Courier Guy I want to follow in you tire marks with my Montague bike and go with the electric over manpower system. I see they have an upgraded model and some other goodies on their site. I have a bunch of questions and I sent you a PM but the basic thing is ,how do you like the system so far, any changes you would recommend etc. My primary use would be old logging and mining roads around BC.
Thanks
KenW

"I am real interested in switching my Montague bike to electric like you did on yours. I have a couple of questions: if you go motorcycle mode do the pedals still turn or do they free wheel. I see they offer a 1000/1500 watt version now. Your thoughts on this? Can your charger do 120v and also plug into the plane for charging on route. I just want to do it right and you have and could use some advice from someone that has been there done that. "

I took the liberty of posting your PM here, in case others are interested.
The throttle mode seamlessly interacts with the pedaling, the pedals act like a regular bike at all times, it's just that the effort gets less as you add throttle, until you don't pedal at all! Or, you can not pedal at all from start to stop, but hell I figure I'm sitting there already, why not help out a bit? But it's EASY pedaling, and the fun thing is going fast or up a hill while sitting in the saddle with one hand on the bars real casual like, where a non E-bike assisted rider would be standing up on the pedals and grinding away working his ass off. It makes you look (and feel) like some kind of super athlete, no one notices the motor drive it seems.

You have a lot of options in how to operate these, you can just set the pedal assist system (PAS) with the bar mounted display while you ride, to 0 (no assist) to 5, and then it will automatically pitch in as required when it senses the pedals moving a certain cadence. You can also play around with the rear gearing shifting, the main goal being to let the motor operate in it's happy zone, lugging it down sucks down the amps and also creates heat. They sell recording watt meters, so at the end of a ride you can see how much power you've used, and they can be a good tool as to what's the most efficient way to ride. If it's a short ride, what the heck, give 'er the gun! If you have "range anxiety" you'll want to keep it efficient as possible. I can't tell you want the range is yet, but I have had several rides around 5 to 10 miles, all with varying conditions, road surfaces, headwinds, amount of throttle used, speed lesser or more, so lots of variables. But, I can say the range is hard to believe and more then adequate with my 11.5 ah battery. How's this for something we can all probably relate to: next time I'm at Johnson Creek, I'd have zero qualms about riding into Yellow Pine and back, that'd be nothing, piece of cake.

The small fat tired bike I keep in the crane is getting a lot of use, running around town before or after a crane job. The other day I had to go to Lowes, about a mile away through several stop lights and traffic, then WalMart, and then to a food processing plant another mile away to see about an upcoming crane job. This would have been a huge PITA in the crane, the stop and go, the parking, with the bike it was FUN, plus quick and easy. Parking not much of a problem either!


The Montague for the plane is operating flawlessly, and it's going to be a game changer for me as warm weather arrives, and that's coming from somebody who's flown with a Montague for years. Now I can go much faster, further, and easier . Many people buy these so they can commute to work, without sweating like a pig by the time they get there. I just bought a THIRD bike a full featured fat tired non folder, this will be for local trail use, I am installing one of the new more powerful BBHD new motors you refer to on it, they are working out great but they do weigh about 3 lbs more (and cost a bit more) and that's why I didn't use one for the plane bike. The BBS02 is more then adequate, but if you have a bigger bird where 3 lbs is no big deal, go for the HD. Notice the bike I'm building for general use uses one, they tolerate over heating much better, with the BBS02 this can be a factor if you lug it down too much while going uphill, though I'm told awareness of this issue can mitigate it, so saving 3 lbs. and a few hundred bucks while being aware of the issue made the smaller unit the choice for me. My new bike build, besides having more overall power and bigger/fatter tires, also has lower gearing, more suited for rough trail riding, going up stairs (really) etc. , the Montague setup is more for getting a few miles down a dirt or paved road and around town, so geared a bit faster. But, I have no doubt I'll be doing some trail riding with the Mont after flying in some place, just that the usual compromises involved with flying made me want the smaller and lighter system.

120vac charger, draws 3 amps max AC. A 300 or 400 watt 12vdc to 120vac inverter would easily handle. Not a huge issue based on the battery range I'm seeing, I don't have the electrical power to spare with the Rotax. 30 amps 12 vdc to get 3 amps 120 vac.

Thanks CG, I will begin the journey on Monday.
KenW

175 magnum wrote:Thanks CG, I will begin the journey on Monday.
KenW

Going with Luna? Mention my name and our connection, I may get some brownie points out of it, if nothing else it will let them know we pilots are supporting him (Eric).

I am going with Luna. I will mention your name as long as I don't get charged double. I have noticed over the years that sometimes you have to be cautious who you say you know.)haha)

courierguy wrote:

Courierguy, I was wondering what the make and model was of the bike in front of your crane. I really like the idea of carrying one in the airplane and other uses too. I'm sure you have already mentioned it before but I thought I would ask anyway. Thanks.

"Trail Viper" is one of the several brand names that design is sold under. A mid drive Montague conversion will be lighter, (10 lbs lighter) more powerful, and eat the Viper alive performance wise. But for the crane, (or a motorhome etc) the Viper is perfect, it will be much better when I finish the conversion from 36 to 52 volt, (like my two other E-bikes, both 52 volt, that way I can swap batteries out between them, carry one in a backpack for even more range, only need one charger, etc.) along with a new controller that sidesteps the artificially imposed 20 mph speed limit In the E-bike world, as soon as a new design hits the street, chatter starts on the forums on how to hop it up, improve the suspension, sound familiar?!

For the folks with small cargo holds, there is the Yike Bike. The Pipistrel Virus SW has a small cargo area yet will hold 2 of these odd electric bikes. The bike comes out of the hold at 6:30 into the video. Weight is 25 lbs. Now the plane is something I wish I could find on the used market. There is a tundra tire option combined with the lift spoilers would allow some modest back country landings. 147 kt at 75% @ 4.7 gph, 1680 fpm climb, 310' take off roll.

That bike looks like a riot.