136th subscriber LIKE; 1,985th desktop studio view. How about a long-sleeved 'jacket' with small turn-signal lights wired up the sleeves, ending at the cuffs... so that you have LIGHTED hand signals...? LOL Powered by a small sewn-in battery pack? When you're about to turn (change tack, in sailing terms)... just holler out the Skipper's command: "Ready about - helm to port!!" (or, "starboard!" if you're going the other way.) Don't forget the secret handshake - your mileage may vary.
I remeber this build well and think about it often. I've been following Spark since you did this and they are a fun bunch of people doing some really cool things. We saw a ton of e-bikes on our recent trip in Colorado, and it's making me want one real bad. Doing my own conversion is still on my list. Glad to hear yours is holding up nicely. Thanks for sharing!
Didn't realize the rear brake was essentially a normal bicycle disc brake. Make sure you're buying sintered brake pads - they'll last longer than resin pads. If you're getting resin pads they are more grippy in some ways, but they wear out a lot faster. Love that you revisited this project and love that you want to do some more. I commute to work (22 miles round trip), 5 days a week and I do it on a recumbent trike (with pedals). Can't get much more green than that and I don't even own a car (haven't for nearly 8 years). Yeah, you're not saving the world, but when everything is burning down around us and every summer breaks the previous record for hottest in recorded history, well - maybe riding an e-scooter IS the more environmentally-friendly thing to do. We can't change the world all by ourselves, but we CAN make sure we have as low of an impact as possible.
Thanks for the update, I feel like an e-bike is in my future for sure. FYI: Due to overwhelming demand, it looks like the voucher portal for the state of CT is now closed, it closed on July 8th. I guess that's a good thing, hopefully they take this as a positive sign and fund more rebates.
Really inspiring work, as always 😊😊 thanks and the Vespa is WAYYY cooler Two comments - having a small wheel on the back is like a low gear, putting a bigger wheel will increase your top speed but make hills much worse 😢. A bigger engine with more torque is the way to go. Turn signals - the right turn arm position is like that when you're in a car. On my bicycle, I just stick my arm out on both sides of the - much more understandable. Also, most people seeing the bent arm, palm up signal will think you are stopping
To use my right arm I need to take my thumb off the throttle, which is most often the wrong thing to do in traffic as I give the signal before I slow and use both hands to turn. If I'm stopped, I point, but rarely do I need to stop or point right as there's no traffic to cross that way. That's why the signals are the way they are, for throttles. Very true on the brakes. I avoid hard braking with proper distancing, but when some jerk cuts me off (and they do!) using both does the job.
I simply wired my Ignition exactly the same way it was originally meant to be. 72v 10kw motor wheel with 510 nm's torque, 0-100 mph in 1.9 seconds, 12" upsized Tyres and Disc Brake upgrades, top speed 145 mph, 72v 120ah LiFePo4 battery pack split into three. (I use a drop in "centre Tank and 1 under the seat in my centre loop and one extra on the inside of my leg shields and get a cool 890 -950 K's per charge. Like what you did looks great fun mate! It is easier and less hassle I found, to simply wire the ignition normally. Anyway keep on runin'!
side note I refuse to use those original shoe brakes lol I will never ride shoes again! I am 59 and grew up riding my Vespas and Lambrettas in England and since I started converting to Disc I have been much happier. I also do extreme riding and speed and distance unlike most scooterists who are hobby riders so I need disc brakes. Also I take Pink Slips on my high speed 64 Lambretta GT 200 converted to electric so there's also that lol keep it up.
Cool. That thing flies on flat ground. Man, I wish these e-bikes weren’t so expensive. I’d like one to rehab from having my aortic valve replaced, but they just cost too much.
like e cars, they are still too expensive, mostly because the batteries are so expensive. But getting better, The costs will come down if the market is there to support improvements to the technology.
Nobody seems to realize regenerative braking pots a LOT of stress on your battery. I do not recommend running high values for regenerative braking, if at all. I would rather replace brake pads than put extra stress on my battery and motor, namely the phase wires suffer a lot.
