Very cool! You will be flying I bet. What wattage motor did you install? Is the motor mounted so that it does not rotate or move during use? That's the problem I eventually had to solve.
Good day. @David Massey I got the 750 watts. They mounted the bafang where it will not move. I got it back today. The staff a angletech did a wonderful job.
@@pitmastertoby2598 Very good. Then you should have a great time. When those huge hills loom in the distance you will just gear down and cruise up with a small. Be careful out there. Happy New Year!
You need a 14 speed Rolloff then it dose not matter what gear you stop in because you can shift without moving. They work great with the Bafang motor. I have a 1000 watt Bafang on each of my trikes, with 14 speed Rolloff’s.
I think you are correct. I do not have a Rolloff on either of my trikes; sometimes those derailleurs get crunchy in the back depending on the terrain, etc. At least I now remember, the Befang systems come with a thumb throttle which helps if you get stuck in the wrong gear, but not so on my trike with the Shimano E-Steps system. In retrospect I would choose the 1000 watt Bafang system. The power cannot be matched.
Grand Canyon? That must have been a fun trip. Where did you start from? Always much more fun when you're riding with your lady. Does the BOB trailer have suspension?
Hey buddy... thanks for the shout out at the end of the video! Cold, windy and heavy rain here on Cape Cod today. Loved the video.... you are getting deep into the “ learning curve” with your new system. Fortunately you have the skill set to build, diagnose and repair anything that pops up. Have to have the kinks ironed out before you do any serious touring with all that gear. One other thing to watch for...as I just had this happen with my Catrike....the chain guards started sliding and the friction ate through the wiring to my Bionx rear hub obviously cutting out the e assist.Always something! Looks like the new Bafang is massively powerful and you have to be very conscious of your gearing as you ride and stop at intersections, etc. Did a real long ride yesterday in 30-35 degree temps along Martha’s Vineyard sound but it was too damn cold to video as I had to keep all the fleece gear, including gloves on for the whole ride. Great overview of your railroad! Keep working at all of this...I assume you are retired like me to have all of this free time for our toys and passion! Have a wonderful Thanksgiving with your friends and family. Have my kids and grandkids for the weekend....I have to rest up in advance! Best wishes. M
Hey Mark. Learning curve is right. Wait until you see what happened in Chapter 6 of the series. Almost done editing the video. Should post soon. Getting the bugs worked out.
David Massey thanks. Looking forward to the next edition. Have a great holiday. Going out for a long ride in a few minutes. Kids/grandkids coming for two days and weather in New England supposed to deteriorate terribly over the next 4-5 days so I better get out on the trail! Don’t eat too much!
@@markfeldman6509 I hear you. We have 40 mph icy winds with a bit of rain mixed in. Can't ride this second, because of mechanical issues with bike. Next post this Friday. Have fun with the grand kids. Keep the calorie count down if you can. Take care, Friend.
David Massey stay safe.just did 53 miles on Cape Cod Rail Rail...Yarmouth to Wellfleet and as soon as Imloaded trike into car the heavy rain started. Just made it back. Temp is 42 with heavy rain. Have a great holiday! Looking for the next post!
You need to get the rolloff, you can shift at a dead stop, you do not have to be moving to shift, and it will give you four more gears. I have one on my trike and i love it with the 1000w Bafang.
I agree with you. I just ordered a second trike and still did not get the Rolloff! I'm sorry I did not. If I get another one I will spend the extra money.
Cool train layout. I lost all of my trains and lay out in a wild fire in 2013. 1000s of dollars worth. Now i am full time RVing but miss all of the thing i had.
Yikes, Carl. So sorry to hear that. I am thinking about liquidating all train equipment at some point. Hopefully, I can get someone to take the entire layout also. I have so many hobbies going I think I have to start cutting back on some things.
Interesting... I’ve seen other builds also solder connections. I can see an instance where a throttle is useful if one needs motion to down shift. Very informative Mr. Massey.
Coroplast - You can get a small piece at almost any sign shop. Best advice regarding using the Assist. Use your gears as normal to get a comfortable cadence then adjust your Power Level to maintain that cadence. When you approach a hill, downshift as normal & if first gear is not low or comfortable enough THEN up your Power Level to the next higher level.
Thanks. Great advice. My next time out I will make it a point to do just that; ride as usual and then apply power gently as needed. I found a small sheet of coroplast at Home Depot. No more dirt spray into the trailer from the rear wheel.
Great job on the solar trailer and installation Dave. I have a pedal assist on my tandem that i ride with my wife. You are right when you say you do a dance between derailleur gearing and the battery. It sounds like you might have only one front chainring. Is that for any particular reason? I have used a pedal assist on the tandem for two years. Have toured with it and for daily use. I find i rely less on the battery and more on more on my own energy. I use the battery for uphill, into the wind, or if i am tired or in a hurry. Do you get any whine with your battery? Good job, beautiful state you live in.
