed in the US around midnight. The next update should show it entering the USPS system and a new tracking number issued.

The wind did increase as did the temperature as the day went along. I decided I would ride even though it was very windy. At least the wind was from the South which is the best direction for the loop I ride. I rode to the town South and then turned to ride back with the wind but the wind had all but stopped. With very little wind and the temperature in the mid sixties, it was just a perfect day to be riding. I rode four and a half loops and then rode two loops in town to log 49 miles and a drained battery. It was time to prepare dinner so I called it a day. It was a very fun day!

Tomorrow it is supposed to be nicer than today. Five degrees warmer with full sunlight and single digit wind velocity will see me riding my tail off.
 
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I filled my morning by doing laundry and then firing up the mowers and mulching the current piles of leaves. It was 70° at noon and I was heading out on the bike. I rode my loop once and came back home. It was too warm to be riding in my windproof jersey. I put on a traditional jersey and was off riding again. I drained that battery and came home and grabbed another. I ran out of time vs battery my second time riding. I wanted to get home and cook dinner with a desire to get out and perhaps get a glimpse of the Northern lights. Between the two rides I logged 84 miles. It was a super nice afternoon and I felt sorry for those that love to ride but aren't retired. I saw three riders today. Two were in town riding e-bikes together. Likely a middle aged couple that were enjoying the day. I had stopped on the sidewalk South to answer a text when someone flew by me on a bike. I just got a glimpse of him as he raced by. I look forward to tomorrow and another day of great bike riding weather.
 
Today was another splendid day to be on a bike. I wasn't the only one that felt the same way. I bet I saw close to a dozen riders while I was out today. They thinned out later in the afternoon when the wind picked up. It was in the low seventies and lots of blue sky. The wind wasn't difficult to deal with with an e-bike but it would have taken the fun out of riding on a standard bike. The only rider I recognized was the elderly lady on her trike. She always has a big smile and wave when we meet.

I was cold smoking some cashews today so I rode by the house a few times to give them a stir. I came back once and changed into a lighter jersey and change batteries. I logged 80 miles and called it a day. It is supposed to be just as warm tomorrow with less wind. I'm excited.
 
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