Electric Recumbent Bicycle Test

Lightning Stealth recumbent bike converted to electric power (really a hybrid) hit 42 mph on its first test.

Category:

Autos & Vehicles

Tags:

• electric
• recumbent
• bicycle
• bike
• hybrid

[nrgxpert]

rebelhostrider:

The Crystalyte motor was sourced from a vendor selling these fine Chinese made motors. If I were to do it over again I would purchase the high torque only version (not the dual mode version). It would thus save weight. I almost always used it in high torque mode for the quickest acceleration. Likewise, the battery can be sourced from many sellers on Ebay. I recommend 48V, 15Ah. The 72V I had on this bike produced a top speed I rarely used. 15-20Ah will give a longer range.

[nrgxpert]

MrHobiecat

You are correct on all accounts. I was riding it on a private road and I sold it so that I wouldn't be tempted to drive it fast on the street. Before I sold it, I removed the 72V, 10Ah battery and replaced it with a 48V, 16Ah LiFePO4 battery. It's now used be an older fellow, who rides and enjoys it on the California bike paths.

Incidentally, I also pedal a Hobie mirage drive tandem kayak (top speed about 6.5 kts with sail).

[flasheric]

What gauge did you have on the broken spoke? I'm looking at the 405 to add to my recumbent, but I was opting for the front wheel to balance out the batteries in the rear. Why did you add it to the rear wheel? I'm also going for the lithium phosphate, but was thinking of staying at 36v to keep the cost down, and plus I'm too scared to ride at 42mph ;-)

[nrgxpert]

I replaced the Chinese made spokes on the original wheel with new spokes, supposedly not made in China (possibly American or Swiss). I don't know the gauge, but could check the diameter with a micrometer. It is most likely 14 gauge, but I can confirm. My front wheel is 20" diameter and I wanted speed, not acceleration. It turned out it went too fast on 72V and a 26" wheel. I now use 48V of LiFePO4 cells.

[spacerconrad]

now, how is it going -uphill- ?

[nrgxpert]

The video shows the bike going 42 mph on a level street parallel to the ocean. The bike goes uphill very well. I climbed a 950 foot hill in Palos Verdes, California to an alternative energy festival about as fast as a friend made it driving his Prius. He was very surprised to see me enter at the same time as himself. The downside is that if you let this monster motor provide most of the torque then you're going to break spokes (I broke a spoke later that day going up another hill).

[Byrds1967]

Perhaps this is the future?

[rebelghostrider]

Where can one find specs & buy parts?

[animation508]

er can you build me one? I (judging for the video) can pick it up ^_^

[grok117]

..... He walked away uninjured, because a recumbent is feet first instead of head first. My neighbor, in contrast, broke his back trying to maneuver his Harley at 5 mph. People die in cars and motorcycles every day. Choose your poison....

FYI, if you go slow and stay on the curb, more drivers will pass you and try to run you off the road. Take a lane and ride near the speed limit...... They will pass you less and in a safer manor. This is what almost all the recumbent riders know.

[grok117]

I think this video is great!

I have a rotator pursuit recumbent (no assist) and I routinely get up to 40 mph on level ground, because I can create over 1,000 watts for several minutes. Downhill I have reached 62mph. Motorcycle are much more dangerous than this guys bike. They weigh hundreds of pounds and you are likely to go head first in an accident. I have laid my bike down at nearly 40mph with a few scratches. In a race, I saw another recumbent hit a tree at nearly the same speed. He

[MrHobiecat]

@MrApachejunction yeah, bicycles mix it up going an average of 12mph on the right side of the lane, not going over 40mph IN the traffic lanes.

Motorcycles are designed to ride in traffic, they have the tires, brakes, ruggedness, lights, signals, horn, mirrors, and if you are smart crash bars and leather pants.

I dont know who you think you are defending here, the vidoe author said HE NEVER RODE IT ON PUBLIC STREETS - IT WAS AN EXPERIMENT, and I told him thats VERY COOL!

LIGHTEN UP!

[MrApachejunction]

@MrHobiecat My logic and reasoning underwhelming? Standard pedal bicycles "mix it up with traffic" every day as do motorcycles. They have no crumple zones ... air bags etc. You can do better than that HC. As for the EV1, please rent "Who killed the electric car" to help shed some light. The Leaf ends up costing aprox 25k after incentives. At that cost, most Americans will stick with their gas burners. You must get in a long line to buy one. Not speaking for NRG. Assassination?

[MrHobiecat]

@MrApachejunction whether Im a saint or a serial killer, a motorcycle is still a motorcycle, and your logic and reasoning skills are underwhelming.

NEV are not DESIGNED to mix it up with traffic. They do not have crumple zones, air bags, or any other other features that CARS have. GM has made electric cars (the EV1). Nissan has one coming out now, the Leaf, and no oil companies are having Nissan dealers assassinated.

Go back and read NRG's responses to my post, you dont speak for him.

[MrApachejunction]

@MrHobiecat No sure how you got hero outta my post but whatever. I'll take your silence about never breaking the law as guilt. And yes, the 20 mph limit set on pedal assist is the same as any NEV (Gem car for instance) limited to 25 mph. Can they safely go faster? Sure. Big oil want you giving your transport bucks to the power companies? No. The limits are there to keep us slaves to the pump. You state emotions when in truth, these are the facts. Time for you to crawl back under that rock.

[MrHobiecat]

@MrApachejunction Oh I didnt realize you were a hero!

If you make two wheel vehicle that can go 42 mph you got yourself a MOTORCYCLE (which is what I said in my first post). A MOTORCYCLE is a MOTORCYCLE no matter what you use for fuel or power.

ALL the applicable laws for a MOTORCYCLE now apply to your vehicle. It is no longer a bicycle, or an electic assist bicycle, or a scooter or a moped.

Your personal emotions about oil companies have nothing to do with it.