Hey Brian. You are correct. I do have only one chainring in front. It is the only way the Bafang system is manufactured and delivered. It wasn't my first choice. What I really wanted was for someone to lace my Bionix motor into the 20" wheel I have on my recumbent trike. That way I could have kept my 3 chainring set in front and had 30 gears plus the assist. No one locally was willing to do it. Guess I'll have to learn it myself. Bionix is very much more intuitive in that it constantly measures the PSI the rider is applying to the pedals, does the math, and delivers 25%, 50%, 75% or 100% of whatever the figure is. If you are in assist level two and applying 20 PSI to the pedals you get a net pressure of 30 PSI at the crank. I loved it. By judiciously using the motor I once rode 85 miles and still had 25% battery left when I got home. Sadly, however, Bionix is out of business and not available. With the Bafang, there is whine from the motor when you start up. Sounds like a turbine. It's not loud, but you can hear it. When you reach speed it seems to disappear behind the wind noise and the scenery rushing by. I finally learned how to use the throttle to help me start up. Wait to you see my next video. You will not believe what happened. The motor has so much torque that it spun itself in the bottom bracket and ended up 180 degrees from how I installed it. Some of my electrical connections were pulled apart and I was "dead in the water", without proper tools to re-position the motor. However, before that it performed flawlessly. The motor is incredibly powerful; I motored up hills under full load without breaking a sweat, and rode 26 miles like it was nothing and still had 80% battery left. Amazing. Anyway, thanks for posting. I'm making adjustments and rewiring, and will be back on the rode soon. I'll post again in about a week. You and your lady be careful out there. That tandem recumbent sounds like a good idea. I could my lady out there on the road with me. Hmm.... All the best; Happy Thanksgiving.
Thanks for the video i have learned alot.. Would like to know 1) what size battery you have?.. 2) how long does it take to charge when lets say 25% battery life left?.. 3) does your solar panel keep your battery charged while riding and what kind is it?.. And final question 4) do you think a 700c rear wheel would help with keeping your legs from over reving?.. I ask these questions because i just bought a trike (havn't received it yet) and i know i'm gonna need a motor to make it up hills cause i have a bad knee.. I like how you explain everything in your videos so thanks again.. Trike should be here in a few days.. Can't wait..
Hey! Thanks for the post. I'm very happy the video was useful to you. My battery size is 48V/17.5Ah. I have not timed a charge rate yet, but I think at 25% discharge it takes about 2 hours to recharge to full. That's just a guess. My solar panel is small (20W); I think the rate of battery discharge during load would surpass the rate of the charge. Therefore I do try to ride and charge at the same time. I think I read somewhere that this is not actually possible, but I'm not sure. I ended up building a portable solar panel charging station. The panel keeps two 12V/8Ah batteries (connected in parallel) charged during a trip. They are connected to a 200W Cen-Tech Power Inverter. The inverter is used to charge my bike's battery and all USB devices. The entire station rides in a WIKE high-walled trailer. This video features the charging station and the trailer. ua-cam.com/video/HVfvkr6wp2A/v-deo.html. I'm not sure how the rear wheel size affects the over-revving problem. I think it's more a matter of the gearing at the rear wheel. I've discovered that simply moving the pedals is equivalent to holding down the throttle. Therefore, if I have a too-high power level selected and my gearing is too low, the pedals just spin at such a rate that I cannot keep up with the motor. In 10th gear (tallest gear) coupled with power level 3, I can cruise easily at 15mph on flat ground with no stress on my knees or legs. It's fantastic. I have never had the assist level over 5 (out of 9 levels). I'm conducting a range test right now. Currently I have 42.5 miles on the odometer. According to my Bafang documentation, that battery is currently at 60%-80% charged. With judicial use of the e-assist system I know I can go at least 70 miles on a single charge depending on the general terrain. That would be awesome, especially with 34 lbs. of tricycle, 60 lbs. of gear, and 190 lbs. of me. Please keep in touch I would love to know what trike you end up getting, and how it's going in general. Take care.
Me and my step Dad wound up getting Performer Trikes. They were in our price range.. We both got the JC-700 model. His is sunburst orange and mine is red..They ride really comfortable.. It could use a taller gear like maybe 42T in the rear or maybe a 52T would be even better if they makem that big, for going up real steep hills.. In the process of moving but will post a video later and message you the link.. Stay safe.. Troy SMALL TOWN CUSTOMS
@@smalltowncustoms9793 Very awesome to hear from you. I looked up your purchases and it seem like a great tricycle. I know what you mean about the gearing. Large gears in the back really help. I replaced my smallest gear in front when I bought my trike, which enabled me to climbed really steep hills. It just takes forever. Be careful at first; it's easy to blow out your knees if you get caught in the wrong gear on a steep hill. With your back against the seat it's easy to apply more pressure with your legs than you can when you are on a regular bicycle. I'm shopping right now for my next trike, but I'm embarrassed to say how much it might cost. I'm trying to talk myself out of it, but my pockets keep exploding into flames. I'll keep you posted. Take care out there. Have fun with your stepdad. That's very cool.
