Just finished my new Schwinn Landmark Cruiser with a Stanton 1" friction drive motor. I only have about 10 miles on it. It does great on flat ground and gently rolling hills. The problem is that in E. Tennessee we have very few of those. Just to get to where I live I have two hills that are probably 6% to 7% grade. They are not long (maybe 50 to 75 yards) but this setup has absolutly no torque on steep hills. Climbing them today required standing up on the pedals with the engine at full throttle. I actually believe the engine being engaged made it harder.
I also have a Currie E-Zip and I can tell you from riding both of them up the same two hills that the electric motor probably has 5 times the "low end torque" than that of the R/S 35. I climb the same hills in low gear sitting down and never break a sweat but it severly limits my range. I don't think a 7/8" roller would really help that much. I just think the engine does not have the power for these hills. It's not just these two hills. This limits me to where I can ride.
Guess I should'nt expect a bicycle to do a motorcycle's job. This is my first attempt at posting pictures. See how it goes.
I also have a Currie E-Zip and I can tell you from riding both of them up the same two hills that the electric motor probably has 5 times the "low end torque" than that of the R/S 35. I climb the same hills in low gear sitting down and never break a sweat but it severly limits my range. I don't think a 7/8" roller would really help that much. I just think the engine does not have the power for these hills. It's not just these two hills. This limits me to where I can ride.
Guess I should'nt expect a bicycle to do a motorcycle's job. This is my first attempt at posting pictures. See how it goes.