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Certainly! I'm no expert though; I bought it off someone who builds them for a hobby and beer money. It's a reasonable quality mountain bike obviously, you add on a 750W mid-drive motor (Bafang BBS02) and drive it with two sets of hobby LiPos, one in each pannier. The replacement crank is a ratchet/freewheel mechanism (not sure on the exact terminology here) so the motor can drive the chain without you having to pedal. You can use it in pedal assist mode and/or just push down the throttle with a control on the handlebars. The benefit of the mid-drive setup is that you can take advantage of your geartrain for going up hills etc. There's a LCD up front with speedo/odo/charge and power assist setting.
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Mar 10, 2016 14:14
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Tyro posted:There was an electric motorcycle thread that also included ebike chat but it closed a while ago. I've been toying around with the idea of building an ebike just for fun, got any details on yours? With the cheaper battery pack it has about a 10 mile range (without pedaling). The sellers claims 8. On a full charge, with mild pedaling, it approximately gets me to and from work, 7.5 miles each way mostly on rough trail. The better battery that I didn't get apparently more than doubles the range. It's pretty drat decent though for a $70 bike and I think it was about $400 for the wheel-and-battery (seems to be $500 now). I recently had a trial run of one of the $4000 all-in-one ebikes, and for my particular commute (which goes on dirt trails) it was a horrible experience compared to my makeshift thing. The power all going to the back wheel makes for more loss of control when a stone shifts under you, the suspension was not up to a rough trail in the first place, and the bike is super heavy. For the part on-road it was a decent bit faster, but even there it was super uncomfortable - the lack of suspension made it jarring in the wrists on anything but the smoothest road. This is the thing I got, I've had it for over a year now with no problems - http://www.electric-bike-kit.com/hill-topper.aspx The one thing I don't like about it is that the power button is a small microswitch that you have to hold for power. Holding a microswitch with your thumb for most of half an hour, pressing against a handlebar on rough terrain, is not very comfortable (and leaves an imprint on your thumb). But I didn't dislike it quite enough to bother replacing the switch with something better, so it can't be that bad.
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Mar 12, 2016 06:52
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Almost bought a volt tonight,but the dealer was to sticky on the price and  no spare tire?Do all volt owners really run around with no spare, because that seems a absolutely crazy to me. blugu64 fucked around with this message at 05:15 on Mar 13, 2016 |
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Mar 13, 2016 05:13
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blugu64 posted:Almost bought a volt tonight,but the dealer was to sticky on the price and Yup. Had a flat from a fist-sized chunk of metal in the first month of ownership, too. No problems since then.
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Mar 13, 2016 05:22
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My grandmother's Mini has no spare tire -- just run-flats, a 12v tire pump and a can of Official BMW Slime.
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Mar 13, 2016 05:39
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I’ve had more unrepairable flats than repairable ones, let alone flats that could be fixed with goop.
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Mar 13, 2016 05:41
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I've read that, for the Leaf, the goop destroys your TPMS and needs replacing, making it more expensive than just getting AAA.
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Mar 13, 2016 06:06
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blugu64 posted:Almost bought a volt tonight,but the dealer was to sticky on the price and
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Mar 13, 2016 06:08
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ilkhan posted:Most cars are skipping the spare these days. Its 30 pounds of weight they can ditch to try and squeek by on cafe a little more. I dont know if id say Most.
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Mar 13, 2016 08:00
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Don Lapre posted:I dont know if id say Most.
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Mar 13, 2016 08:24
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Yeah, plenty of cars these days don't include a spare - even a space saver; it's not just the weight but also packaging (it's a bunch of space that could be useful for something else - even if it's just a couple extra cu ft to brag about in cargo space). We just bought a Leaf to replace my wife's Civic - one of the (only) good things about the Leaf having such a limited range is that if she does happen to get a busted tire, well... it's not like she's going to be very far from me, my Subaru and a tire shop. Good to know about the TPMS sensor getting destroyed by the gak - I'm almost tempted to throw that poo poo in the trash right now.
