Project View

Marin Nicasio RC Conversion

Ottawa, Ontario, Canada

474

Published: 2024-05-26

Cruiser/Chopper Bike

Grin All-Axle

I wanted an ebike to help with longer commutes so I can have more energy to go on fun road rides after. I bought this beautiful Marin Nicasio RC used because of the upright riding position and 8 speed Nexus IGH which I think makes it perfect for a commuter already. I did the conversion with a Grin Front All-Axle Cycle Analyst 3 conversion kit, with a 48V, 20Ah battery.

A huge THANK YOU to Peter and Justin at Grin for all their help! This bike is so much fun and is really going to help me get around.

Building the wheel

I'm lacing the hub to an AlexRims MD27.

Installed in the fork with the torque arm

Smaller parts

I had to really file away at the 24 pole PAS to get it to fit nicely on the spindle, but in the end it works great

This is connected to the Baserunner with the 9 pin to DC adapter. I might try to model and 3d print a better mount for it later. — Roxim R1 Taillight

Getting the Tripwire setup nicely was a bit tricky, but eventually I figured out a combination of zip ties and routing through the brake lever clamp that keeps it secure and responsive to squeezing the lever. — Brake Tripwire

Saved the plastic film removal until the very end. — Roxim X4 headlight

Thanks Peter! — Baserunner install in cradle

I'm using some velcro cable ties on the motor cable to keep it secure while allowing for easy removal for when I get a flat tire. The rear light cable is wrapped around the rear rack and chainstay. The PAS cable is routed through an unused set of cable guides on the frame of the bike, and the rest of the cables are zip tied down along the bottom of the frame, until they are tidied up in the velcro sleeve at the CA3. — Bit of cable management

My tweaks

I did a few things to make my build a little more polished.

Printables link for the PAS plug cap: https://www.printables.com/model/773750-grin-baserunner-pastorque-plug-cap

The bottle bosses on my downtube aren't drilled perfectly straight, and the large battery leans heavily to one side. I shimmed the triple bob with some slices of a ruptured inner tube to get it to sit straight. — Triple Bob shims.

Since my PAS is plugged into the CA3 and not the Baserunner, the plug for it was left exposed aroud the bottom bracket area which collects a lot of debris. I modelled and 3d printed a little cap that slides over it. When I get the right size heat shrink I will slip it around the cap and plug to keep it extra sealed. — 3D Printed PAS/Torque plug cap.

1000km Update & Grin it to Win it Winner!?

Since completing this build just over 3 months ago, I've put a thousand kilometres on it and it's been fantastic. It's often quicker and more reliable than public transit, parking is cheap or free, I don't have to worry about gas prices, I'm not sweaty like with an acoustic bike, and it's so much fun to ride! I get a lot of compliments on it, and everyone who has tried riding it loves it. And it won a Grin it to Win it staff pick! Thank you so much for that Madi!

I have not changed much since the original build, except for relocating the screw hole for the tripwire to increase the amount of cable it moves to make it more reliable (the original location didn't move enough cable to reliably switch between on and off), I added a stem bag for a water bottle, and found the right size heat-shrink to go around my PAS plug cap. At some point I want to put a front rack or basket on for carrying awkward/bulky objects.

Two other things I want to mention are that I really like the thumb throttle that Grin (currently) sells with this kit, it feels much higher quality than other throttles I have seen on ebike conversions with a strong return spring and durable plastics. I also really like the Roxim X4 headlight, the beam pattern is really nice, and it's plenty bright.