Built from a Razor Electric Motocross Bike. Weighs 132# ! Only 60" long! My mbike uses a standard Razor MX500 Electric Motocross Bike. Quite a few things impress me: Double crown fork. Frame is 0.130" thick steel. Seat support is 0.85" tubing. Rear tire is load range B, 285# max, 3.00x9. Spokes are 12 gauge! This is a surprise because the MX500 is sold as a kids toy at a toy price. Another surprise is the high quality. It took a half hour to unpack and assemble, and worked great with no mods. It takes ~450# to fully compress the suspension. Has front & rear disc brakes. The only flimsy part is the stock plastic seat, which I have replaced. MX500 is very light compared to an eMax. The eMax weighs 265#. But the MX500 is very heavy (100#) compared to a pedal bike(typically 25-40#), so it's not going to fly apart when it hits a curb or a pothole. When you add a hub motor to a pedal bike it weighs 65-80# and it is sometimes too weak to go without some pedal assist. Pedal only bikes are not designed for the extra weight and speed, and may crack, fail and cause injury. The MX500 is designed as a dirt bike(very strong). My mods are so extreme, I gave it a new name. the "mbike". It weighs ~132 with 5 sla's(3 stock).

Before mods pic of MX500 before mods, and specs: http://www.razorama.com/dirt-rocket-mx500.html Comes with an automatic self adjusting chain tensioner! (my psev needed monthly adjustments)

Batteries Stock it has 3, 12ah SLA, 27#. That is adequate for my usual route. I've added a turbo bypass http://community.webtv.net/MATTGRU/turbo and and a special salvage circuit http://community.webtv.net/MATTGRU/bad Here is more info on sla's: http://community.webtv.net/MATTGRU/more I see room for 112-135#(up to~164 AH or so, at 12v), but I have no need for such range.

$15 BMS- battery management system 3 12 volt float chargers are built in, and balance the 36v system. The 3, 600ma, $5 chargers avoid $120 for Powercheqs. Set the cut-out voltage at. 13.8 volts. (a PITA but worth the effort) For daily charging, I use the stock 1.67a(1.25a actual) 36v charger. When it switches from red to green, I switch my toggle switch to the 3 balance chargers, for about 4 hours each day. Update: The 300-600ma Harbor Freight 42292-8BTA is not my current pick. It is up to $7.99 so, see tncscooters.com for their $12, 1.6a 12v charger. Hard wire, on board, 1 for each SLA and you are set! No balance worries!

Retractable cargo rack (#11) Cargo rack extends when needed for large items found at yard sales. Have a 36 quart Sterilite container that I may mount later(it's too small to fit without spacers) Weight capacity is yet to be determined. The retractable rack itself is aluminum U channel and weighs 1 1/2 #...... I thought that up myself, not sold in stores! Also has 4 saddle bags at the sides and rear and a 2 cubic foot duffle bag with a 1 bolt quick mount over the front fork. Cargo capacity is over 4 cubic feet, plus the rack! #17 I built ZTR(zero turn radius) into my MTD22. Easily turns around bushes. #56. My 72 Vette does 56 mph in FIRST gear. And get this, my mbike is as much fun! (well, you can't ride into a store with a car, not more than once LOL)

Ergonomic throttle I started out wanting to eliminate fatigue by having a velcro lock to hold it at full speed. Ended up with a unique lever(#7) that eliminated the fatigue without needing any velcro, and increases range! Amp drain on hills or headwind will kill range if you don't cut back. On the left(#3) is a variable electronic throttle limiter(pot.) that reduces speed to increase range by taking advantage of the Peukert effect, and reduced air resistance. A 50% reduction in amps nearly doubles range! (quadruples run time in the first hour of the Peukert curve! plus more range from the reduction in air resistance as a bonus!) The pot. acts as a cruise control. The throttle is redesigned to be held full with the palm of my hand, spring reduced by 90% so full throttle requires no more effort than holding the handlebars (balance only, no squeezing).