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Mar 13, 2016 12:46
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sarcastx posted:Yeah, plenty of cars these days don't include a spare - even a space saver; it's not just the weight but also packaging (it's a bunch of space that could be useful for something else - even if it's just a couple extra cu ft to brag about in cargo space). We just bought a Leaf to replace my wife's Civic - one of the (only) good things about the Leaf having such a limited range is that if she does happen to get a busted tire, well... it's not like she's going to be very far from me, my Subaru and a tire shop. TPMS sensors are cheap, and the gak might be able to get the wife to an important meeting on time
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Mar 13, 2016 13:58
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TPMS sensors run from about $10 to over 100 apiece, so maybe they're cheap.
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Mar 13, 2016 20:40
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Not all TPMS sensors are in the tire, and not all in-tire sensors will be harmed by fix-a-flat or other similar products. Best to check with the manufacturer for your specific make/model.
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Mar 13, 2016 22:40
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Godholio posted:TPMS sensors run from about $10 to over 100 apiece, so maybe they're cheap. Plus there's the matter of linking the new one to your car's computer.
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Mar 13, 2016 23:04
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I feel like anyplace that charges more than  to reprogram a TPMS is probably ripping you off. Once the sensor is installed, it takes 2-3 minutes to walk around the car with a scan tool and write the IDs to the ECM. And I want to say the universal Schrader sensors are $35 or so. If people are buying the sensor from me, I normally don't even charge them the $5 we're supposed to charge for installation, I just write it up as a free flat repair and blame the sensor for the leak. But that's big-chain life, and if you've got a reputation for coming in and being a dick I charge the $5 just for spite.
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Mar 14, 2016 01:35
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Most place charge $80+ to scan DTCs. Actually programming something? That's gonna cost you.
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Mar 14, 2016 03:00
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Re: earlier conversation about camera visibility in inclement weather. It was raining here today, and I noted that Autopilot wasn't having any trouble, so I thought to look up and sure enough: the camera within the wiper-blade range, as you would expect if someone had thought for even 5 minutes about the problem while designing the car. I don't know why I thought otherwise earlier.
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Mar 14, 2016 03:27
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Cockmaster posted:Plus there's the matter of linking the new one to your car's computer. At least on my Focus, this is extremely easy to do without any specialized tools.
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Mar 14, 2016 03:55
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It's such a pain on Jeeps that people line up to pay $150 to buy an AEV Procal and just disable the system.
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Mar 14, 2016 05:15
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Every mechanic I've spoken to about my WRX seems to think it is difficult. I've heard on some brands you need their specific "device" to do the programming. But I know nothing about cars, so maybe that's all bullshit.
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Mar 14, 2016 05:47
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I went and test drove an Audi etron today. Was fairly comfortable, and wasn't noisy on regen like the hybrid highlander. Had lots of modes you could choose, and I thought it was great you could make the videogame screen go away into the dash. My wife wants to get one since her bmw is making knocking noises from the engine (hopefully an ac compressor?) and plug-ins get HOV lane privledges here now. Is there any thing wrong with those, other than being a VW? Id lease it, so we would only have it for the first 4 years. She is supposed to go test a volt soon too, so we will compare.
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Mar 14, 2016 06:45
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Internet Explorer posted:Every mechanic I've spoken to about my WRX seems to think it is difficult. I've heard on some brands you need their specific "device" to do the programming. But I know nothing about cars, so maybe that's all bullshit. 
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Mar 14, 2016 08:26
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Does that actually use the GBC hardware, or is it like the Atari Jaguar molds, which were sold to a dental imaging company?  e: Okay fine I googled it. It does interface with the GameBoy.
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Mar 14, 2016 08:31
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What the gently caress?
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Mar 14, 2016 15:43
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I think you can get more torques with a game boy advance and fill your cavities with an Atari Jaguar? With the right cartridges.
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Mar 14, 2016 16:03
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Oh god, what have I done?
