Recent Posts
- » Suspension forks with 15X110 boost through axle with 1 1/8 straight steerers.
- » Installing the Hilleater/Grin tech GMAC upgrade kit on the Juiced Crosscurrent series bikes
- » Repairing a bad connector on the Reention Dorado downtube battery.
- » David's interview on the 2pt5 podcast
- » Other uses for your e-bike battery!
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Suspension forks with 15X110 boost through axle with 1 1/8 straight steerers.
Posted on 2024 Feb 3rd
Want to add hill climbing power and double the torque on your existing ebike? Adding a front motor can be a great way to do it. But if you have a suspension fork, adding a front motor can be risky. The aluminum quick release dropouts look beefy, but they are prone to snapping off with the torque of a hub motor.
A motor with regen is a great addition, especially if you are carrying heavy loads, as it provides a nice smooth braking force without wearing brake pads, all while adding power back into your battery. But regen hubs are notoriously hard on dropouts, and putting one on aluminum front forks can be a recipe for disaster.
The solution to all of this comes from Grin Technologies with the All Axle hub motor. This motor was designed from the ground up to be a front regen capable hub that does not rely on the dropouts to contain the torque of the motor.
Putting this motor on through axle suspension forks is a robust solution to the failing dropout problem. Unlike most hub motors, its also super easy to remove the wheel to fix a flat. The problem is, there are no through axle forks that fit the 1 1/8 straight steer tube that most hub motor ebikes use. We have found a solution to this from a small manufacturer called ND Tuned. They make replacement steer tubes that can be pressed into many suspension forks.
Here is an example where we replaced the basic Suntour spring loaded fork on a Magnum ebike. It got a customized Manitou Machete air fork with 15mm boost through axle. The Manitou's tapered steerer was replaced with a 1 1/8 straight steerer. The Grin all axle motor is a perfect fit with the correct Grin axle adapters. So now this bike has:
1. A smoother ride with better control up front.
2. Twice the torque and higher top speed.
3. Regen braking
4. easier wheel installation and removal
The ride with these forks is a real upgrade from the stock forks found on most ebikes. If you have found that your hands and wrists are suffering after a long fast ride, air forks like these, (or the Rockshox Judy gold if you are not adding a motor) really help.
Here is a link to the custom fork in our webstore.
Installing the Hilleater/Grin tech GMAC upgrade kit on the Juiced Crosscurrent series bikes
For a basic description of the kit see our product listing here.Begin the installation by removing the stock controller, motor, and display. Unplug all of the connectors, including the two down near the motor for the motor and torque sensor.Motor connector undoneTorque sensor wire undoneThe 4-1 cable pulls apart here.Cut all the cable ties on the wires [...]
Repairing a bad connector on the Reention Dorado downtube battery.
The Reention Dorado removeable downtube battery system is used on many brands of e-bikes including Hilleater, Juiced, surface 604, Volt bike, Smartmotion and Bitrix to name a few. With the Hilleater bikes we have seen no issues with this connection, but as the battery cases have grown bigger and motors more powerful, it can put [...]
David's interview on the 2pt5 podcast
A long rambling interview with Dr. Klaus Reichert from The2pt5 innovator podcast.https://the2pt5.net/david-elderton
Other uses for your e-bike battery!
Power outage, camping, trolling motor, travelling with electronics, running a portable cooler, recharging your drone at the park? All of these things can be done using your existing e-bike battery! All you need is the correct plug to get the power out of the battery, and the equipment to deliver the correct voltage to your [...]
Replacement battery packs for Juiced U500
The original Juiced Bike! Back when they were called Juiced Riders, this was their first e-bike, and it remains popular today with a dedicated bunch of owners who appreciate the bikes rugged reliability and great utility. The later models came with three battery capacities, 15, 23 and 32 ah. The battery is no longer being made, [...]
Electrafest Vancouver August 24th
Come see us at Electafest 2019! The Vancouver Electric Vehicle Association puts on this exhibition of everything electric every year in downtown Vancouver. The location is the Roundhouse Community Center, at the foot of Davie St near False Creek. Ride your bike, the location is just a block off of the sea wall, and there will be [...]
Replacing a worn or faulty cassette freewheel tower on a Juiced CrossCurrent S or similar Bafang motor
Do you hear a clicking or cracking sound from your Juiced CCS rear wheel while pedalling? Chances are you have a worn or defective cassette freewheel tower. Sometimes this noise can be caused by a badly seated axle, so it is worth loosening the axle hardware, checking that the wheel is seated properly, and re [...]
Charging your e-bike battery from another battery while you ride!
I recently did a 140km ride with some friends from the North End of Salt Spring Island, to Fulford on the South End, then Swartz Bay on the ferry, Victoria, and Langford via the Lochside Trail and the Galloping Goose bike trails, then all the way up to Cowichan River Provincial park on the Trans [...]
Derailleur/drivetrain upgrade for Juiced CrossCurrent S, CC, CC AIR, CCX.
Got the upgrade bug? Chain drops? We have something special for your CrossCurrent! This is a killer drivetrain upgrade that includes a Shimano Deore derailleur with Shadow RD+ stabilizer. This unit acts as a clutch, not allowing the chain to go slack and bounce off over bumps on 1X setups like the CCS.We have found [...]