[size=150]Preview Hiddenpower Strida kit (no PAS)[/size]
Dear readers,
if you’re interested in this drive - please help us with your feedback!
Wednesday last week I’ve picked up two Hiddenpower drives at the Viennese Hiddenpower office:
- One kit for Strida without PAS
- One Standard kit with PAS
(The Strida kit with PAS isn’t ready yet, but - according to the Sales manager - it should be finished soon.
We’ve heard that the position of the PAS sensor is still in discussion.)
[size=150]Oversight[/size]
Most people don’t like to buy a pig in a poke; here’s how the kit looks:
Battery inside bag in the middle of the box,
drive and accessories were packed in four smaller boxes
Content box A: Hp drive + mount (shown here the Strida version)
Content box B: Controller
Content box C: Roller and additional parts
Content box D: Charger
Kept that short; higher resolution and much more pics of both versions are here:
low resolution
high resolution
The differences to the Standard kit are
- Mounting plate rotated
- Shorter roller arm
- Added spacer
- Cable lengths
- Shorter roller axle stump (freewheel)
The weights in gram
Battery 1500
Battery bag 50
Controller 200
Motor + mount (Strida version) 750
Motor + mount (Standard version) 785
Roller + accessories 125
Charger 310
Power cord 180
Cable lengths in cm
(In brackets the Standard drive)
Controller to battery connector 15 (10)
Controller to motor connector 37 (10)
Controller to throttle 135 (135)
Controller to PAS sensor - (40)
[size=150]Mounting[/size]
Actually I need to clear something first:
I did completely misunderstand the function* of the drives mechanic and mounted therefore the recoil spring in the wrong direction!
As there was no “real” application guide supplied I have a small excuse…
(The “guide” you can see in the high res album is actually just one sheet of paper, containing battery hints.
According to the sales manager was the translation of a detailed guide finished just one day after our purchase.)
So - naturally - there was some trouble in the beginning.
Once figured out how the parts belong together it’s very easy to mount the drive.
The mechanical parts are obviously of high quality and fit perfect.
Also noticeable: There are two different mounting plates; one for 16 and one for 18 inch.
[size=150]*Function[/size]
The roller is in steady touch with the tyre because the recoil spring is pulling upwards to a not defined position.
(Not defined because the roller - and the arm - can be rotated easily due to the weak spring.
Said in other words: The arm can “float” above tyre/rim ups and downs.)
So, if the motor is off, will the roller spin - but not the belt in the drivetrain to the motor because there is a small freewheel inside the roller axle stump!
Amazing size…
However, the spring is weak, therefore is the additional friction of the roller very low.
Once the motor is turned on will the freewheel engage, the roller bites into the rubber and the arm is pulled to a defined position.
Defined because there is an adjustable (on Standard) or a fixed (Strida) arrestor which is limiting the arm’s movement.
In it’s upper position is the roller pressed strongly (several mm’s) into the tyre - to achieve high friction for the motor torque.
Switching off the motor will disengage the freewheel, the arm will rotate clockwise and the roller-to-tyre pressure released; we’re again in the - still touching, but with less friction - undefined mode.
[size=150]Riding[/size]
Sorry, none of us wanted to ride the kit in the present configuration…
Too old/wise for that…
[size=150]Details[/size]
-
- Dumb throttle
Below the HP throttle compared to a common e-bike throttle, please note the dimensions (and working angles!) and especially one crucial detail:
- Dumb throttle
There is no recoil spring foreseen in the HP version!
That means if you let it go, the speed control knob will stay in it’s current position until it is turned back manually to zero.
The knob does not automatically return to zero.
Out of security concerns, we mean that a speed control without automatic switch-off will be much too dangerous for the average customer.
In the present configuration, neither Mike nor me would sell this kit to anybody. Sorry. No way.
(Searching the web for an alternative throttle I had to notice that the use of a simple potentiometer seems not common. All found replacement throttles are using a different, contactless system with magnets and Hall sensors.
I’ve noticed also that the HP throttle is far away from being proportional - the motor will spin with full speed at an angle of maximally 90 degree, more than 270 are possible with common potis.)
-
- Folding issue
If the Strida gets folded will the roller arm touch the front tyre - and act like a brake while pushing “her” forward, the steady touching roller doesn’t make that better.
Strida insider know it: “You shall not pull her”, but that’s sometimes necessary to arrange the bike in small places, with the arm (which is pulled in direction to his defined position) locking the front wheel it is impossible to pull “her”.
More for that at the end of the post…
-
- PAS system
Even if we didn’t try it by now we’re convinced that a system with just one magnet must be slow and dull.
We’d appreciate here a change to a separable disc with at least six magnets.
- PAS system
-
- Brake switches
Several interested people mentioned the importance of additional motor-off switches inside of the brake levers.
We’d suggest to add this function for security enhancement and also to compensate the - technically caused - idleness of PAS systems.
- Brake switches
Naturally, I’ve contacted already on Sunday the German speaking HP sales manager by mail.
We’ve also spoken about our concerns including suggestions box on Monday…it was a longer, for my meaning very friendly and constructive discussion…
I guess it will take some time to talk back with the Korean engineer team…as he promised…
During the last days I’ve tried to find solutions respectively replacement for the first two mentioned issues.
Unfortunately not successful in the throttle case; I couldn’t find even one suitable thumb throttle with a potentiometer…
Different in the folding issue:
By modifying one original HP part, adding two custom parts and a metric bolt I’ve created a simple locking mechanism.
Principially said: The drive became a second defined position; arm and roller are arrested in a certain position a few mm away from the tyres - and the wheels are free!
Of course, there’s no remote control - engaging works by turning the arm about 10 degree clockwise, disengaging by lifting a little lever for ~ 2 mm.
Neither material choice (Titanium, Brass & Steel), shape nor the mechanical function are perfect, but it works very well.
Dear reader…yes you…
Even if you’re not a big writer…we really need your opinion!
Please take a few minutes to tell us, especially about the thumb throttle - thank you!
Sincerely,
Chris