Driving bikes and cars in Hefei

[Virginia9742]

I'm thinking of buying a scooter or a car, as the taxis are really frustrating me.  I have taken the bus a couple times, but that is a bit difficult, and so slow and hot.  I have a bicycle with I have been brave enough to venture out on a few times, but mostly just use it around the USTC campus.

Does anyone else get around by bicycle, scooter, car etc?  Have you almost been run over?

[Aussie Mike]

I was riding a bike until the rego expired. 
I always felt safer on the bike than walking but then I've been riding bikes for 40 years.
If you get a bike less than 80cc I don't think you need a license.

[Virginia9742]

Oh really?  I was wondering if I would need a license.  I feel pretty safe on a bicycle, even in China, since I've been commuting off and on for a few years, though I don't think that actually means I am safe.  I think I would prefer a car, but I currently have no place to park it.  Maybe a gas scooter would be better, and they are so cheap!

By the way Mike, have you ever been in an accident in Hefei?  Just curious, it seems as if road accidents would be common.

[Aussie Mike]

Nothing serious, a few bumps. I had one accident where the bike received 3000rmb damage which he paid 2000 of and I wasn't about to quibble over 1000.

That was at a set of lights at a T junction and the guy cut behind another across the lanes to beat the traffic but the first guy stopped but the second didn't, I collided into his front guard which twisted the forks and smashed a few fiberglass mouldings. 

No harm done. I wear a full face helmet, plenty of padding and good solid boots.

[dsw]

Where's a good place to buy bikes?

[Virginia9742]

What?  You mean you don't wear a bicycle helmet with the chin strap undone?

[Aussie Mike]

I find the low quality Chinese construction eggshell helmet is the most ridiculous but chin strap is essential for any helmet or you have to keep stopping and go back to pick it up when it blows off. 

[Bavarian]

I'll get my company car and driving license end of this week.
Going to be fun, so ya all watch out for a Metal Brown VW Touran ;-)

[kaibo 开 博]

Licensing is coming.

My e-moto is quite fast. It has a range of 30kms at 60kmh --stop/start - in summer. For a lighter person it will go even further. Top speed is easy 70 kmh. I am no lightweight either so a smaller person will reach faster speeds I reckon My bike has also carried two big foreigners (approx. loading of 200kg in weight) as well many times. Even then, torque and power to even get up hills is no sweat.

Why go gas? Unless you travel around town more than 30kms frequently there seems no need to be pouring money into fuel, maintenance & repairs.

I have another contact with an e-bike shop now & he speaks some English. There is another model in town as well that can reach 90kmh & distance of 100kms as well.

The secret is recharge every day. I must say though, I have travelled almost 6000 km in 1 year & the batteries seem to be losing their range now. I am looking at adding power & range or a dual battery set-up.

[Virginia9742]

That sounds awesome!  I have so many questions.  Where did you get your bike?  How much did you pay?  Is it modified?

I want!!

[kaibo 开 博]

I got it on the 2nd ring road. It cost 3,800. It is not modified. I just replaced the batteries as three of them were cooked as indicated under a 2000 watt open load test. I actually wanted to modify it to a 1200 watt 84 volt configuration and still might do so but basically the brakes and control under braking are inadequate now. What I really want to do is redesign the front end and put a 20 inch front wheel and a hog wheel on the back which has a wider tyre. Also to install a rear disk as well. This will fix the control factors under brakes I estimate. But probably I am just better off getting a new bike which means I might trade up or just buy another one next summer.

What I really would like to do is buy a used lightweight 250cc racing frame without engine from Japan and kit it out with the best technology - 5000 watt motor, Kirby controller, LiFePO4 batteries etc. It is expensive but a 100 mph (160 kmh) e-moto appeals to me. That is how fast commercial machines are capable of in the USA. I want a bike that can mono wheel off the lights and leave BMWs sitting in its' wake. Of course I am just dreaming as getting all this stuff in China will be damned expensive. I reckon without the power band a motorised machine produces doing a mono on the smooth torque an e-bike produces must be awesome as control is in your favour.

The new batteries I had installed are heavy duty I think and have trimmed acceleration and top speed down a little but have a longer range. I got 60km in range a week ago which is 10km better than it used to get last summer. I have since learnt that it does damage to the batteries to run them down to a low charge state so I will avoid that as much as possible. A good power management controller will have under-voltage limiters that will shut down the batteries to protect them. Some advanced machines in the USA have this technology.

[rgeczi]

Kim, they have motors higher than 5000 watts.  They have them up to 8KW (8000 watts) now. 

[kaibo 开 博]

Wow, that's awesome. I don't mind my Vespa copy retro scooter but I would like to have something with acceleration and handling. I'll keep dreaming for now.

[Tim S. Mercurio]

anyone who has a motorcycle 120-200cc come and join my motor crew. " foreign legends "

[ebby]

     I  have a cool n well maintained maxam scooter JL150T-F Japanese brand for sale, I bought it last year( 9months) with 48v -800w and has since been upgraded to 60v 40a 2000w. It can cover between 60km and 70km/hour. If any one is interested, The price goes for 5000yuan.