Electrified my Friends Bike

[Neil Bedwin]

A friend hit a pot hole a year ago, came off her bike and broke shoulder, collar bones, wrists etc. She wanted to get back on her bike but having lost fitness and Liverpool demolishing the Churchill Flyover so she had no easy route to get to work. So the obvious answer was to make her bike an ebike! I ordered the kit and battery from Austria on a Sunday night and it arrived on Wednesday morning! I can't get things from Manchester that quick!

Anyway.....£380 and 4 hours of work and off she goes. When the fitness has improved she intends on upgrading her bike anyway so will have the choice of ebike for lightweight road bike.

Powers up!

Battery in Place

Had to make a stainless steel bracket to hold the pannier.

Electric wheel on

All done.

 

[Augusta08]

£380 is a good price for rear motor conversion, share the vendors name/website with us.

 

[Bobby-gg]

I've built up 5 bikes using these kits for different people now and they've all loved them

The latest ones I've been buying have had the controller built into the battery so there's less wiring on show and they look really neat

 

[Bobby-gg]

These are the ones I use

https://rover.ebay.com/rover/1/710-...0001&campid=5338547443&icep_item=223887649276

And when ebay have the 5% or 10% discount one they normally qualify for that too

Available with 26' or 700c wheels, cassette of freewheel fit

 

[Allanm]

Looks like you’ve done a really good job there.

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[Spriddler]

My pal bought an electric bike sans 24v battery for a tenner at a camping rally autojumble. No prob, he had two in his m/h. Worked a wobbly treat!

 

[Neil Bedwin]

These are the ones I use

https://rover.ebay.com/rover/1/710-...0001&campid=5338547443&icep_item=223887649276

And when ebay have the 5% or 10% discount one they normally qualify for that too

Available with 26' or 700c wheels, cassette of freewheel fit

That's the same supplier I used. Good prices and quick shipping.

I bought the battery and kit separately as a downtube battery would not have fitted well. Easier with a pannier and she can put a bag on it for shopping when out in her motorhome.

 

[DBK]

Neat job, just need to add some mudguards now.

 

[Neil Bedwin]

Neat job, just need to add some mudguards now.

Did put one on the back to protect the battery but took the photos before.

 

[Lenny HB]

Nice job, I keep thinking about converting my old Specialized with a crank drive conversion even though we have e-bikes.

These are the ones I use

https://rover.ebay.com/rover/1/710-...0001&campid=5338547443&icep_item=223887649276

And when ebay have the 5% or 10% discount one they normally qualify for that too

Available with 26' or 700c wheels, cassette of freewheel fit

I notice those are 350W so can't be used on the road.

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[Minxy]

Nice job, I keep thinking about converting my old Specialized with a crank drive conversion even though we have e-bikes.


I notice those are 350W so can't be used on the road.

They can but you'd need to insure & tax them to do so.

 

[tonka]

Just been to look around our local Argos clearance centre in Walsall. They have a few folding 24v e bikes at £279.

 

[tonyidle]

I built one on a Giant alloy frame about five years ago. Motor wheel bought second-hand, controller and battery new. The battery came with a mounting & the controller I fitted into a polished alloy cylindrical case (an old air ram machined to suit). All wiring is on plugs into the case. As has been said the real issue is keeping it all tidy. Battery & controller fit within the 'triangle'.

 

[Bobby-gg]

Nice job, I keep thinking about converting my old Specialized with a crank drive conversion even though we have e-bikes.


I notice those are 350W so can't be used on the road.

Yes, offroad only

Here's my single speed retro Marin that I built up to try a conversion out in it's natural habitat



And a Cannondale that I've more recently converted



And a Tern folder with a 250w conversion for the van

 

[Neil Bedwin]

Nice job, I keep thinking about converting my old Specialized with a crank drive conversion even though we have e-bikes.


I notice those are 350W so can't be used on the road.

250w are available.....

Front wheel...

https://rover.ebay.com/rover/1/710-...0001&campid=5338547443&icep_item=223560744662

Rear wheel...

https://rover.ebay.com/rover/1/710-...0001&campid=5338547443&icep_item=333527529972

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[Minxy]

250w are available.....

Front wheel...

https://rover.ebay.com/rover/1/710-...0001&campid=5338547443&icep_item=223560744662

Rear wheel...

https://rover.ebay.com/rover/1/710-...0001&campid=5338547443&icep_item=333527529972

Am I right in thinking you need a battery on top of that cost?

 

[Neil Bedwin]

Am I right in thinking you need a battery on top of that cost?

Yes.....hence my total being £380. I added a 13ah 36v battery on a pannier carrier.

 

[tonyidle]

They can but you'd need to insure & tax them to do so.

You can't at the moment. There's no IVA test for motorcycles as yet. Coming in the next year or so I believe.

 

[Ken and Carol]

Is there any particular reason you went for rear wheel drive rather than front wheel?
I'm think that front wheel may be a little easier. Or am I wrong in this?

 

[Neil Bedwin]

Report back from my friend....she lives at the top of the hill below and loves the assistance! She's going home from work early to give the bike a ride along New Brighton front. Without the ebike kit it would still be in the shed!

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[Neil Bedwin]

Is there any particular reason you went for rear wheel drive rather than front wheel?
I'm think that front wheel may be a little easier. Or am I wrong in this?

The front wheel is easier. However I would rather be pushed along than pulled. For muddy conditions the weight is also more on the back wheel so better grip.

The only thing harder about the rear wheel kit is that you have to remove your gears and install them on the new electric wheel. They do supply the tool for this in the kit though.

 

[Ken and Carol]

Just one more question, please. The vendor states that there is no duty payable for EU countries. Do you know whether we have to pay duty now?

 

[Neil Bedwin]

I didn't pay any duty.

 

[Ken and Carol]

Thanks.

 

[Bobby-gg]

And I've never seen paid duty either are we still in the transitional period

As regard front or rear wheel drive, definitely rear wheel drive, the front wheel drive ones I've built will quite easily spin their front wheels in the damp, which can be rathe unnerving

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[Lenny HB]

Is there any particular reason you went for rear wheel drive rather than front wheel?
I'm think that front wheel may be a little easier. Or am I wrong in this?

Front wheel drive are a bit weird to ride as they pull you along, for getting up big hills crank drive is best.

 

[David and Sally]

I electrified my MIL's bike but the fuse keeps blowing in the extension lead. I'll try a 60 amp cooker fuse ?

 

[Drexxer]

This would be ideal for dragging our 35kg mutt around, are they available for bikes with hydraulic disc brakes?

 

[Ridgeway]

This would be ideal for dragging our 35kg mutt around, are they available for bikes with hydraulic disc brakes?

This is what we use our e-bike for, 2 dogs in the trailer, mush easier with some electrical help. Ours are about 18kgs each so about the same as your single large woofer

 

[Bobby-gg]

This would be ideal for dragging our 35kg mutt around, are they available for bikes with hydraulic disc brakes?

Yes, all they hub conversions I've used have the 6 bolt disc pattern,.

The cannondale I did in my picture above had shimano hydraulic discs, obviously you can't use the brake levers that come with the conversion, so you'll loose their motor cut out facility unless you then fit aftermarket Brake cut outs to the hydraulic lever

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