Modification time so far 126 hours as of 6-06 This may be why I haven't seen a similar ev anywhere. There is nothing to buy; you have to have a vision and build it yourself. My stealth design appears as a small bike with 4 saddle bags. The hidden cargo deck has pivoting foot rests(#10 above pic) to hold say, a 20# turkey! It works so well, I haven't needed the rear slide out rack yet. 1st test 2-27-06! 94 shopping trips as of 2-14-07, max food load 39#. No use of car for groceries, cars are obsolete! And it's fast as a car as it rides into the store, making up for its slower top speed. This is a GREAT hobby too! mx500-$277 3 chargers $15 (#5)meter/(#6)switch $7 air compressor $10 (#1)rear view mirror $1.75 Paint, hardware, misc. $16. 23' charger cord $1 Hi-Lo charger switch $3.49 insulated bag 50¢(yard sale) (#2) 12 function speedometer $9.32 3 surplus 12v 12ah SLA $39 safety switch $2.99 (#4) bike bell $1.95

DVM tied on handlebars $2.99(sale) I've built in various tests to keep an eye on things. The rotary switch cost $3.29, more than the meter! Switch position: 1. Shunt ammeter- using the 2000mv scale I've hooked it in parallel across 10" of original wire, between 2 batteries. That was the longest piece with no connectors. (Connecting an ammeter in series would waste power.) So the volt readings tell of the voltage drop across the wire, which correlate with amps drawn. Max 200-205mv(full start up hill), cruise 42-50mv(divide by 5 for amps). I want to see how aerodynamics, wind, speed, brake drag, and hills alter drain, to better manage how far it can go before needing a charge. It also reads charging amps.. 2, 3, 4. Volts each battery. Balance check. 5. Total pack voltage. Watch for 31.5v cut-off. 6. salvage battery voltage and unplugs for Troubleshooting position. Emergency testing. 3-19-06 Added a Schwinn computer, reads speed, ET, trip miles & odometer. Records top speed, average speed, starts and stops by itself. But it is made for bikes so the mounts had to be made to work. $9.32 + 2 hours.

Secrets to success(to make an in store shopper): Think of it like shoes. You have sandals, work shoes, dress shoes, jogging shoes, bowling shoes, etc. Build a single purpose ev, don't try to make one ev do everything. This list is for a grocery getter. 1. Elimination of pedals. They use up the sweet spot(strong, low center), that I use for cargo space. Plywood 3/4" thick, and 18"Wx12"L gives a super strong deck in the pedal area. No pedals allows for smooth precise take off in store isles(trying to pedal would be a disaster). No pedals lets me use a large (16x22") comfy seat that has a secure compartment for eggs and fruit.(if you ever hang bags from a bike, you know how they can be easily damaged). No pedals mean I can carry more batteries/cargo , and not worry about being tired from trying to pedal. No pedals lets me use a super strong motorcycle class ev, carry lots of cargo, and let the motor do the work, just like with a car. Note: I do pedal a 26" mountain bike for fun and exercise, but not for groceries. 2. Smaller wheels. Try loading a 26" bike and while you shop, it will tend to fall over. Big wheels also waste cargo space. But small tires like 5", 8", 10" all are too small and will throw you off easily hitting even a small pothole. 3. Lots of cargo containers. Make it look like you are serious. 4. Avoid 3 or 4 wheelers. They are dangerous at speed and will tip over easily. 5. Seek managers(when spotted) and introduce your "grocery cart". Point out that it is smaller than their carts. 6. Go slow, real slow. Give everyone else the right of way. 6 months ago a lady complained I went too fast. She was right! Now, I take my time.

#13 sheet vinyl is hung hammock style for comfy seat, under seat vinyl is egg/fruit/veg compartment
#15 Saddle bag for heavy items on both sides.
#14 Saddle bags for lighter items.

#12 air compressor

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