So Rogers thread "Eco-Wheels Show round-up and photos", here:
http://www.ebikerider...

got off track with messages about friction drive systems where outkastland posed the question "Are there any e-bike kits that are able to be taken on and off easily?" and I suggested "friction drive" as a possible option, as with this commercial product from Go-ped:


And I pointed out there are folks "rolling their own" friction drives like this:


And concerns were noted about friction drive systems including the noise that "outrunner" motors designed for "RC" (radio controlled models of planes and cars etc) can have, or that friction drive systems can slip when the tire is wet...

But there are folks out there that are happily running these setups.

Another example:



...and a video of another home-made system using a "regular" ebike/escooter motor:


Here is a loooong thread (started April 2009) that gets into many aspects of the design and construction of effective friction drive systems:
http://endless-sphere...

Just wanted to post a separate thread here for anyone interested in this stuff!

Cheers
LoCk

This one is pretty fun. How much more stealthy ebike can ya get???


And the panniers probably muffle some of the noise of the RC motor...
l0Ck

That is pretty stealthy! Smart man. Which kit is he using?

Not a kit... Bracket and roller fabricated. Same bike as pictured near the top of this thread, only with the panniers thrown over everything... Ya have to read that loooong thread I posted the link to above!

Here's another commercial friction drive kit:
http://www.electricbi...


...$695 plus shipping... plus probably taxes and brokerage at the border... unfortunately includes lead acid, but maybe they would sell their kit without that battery at some discount...

Lock