Such a fun project. I am not sure a bigger tire/wheel is the right choice though. That would be the same as putting a higher gear in it such that it goes faster on the flat, but it will actually reduce the torque at the road making hills a bigger issue. It's essentially the inverse of getting a bigger wrench to put more force on a bolt. I bigger motor is probably the right answer, but there are other factors like the motor's RPM that would also need to be considered in balancing speed and available torque.
right, but there are no "gears" per se as it is a hub motor, so I think the increased wattage and slightly larger wheel would balance out in my favor overall.
I didn't even know you could convert those mopeds to electric and honestly makes me rethink a lot of stuff. I didn't even know you had an electric moped that's awesome regardless😂 Also that 49cc membership thing is kind of cool and I will lovingly join..
Every moped with a 12 inch tyre is incredibly easy to convert, others can be converted relatively easy. The hardest part will probably be wiring a new harnass for all your components and finding levers with brake sensors should you require that. Unless you are mounting a mid drive motor, that is a bit more complex depending on the wattage of the motor.
you can drop SparkCycleworks.com a line and see where they are coming with that. They got busy with the launch of their new bikes and had back burnered the project but they might be able to help.
Love that you left the patina, But your color is green.. I'm thinking you should paint it your color then patina it.. Also how's the heat up in your area? been nasty here in Tucson..
It only has original paint once, y'know? I try to keep that as long as I can. For us it's the humidity, which was brutal last week. We're not feeling your heatwave as bad.
Great video Tim ! I’m sold I’m just looking for a donor Vespa or a TOMOS moped but only issue I have! It rains a lot in the North of the UK so I will need to keep weather proof whilst I’m using it
I acquired an old Sachs (basically the same as a Tomos) that I plan on converting, too. It looks much easier to do as the swing arm is already good to go for a motorized hub.
Your video has inspired me to switch my vespa to electric too. I am looking in to making the swing arm myself. Would your share what make and model of hub motor you used and what controler? Perhaps you have a better suggestion after trials with your current set up? Thanks! Thanks!
tough question. I don't think I'd recommend the same motor I have now, I think I'd up the wattage and diameter of it and design the swing arm to compensate. I used a sabvoton controller
If you want a proper switch, you can buy reproduction vespa switch units that give you headlight, indicator and horn controls, look just like the original ones and are waterproof 😀
yes. I have the original switch still in "maybe working" condition and access to repros, but it's in the same spot my throttle thumb goes, so I can't activate them while accelerating - and if I take my thumb off the throttle up a hill even for a second, I'll never make it to the top!
Heavy metal thunder Born to be wild. You need to look at your motor's torque curve then set your wheel diameter for the peak speed Thanks from Colorado
yes, there are settings in the app I can adjust but we've pushed it pretty far already and are afraid of blowing the controller. we blew earlier ones in the process last year.
ahh, nothing like the nostalgic smell of asbestos and leaded gas, or a hat felted with real mercury, or a shirt factory burning to the ground with a bunch of women locked inside...
I disagree with your characterization of a larger tire with a smaller motor having more uphill power. That's not the way it works. Your problem has nothing to do with the 3000w motor itself, I would suggest that you are running too low of voltage to provide power to that motor for optimal uphill performance.
indeed. In the app I can adjust the voltage but I've got it pretty close to the limit and we're afraid to push it much more without potentially frying thing. My understanding is with higher wattage I can push the voltage more without running risk of damage?
I’m surprised you have an issue with hills. Typically those motors are rated at their continuous output put peak at double. Mine is 4kw (72 volt), I’ve peaked at 12. I don’t need more throttle to get up a hill, even with two people. I love going up hills because it feels like you are cheating physics. It flies right up. Also no problem at all keeping up with traffic anywhere. My new build will be 7kw, 14 peak. Totally not needed, will be a beast. Should have no problem beating the fasted stock vespas ever built. I’m guessing your controller is limited the amperage too much.
