My first e-MTB ride
07/10/2026Nine Continent RH205 and Rockrider 6.3
07/10/2026
Retirement on an electric bike
Alain is a (hyper) active retiree and at the same time a kind of sage, a person in tune with life and the universe! He is also a mechanical engineer who approaches problems with a technical vision of things: here he is studying the e-bike for a “retirement on an electric bike”!
Alain recently became the owner of a used electric bike (a RockRider 6.3) fitted with a small 250W Bafang 8Fun at the front. He is thinking these days of taking the step for a Nine Continent motor at the rear.
Alain, what motivated the purchase of an electric bike?
Several points, but mainly curiosity! We have a problem with fossil energy and I believe a lot in alternative means of transport. I had the opportunity to try a friendu0027s electric bike and when it became possible to buy a kitted bike that had not been ridden much, I jumped at the chance, enough to satisfy my curiosity.
What use do you make of it currently and what use can you foresee?
Currently I do my shopping in the village with the bike. I also like to go and see the sunset, but by car some places are inaccessible to me and on a standard bike it is sometimes too difficult. The electric bike will help me get there. Also I plan to do all my journeys of less than 40km round trip by bike. On the other hand the bike is more or less self-service in the garage and children and grandchildren sometimes take advantage of it.
Alain, you already have a motor at the front, why switch to a rear motor?
I live at the end of a lane and I do not like the motor, on the front wheel, spinning on the gravel when I leave my house: the traction is not good. In MTB situations I find the climbs dangerous: I noticed that when pedalling (two-wheel drive) the bike is more stable, but you still have to be on the right gear! Maybe with habit the motor at the front is not too big a drawback.
On the other hand, the current motor I have, an 8FUN Bafang, is equipped with noisy planetary gears, in my opinion worn, which will soon give up.
Since I did not manage to open this one – even by making a specific tool – to change the planetary gears, the whole wheel would have to be changed…
So might as well take a new rear wheel, without planetary gears and that will not spin, at least I hope. During my first test I had appreciated the linear and vibration-free torque of the Nine Continents RH205 motor and I recently had the opportunity to open one: you just have to remove a few screws to open and realize the cleanliness of the system!
What would you like to change to improve the electrically assisted bike system?
The throttle
There should be notches on the throttle, on a climb for example I would have liked to be able to dose the power distributed to the motor more easily to lower the amperage precisely. Do accelerators with clicks exist, by the way, to dose the power? I heard of the Cycle Analyst and of the setting of the throttle ramp, I will have to study that.
Protected and waterproof kits
The protection and waterproofing of the chosen kit is very insufficient. The battery should be by default in a waterproof case with waterproof connectors to the motor and same for the controller.
I had the opportunity to study a YUNTONG battery in its aluminium case “for autopsy” and I found it ideally designed: waterproof, robust, integrated key, charge level indicator, socket for lighting, fuse, carrying handle!
On the other hand, doing the waterproofing yourself does not seem serious to me, in rainy weather you have to expect short circuits.
Kitted bike
With a kitted bike there are too many visible wires, which harm the aesthetics: everything should be integrated into the frames. I liked the folding bike my nephew brought from China: nothing is visible: neither the battery, nor the controller and even less the wires: everything is in the frame. A beautiful and ingenious creation: fine workmanship!
The screen for monitoring voltage and amperage (watt-meter)
The screen of my Watt Meter is badly designed: while riding the voltage indication, which seems to me an important piece of data, should fill the whole screen,; when stopped, scrolling each parameter is a good idea: but the indication should fill the whole screen for each parameter and stay displayed at least 5 seconds so we have time to read the figures, the position of the decimal point and the unit.
Once again I should look into the Cycle Analyst, much more expensive but much better than the Watt Meter installed on the bike I have just acquired:
Ideas and projects
Now that I have a first experience I have many ideas. I have just discovered a fascinating subject and I have time, tools and the help of a friend which will allow me to define and develop the bike I wish to have and spend a retirement on an electric bike!