Hey David, Surfing UA-cam I came across your BaFang Install series. It's been interesting to see the ups and downs of your adapting to the EA system. I live in the Denver area. I'm 62, with major back and hip pain issues. I also survived a bout with APL, a rare type of leukemia in 2015. I do have effects of the chemo carpet-bombing from that as well. I don't get around on foot so well, so I bought a 20" Trident Trekker in February 2019. My human-powered trip distances are limited by post-ride pain, so I'm looking into an EA system for the future (though I still manage to ride enough to maintain a degree of fitness and keep my weight reasonably low). My trike rides are my salvation. They keep me going, and shine a ray of light on things when I get down. Isn't it amazing what sunshine and nature can do for the psyche? When I do get an EA I'm going to have it installed at a shop, as my body could never handle the bending and such I watched you do putting yours on. I'll be watching to see how things go for you and your Azub. It's one beautiful trike. I'm sure you've heard we got hit hard by a blizzard this week (2 feet of snow at my place), so no riding until the roads and trails are clear of snow and ice. I've subscribed, and wish you smooth trails!
Hey, Brother. So glad you subscribed. Your story was very uplifting to me. Congratulations on winning your battle with APL, keep the good fight going. Yes, recumbent tricycle riding is the best. I love it, because I can sit comfortably and watch the scenery go by. I don't have to worry about balance issues even when going .5 mph. No more neck, back, or shoulder and elbow pain. Plus it's just plain cool cruising just 8 inches from the pavement. If you do get EA system on your trike, you won't believe the difference. It's hard not to constantly go as fast as you can all the time. Yes, I heard about your snow. Ours hasn't hit yet. We got slammed last winter with about 24" for weeks. It took forever to melt. However, it's down to 26 degrees at night already. I'll be spending some time inside on the elliptical to help keep in shape. I'd love to lose about 25 lbs. If you don't mind me saying, keep your prayers going to the Father in heaven. When I get down Jesus is my salvation, literally. Believe me, He's the only reason I'm living this blessed life today. I never forget that. The AZUB is down for a week or so. I'm waiting for parts and tools. I bought a special torque plate from Utah Trikes that should absolutely stop the motor from spinning in the bottom bracket. I hope it fits. Also switching to a slightly smaller front chainring up front for greater torque at the cranks, and better chain retention. In he shop I will soon be building my prototype two-wheeled bike trailer. My fingers are crossed. It looks awesome in Sketchup on my computer. If this think works like I'm hoping, we might be on to something. Anyway, take care. Very happy to have met you. Hope you had a great Thanksgiving. Blessings to you and yours.
Sorry if you already noted this, but how much was your entire bike weight w/bike and kit? And if you don't mind, how much do you weigh? Thanx for the video.
Hi David, I had a question about the wiring of the battery. Is the MPPT connected to the battery while the motor is being used? In other, words are you charging the battery at the same time you are using the battery? I did not think that was possible. Can you provide a wire schematic of your wiring?
Hi Tomas. No, I'm not charging the battery at the same time. I'm not an electrician but I think batteries undergo internal chemical changes while they are being charged or discharged. You have to do one or the other. I'll check my files to see if I have a schematic somewhere. I know I must have done one. If I find it I will let you know. Thanks for posting. Take care.
Dave, I have the Catrike Expedition. I'm thinking of touring the State of Oklahoma where I live do you have any advice? I'm a below the knee amputee right.
