An overview of improvements made for the production ODK E-Bikes
Wednesday, December 26, 2012 at 12:57PM Continuous Improvement
There are several improvements which made their way onto the production ODK E-Bike since the pre-production V2 builds. The small changes will help to improve the quality, reliability and the user experience. All shipping units will now include the following features:
Smoother throttle mapping
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The controller has an improved programming setup. Rapid starts are smoother and more controllable. Performance in wet or slippery conditions is improved. Throttle "play" has been reduced and the throttle engages earlier.
4x Thick inner tubes
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A 4x thick inner tube has been selected as the standard inner tube. The difference is dramatic. The outer section where punctures normally occur is thicker than the inner section, so the weight is less than 4x that of a normal tube. The image to the left compares the 4x and standard tubes.
Electric bicycles travel much longer distances and are generally heavier than normal bicycles. Any reduction in the chance of a puncture will improve the overall reliability of the product. Liquid tire sealant can still be used with this tube if the rider chooses.
Thicker front dropouts
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The steel fork's dropout thickness has been increased to 5mm. The increased width will better protect the axle from spinning inside the dropout if the front wheel is improperly serviced. The new fork is specially customized for the new ODK.
Rear V-brakes
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The rear roller brake has been replaced with V-brakes which provide better stopping power in most conditions. V-brakes are also lighter and more widely used in the North American market.
Cruise control deactivation
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Applying the throttle while in cruise mode will deactivate the cruise control and return the bike to normal operation. The cruise control can now lock on to the speed immediately and even at very low speeds. The bike now has 4 ways to deactivate the cruise:
1. Applying the front brake
2. Applying the rear brake
3. Turning the throttle
4. Again pushing the cruise button
Larger shipping box
The shipping box is taller which allows the bike to be shipped fully assembled. The previous box required the stem and handle bar to be disassembled prior to shipping. There was also the chance that some part of the handlebar would be damaged during shipping. Custom foam inserts have been made to reduce the chance that the bike will be crushed. The bike can be ridden now with only the installation of the pedals and adjustment of the handle bars.
Longer charger cable
The length of the charger's cable has been doubled which will help access hard-to-reach electric outlets.