I like the idea of these E-bikes for recreational purposes. I don't think it could fly with the traffic around home. If there were some cool trails, or I lived on a country road... perhaps.
Depends on the speeds people are driving. If you're surrounded by 40 mph roads where everyone does 50 that's not safe but, on the 25 mph roads with everyone doing 35ish, I can keep up. But an e bike, not moped or scooter, could be ridden in the bike lanes, too.
136th subscriber LIKE; 1,985th desktop studio view. How about a long-sleeved 'jacket' with small turn-signal lights wired up the sleeves, ending at the cuffs...
so that you have LIGHTED hand signals...? LOL Powered by a small sewn-in battery pack? When you're about to turn (change tack, in sailing terms)... just holler out the Skipper's command: "Ready about - helm to port!!" (or, "starboard!" if you're going the other way.) Don't forget the secret handshake - your mileage may vary.
That’s actually a fun idea. Blinkers on the shoulders. High visibility, easy to wire into a coat…
I remeber this build well and think about it often. I've been following Spark since you did this and they are a fun bunch of people doing some really cool things. We saw a ton of e-bikes on our recent trip in Colorado, and it's making me want one real bad. Doing my own conversion is still on my list. Glad to hear yours is holding up nicely. Thanks for sharing!
I hope my trials and errors makes doing yours easier :)
yes! I recently sold my Jambulance that had solar panels on the top. I plugged into that a few times just for fun :)
Didn't realize the rear brake was essentially a normal bicycle disc brake. Make sure you're buying sintered brake pads - they'll last longer than resin pads. If you're getting resin pads they are more grippy in some ways, but they wear out a lot faster. Love that you revisited this project and love that you want to do some more. I commute to work (22 miles round trip), 5 days a week and I do it on a recumbent trike (with pedals). Can't get much more green than that and I don't even own a car (haven't for nearly 8 years). Yeah, you're not saving the world, but when everything is burning down around us and every summer breaks the previous record for hottest in recorded history, well - maybe riding an e-scooter IS the more environmentally-friendly thing to do. We can't change the world all by ourselves, but we CAN make sure we have as low of an impact as possible.
wow, that's impressive! You must be in pretty good shape! Keep pedaling!
Love the spirit of this project and your ability to give it expression on this channel!
wow, thanks man!
A man and his shed. An unstoppable force of inventiveness 👍
Very cool Tim! Gotta love that quiet little Vespa! Ride On........ 👍👍
Thanks for the update, I feel like an e-bike is in my future for sure. FYI: Due to overwhelming demand, it looks like the voucher portal for the state of CT is now closed, it closed on July 8th. I guess that's a good thing, hopefully they take this as a positive sign and fund more rebates.
already? how ridiculous...
Have you considered getting a few solar panels for the shop, so you can hook it up to charge from the sun while you are working?
Yes! I sold the Jambulance, but before I did I plugged it into that solar system a few times, just for fun :)
Really inspiring work, as always 😊😊 thanks and the Vespa is WAYYY cooler
Two comments - having a small wheel on the back is like a low gear, putting a bigger wheel will increase your top speed but make hills much worse 😢. A bigger engine with more torque is the way to go.
Turn signals - the right turn arm position is like that when you're in a car. On my bicycle, I just stick my arm out on both sides of the - much more understandable. Also, most people seeing the bent arm, palm up signal will think you are stopping
To use my right arm I need to take my thumb off the throttle, which is most often the wrong thing to do in traffic as I give the signal before I slow and use both hands to turn. If I'm stopped, I point, but rarely do I need to stop or point right as there's no traffic to cross that way. That's why the signals are the way they are, for throttles. Very true on the brakes. I avoid hard braking with proper distancing, but when some jerk cuts me off (and they do!) using both does the job.