Hey Lawrence, Thanks for posting. Advice? I'm 100% sure I am no "expert", but there a few pointers I suppose I can put out there; in short I would say Plan, Prepare, Practice. Planning is essential. Take time to do research. What has worked for others, or not worked? Find out all you can about your tricycle. Who has ridden it long distance, etc? Make sure your trike fits you. Plan your route and the time of year you will be riding. What will the weather be like? How far will you have to ride each day? Any night time riding? Are you riding with someone (recommended)? If not, who will come and get you if something makes it impossible to finish your trip? Will you need maps? GPS? How will you keep your devices charged? Electricity available? I assume you will be riding with a prosthetic; what special needs or circumstances will that present? Rain gear? There are many great books you can purchase, and tons of online resources that will give you excellent information on planning a trip. Take advantage. After you have a few ideas going, start to Prepare. Gather everything you think you will need. How will you carry it, panniers, trailer? What goes where on your trike? What tools will you need? Any bike shops on your route? If not, make sure you can do repairs yourself on the road. Bullet proof your tires. I put extra heavy duty liners on my rims to protect the inner tube from the spoke nipples. Then I used extra thick, thorn-resistant inner tubes. Lastly, I use good tires. In my case, I use Schwalbe Marathons which have an extra layer of protection under the tread. In five years I have not had even so much as a flat or air loss - five years! Keep your weight as low as possible. Don't take anything you are likely not to touch, but then do not leave out anything you might potentially need. After that, start Practice. Take short 20 to 30 mile trips. Practice setting up your tent/shelter in the back yard, so you can see what you need to do. Sometimes it may be dark and you do not want to be fumbling around looking for stuff as the sun is going down. Sleep out in the back yard. How cold did you get? Did you forget something? Practice cooking a small meal on your cam stove, etc. Do you have to get up and go pee at night like I do? Better have a pee bottle in your tent to save a trip to the bathroom in the dark. How will you wash up in the morning? Water near? What about securing your trike while you are in the campsite shower? Will someone watch your things? Lock and key? As they day approaches, maybe two weeks out, ride at least 50 miles per day. Every day. Can you do it? How sore are you? Hows your back? Your butt? How's your trike holding up? That's what I am up to right now as I am trying to figure out this new e-assist kit. As winter sets in I'll be inside, but I will be training on my elliptical inside. There's lots to think about but you can't figure it all out until you actually get out there. Anyway, I hope this rambling helped a bit. PLEASE, subscribe and keep me posted, so I can know how your trip is developing. I'd love to see your progress. Take care, my friend. All the best to you and yours, Happy Thanksgiving.
@@daveyJ213 yes that helps out I will be getting a roller for my trike because I'm wanting to get ready to do the Houston to Dallas ride for Veterans hope I can be ready for it. I'm up to at least 30 miles each day. I was up to that a month after I got my trike. I felt amazing to get that in. I'm hoping to do 100 miles in 8 hours if I can do that I will be very happy. I would like to find someone that has traveled long distance on a Expedition. But don't know anyone.
Well, I only deflated the tire on the trailer to keep it from bouncing around too much. The trike tires are at normal pressure. It was strange on that one patch. I should have been coasting down more freely there. Maybe it was all of the leaves on the pavement. I didn't get it. On my last trip which I completed on Monday, my coasting speed was much better. Maybe the road wasn't steep enough on the one stretch of the trail. Hope you and yours are doing well. Happy Thanksgiving, Brother.
Thank you sir. I'm looking at the Aidoo two-wheeled trailer, but I think it's really expensive and there are no American vendors. Researching other options also. Was also looking at the Burly trailer, but one person gave it a really bad review. I'll keep you posted.
You might check and see if Jayoe still has his and wants to sell it. I also have a tricon and want to to e power it. A lot to consider. Your videos are very helpful and looking forward to your future trike adventures. Thanks.
Hello. Wait until to see Chapter 6. Amazing what happened. You definitely have to install the Bafang motor a certain way in order to compensate for its tremendous torque. Should be posting again in about ten days.
@@Chuck-gd9rr Hey, Chuck. Yeah I saw that awesome trailer Jayoe was using. I think it's way above my pay grade, but that's exactly what I need. I wonder if he could actually direct me to the vendor?
Hey. Just thought I'd let you know. I contacted Aidoo in Germany, a company which makes an awesome suspended two-wheeled trailer. However, they said they don't sell in the United States market. I'm still researching.
Yeah, I might even go up to 60 watts and add a third battery for greater storage capacity. I have since gone to another trailer kit and wired it up to carry my panel and batteries.
@@daveyJ213 cool yes i use 3 48wx1000w solar panel with 3 Batteries use one then switch to the other ones and charge them on the go if i have none charged up i just use the solar panel for power if the sun is out ...... i go down to the lower 48 every year from here in Alaska in summer Months love it
My experience: with 200W (peak) solar panel you will get in average 30-40W on sunny days. Whith a good MPPT charger (not the one shown in the video). When you use 350Wh of energy you will need 10h of driving in the sun. If you park with the panel orientated to the sun you get max 50% of the peak wattage.
Love the railroad part, I also have ho gu set up that I have had since Alaska days, got rid of half of it when we moved to the lower 48.
Glad you liked it. I'm about 75% done. Made much progress since this was posted. Guess an update is needed. Take care.
Greetings from Colorado..Great vib. Love the pedal assist. I just added the bafang to my Catrike Dumont.
Very cool! You will be flying I bet. What wattage motor did you install? Is the motor mounted so that it does not rotate or move during use? That's the problem I eventually had to solve.
Good day. @David Massey I got the 750 watts. They mounted the bafang where it will not move. I got it back today. The staff a angletech did a wonderful job.
@@pitmastertoby2598 Very good. Then you should have a great time. When those huge hills loom in the distance you will just gear down and cruise up with a small. Be careful out there. Happy New Year!
You need a 14 speed Rolloff then it dose not matter what gear you stop in because you can shift without moving. They work great with the Bafang motor. I have a 1000 watt Bafang on each of my trikes, with 14 speed Rolloff’s.
