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Author Topic: Wuxi Stanford DP Racing  (Read 1759 times)

NEW2elec

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Re: Wuxi Stanford DP Racing
« Reply #15 on: August 21, 2019, 08:24:54 PM »

The joke is on Lightning Motorcycles which is making some, lets just say unverifiable claims, about some bikes they are trying to sell from a collaboration with a factory in China.

I'll leave you with a few tips for safety.  You may want to get a Kiil-A-Watt wall socket meter to see what the bike is doing while charging.
These will show you your total kWhs used every time you charge.  If you plug your charge cord into the meter and then plug the meter into the wall, it will reset the stats when you unplug it from the wall.  This will help you find out you battery capacity and long term health.

 It shows your socket voltage and the amps your pulling during the charge cycle.  A Zero will drop the amps as it gets near 90% SOC to keep the battery form over charging.
Feel for any "hot" zones from the cord or the bike's battery or charger.  Warm is ok but if it's getting too hot to hold on to there could be problems.

Also just a heads up you will lose range when it gets colder.  Like 20% or more.  I don't know how low you like to brave a ride in but under 30F I just wouldn't take it out.  Lithium Ion batteries don't like to be used or charged in sub freezing temperatures.

To be honest if you had asked people on the forum if you should have bought the bike most would have told you no because of the reputation for cheap electronics from China but things do get better and will reach a tipping point of value for use.  If you can get 10-20k miles out of it with out many issues then you win.  There is no electric motorcycle, even used, for that low of a price made in the US or Italy.
Since your ok with the speed and range for your use it very well could be a fantastic deal for you.
Keep us posted.  We love stats.
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cobleighb

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Re: Wuxi Stanford DP Racing
« Reply #16 on: August 21, 2019, 09:15:18 PM »

Growing up in Middlebury, Vermont, I remember my father’s reaction to the cheap, poorly made toys from Japan in the local Ben Franklin. He had fought “the japs” in WWII, and wanted nothing to do with them, and forbid me to own any such toys. Well, here we are today. Toyota, Nissan, Subaru, Sony, etc. I suspect the same will happen with China, if it already hasn’t. I realize I am taking a gamble with the inexpensive Chinese motorcycle, but life is a gamble, and having owned a 1977, R75/7 for 90k, I know there will always be issues that will have to be dealt with. I consider this bike to be a toy that I am having fun with for the moment. That outlook may change if the lithium battery torches up between my legs as I’m going down the road. FYI - guess what country the most highly recommended by Amazon killawatt clone is made in.
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NEW2elec

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Re: Wuxi Stanford DP Racing
« Reply #17 on: August 21, 2019, 09:36:01 PM »

I agree and for the record I welcome our new Chinese overlords and would very much like an indoors job.   :)
I was going to give the Japan history but I see you already know it.
You seem to have the right attitude toward it and all kidding aside it's a great test subject for how far along they are on their improvements.
Thanks for sharing info on it.
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cobleighb

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Re: Wuxi Stanford DP Racing
« Reply #18 on: August 22, 2019, 11:04:16 PM »

Pushed the envelope to 80kms or 49.7miles. The voltage readings 1) under load 2) throttle off were converging at around 76 volts. When I hit a steep section, the under load dropped to 72 and the lights went out. Walked it around to face downhill. Heading downhill with no load, the voltage went back to 76, and I was able to make it the 2 miles home. When I plugged it into the charger the reading was at 76. The factory stats claim 50 miles is the maximum range. Looks like they were right on the money. Lucked out and now know the range (with a minimum of pushing)
Photo shows the jagged slash across the bottom of the battery box. Changing the lead acid battery for the lithium at the factory was done by cutting open the battery box with a saw. Crude but got the job done.
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NEW2elec

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Re: Wuxi Stanford DP Racing
« Reply #19 on: August 23, 2019, 11:00:35 PM »

Yeah that battery box thing aint good.  How did this pass inspection?
Never ride in the rain or after it rained or if it looks like rain.  Ever.
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cobleighb

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Re: Wuxi Stanford DP Racing
« Reply #20 on: August 24, 2019, 01:51:05 AM »

Never thought of the water getting in. Looks like I can fill the cut with something (flexible caulking-black.)As for inspection, mine was probably the first electric motorcycle my shop had ever seen. Passed with flying colors.
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cobleighb

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Re: Wuxi Stanford DP Racing
« Reply #21 on: October 17, 2019, 05:52:57 PM »

1824 kms so far. No issues. Added wireless bicycle speedo to have mph.
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