I simply wired my Ignition exactly the same way it was originally meant to be. 72v 10kw motor wheel with 510 nm's torque, 0-100 mph in 1.9 seconds, 12" upsized Tyres and Disc Brake upgrades, top speed 145 mph, 72v 120ah LiFePo4 battery pack split into three. (I use a drop in "centre Tank and 1 under the seat in my centre loop and one extra on the inside of my leg shields and get a cool 890 -950 K's per charge. Like what you did looks great fun mate! It is easier and less hassle I found, to simply wire the ignition normally. Anyway keep on runin'!
side note I refuse to use those original shoe brakes lol I will never ride shoes again! I am 59 and grew up riding my Vespas and Lambrettas in England and since I started converting to Disc I have been much happier. I also do extreme riding and speed and distance unlike most scooterists who are hobby riders so I need disc brakes. Also I take Pink Slips on my high speed 64 Lambretta GT 200 converted to electric so there's also that lol keep it up.
Cool. That thing flies on flat ground. Man, I wish these e-bikes weren’t so expensive. I’d like one to rehab from having my aortic valve replaced, but they just cost too much.
like e cars, they are still too expensive, mostly because the batteries are so expensive. But getting better, The costs will come down if the market is there to support improvements to the technology.
Love this project. So cool. Great update. Mahalo for sharing! : )
A nice update, cheers 😁
Like deployed 👍
Pushing an envelope is much more fun than pushing a Vespa uphill. It's so quiet, you can't even tell it's running.
Lol
Tim,If your controller is set up for regenerative breaking you won't kill your pads and it will charge your battery. Downhills.
Nobody seems to realize regenerative braking pots a LOT of stress on your battery. I do not recommend running high values for regenerative braking, if at all. I would rather replace brake pads than put extra stress on my battery and motor, namely the phase wires suffer a lot.
Such a fun project.
I am not sure a bigger tire/wheel is the right choice though. That would be the same as putting a higher gear in it such that it goes faster on the flat, but it will actually reduce the torque at the road making hills a bigger issue. It's essentially the inverse of getting a bigger wrench to put more force on a bolt. I bigger motor is probably the right answer, but there are other factors like the motor's RPM that would also need to be considered in balancing speed and available torque.
right, but there are no "gears" per se as it is a hub motor, so I think the increased wattage and slightly larger wheel would balance out in my favor overall.
i think you are right. the bigger wheel reduces the force at the road.
@@BigEdWo and.makes potholes less terrifying!
I didn't even know you could convert those mopeds to electric and honestly makes me rethink a lot of stuff. I didn't even know you had an electric moped that's awesome regardless😂
Also that 49cc membership thing is kind of cool and I will lovingly join..
Anything is possible! :)
Every moped with a 12 inch tyre is incredibly easy to convert, others can be converted relatively easy. The hardest part will probably be wiring a new harnass for all your components and finding levers with brake sensors should you require that. Unless you are mounting a mid drive motor, that is a bit more complex depending on the wattage of the motor.
NICE....maybe add gear reduction..or velocity clutch ...LOVE YOUR GUITFIDDLES .. LIGHT AND LOVE TO YOU & ALL BEINGS
Love it!!
How about going dual motor? Nice conversion.
Hey tim ,great job ! I'm looking to do this with a 50 special. Have you a link to buy the swingarm or to buy the plans/drawings for it ?
you can drop SparkCycleworks.com a line and see where they are coming with that. They got busy with the launch of their new bikes and had back burnered the project but they might be able to help.
Love that you left the patina, But your color is green.. I'm thinking you should paint it your color then patina it.. Also how's the heat up in your area? been nasty here in Tucson..
It only has original paint once, y'know? I try to keep that as long as I can. For us it's the humidity, which was brutal last week. We're not feeling your heatwave as bad.
Well I’m joining the 49cc club!
Great video Tim ! I’m sold I’m just looking for a donor Vespa or a TOMOS moped but only issue I have! It rains a lot in the North of the UK so I will need to keep weather proof whilst I’m using it
I acquired an old Sachs (basically the same as a Tomos) that I plan on converting, too. It looks much easier to do as the swing arm is already good to go for a motorized hub.
That’s a good idea a TOMOS was my first bike / moped
Your video has inspired me to switch my vespa to electric too. I am looking in to making the swing arm myself. Would your share what make and model of hub motor you used and what controler? Perhaps you have a better suggestion after trials with your current set up?
