Cargo Bikes

Please ignore previous post.

Anyone got any experience on bafang eBay purchases there are some low prices from established eBay sellers in Germany... But then there's doubt.

Anyone got a recommendation for where they went?

Pswpower

These guys were great, was the cheapest I could find, free shipping from Germany but no tax.

Arrived in a few days, my friend ordered from them aswell and was happy!

https://www.pswpower.com/

Bought bbs02 motor direct from here. Said shipped from Germany (although Chinese company) but the tracking froze and didn’t receive parcel for 3 months. Buuut comms were really good and they said it was because they were waiting on a shipment of brake sensors which I kinda believe. When they finally shipped it arrived 10 days later. Price was good and all works.

Didn’t fancy a generic battery/charger fire hazard so bought an Em3ev set (well reviewed by the ebike DIY community over the years ) from eclipse bikes (U.K. stockist).

All in was about £835 for motor and battery. Could probably knock off £50-£100 getting battery direct from em3ev in China.

That's really helpful guys thanks. It's actually the same eBay store I've been looking at and wondering whether I should trust it. Problem solved!

Thanks for the shout about batteries too. Have the same thoughts on fire hazards. Battery I can rely on is 💯 top of the list

Another annoying question from me:

Should you be able to remove the key from the wheel lock when it's unlocked?

On mine, the key comes out fine when it's locked but won't release when it's unlocked - so whenever I'm using the bike the keys are always attached to it. Helpful for remembering where they are, but it means they could be left in there if I forget to lock it, and they brush your leg while cycling.

It also means at least two bunches of keys, because I don't want my house and bike lock keys flapping around on the side of my bike.

That style of lock usually comes in 2 variants a key retaining and a non-key retaining. Picked one at random but usually all similar. The key retaining ones are more common I think.

https://hollandbikeshop.com/en-gb/bicycle-locks/axa-bicycle-lock/axa-frame-lock/axa-block-xxl-frame-lock-black-539524/
https://hollandbikeshop.com/en-gb/bicycle-locks/axa-bicycle-lock/axa-frame-lock/axa-block-xxl-frame-lock-removable-key-black-682502/

PSA: Dropping a bosch battery on your foot will result in a broken toe.

fuck!!

Pretty sure you could arrive at this conclusion without empirical testing...

The gang at Polyspore in Manchester had their Omnium nicked the other day.

Figure it was worth posting here on the off chance it appears on anyone's watchlist...

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I find this annoying too, but apparently it's the standard in those places where wheel locks are common and the only form of locking device.
I keep my key on a little carabiner keyring so I can put the rest of the keys back in my pocket. Something like this:

Smart. Thank you!

This is really helpful, thank you.

Partial refurb of the "Troy Bikes" cargo... (that's the brand it turned out to be, it was falsely/mistakenly listed as a Bakfiets) consists in me having to rebuild the carrying front box, as original one was rotten. There was some rust on the peripheral parts of the frame in contact with the rotten timber as moisture would have stagnated there, but it wasn't too bad, and nowhere near the main structural framework. I managed to strip the rust, applied Kurust and Hammerite paint generously, and it's all good now.

For the box, I've looked around for Phenolic ply, with not much luck. Local building supply shop can't order it, Travis Perkins (branch not far from me) don't do it, etc. Everything I found is either very far or very expensive (web purchase with - understandably - pricey delivery). Anyone knows a south east London building supply shop that may stock this?
Really don't fancy using marine ply and having to apply whatever protection, hard wax oil, varnish, etc...

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I use exactly this. But that bit stays on my main keyring, the actual key has a small loop that I attach to that small carabiner so there is as little as possible flapping around on my bike. I actually have quite a few of those on my main key ring and all my keys attach the same way so it's easier to chop and change without ruining a finger nail.

Bakfiets is just dutch for box bike so they aren't wrong.

I'd get it riding/rolling as a base and then cordless saw of some sort and just cycle out to collect wood or cycle past a skip when you see they are about to chuck suitable materials.

This stuff?
https://fulhamtimber.co.uk/mesh-faced-plywood-18mm-x-2440mm-x-1220mm-en314-2-phenolic-birch-core/

Acre Lane timber might have some too?

Buy and cut up an outdoor table tennis table to give you enough material? Would also have a blingy silver circles pattern to the sides.

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/225612317168

Bakfiets is just dutch for box bike so they aren't wrong.

I wondered that but isn't there an actual Bakfiets brand? In the listing, it did say Bakfiets under the brand name, not type of bike. I've not held the seller responsible for the possible confusion here anyway (just wish they'd noticed the name of the badge when writing the description, photos we're not showing this either).
As for skip finds, a whole 1220X2440mm sheet is need, so I won't count on it if I hope you enjoy the bike with the kids this summer! :)

Yes, but in 12mm. They came up on my Google searches but don't seem to have the thickness.

@snowy_again I'll give them a try thanks

Love the idea, will try eBay in short radius around us!

Bakfiets

Its both a brand and dutch word for cargo bike. (from my understanding) Cant really expect normies to get this stuff right.

Also dont let getting it right get in the way of getting it done. If you cant find the right stuff get the wrong stuff and just paint the hell out of it with outdoor paint and kick the can down the road 3-5 years. Also get a cover. Cargo bikes die because people dont cover them.

dont let getting it right get in the way of getting it done.

You're right. I'll push a bit more with phenolic ply (checked and acre lane timber don't do it) but need to get it back to work asap, would be a shame to miss the summer with the kids on it.
I've re packed the original wheel with fresh grease last night, hope you find time to re-build the brakes tonight...