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Another change of plans. Obviously struggling with the donor bike issue. This is my third change, here's a brief history:
- CCM Apex 6061, white, full suspension. This was my preferred donor bike, mainly for the full suspension. It's an older version. I traded my grandson a newer version for this older one. There was more space for the battery on the down tube. After the battery manufacturer swapped out the model of battery, that no longer fit.
- CCM Incline, black/green, front suspension. Based on a change of plans. The new battery would have fit perfectly on the down tube. This bike had a bit more unexpected damage though. I ended up replacing the derailleur hanger and refitting the rear wheel hangers.
- Sanhema 26" Road Bike. This is a China brand. Reviews show that it is a solid bike. It's also carbon steel so I would end up with none of the torque and torsion issues of an electric motor. The bike was also a excellent deal.
The downcast noses when discussing department store bikes and asian-sourced bikes doesn't make a whole lot of sense to me. I've had custom bikes, bikes from dedicated bike shops, and department store. There are two differences:
- Quality of components
- Quality of assembly
The components we can't do anything about. It's obvious they won't last as long or as work "buttery" smooth. The other, however, we can do something about. Take the bike to your local backyard expert and get a CLA. It's worth a few bucks to clean, lubricate and adjust. Most department store "assemblers" are a part time student with minimal experience in bikes. The bikes that need assembling do not come with instructions – granted they are partially assembled from the factory and there isn't much left to do – but the stuff left to do can be a bit complicated (like adjusting brake lash and throw). You can improve how long your bike with last and how well it will perform for you with a CLA.
I've been doing my own for, uh, fifty five plus years. At the right is the photo of the bike when I picked it up. Don't worry, it's fairly well packaged.
At the left is the same bike after taking off the transport "bag". You can see the bubble wrap and foam padding protecting the bike. There is a small spot where the paint is rubbed off from transporting – but it's a little nit.
I've confirmed the bike is carbon steel. And, here's a few dimensions:
- Down tube is 24 inches
- Top tube is 20 inches
- Seat tube is 17 inches
A seat tube 17 to 18 inches is considered medium and is designed for cyclers that are 5' 6" to 5' 10" (158cm to 168cm)
This bike has a seat post that is adjustable by up to 6 1/2" ... meaning it can also be used by cyclers that are 5' 2" to 6' 2" ... note the handlebar height is not adjustable
The bike is a standard 21 speed. There is a 7-speed Shimano derailleur and freewheel hub in the rear with a 3X cranset. The handlebars have knock-off 3-speed shifter for the front crankset gear changer and a 7-speed shifter for the rear derailleur. I didn't get started assembling until late in the day ... but abtu 30 minutes is all it took. The photo at the right was taken at night, I'll try to get a better picture during the day and replace this. Ok for now, though. The one I selected, by the way, is black with white and lime green highlights. There are four colors in total: lime green and orange are high visibility, and you can also get red and blue.
Both the front wheel and rear wheel have solid axles. This requires a socket or wrench to tighten or loosen – I prefer this over hollow axles and quick release skewers. This is still going to be an ebike conversion and the extra torque of the electric motor is best served with a solid axle.
At this point, I do not have any plans to convert the crankset from 3X to 1X ...
The new bike looks great by the way. The vendor is new to the cycling industry and has some excellent pricing. You can look him up on Facebook marketplace, just search for "Jeff Hancock". He's based just outside of Orillia ... maybe the lower prices have something to do with his location. A great guy and worth the drive.
PS. If you are logged in to Facebook, this link should get you to this exact bike.