Thanks!
Thanks!
tough question. I don't think I'd recommend the same motor I have now, I think I'd up the wattage and diameter of it and design the swing arm to compensate. I used a sabvoton controller
If you want a proper switch, you can buy reproduction vespa switch units that give you headlight, indicator and horn controls, look just like the original ones and are waterproof 😀
yes. I have the original switch still in "maybe working" condition and access to repros, but it's in the same spot my throttle thumb goes, so I can't activate them while accelerating - and if I take my thumb off the throttle up a hill even for a second, I'll never make it to the top!
Heavy metal thunder
Born to be wild.
You need to look at your motor's torque curve then set your wheel diameter for the peak speed
Thanks from Colorado
yes, there are settings in the app I can adjust but we've pushed it pretty far already and are afraid of blowing the controller. we blew earlier ones in the process last year.
Nothing like the nostalgic smell of a two stroke 😎
ahh, nothing like the nostalgic smell of asbestos and leaded gas, or a hat felted with real mercury, or a shirt factory burning to the ground with a bunch of women locked inside...
@@timsway or a factory full of lead, lithium, cadmium etc making batteries for electric vehicles 🫤
@@johngrant5749 or the mines where they dig that stuff up! The wheels of progress are grindingly slow.
What does Piraro think of this bike?
Love the build , but how come you can’t use the original speedo as it hooks up to the original front hub which you are still using?
I probably could. the speedo, cables, etc were all shot so I'd just need to buy all the parts and put them on, I suppose.
I do really like the set up you have though, I am going to download that Speedo app !
So fucking cool Tim!
One more thing - 90% of braking happens on the front wheel - that's the one that needs an upgrade
My 1964 has the original drum brakes. They aren’t the best. With regen and a new disc brake in the rear I never use the front brake.
😳 Those are bicycle disc brakes!
I disagree with your characterization of a larger tire with a smaller motor having more uphill power. That's not the way it works. Your problem has nothing to do with the 3000w motor itself, I would suggest that you are running too low of voltage to provide power to that motor for optimal uphill performance.
indeed. In the app I can adjust the voltage but I've got it pretty close to the limit and we're afraid to push it much more without potentially frying thing. My understanding is with higher wattage I can push the voltage more without running risk of damage?
Tim, I'm thinking 5000W and a slightly bigger battery is in your future.
how would YOU know?!? Oh wait... :) Honestly I might leave this one as is and do another instead
So cool! ⚡️ 🛵 ⚡️
I’m surprised you have an issue with hills. Typically those motors are rated at their continuous output put peak at double.
Mine is 4kw (72 volt), I’ve peaked at 12. I don’t need more throttle to get up a hill, even with two people. I love going up hills because it feels like you are cheating physics. It flies right up.
Also no problem at all keeping up with traffic anywhere.
My new build will be 7kw, 14 peak. Totally not needed, will be a beast. Should have no problem beating the fasted stock vespas ever built.
I’m guessing your controller is limited the amperage too much.
yes, that's exactly it. we're still erring on the side of caution because we had a few issues early on. what size wheel do you have?
17" diameter
You know you have a rare vintage vespa. Those are cost a fortune nowadays
I like the idea of these E-bikes for recreational purposes. I don't think it could fly with the traffic around home. If there were some cool trails, or I lived on a country road... perhaps.
Depends on the speeds people are driving. If you're surrounded by 40 mph roads where everyone does 50 that's not safe but, on the 25 mph roads with everyone doing 35ish, I can keep up. But an e bike, not moped or scooter, could be ridden in the bike lanes, too.
@@timsway I live on a 50mph street with no sidewalks or bike lanes.
Cool
49cc max capacity?
I wonder how many 49cc motors I could fit on a bike...
(Edit) I need to call '2strokestuffing'.
lol
Um... A solar charging station for the Vespa would be cool.
I have charged it off the jambulance solar system, before I sold it :/
TÜV says no...