I think you are correct. I do not have a Rolloff on either of my trikes; sometimes those derailleurs get crunchy in the back depending on the terrain, etc. At least I now remember, the Befang systems come with a thumb throttle which helps if you get stuck in the wrong gear, but not so on my trike with the Shimano E-Steps system. In retrospect I would choose the 1000 watt Bafang system. The power cannot be matched.
My wife and I pulled a BOB trailer to Grand Canyon with a Tandem Two'sDay (Bike Friday). It worked well even on fast down hills, and there were many.
Grand Canyon? That must have been a fun trip. Where did you start from? Always much more fun when you're riding with your lady. Does the BOB trailer have suspension?
Hey buddy... thanks for the shout out at the end of the video! Cold, windy and heavy rain here on Cape Cod today. Loved the video.... you are getting deep into the “ learning curve” with your new system. Fortunately you have the skill set to build, diagnose and repair anything that pops up. Have to have the kinks ironed out before you do any serious touring with all that gear. One other thing to watch for...as I just had this happen with my Catrike....the chain guards started sliding and the friction ate through the wiring to my Bionx rear hub obviously cutting out the e assist.Always something! Looks like the new Bafang is massively powerful and you have to be very conscious of your gearing as you ride and stop at intersections, etc. Did a real long ride yesterday in 30-35 degree temps along Martha’s Vineyard sound but it was too damn cold to video as I had to keep all the fleece gear, including gloves on for the whole ride. Great overview of your railroad! Keep working at all of this...I assume you are retired like me to have all of this free time for our toys and passion! Have a wonderful Thanksgiving with your friends and family. Have my kids and grandkids for the weekend....I have to rest up in advance! Best wishes. M
Hey Mark. Learning curve is right. Wait until you see what happened in Chapter 6 of the series. Almost done editing the video. Should post soon. Getting the bugs worked out.
David Massey thanks. Looking forward to the next edition. Have a great holiday. Going out for a long ride in a few minutes. Kids/grandkids coming for two days and weather in New England supposed to deteriorate terribly over the next 4-5 days so I better get out on the trail! Don’t eat too much!
@@markfeldman6509 I hear you. We have 40 mph icy winds with a bit of rain mixed in. Can't ride this second, because of mechanical issues with bike. Next post this Friday.
Have fun with the grand kids. Keep the calorie count down if you can. Take care, Friend.
David Massey stay safe.just did 53 miles on Cape Cod Rail Rail...Yarmouth to Wellfleet and as soon as Imloaded trike into car the heavy rain started. Just made it back. Temp is 42 with heavy rain. Have a great holiday! Looking for the next post!
@@markfeldman6509 Dude! You are an iron man. Go warm up.
You need to get the rolloff, you can shift at a dead stop, you do not have to be moving to shift, and it will give you four more gears. I have one on my trike and i love it with the 1000w Bafang.
I agree with you. I just ordered a second trike and still did not get the Rolloff! I'm sorry I did not. If I get another one I will spend the extra money.
Tnx, my friend.
You are welcome.
Cool train layout. I lost all of my trains and lay out in a wild fire in 2013. 1000s of dollars worth. Now i am full time RVing but miss all of the thing i had.
Yikes, Carl. So sorry to hear that. I am thinking about liquidating all train equipment at some point. Hopefully, I can get someone to take the entire layout also. I have so many hobbies going I think I have to start cutting back on some things.
Interesting... I’ve seen other builds also solder connections. I can see an instance where a throttle is useful if one needs motion to down shift. Very informative Mr. Massey.
You know what? My brain did not even remember I had a throttle. That would have certainly been useful to get going again. Old people!
@@daveyJ213 I have my senior moments too. Positive and constructive comments help me alot. I 😎
Nice video Dave. Thanks for sharing👍👍😎😊
Thank you, Rollee, for tuning in. I will be posting again about eight or nine days if you want to subscribe.
Coroplast - You can get a small piece at almost any sign shop. Best advice regarding using the Assist. Use your gears as normal to get a comfortable cadence then adjust your Power Level to maintain that cadence. When you approach a hill, downshift as normal & if first gear is not low or comfortable enough THEN up your Power Level to the next higher level.
Thanks. Great advice. My next time out I will make it a point to do just that; ride as usual and then apply power gently as needed.
I found a small sheet of coroplast at Home Depot. No more dirt spray into the trailer from the rear wheel.
Great job on the solar trailer and installation Dave. I have a pedal assist on my tandem that i ride with my wife. You are right when you say you do a dance between derailleur gearing and the battery.
It sounds like you might have only one front chainring. Is that for any particular reason? I have used a pedal assist on the tandem for two years. Have toured with it and for daily use. I find i rely less on the battery and more on more on my own energy. I use the battery for uphill, into the wind, or if i am tired or in a hurry. Do you get any whine with your battery? Good job, beautiful state you live in.