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Mar 14, 2016 16:42
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Elephanthead posted:I think you can get more torques with a game boy advance and fill your cavities with an Atari Jaguar? With the right cartridges. 
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Mar 15, 2016 03:52
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Drove a Prius and Volt back to back tonight, and there is literally no comparison. The Volt rides so much nicer, smoother, and quieter, then the Prius it's not even funny. It's even cheaper on a age/milage basis. I think that's the Toyota premium, but please correct me if I'm wrong.
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Mar 15, 2016 06:08
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blugu64 posted:Drove a Prius and Volt back to back tonight, and there is literally no comparison. The Volt rides so much nicer, smoother, and quieter, then the Prius it's not even funny. It's even cheaper on a age/milage basis. I think that's the Toyota premium, but please correct me if I'm wrong. Latest gen of each?
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Mar 15, 2016 07:01
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The Volt was a $38k car before govt green car incentives, while the Prius was... $23k? Some of that is in the batteries and powertrain certainly but they probably could afford to make the Volt a little nicer.
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Mar 15, 2016 08:05
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I test drove one of the first‐generation Volts. I thought it drove like a boat, but some people like that. I haven’t looked at the new model.
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Mar 15, 2016 08:08
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kimbo305 posted:Latest gen of each? Gen 1 volt, and 3rd gen Prius. 2013 and 2010(1?) respectively, within 1k price delta, but the volt had 40k less miles, and was better equipped. Edit: I might be ready for a bit of boat. I've been driving a 99 Miata for the last five years in Texas, with no AC, and various motorcycles for the last five years before that. Give me a softly sprung couch with Antarctic AC. blugu64 fucked around with this message at 08:32 on Mar 15, 2016 |
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Mar 15, 2016 08:22
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Platystemon posted:I test drove one of the first‐generation Volts. I thought it drove like a boat, but some people like that. Volts aren't cars; they're appliances that you take on the highway.
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Mar 15, 2016 20:00
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The new Volt is a lot better driving than the old one.
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Mar 15, 2016 20:09
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MrYenko posted:Volts aren't cars; they're appliances that you take on the highway. Pretty much all modern cars are appliances. A few certain German brands in particular tend to lure out this "it's an appliance" talk. They're appliances too, only with great marketing departments and extra comfy leather seats. A bike or a 1st gen MX5 or a Ferrari 348 or something, ok those are driving machines. Otherwise, no need to kid oneself. Embrace the appliance. You're just sitting in traffic like an ant in an anthill anyway, might as well be comfortable.
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Mar 15, 2016 21:00
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Ola posted:Pretty much all modern cars are appliances. A few certain German brands in particular tend to lure out this "it's an appliance" talk. They're appliances too, only with great marketing departments and extra comfy leather seats. A bike or a 1st gen MX5 or a Ferrari 348 or something, ok those are driving machines. Otherwise, no need to kid oneself. Embrace the appliance. You're just sitting in traffic like an ant in an anthill anyway, might as well be comfortable. Absolutely. Besides, when you have an appliance that you can drive to work every day, your fun car can be a LOT less practical. 
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Mar 15, 2016 21:08
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I think I've heard the "it's a driving appliance for the sheeple" argument about every brand, even cars like 911s and loving GTRs. I really wish people would stop parroting that appliance line because they think it sounds like such a sick burn or whatever, it really just comes across as a buzzword devoid of any meaning.
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Mar 16, 2016 18:09
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It means a car with no real personality. Probably beige. It's EXTREMELY descriptive of the Volt. Anyone using it to describe a GTR or 911 is a loving idiot, but that doesn't mean it's not a meaningful description of something else.
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Mar 16, 2016 19:16
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Eh, the Volt is pretty fun in Sport mode. Not Telsa fast but it gets an EV grin going. Volt related - I saw my first Gen2 in the wild yesterday (Illinois, non-early EV market). Looks nice. Definitely less boring design-wise. Even sleek.
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Mar 16, 2016 19:49
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