On Mon, 28 Feb 2000 15:55:31 PST "john grigg" <starman125@hotmail.com>
writes:
> All this talk of recumbents is making me excited!!
> The $800 pricetag is steep but possible for me. How much more is an
> engine
> for it?
The cost of the complete power kit (battery, charger, motor) from ZAP is
$360 to $475, depending on the model. I don't remember if that includes
shipping. The URL is
http://www.selfpowered.com/transport/zap_engine.htm
> I am going to have to learn if this type of bike is sold in
> Anchorage.
The motor kit is normally bought separately from the bike. The kit would
need to be installed on whatever bike you want to use. It would be wise
to check the specific installation requirements for the specific bike on
which you intend to use the motor before selecting and buying one of the
four models of motor kit. A bicycle repair shop could advise you, and
they would probably charge at least $50 to do the installation. An auto
mechanic could also probably install the kit.
Can
> a person do crosscountry touring on one of these? I could ride down
> the Alcan with it! lol!!
>
>
> best regards,
>
> John Grigg
It most definitely would not allow cross-country touring by a rider
dependent on the motor-assist. The idea of an electric motor powered by
a lead-acid storage battery to run a bike is not very practical. The
range is very limited unless the rider is doing all the work. This would
only be a good idea for someone who needs or wants to ride a bike
locally, say a couple of miles back and forth to a nearby grocery store,
and who yet cannot pedal a bike that far. For someone who can pedal a
bike, the motor is really unnecessary.
ZAP's standard battery sells for $100, and it looks like it has a
capacity of about 20 or 30 Amp-hours (assuming it's 12 volts), though
they don't specify its charge capacity. Now if you got a couple of big
60 Amp-hour marine deep cycle batteries, which would weigh at a guess 80
lbs., and mounted them on a three-wheel bike, then you might get a 20 to
30 mile run out of one charge, at a guess. But it would still be a poor
substitute for a motorcycle, based on performance. You live in Anchorage
- lead acid batteries do not perform well at cold temperatures.
Ron Kean
.
.
.
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