Hey Brian. You are correct. I do have only one chainring in front. It is the only way the Bafang system is manufactured and delivered. It wasn't my first choice. What I really wanted was for someone to lace my Bionix motor into the 20" wheel I have on my recumbent trike. That way I could have kept my 3 chainring set in front and had 30 gears plus the assist. No one locally was willing to do it. Guess I'll have to learn it myself. Bionix is very much more intuitive in that it constantly measures the PSI the rider is applying to the pedals, does the math, and delivers 25%, 50%, 75% or 100% of whatever the figure is. If you are in assist level two and applying 20 PSI to the pedals you get a net pressure of 30 PSI at the crank. I loved it. By judiciously using the motor I once rode 85 miles and still had 25% battery left when I got home. Sadly, however, Bionix is out of business and not available.
With the Bafang, there is whine from the motor when you start up. Sounds like a turbine. It's not loud, but you can hear it. When you reach speed it seems to disappear behind the wind noise and the scenery rushing by. I finally learned how to use the throttle to help me start up.
Wait to you see my next video. You will not believe what happened. The motor has so much torque that it spun itself in the bottom bracket and ended up 180 degrees from how I installed it. Some of my electrical connections were pulled apart and I was "dead in the water", without proper tools to re-position the motor. However, before that it performed flawlessly. The motor is incredibly powerful; I motored up hills under full load without breaking a sweat, and rode 26 miles like it was nothing and still had 80% battery left. Amazing.
Anyway, thanks for posting. I'm making adjustments and rewiring, and will be back on the rode soon. I'll post again in about a week. You and your lady be careful out there. That tandem recumbent sounds like a good idea. I could my lady out there on the road with me. Hmm.... All the best; Happy Thanksgiving.
Thanks for the video i have learned alot.. Would like to know 1) what size battery you have?.. 2) how long does it take to charge when lets say 25% battery life left?.. 3) does your solar panel keep your battery charged while riding and what kind is it?.. And final question 4) do you think a 700c rear wheel would help with keeping your legs from over reving?..
I ask these questions because i just bought a trike (havn't received it yet) and i know i'm gonna need a motor to make it up hills cause i have a bad knee.. I like how you explain everything in your videos so thanks again.. Trike should be here in a few days.. Can't wait..
Hey! Thanks for the post. I'm very happy the video was useful to you.
My battery size is 48V/17.5Ah. I have not timed a charge rate yet, but I think at 25% discharge it takes about 2 hours to recharge to full. That's just a guess. My solar panel is small (20W); I think the rate of battery discharge during load would surpass the rate of the charge. Therefore I do try to ride and charge at the same time. I think I read somewhere that this is not actually possible, but I'm not sure.
I ended up building a portable solar panel charging station. The panel keeps two 12V/8Ah batteries (connected in parallel) charged during a trip. They are connected to a 200W Cen-Tech Power Inverter. The inverter is used to charge my bike's battery and all USB devices. The entire station rides in a WIKE high-walled trailer. This video features the charging station and the trailer. ua-cam.com/video/HVfvkr6wp2A/v-deo.html.
I'm not sure how the rear wheel size affects the over-revving problem. I think it's more a matter of the gearing at the rear wheel. I've discovered that simply moving the pedals is equivalent to holding down the throttle. Therefore, if I have a too-high power level selected and my gearing is too low, the pedals just spin at such a rate that I cannot keep up with the motor. In 10th gear (tallest gear) coupled with power level 3, I can cruise easily at 15mph on flat ground with no stress on my knees or legs. It's fantastic. I have never had the assist level over 5 (out of 9 levels).
I'm conducting a range test right now. Currently I have 42.5 miles on the odometer. According to my Bafang documentation, that battery is currently at 60%-80% charged. With judicial use of the e-assist system I know I can go at least 70 miles on a single charge depending on the general terrain. That would be awesome, especially with 34 lbs. of tricycle, 60 lbs. of gear, and 190 lbs. of me.
Please keep in touch I would love to know what trike you end up getting, and how it's going in general. Take care.
Me and my step Dad wound up getting Performer Trikes. They were in our price range.. We both got the JC-700 model. His is sunburst orange and mine is red..They ride really comfortable.. It could use a taller gear like maybe 42T in the rear or maybe a 52T would be even better if they makem that big, for going up real steep hills.. In the process of moving but will post a video later and message you the link.. Stay safe..
Troy SMALL TOWN CUSTOMS
@@smalltowncustoms9793 Very awesome to hear from you. I looked up your purchases and it seem like a great tricycle. I know what you mean about the gearing. Large gears in the back really help. I replaced my smallest gear in front when I bought my trike, which enabled me to climbed really steep hills. It just takes forever.
