Cycling UK Forum

Good morning fellow e bikers.
I have just converted my son's trike. He has a mild cerebral palsy and has balance problems that prohibit him from riding a normal bike. He has a Masters in Neuro Cognitive Science, a car licence and works for the NHS as a researcher, what he can not do is ride a bike. I got a trike made for him from Lonstaff Cycles Stoke-on-Trent a few years ago. I built the battery and constructed a battery box with my laser cutter, it is a 10s4p with BMS and the kit is a Chinese 750w with hand throttle and PAS, it has a range of 27 miles.

I applaud your efforts to keep your son mobile, but please be aware that the fact the bike has a 750w motor it then becomes a moped rather than an EPAC. Because of that it needs to undergo a Motorcycle Single Vehicle Approval test, have a registration plate, be taxed, insured etc to be legal. The Rider also has to wear a motorcycle approved crash helmet.

Does the kit have an option to dial the power down to 250w? If so it's going to save you an awful lot of hassle.

Throttles are also a problem, but only on new bikes. As I understand it they still legit on older bikes, even if they have a new conversion like yoursm but don't quote me on that.

Dear NickWi

I am aware of the legal stuff.

I have limited the power by hacking the controller to 7A. However 250w is a ridiculous and arbitrary value as a 250w mototr run at 72v would be a 500w motor over-run. As watts is a power value calculated by multipling the voltage by the current drawn.. Consequently it is not the motor that is significant it is the power that is passed through it. As I said in my post my son is entirely aware of his physical limitations and the motor in this trike with its associated throttling down provides a maximum road speed of 13mph.

Has anyone converted a Mission Tribrid? I ask because the unassisted version looks good - only 25 kg, 700C wheels, disc brakes, 21 gears (though a bit high), differential even - but Mission advise against. Alternative might be ready made up e.g. Jorvik Odin which has a differential and seemingly good electronics - but heavy and designed for off-raod use with 500W motor and huge tyres. Looking for trike for on-road use as load-lugger mainly.
Thanks