E-Bike conversion kits explained
E-Bike Conversion?
Why invest in a whole new bike when the best electric bike conversion kits allow you to fit the latest technology on your current steed?
Included in this guide:
1. Swytch
2. Rubbee X
3. Bafang - Front Hub Motor
4. Bafang - Mid-Drive Motor Kit and Battery
5. Pendix - eDrive150start
6. Tongsheng- Mid-Drive Kit with Battery
7. Swytch Electric Bike Conversion Kit
If you want to add a bit of power to your cycling but don't want to buy an e-bike outright, an electric bike conversion kit will allow you to transform the bike you already have into something that gives you the boost you're after.
The best electric bikes are at the forefront of the global conversation in a big way, and there are lots of. Benefits to having one: they make the world more accessible without jumping in a car, they still provide a great workout, they make difficult hills a thing of the past, they're cheaper to run, easier to park, and allow you to cycle from A to B at a higher pace for less effort. Whether you're looking for the best electric bikes for commuting, the best electric road bikes for covering more miles at the weekend, or want to hit the trails after work with one of the best electric gravel bikes, the right e-bike lets you tackle longer days, steeper hills and carry heavier loads, with faster speeds or lower levels of effort. It's no fluke that they are suddenly everywhere and everyone wants one.
The only thing that might be stopping you is the price of one. Even if you take advantage of the cheap electric bike deals currently out there, they still require significant investment if you're on a low budget. A way around that is to convert a bike you've already got sitting around. Waste not, want not, right? You've already got a bike you love, so why spend money on a brand new bike when, with the right knowledge and the right kit, you could take that old bike, add an electric bike conversion kit, and get yourself an electric bike for less money.
But where do you even start?
We have researched the following ...
Best electric bike conversion kits
1. Swytch Electric Bike Conversion Kit
A clever and attractive kit that is easy to install on almost any bike.
SPECIFICATIONS
Wattage: 250 Battery included: Yes Motor position: 250 wheel
REASONS TO BUY
- Shows battery power and assistance mode
- The hub is available without a wheel for something unique
- Easy to take the battery pack with you and avoid thef
REASION TO AVOID
- Cadence sensor can be hard to fit
Swapping the front wheel is one of the easiest ways to convert any bike to an electric bike. That's the approach that Swytch takes but a good system is more than just a motor and battery. The Swytch kit thinks through the whole system. The battery mounts to the handlebars and it's easy to take with you so it doesn't get stolen. While riding there are lights on the top of the battery pack to show how much battery you've got and what assist mode you are in. There's also a cadence sensor that attaches to your bike. It's a well thought out system and it looks great.
2. Rubbee X electric bike conversion kit
The absolute simplest install possible
SPECIFICATIONS
Wattage: 250wBattery Included: Yes Battery Position: Rear tire
REASONS TO BUY
- Regenerative braking
- Wireless Cadence Sensor
- Incredibly simple to setup and easy to remove
REASONS TO AVOID
- Motor makes noise on the tyre, especially in the rain
There are a number of simple install options on the list but the Rubbee X takes it a step further. Attach a mount to the seat tube and click the unit into the mount. There's also a cadence sensor but that's wireless too. There's nothing easier than that and you get a slick looking 250watt motor with a single battery in the base kit. If the 10-mile range of the base unit feels a little constricting add another battery and double the range. If you need to change assistance modes,
grab your phone and open up the app.
3. Bafang front wheel conversion kit
Bafang Front Hub Motor Stick with a well-known brand but opt for the ease of setup that comes with a front wheel motor
SPECIFICATIONS
Wattage: 250, 500, 750Battery included: YesMotor position: Front wheel
REASONS TO BUY
- Relatively easy setup
- Powerful once converted
- High quality components
- Great ride quality
- Control for every component is in your hands
REASONS TO AVOID
- -Cable management is a challenge
If you like the idea of converting your bike to electric-assist but you can't, or don't want to, deal with the added complexity of a mid-drive setup, then the Bafang Front Hub kit makes things much easier.
Like the mid-drive system listed above, the Front Hub Kit covers everything you need and gives you tons of choice. Start by choosing your wheel size and display preference, then add the battery size and shape you'd like.
With all the options available, finding the kit to fit your bike is easy.
3a Bafang Mid-Drive Motor Kit and Battery
A mid-drive all-inclusive kit from one of the best-known brands in the industry
SPECIFICATIONS
Wattage: 500Battery included: Yes Motor position: Crank
REASONS TO BUY
- US support
- Lots of options
REASONS TO AVOID
- Needs better instructions
Bafang is one of the largest and most well-known electric bike motor companies in the world. It's been around since 2003 and in 2014 Bafang established a US arm to better support the US market. There are many well-known electric bike
companies sourcing its components, so if you want to get in the game and source your own electric bike components, you won't go wrong with Bafang.
