Anyone Know What I Have Here?

This bike followed me home from Craigslist today.

https://magwa.smugmug.com/Electric-BikeController/i-DndNH5J

In a hasty move, I ordered batteries that were way over my skill set to load on the bike ....
without knowing some important particulars.

I know that this bike is going to be too tall for me. So, it'll get fixed up and sold...Switched out for one more my, ahem, size.

I know that it runs like the wind. Although the seller was running huge poundage in SLAs. I have to dump those right away.
1000W 48v front hub has no connection for motor "off with brakes", and the handlebar full/empty lights attached to the thumb
throttle control is very basic.

I pulled the controller apart to see if anyone on the Forum might know what it is. There are a few "extra plugs" that aren't used
that were hidden in electrical tape, and the power line to the battery pack has a loose green wire in the plug...I assume on purpose.

There are almost no markings anywhere on any of the parts...Except the throttle handlebar lever that, on it's housing says "48v".
In fact, the previous owner said he ordered a 36v set up and they sent this....Then he had to buy more batteries.

So, if anyone sees this as a familiar set up, I'd love to hear about it. The junk hanging out of the controller was wrapped in 1.6 miles
of electrical tape...Not a good sign. But everything, while it looks typical Chinese...looks pretty good. And when I watched the P.O. ride it,
it ran very smoothly, quietly, and fast.

After I read your "don't do it" post last evening, I spent an hour with a nice computer robot at HK...Maybe there was a person behind the keyboard, though.

I was able to cancel the order. I'll have to wait "seven business days" for the refund. But, all's good.

Now, on with the head scratching.....Many good tips from a lot for fine folks here. I REALLY appreciate every comment.

P.S. Two torque arms. But the bike's too tall. So, I'm looking for a different bike. After I do some tuning and a little cosmetic clean up,
I'll move the Sierra off to someone taller.

kevyleven007 said:

I would recommend this at $370+ sh. http://www.conhismotor.com/ProductShow.asp?id=459 I bought a battery pack from them for my motobecane and it is still working fine. Shipping was very fast too.

Click to expand...

Thanks. I made the inquiry on that battery to their "sales department" and got this:


From:
sales <[email protected]>

Subject:
Re: Battery Inquiry
Date:
Sat, 12 Sep 2015 13:10:44 +0800

Dear William,

Ok no problem.

1. The shipping cost is about USD135 by air.

2. We use our own brand which was produced by our partner company who produce battery cells in large quantity.
And this cell is power type cell for ebike (not digital type for energy storage)

3. We need about 3-4 days for produce and test, then delivery need about 5-7 days.


Thanks.

best regards
jason

*******************************************

I thanked him and declined. It was probably still a good deal. And, maybe if he had said,
"...we guarantee name brand batteries in the construction", and that was accurate
(although I'm not sure how I would find that out...).

If it was a U.S. company? And I could make a road trip out of it and drive to pick the pack up...
...and visit the facility? That would be fun. I'd probably jump on the $370 price for that.

But, I'm still suffering from "battery sticker shock"....Not surprised. Just pissed that the cost is so high.
48V 15Ah and a charger that works with it should be within "everyman's" reach.

I guess when it is, there will be more ebike enthusiasts, less gas used by commuters and hobbyists alike,
and more fun for all.

No sense complaining. I'll get there without taking out a second mortgage. ****, I could sleep on it and book
a trip to China in the morning!!!!!!

Absolutely on the thread.....And thanks in advance.

I got an email note back from China this morning.

I had, benignly, asked why the shipping was so much. He said that for a same sized part...like a motor part (his example) that weighed a similar amount,
the cost would be about 60USD. It was about the chemistry thing.

He suggested my calling a shipping agent stateside to see if the 135USD could be reduced. My fine tuning sensed a note of, "I've been here before" in his reply.

What we really need to do is get the manufacturing sector of the US economy back on track. But, although relevant to this task, that's another story.