E bikes. Low bottom...
 

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E bikes. Low bottom brackets?

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Have just had a quick spin up the bike path and noticed my pedals brushing the low cut grass. I’ve not measured how high the pedals are off the ground but when offering the bike up to my 26 hard tail the pedals went underneath the 26ers.

I have swapped the 29 wheels for 27 + which might make a 2cm difference.

Visually the BB looks comically low . I could try the bike and see if it’s ok but the shop only let you do 5 miles to see if it fits.
It’s got 165 crank arms so nothing to change there.
There are videos about avoiding pedal strikes on E bikes. Is it a known thing?


 
Posted : 12/06/2023 10:58 pm
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Just normal these days, but some brands have gone a bit far. Motor also makes it easier to pedal where you might not have before. You’ll probably get used to it or Hope do a 155mm crank. I’ve got them it solved the problem on my mega low Whyte along with the new link the current bikes come with to raise the bb 12mm. Like I said, some brands went a bit too far.


 
Posted : 12/06/2023 11:09 pm
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have swapped the 29 wheels for 27 + which might make a 2cm difference.

That'll be why it's too low then

Get some shorter crank arms or put the 29 inch wheels back on if you find it a problem


 
Posted : 13/06/2023 7:17 am
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@Clubby , have been investigating short crank arms.

Some people have mentioned reduced range and harder work when cycling over the cut off. Have you noticed this? What motor do you have?


 
Posted : 13/06/2023 7:19 am
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FYI - My KSL BB with 29/27.5 F/R runs at 338 I sagged in slack head / high BB setting. I’m used to it. I have ordered 160 cranks tho. Hard to get cranks for the SL (M30) Spesh fitting.


 
Posted : 13/06/2023 7:22 am
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The pedal strikes seem to be due to pedalling when you wouldn't normally, because you can.  Certainly in my case anyway.


 
Posted : 13/06/2023 7:23 am
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Hard to get cranks for the SL (M30) Spesh fitting.

I'm finding this on my Kenevo SL. I have it set up in highest/ steepest setting and still find the BB low.


 
Posted : 13/06/2023 7:33 am
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Miranda do most of the ebike cranks and come in all sorts of sizes. They are simple and (relatively) cheap unless you are after Hope Bling.

https://mirandabikestore.com/


 
Posted : 13/06/2023 7:51 am
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I think the main issue here is that the 26 had a really tall BB.

Pedal height is the same as my whippet and I never had a problem with that even running the plus wheels.
My anthem is 2 cm taller when static and sagged ,I’m sure on the trail that difference would disappear.
I think the bike is a keeper and can be tweaked if needs be.


 
Posted : 13/06/2023 7:58 am
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Just looked at the chart and it’s a 64mm BB drop. That’s a nice (and pretty low) height for 29” wheels (with fairly big tyres like 2.3-2.6”). It’s very very low with 27.5+ wheels.


 
Posted : 13/06/2023 8:10 am
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Some people have mentioned reduced range and harder work when cycling over the cut off. Have you noticed this? What motor do you have?

Nope. Felt slightly different at first but hard to describe how. Don’t notice it now even when swapping between other bikes with cranks from 165 to 172.5.
It’s always hard to pedal over the cut off, never noticed it any worse with the new cranks.
Range not affected in my case. I find the shorter cranks make it easier the spin at a higher rpm keeping the motor in its sweet spot. May be different it your low rpm stomper. I’m on a Gen 4 Bosch.
I’m going to be getting a set for my enduro bike once they are back in stock.


 
Posted : 13/06/2023 8:10 am
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The pedal strikes seem to be due to pedalling when you wouldn’t normally, because you can. Certainly in my case anyway.

This. ☝️

Also there 145mm cranks avalible from Pinned if you want to go really short.


 
Posted : 13/06/2023 8:28 am
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Some people have mentioned reduced range and harder work when cycling over the cut off. Have you noticed this? What motor do you have?

Shortening cranks will always make it harder work, simple mechanics - reducing the size of the chainring is the usual 'requirement'.

I’m finding this on my Kenevo SL. I have it set up in highest/ steepest setting and still find the BB low.

I've mine on the lowest setting (front & rear), definitely needs shorter cranks which I intend to get when I've the forks & shock away for a service later in the year - talk with your local dealer.

I put shorter cranks on my older FS last year after putting a -2 headset in, really improved it.


 
Posted : 13/06/2023 8:42 am
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Turbo Levo with 165mm and get a lot of pedal strikes compared to Stumpy. Mainly due to a lot of paths having been rutted by off roaders over winter so difficult to eliminate going uphill. Looking to replace with Miranda’s 155mm to try and reduce.


 
Posted : 13/06/2023 11:41 am
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I am suffering from this problem too currently off the bike due to bruised/broken ribs after hitting a semi-buried fence post which the wire attached caught my pedal. I think I was turning slightly and pedaling at the same time. Riding a Voima with 27.5 wheels and 155 cranks going to have to stop pedaling on the flat so much as this is the second crash I have had last time it was a tree stump luckily no injuries that time! So there are videos on this pedal strike with e-bikes?


 
Posted : 13/06/2023 12:14 pm
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Shorter cranks might affect pedalling, but that’s what gears are for. I’d rather have short cranks and use my gears more than run longer cranks. Plus, you just adjust your pedalling style.

I still think that unless something has a crazy low BB and long cranks then most pedal strikes are rider error.

I still donmt understand why the industry insists on speccing mountain bikes with 170 and 175mm cranks.


 
Posted : 13/06/2023 2:47 pm
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I had a test Giant E Reign. The bb was so low that the motor casing would strike steps when riding down them, even when I increased the shock pressure and locked out the forks. Safe to say, it was not the best bike I ever rode. However, the following year, Giant redesigned the motor and casing and made it much smaller meaning that a fairly annoying flaw was fixed.

Cheers

Sanny


 
Posted : 14/06/2023 10:08 am
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Rode it in today over the rootiest bits I could find.i
I could have had pedal strikes but in reality you are standing up to absorb the bump.
I have ordered 155 cranks but I reckon they will stay in the box and maybe fitted for the rocky climbs of Dartmoor.


 
Posted : 14/06/2023 10:24 am
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Rickmeister. Miranda are not for SL though.


 
Posted : 15/06/2023 9:39 am
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25 mile last night. The only brushes with the ground came pedalling on fast twisty single-track .
Will try my short cranks on Monday.


 
Posted : 15/06/2023 9:43 am
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Miranda are not for SL though.

Good point, different motor.


 
Posted : 15/06/2023 9:46 am
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SannyFree Member
I had a test Giant E Reign. The bb was so low that the motor casing would strike steps when riding down them, even when I increased the shock pressure and locked out the forks. Safe to say, it was not the best bike I ever rode. However, the following year, Giant redesigned the motor and casing and made it much smaller meaning that a fairly annoying flaw was fixed.

I have this bike, it nearly killed me going down a chute i'd done many times without worry on one of the first rides, i basically endo'd down the chute, low brackets are a real nightmare to manage a lot of the time, those fallen down trees, log jumps, etc need a lot more planning and commitment!

Still love it for most other stuff, nice fast flowy stuff is good, jumps is good, just obstacles and anything requiring a little bunny hop get a bit hairy now and then.


 
Posted : 15/06/2023 11:17 am
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The Miranda ones have a hole too big for the crank.  I’ve seen mini isis mentioned ,is that what I need?


 
Posted : 15/06/2023 7:55 pm

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