This particular option covers everything you need for a mid-drive motor conversion kit. As long as the bike you are starting with has a bottom bracket sized between 68 and 73mm, this kit will work. From there you can choose the front chainring size, the battery size, and what display works for you.
5. Pendix eDrive150start
The advantages of a torque sensing mid-drive kit with a dealer network for installation and support
SPECIFICATIONS
Wattage: 250wBattery Included: Yes Motor Location: Crank
REASONS TO BUY
- Fits most bikes with a threaded bottom bracket
- Torque-sensing pedal assist
- Dealer installed
REASONS TO AVOID
- Expensive
- Must be fitted by a dealer
If you like the idea of a mid-drive system and you want it to have torque-sensing pedal assist then you've got a couple of choices. The challenge with a system like that is complexity. For some people, it's no big deal to take apart a bottom
bracket but for others it's intimidating.
The Pendix system does the same thing as other kits but it has a dealer network that handles sales, support, and installation. This comes with an extra cost attached, but the benefit is that you can feel comfortable that the system is correctly installed and your bike is ready for it.
6. Tongsheng Mid-Drive Kit with Battery
Tongsheng Mid-Drive Kit with Battery A torque sensor-based pedal assist with a mid-drive motor is the gold standard for natural feeling acceleration
SPECIFICATIONS
Wattage: 500Battery included: Yes Motor position: Crank
REASONS TO BUY
- Torque sensor-based pedal assist
- Natural feeling acceleration
REASONS TO AVOID
- Instructions aren’t great
The most natural-feeling motor is going to be a mid-mounted motor. If that works for you and you also like the idea of doing some pedalling, then the very best is a mid-mounted motor paired with a torque sensor.
Instead of the system knowing you are pedalling and adding power, a torque-based system adds a percentage of power. Max torque available on this system is 80Nm but depending on your chosen assist level, that 80Nm will add between 36 and 300 per cent to your pedalling power.
To keep it simple, think about it as an amplifier. If you pedal harder you go faster, just like a normal bike, but now your muscles have extra support.
TYPES OF E-BIKE CONVERSION KITS
A. Friction Drive Conversion
A roller pushes against the tyre on the wheel and when the roller turns the wheel turns. This strategy isn't all that efficient but it's simple. There's very little challenge with making it work but at the end of the day, it doesn't work all that well.
B. Mid-Drive Conversion
The best electric bikes tend to be mid-drive and the same is true of conversion kits. The weight sits low in the frame and the power gets applied to the crank for a more natural sensation. The only downside is pricing and packaging. Different
standards make it challenging to figure out exactly what you need and there's more work involved in adding the parts.
C. Electric Bike Wheel Conversion
Swapping either a front or rear wheel for an electrified version is a good balance. The conversion process is very simple and depending on how the battery mounts the weight distribution can be quite good. Powering the wheel does change the way the power delivery feels and making the front wheel heavy can affect the handling of the bike. If mid-drive seems overwhelming this is an excellent option.
HOW TO CHOOSE AN ELECTRIC BIKE CONVERSION KIT
1. Do all electric bike conversion kits come with a battery?
The short answer is 'not always'. You need a battery of course, so when browsing online, make sure the kit you select has one included. Since not all kits include a battery, you might find yourself browsing through options and landing on something with an unbelievable price. If that's the case, just double check it's got the battery included. If not, then it is possible to source the battery yourself, but be sure about what you are getting.
2. I haven't heard of a lot of these brands, are they safe to use?
In the world of electric bikes there are a lot of brands you may not have ever heard of. There is a boom going on so new brands are popping up all the time. Not only that but Europe, and especially the US, are playing catch up to the
trend of electric bikes. You will probably stumble across a lot of unfamiliar brand names.
Consumers have a tendency to look away when they encounter a new brand. It's not a bad strategy most of the time, but in the electric bike world, including conversion kits, you've got to be more open than that. If you aren't open to names you've never heard of you will find the options limited. A lot of the names you may come across are unfamiliar to you but have a solid history behind them.
That doesn't mean you should go forward blindly. Do your research and be careful with your money like always. The only thing that might be different is a need for being open to new companies. At the very least be willing to look a little
deeper, read reviews, do some research. The brand you've never heard might actually be a well-established brand from a different part of the world.
3. Is converting my bike to an electric bike worth it?
There are loads of reasons to install an electric bike conversion kit to your current bike, but the question of whether it's worth doing is going to depend on your circumstances. For many kits, once the installation has been completed, it
will be an arduous task to remove it again, so one of the questions you'll need to ask yourself is whether or not you want to retain the ability to use the bike as a 'normal' bike. If you expect to be flitting between the two (powered and
non-powered) then a kit that can simply be folded out of the way - like the Rubbee X - might be perfect, but you might instead prefer to simply buy a second bike for the convenience.
