While browsing classic bikes on Google, I came across this photograph.
I thought it was one of the coolest bikes I'd ever seen! You can see more photo's and read the spec sheet here. I said to myself "I need to build a bike like this one day."
About a week later I came across this new Schwinn Wayfarer for sale from a private party for half the retail price. He hadn't even gotten around to filling the tires with air.Since then I've put quite a few miles on the Schwinn. It's been a fun bike to ride!
My evaluation of the Wayfarer as a candidate for a ebike I want to offer has been great. It's passed the riding test much better than I thought it would. I'm going to offer it with a few motor options.
1. Bafang 500W Geared hub motor front or rear.
2. Bafang 500W Geared motors front and rear.
3. Xiongda 500-1000W double speed (2-speed) hub motor front or rear.
4. BBSHD 1000W mid drive motor.
4. By request, any motor you want to use.
Special note on the Xiongda motor. This motor can be run anywhere from 250 to 1000W depending on battery used. I'm going to recommend using a 48V battery so the power levels will closely resemble a 750W motor, but this motor has been equipped with a heat sensor to safely run at 1000W with a 52V battery. It's my thinking that at 48V rather than at 52V, the motor will last a lot longer.
Battery mounting can be as easy as using one of the many available shark, whale, or triangle packs, but it's my opinion that the classic lines of this bike would be better preserved by using leather bags. Small batteries can be kept in the small saddle bags at the rear of the bike, but a larger battery would be better placed in the triangle section to better center the weight.
As another option I would recommend changing out the single piece crankset to a three piece. There is one three piece that looks exactly the same as the stock cranks, except it's three parts instead of one steel part. Someone would have to know what they're looking at to even notice the change. I think this is a pretty cool option.
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