Be careful at first; it's easy to blow out your knees if you get caught in the wrong gear on a steep hill. With your back against the seat it's easy to apply more pressure with your legs than you can when you are on a regular bicycle.
I'm shopping right now for my next trike, but I'm embarrassed to say how much it might cost. I'm trying to talk myself out of it, but my pockets keep exploding into flames. I'll keep you posted. Take care out there. Have fun with your stepdad. That's very cool.
Hey David,
Surfing UA-cam I came across your BaFang Install series. It's been interesting to see the ups and downs of your adapting to the EA system.
I live in the Denver area. I'm 62, with major back and hip pain issues. I also survived a bout with APL, a rare type of leukemia in 2015. I do have effects of the chemo carpet-bombing from that as well.
I don't get around on foot so well, so I bought a 20" Trident Trekker in February 2019. My human-powered trip distances are limited by post-ride pain, so I'm looking into an EA system for the future (though I still manage to ride enough to maintain a degree of fitness and keep my weight reasonably low).
My trike rides are my salvation. They keep me going, and shine a ray of light on things when I get down. Isn't it amazing what sunshine and nature can do for the psyche?
When I do get an EA I'm going to have it installed at a shop, as my body could never handle the bending and such I watched you do putting yours on.
I'll be watching to see how things go for you and your Azub.
It's one beautiful trike.
I'm sure you've heard we got hit hard by a blizzard this week (2 feet of snow at my place), so no riding until the roads and trails are clear of snow and ice.
I've subscribed, and wish you smooth trails!
Hey, Brother. So glad you subscribed. Your story was very uplifting to me. Congratulations on winning your battle with APL, keep the good fight going. Yes, recumbent tricycle riding is the best. I love it, because I can sit comfortably and watch the scenery go by. I don't have to worry about balance issues even when going .5 mph. No more neck, back, or shoulder and elbow pain. Plus it's just plain cool cruising just 8 inches from the pavement. If you do get EA system on your trike, you won't believe the difference. It's hard not to constantly go as fast as you can all the time.
Yes, I heard about your snow. Ours hasn't hit yet. We got slammed last winter with about 24" for weeks. It took forever to melt. However, it's down to 26 degrees at night already. I'll be spending some time inside on the elliptical to help keep in shape. I'd love to lose about 25 lbs.
If you don't mind me saying, keep your prayers going to the Father in heaven. When I get down Jesus is my salvation, literally. Believe me, He's the only reason I'm living this blessed life today. I never forget that.
The AZUB is down for a week or so. I'm waiting for parts and tools. I bought a special torque plate from Utah Trikes that should absolutely stop the motor from spinning in the bottom bracket. I hope it fits. Also switching to a slightly smaller front chainring up front for greater torque at the cranks, and better chain retention.
In he shop I will soon be building my prototype two-wheeled bike trailer. My fingers are crossed. It looks awesome in Sketchup on my computer. If this think works like I'm hoping, we might be on to something.
Anyway, take care. Very happy to have met you. Hope you had a great Thanksgiving. Blessings to you and yours.
Sorry if you already noted this, but how much was your entire bike weight w/bike and kit? And if you don't mind, how much do you weigh?
Thanx for the video.
The trike itself weighs 35 lbs. Battery and motor: add 18 lbs. Trailer and stuff. absit 60 lbs. Me: 190 lbs.
Hi David,
I had a question about the wiring of the battery. Is the MPPT connected to the battery while the motor is being used? In other, words are you charging the battery at the same time you are using the battery? I did not think that was possible. Can you provide a wire schematic of your wiring?
Hi Tomas. No, I'm not charging the battery at the same time. I'm not an electrician but I think batteries undergo internal chemical changes while they are being charged or discharged. You have to do one or the other. I'll check my files to see if I have a schematic somewhere. I know I must have done one. If I find it I will let you know. Thanks for posting. Take care.
It's no problem. You take out the power one one side of the battery and fill in on the other side. My experience with bafang.
Dave, I have the Catrike Expedition. I'm thinking of touring the State of Oklahoma where I live do you have any advice? I'm a below the knee amputee right.
You can email me at n9qhp@yahoo.com
Hey Lawrence,
Thanks for posting. Advice? I'm 100% sure I am no "expert", but there a few pointers I suppose I can put out there; in short I would say Plan, Prepare, Practice.
Planning is essential. Take time to do research. What has worked for others, or not worked? Find out all you can about your tricycle. Who has ridden it long distance, etc? Make sure your trike fits you.
Plan your route and the time of year you will be riding. What will the weather be like? How far will you have to ride each day? Any night time riding? Are you riding with someone (recommended)? If not, who will come and get you if something makes it impossible to finish your trip? Will you need maps? GPS? How will you keep your devices charged? Electricity available? I assume you will be riding with a prosthetic; what special needs or circumstances will that present? Rain gear?
There are many great books you can purchase, and tons of online resources that will give you excellent information on planning a trip. Take advantage.
