Are you thinking about changing your bike to an electric model but aren’t sure where to begin? This guide will show you how to add electric assist to your bike.
Converting a bicycle to electric assistance can be a rewarding endeavor if you’re willing to do it. You can save a lot of money compared to purchasing an e-bike made in a factory.
Let’s suppose you have an old Trek mountain bike or Cannondale mountainbike in your shed. A decent mid-drive conversion kit including battery will cost you around PS600 ($780). This is a huge savings compared to buying an electric bike with mid-drive built by a manufacturer.
Although the Decathlon E-Stilus may be great, it is not as good as PS3000.
It is not for everyone. If you aren’t mechanically inclined, you might consider purchasing an electric bike from a manufacturer or finding someone who can install the kit.
Also, a retrofit conversion motor for an electric bike may not be as reliable as a Bosch or Shimano stepsmotor commonly found on factory-produced electric bikes.
To choose the best motor for you, think about what your intended purpose is.
A small geared hub motor is sufficient for flat areas with very few inclines. However, if your area has steep hills and constant inclines, a mid-drive might be better.
Your personal preferences will ultimately influence the choice you make. While both types of motors are acceptable on e-bikes, it is important to remember that small hub motors can be more efficient than mid-drives.
Motors with direct drive hub motors
Direct drive hub motors are the simplest form electric bike propulsion. The motor’s outer shell is an integral part and is equipped with a large ring of powerful magnets.
The motor drives the wheel directly when it runs (that’s why the name). This means that the wheel is essentially a motor with the shaft fixed in so that the shaft spins instead of spinning.
Although it is simple, the motor must be large and heavy in order to generate enough power. A motor that spins slowly would not produce enough torque. Also, the speed at which you want your wheel turning is slow means the motor must be large to produce sufficient torque at low speeds.
Direct drive hub motors are reliable and inexpensive, and can handle large amounts of power. A big hub motor is a good option if you’re looking for an electric bike with high performance and low cost.
Geared Hub Motor
Direct drive motors are less efficient than small geared hub motors. Through a planetary gear reduction, the motor case is connected with the stator. The motor inside spins a lot faster for every rotation of the cas. This allows the motor’s efficiency to be higher while still allowing for a slower spinning wheel.
A geared hub motor has another great advantage: you have virtually no pedalling resistance when the motor is off or loses power. You can still pedal like a normal bike.
Although geared motors can be maintained easily, if you climb a lot it is possible that the nylon planetary gears will begin to wear. These are inexpensive and easy to replace.
Front Hub motor vs Rear Hub Motor
Front wheel electric bike conversion kit
There are many pros and cons to fitting a front hub engine over a rear hub motor. Front hub motors are easier to fit when it comes to electric wheel. This is because you don’t have to swap over freewheels or gear cassettes.
A small, geared hub motor is the best choice for front-wheel 26 inch ebike conversion kit. They are lightweight, compact and provide decent torque.
There are larger direct-drive front wheel electric bikes available. These are usually more affordable and powerful than the smaller motors, but they can be difficult to fit on bikes with disc brakes. They are also significantly heavier and less efficient.
A front hub motor has another advantage: when you use the pedal assist, the bike effectively is being driven by both the front and rear wheels. While the front wheel’s electric motor is providing assistance, the pedal assist allows you to push the rear wheel with your pedals.
The electric front wheels are not ideal for off-road riding. They can spin on uneven ground and climb steep hills.
Rear Wheel Conversion Kit for Electric Bike
A rear wheel electric hubmotor is the best way to add electric assistance to a bicycle that has a conversion kit. You will need a special tool to change the rear wheel.
The motor pulls you, not pulling you, when it comes to riding. A smaller, geared rear hub motor will be more discreet.
Rear hub motors are also very good for rough terrain. Because all of the rider’s weight is concentrated on the rear wheel, wheel spin is less of an issue.
This setup has one downside: replacing the inner tube after a puncture can take a lot of time. To greatly reduce the risk of punctures, I recommend that you use a Schwalbe Marathon Plus puncture-resistant tyre.
Mid-Drive Motor
Mid-drive motors are the preferred choice for more expensive ebikes. These motors are far more efficient than hub motors and produce far more torque.
This type of motor installation can be difficult for inexperienced people. The bottom bracket on the bicycle must be removed in order to make it easier to install. The rest of the process is straightforward once this has been completed. Remember that most mid-drive kits will only work with standard threaded bottom bracket shells measuring 68mm to 73mm in width and 33.5mm in diameter.
If installed correctly, a middle-drive system can give your bike the appearance and feel of an expensive e-bike.
Mid-drive motors have two main disadvantages: increased pedalling resistance when the motor’s on and periodic maintenance (such a tightening of the motor). The front chainring will be the only one.
Mid-Drive motor vs. Hub motor
All of the information above is important. It all boils down to your financial plan and what type of riding you want.
My experience is that small hub motors are generally less trouble than mid-drives over the long-term. You should also consider pedalling resistance. The motors of the direct-drive hub motor and the mid-drive motor create significant resistance when the motor is off.
Mid-drives excel at hill climbing. A 250w Bafang Bafang BBS01B motor will produce almost 100% more torque than the equivalent geared hub motor.
The hub motor kits are more DIY-oriented. There will be an external controller, usually in a frame bag, and an external pedal assist sensor. There will also be lots of wiring to clean up. The finished product will look cleaner and neater with mid-drive motors.
Conclusion
A small geared hub motor is the best choice if you want to have some help on hills, but still be able to pedal well by yourself. A mid-drive is a good choice if you want a bike capable of climbing very steep hills.