The second question is to assess the state of your current bike, if you have one at all. If you don't have one, then the cost of buying a bike, buying an electric bike conversion kit, and then fitting it, is probably not going to be worth the
time, effort, or money involved. However, if you have a bike that is in reasonable repair, then the value for money - and effort - will be greater.
Beyond the financial and practical element, the question of 'is it worth it' will also depend on the amount of use you get out of it. E-bikes can be incredibly motivating and enjoyable, and if converting your standard bike to electric helps you to ditch the car on a regular basis, then the answer becomes clear.
If you want a monetary answer to this question, then there are ways to work out whether the investment is worth it. Take a moment to think about your current car usage and work out the cost per day / mile, including fuel, parking and running costs.
Try to work out how many journeys, days or miles you will use the bike for after it is converted. Once you know this, you should be able to work out the reduction in car running costs per mile / day, and with that, you should be able to work out how many miles / days it will take for the electric bike conversion kit to pay for itself.
4.. Should I just buy an electric bike instead?
Remember to consider all your options. You have a bike in the shed you haven't touched for a lot of years. It seems like a perfect candidate for conversion to an electric bike. It might be, but it's also just as possible that it's a better candidate
for a sale. Sometimes it's better to take the money from that sale, and put it towards an electric bike someone else built.
As with anything, consideration for the end-use during design and build can have advantages. A quality electric bike conversion kit might end up being very close to the price of a complete electric bike. If a company starts with a clean slate and designs an electric bike it's easier to keep costs low and integration high. Really consider why you are thinking about converting your bike and does it make sense compared to what's on the market. In some cases it will but in others, it won't.
Consider the condition and componentry of your old bike as well. With an electric motor dramatically increasing the torque, using a low quality or worn drivetrain will result in poor performance with shifting being affected and the chain skipping or even snapping. Another important consideration is the brakes, adding the extra weight and increasing potential speeds put more stress on the brakes as they try to curtail momentum. We recommend choosing to convert a bike that has disk brakes as they will provide far better braking performance.
5. Are electric bike conversion kits legal?
The kits themselves are entirely legal, and fitting them to your bike is equally so, however, the question of legality arises in relation to where you then plan to use your newly powered electric bike. The answer will vary hugely, depending on whereabouts in the world you're based, and which kit you choose.
For example, in the USA, there are different classes of e-bikes that vary by their power, speed limitations and whether or not they have a throttle, and each class is subject to different rules. Things are a little more simple elsewhere, with the UK stating that anything with a speed limiter of over 25km/h is classes as a moped, while anything up to 25km/h is classed as a bicycle.
Before you make any purchase, make sure you have an understanding of the local laws that govern electric bikes, which is where our guide to ebike classes comes in handy.
6. . How do I fit an electric bike conversion kit?
Sadly, there is no single and simple answer to this question, as each electric bike conversion kit works in a different way, it therefore fits onto your bike in a different way too.
The most simple options are the friction-drive kits, such as the Rubbee X, which place a roller onto your rear tyre. In the example of the Rubbee, you simply need to mount the device onto your seat post, with the roller placed against the tyre. However, more complex systems require the removal of drivetrain components and wheels, and the installation of wiring. These are far from
impossible, but they may require some tools and a bit of patience.
7. How much does an electric bike conversion kit cost?
Prices will depend very much on the conversion kit in question. Some are available for as little as £250 ($350), while the more high-spec and integrated kits can fetch as much as £750 ($900).
8. Will a bike shop fit my electric bike conversion kit?
It's understandable that you might not want to take on the arduous task of fitting your electric bike conversion kit yourself. You might not have the tools, the know-how, the confidence, or simply the time to invest. Luckily, almost all bike shops will be happy to fit it for you.
Some systems, such as the Pendix kit listed above, are only sold via physical stores and the fitment is sold as part of the overall package. However, with kits bought online such as the Bafang kit, the shop will most likely charge you for the time it takes, which will add to the cost of the overall conversion. In our opinion, knowing that it's been done correctly and safely is worth spending extra.
I hope that this information is helpful to you.
Further Information available by
Email:- info@primaryelectrics.com
Mobile:- 07970889341
Please Note
This information has been replicated from Future Publishing Limited
Individuals carrying out the instructions in this guide do so at their own risk and must exercise their independent judgement. There is a risk to safety if the operation described in the instructions is not carried out with the appropriate equipment, skill and diligence and therefore you may wish to consult a bike mechanic. Future Publishing Limited provides the information for this project in good faith and makes no representations as to its completeness or accuracy. To the fullest extent permitted by law, neither Future Publishing Limited, its suppliers or any of their employees, agents or subcontractors shall have any liability in connection with the use of this information, provided that nothing shall exclude or limit the liability of any party for personal injury or death caused by negligence or for anything else which cannot be excluded or limited by law.