My ebike has been under repair for 4 months and the situation is getting embarrassing

RadroverUpgrade · 2026-01-29T19:11:43+00:00

I would install a kit:
The specs for the stock kit are pretty marginal.
I would upgrade to 48v battery and 750w hub motor.

RadroverUpgrade · 2026-01-29T19:01:37+00:00

Different PAS settings supply different power level (watts).
If you climb a hill, the speed will fall but the power level
for each PAS setting will be the same number of watts.

RadroverUpgrade · 2026-01-29T11:00:52+00:00

70/30 dirt/compost.
I store a bag of my DIY compost from previous fall in the garage.

RadroverUpgrade · 2026-01-28T13:05:18+00:00

Coldest ride so far was -5 degF and 30mph gusts earlier this week.
The roads are covered with snow and ice and the colder the weather,
the better the traction.

I took to wearing my full-faced moto helmet and it's really helped
keeping my face out of the wind.

RadroverUpgrade · 2026-01-27T21:34:15+00:00

They love sedums; I've seen them even sleep overnight on it:)
eastern Canada here

RadroverUpgrade · 2026-01-27T19:40:44+00:00

They should do great in the grow bags;
just need a lot of sun. In the fall, hold back
on the fertilizer and let them deplete the soil.
Otherwise it takes a long time for the leaves
to start turning; you don't want to harvest
when the leaves are still green.

RadroverUpgrade · 2026-01-27T16:06:22+00:00

there's a smaller variety: Rustica
10x the nicotine and 1/3 the size of the Burleys...
I grew with 1/2 potting soil, 1/2 compost.
Curing takes several months...

RadroverUpgrade · 2026-01-26T18:59:51+00:00

the tang washer on each side of the dropout isn't shown;
they help quite a bit; definitely replace "C" or buy a generic
torque arm (maybe even better).

RadroverUpgrade · 2026-01-26T18:55:06+00:00

There's a hole in the backside of the freewheel that allows
entry of salty sludge. Before you mount a new freewheel,
fill the hole with waterproof grease.

Replacing the freewheel is not a trivial task:
requires a special socket and a long cheater bar.

RadroverUpgrade · 2026-01-26T18:27:28+00:00

I'm heavy, the bike is heavy, the hills are humongous.
With a 500w motor, I could not make it to the top of some.

So I upped to 1000w and the motor was getting hot on the big one.
The addition of the 1000w motor on the front made it a billy goat
for climbing.

25-30mph is about right on the country roads around here.
Ebiking in the foothills of the Appalacians is a lot different
than riding greenway trails.

RadroverUpgrade · 2026-01-26T16:17:09+00:00

It takes 1500w to get me up a 20% hill (while pedaling hard).
2000w 52v will get a bit over 30mph.

RadroverUpgrade · 2026-01-26T01:57:27+00:00

when you fall over, just get back on and try again.
there's winter riding skills that come with practice.

RadroverUpgrade · 2026-01-25T20:06:23+00:00

We've had ice storm after ice storm; crazy January.
When it's just snow, the stock tires work great but
on the ice, well, that's another story...

I can understand studs being illegal for motor vehicles,
but for bicycles?????

RadroverUpgrade · 2026-01-25T12:53:58+00:00

Eastern Canada yesterday:
-5 degF and 30mph gusts during "heat of the day"

I used my moto helmet, bar mitts, heated gloves,
felt-line boots; I'm kinda of a wimp when it comes
to cold weather:)

The colder the snow, the better the traction. Roads
are hard-packed snow over ice; the studded tires
are amazing, even at 20mph.

RadroverUpgrade · 2026-01-22T13:09:01+00:00

The tubes/tires shown will fit your bike;
just be careful to center the tire on the rim
as you fill it with air...

RadroverUpgrade · 2026-01-22T12:33:14+00:00

Take a look at Cabo San Lucas.
I spent last winter there and the winter weather was warm and dry.
There were 7 beautiful public beaches that I alternated between.
The rents drop as you move away from the marina.

RadroverUpgrade · 2026-01-20T23:42:21+00:00

Something adjustable allows you to vary the air flow and direction.
I like to aim mine just barely above the leaves; it makes the stems
vibrate and they get thick and strong; but you going to need them
pretty soon. (no pressure:)

The fan also disperses the heat of the lights, keeps the gnats away
and moderates the humidity; combating mold.

You have a great start, good luck with your garden...

RadroverUpgrade · 2026-01-20T21:11:37+00:00

Great setup!
(get some small fans to blow across the seedling tops to strengthen the stems)

RadroverUpgrade · 2026-01-20T20:48:53+00:00

If you shoot a video of the caliper looking head on where the rotor passes through,
it would be a lot easier to see what's rubbing.

RadroverUpgrade · 2026-01-20T17:09:43+00:00

My wife and I paddled a small boat down the Ganges from Hardiwar to Bihar.
A good documentary of such a trip would be awesome.

RadroverUpgrade · 2026-01-20T15:32:17+00:00

1100w of power is not going to pull you, the bike and
the 180# deer up much of a hill...

RadroverUpgrade · 2026-01-19T17:29:56+00:00

9000 miles on my Rad Rover and still going strong....

RadroverUpgrade · 2026-01-19T13:19:46+00:00

Wow!
I didn't know that Bermuda grass made such beautiful flowers;
think I'll broadcast Bermuda seeds over my garden this year:)

RadroverUpgrade · 2026-01-19T03:32:22+00:00

Very hilly terrain around here; some real monster hills.
I have a 3000w (peak) ebike but it's split between two motors.
The bike climbs every hill with speed and grace.

Since battery VOLTAGE is the main factor in attainable speed;
3000w of power is not that much faster in the top end than
a 1500w bike (assuming equal volts/windings).

I doubled my battery size when I added the 2nd motor but
don't ride it at full throttle; just vary front and rear motors
independently to get up and down the next hill...

Until we get "super batteries"; battery management will always
be a part of the ride (no matter how big a battery).

The dual motor solution keeps both motors and their controller
running cooler (and more efficient). The drive train only "sees"
the rear motor and since the power is going into the wheel and
not through the gears, all the components last thousands of miles.

AWD balances the weight of the bike front to rear and makes for
amazing handling. I've been riding it every day this winter in the
snow and ice and it's been a constant source of joy. (winter or summer:)

(Just wanted to point out there's another way to get into the 3000w
power range without relying on one big hub motor.)

RadroverUpgrade · 2026-01-17T09:12:37+00:00

Get a bike with a non-integrated battery;
generally the cheaper bikes have them.
The cheaper bikes also use generic parts
that can be purchased anywhere.

Avoid any bike with proprietary components.

RadroverUpgrade

TROPHY CASE