![]() I know this sounds crazy, but it really works. ![]() Poorly tuned brakes can rob speed from your e-bike by adding unnecessary friction from brake rub.Įither learn to tune your brakes yourself ( it’s easy with a cheap bicycle multi tool) or visit your local bicycle shop and ask them to do it for you. You’ll feel each bump a bit more without soft, spongy tires to absorb road irregularities. However, the downside will be a harsher ride. Keeping your tires pumped up closer to their max pressure rating will not only help prevent snake bite flats, but will also help boost your speed. While we’re talking about tires, another way to reduce rolling resistance is to use higher tire pressure. My favorite tires are probably the Schwalbe Marathon or Marathon Plus. They have less rolling resistance and can actually add an extra 1-2 mph in some cases. Lose the knobbies and go for a smoother tire meant for street or hybrid use. Knobby tires for mountain bikes are great for grip, and their wide contact patch can really help smooth out bumps. For example, if you have a 48V e-bike that travels at about 20 mph (32 km/h), you can swap on this hub motor and reach speeds closer to 28-30 mph (45-48 km/h). You’ll simply want to source a motor that has a higher KV or RPM rating than your current motor. This is especially easy for hub motors, which are often designed with multiple motor windings for different models. Do not just swap out your battery without checking – you could risk frying your controller if it can’t handle the higher voltage.Īlso, note that any battery meter you currently have likely won’t read accurately anymore unless you swap that out for a new meter of appropriate voltage.Īnother way to increase speed is to use a motor that has a higher RPM rating for your specific voltage (known as the motor’s KV rating). If you don’t feel comfortable checking the voltage rating of your controller (usually written on the capacitors) then check with the manufacturer. However, before you upgrade your 36V battery to 48V, for example, you’ll want to check that your controller can handle the increased voltage (most can accept slight over-volting). Since motor speed is voltage dependent, using a higher voltage battery is the quickest way to substantially increase your speed. Just don’t forget that letting your battery sit at full charge for long periods of time (weeks or more) can be detrimental to its long term health. That way you can stay charged up for your return trip. A good way to do this is to pick up an inexpensive charger to keep at work or wherever you often commute to during the day. This means that you’ll want to charge more frequently, perhaps after every trip, instead of stringing multiple trips together on the same charge. So higher voltages = higher speeds.īy keeping your battery at a higher state of charge, you’ll inherently travel faster. ![]() The speed of a DC motor (like the one in your e-bike) is entirely voltage dependent. Ok, now that we’ve got that out of the way… Tip #1: Stay charged upĪ battery that is at a higher state of charge has a higher voltage. And don’t forget that some of these can surely void your warranty, if your e-bike came with one. Some of these tips are simple things that everyone can do, while others are more technical and should only be attempted by those with a deeper understanding of electrical bicycle components like motors, batteries and speed controllers. Lastly, don’t go poking around in parts of your e-bike that you don’t feel comfortable with. Kinetic energy increases exponentially as speed increases while reaction time decreases, so make sure you’re riding safely at higher speeds. Make sure you know how fast electric bicycles are legally permitted to travel in your area so you don’t find yourself on the wrong side of the law.Īlso, note that traveling at faster speeds on electric bicycles can be inherently more dangerous. Keep in mind that laws differ around the world and it is up to you to respect your local regulations. Here we’ll cover the top 10 methods to coax more speed out of your e-bike.įirst, a few important notes to get out of the way before we begin. Whether you want to feel the rush of the wind in your hair like Tom Cruise racing an F-14 Tomcat down the runway in Top Gun or you just want to get to work faster, there are a number of ways you can increase the speed of your electric bicycle.
0 Comments
Leave a Reply. |
AuthorWrite something about yourself. No need to be fancy, just an overview. ArchivesCategories |