After you have a few ideas going, start to Prepare. Gather everything you think you will need. How will you carry it, panniers, trailer? What goes where on your trike? What tools will you need? Any bike shops on your route? If not, make sure you can do repairs yourself on the road.
Bullet proof your tires. I put extra heavy duty liners on my rims to protect the inner tube from the spoke nipples. Then I used extra thick, thorn-resistant inner tubes. Lastly, I use good tires. In my case, I use Schwalbe Marathons which have an extra layer of protection under the tread. In five years I have not had even so much as a flat or air loss - five years!
Keep your weight as low as possible. Don't take anything you are likely not to touch, but then do not leave out anything you might potentially need.
After that, start Practice. Take short 20 to 30 mile trips. Practice setting up your tent/shelter in the back yard, so you can see what you need to do. Sometimes it may be dark and you do not want to be fumbling around looking for stuff as the sun is going down. Sleep out in the back yard. How cold did you get? Did you forget something? Practice cooking a small meal on your cam stove, etc.
Do you have to get up and go pee at night like I do? Better have a pee bottle in your tent to save a trip to the bathroom in the dark. How will you wash up in the morning? Water near? What about securing your trike while you are in the campsite shower? Will someone watch your things? Lock and key?
As they day approaches, maybe two weeks out, ride at least 50 miles per day. Every day. Can you do it? How sore are you? Hows your back? Your butt? How's your trike holding up?
That's what I am up to right now as I am trying to figure out this new e-assist kit. As winter sets in I'll be inside, but I will be training on my elliptical inside. There's lots to think about but you can't figure it all out until you actually get out there.
Anyway, I hope this rambling helped a bit. PLEASE, subscribe and keep me posted, so I can know how your trip is developing. I'd love to see your progress.
Take care, my friend. All the best to you and yours, Happy Thanksgiving.
@@daveyJ213 yes that helps out I will be getting a roller for my trike because I'm wanting to get ready to do the Houston to Dallas ride for Veterans hope I can be ready for it. I'm up to at least 30 miles each day. I was up to that a month after I got my trike. I felt amazing to get that in. I'm hoping to do 100 miles in 8 hours if I can do that I will be very happy. I would like to find someone that has traveled long distance on a Expedition. But don't know anyone.
@@lawrencesmith4858 If you can do 100 miles in one day on a trike, then I would say you are the Stud King. Keep up the good work.
this is why i solder all my crimps even good crimp can eventfully come lose
Hold on to that flag, I don't think he makes them anymore.
Are the tires back up and you'll go down better
Well, I only deflated the tire on the trailer to keep it from bouncing around too much. The trike tires are at normal pressure. It was strange on that one patch. I should have been coasting down more freely there. Maybe it was all of the leaves on the pavement. I didn't get it. On my last trip which I completed on Monday, my coasting speed was much better. Maybe the road wasn't steep enough on the one stretch of the trail.
Hope you and yours are doing well. Happy Thanksgiving, Brother.
Don't use a single wheel trailer as it will twist your trike frame pleas,enjoyed you maiden voyage well done
Thank you sir. I'm looking at the Aidoo two-wheeled trailer, but I think it's really expensive and there are no American vendors. Researching other options also. Was also looking at the Burly trailer, but one person gave it a really bad review. I'll keep you posted.
You might check and see if Jayoe still has his and wants to sell it. I also have a tricon and want to to e power it. A lot to consider. Your videos are very helpful and looking forward to your future trike adventures. Thanks.
Hello. Wait until to see Chapter 6. Amazing what happened. You definitely have to install the Bafang motor a certain way in order to compensate for its tremendous torque. Should be posting again in about ten days.
@@Chuck-gd9rr Hey, Chuck. Yeah I saw that awesome trailer Jayoe was using. I think it's way above my pay grade, but that's exactly what I need. I wonder if he could actually direct me to the vendor?
Hey. Just thought I'd let you know. I contacted Aidoo in Germany, a company which makes an awesome suspended two-wheeled trailer. However, they said they don't sell in the United States market. I'm still researching.
Just grab a sign and reuse it, don't buy new....
buy a 50w solar panel get more power
Yeah, I might even go up to 60 watts and add a third battery for greater storage capacity. I have since gone to another trailer kit and wired it up to carry my panel and batteries.
@@daveyJ213 cool yes i use 3 48wx1000w solar panel with 3 Batteries use one then switch to the other ones and charge them on the go if i have none charged up i just use the solar panel for power if the sun is out ...... i go down to the lower 48 every year from here in Alaska in summer Months love it
My experience: with 200W (peak) solar panel you will get in average 30-40W on sunny days. Whith a good MPPT charger (not the one shown in the video). When you use 350Wh of energy you will need 10h of driving in the sun. If you park with the panel orientated to the sun you get max 50% of the peak wattage.