DIY electric mountain bike
Discussion
I converted my old hybrid into an LTN beating shopping e-bike with a Bafang mid drive kit from Whoosh bikes. 250w as I am not an outlaw;)
It was a fun project and works v well. Get a cable so you can reprogram the factory settings, which seem to be all over the place out of the box.
You might want a bit more power for MTB'ing I should think.
It was a fun project and works v well. Get a cable so you can reprogram the factory settings, which seem to be all over the place out of the box.
You might want a bit more power for MTB'ing I should think.
I built one on an old rigid Raleigh MTB, it worked fine but me being me went for the most powerful motor and biggest battery, you really dont need 1500 watts, what I built there was a substandard electric Moped.
It would do over 40 mph on the flat without pedalling, was just all a bit sketchy so I returned the bike to foot power and sold the kit.
250 Watts is what is legal limit is and it makes sense as 250 Watts is a fair amount of power if your legs are providing it, plus you can add all your own effort so dont need more really, if you do what you want is an actual motorised vehicle.
Just wanted to try it, but 1500 Watts propels you and a bike to velocities it has no business at, you dont have to use it but its always a temptation.
It would do over 40 mph on the flat without pedalling, was just all a bit sketchy so I returned the bike to foot power and sold the kit.
250 Watts is what is legal limit is and it makes sense as 250 Watts is a fair amount of power if your legs are providing it, plus you can add all your own effort so dont need more really, if you do what you want is an actual motorised vehicle.
Just wanted to try it, but 1500 Watts propels you and a bike to velocities it has no business at, you dont have to use it but its always a temptation.
seyre1972 said:
Care to share the shop name , or send it via messenger please ?
https://www.cogsygogs.co.uk/I bought the kit from there as well.
Unfortunately looks like he's out of stock of the short cables, but I did see him post on one of the Facebook groups he had order a new batch so should be in stock soon. Maybe drop an email to the owner.
I fitted my Cube Ltd Pro hardtail with a (road-legal) Bafang BBS01b motor c/o Aliexpress - much cheaper than UK suppliers and no problems at all.
Being a 29er it needed some fettling of the chain stay on the rhs to clear the chain ring, and I had to rack-mount the battery as there wasn't enough space within the frame.
Definitely worth getting the optional gear-shift sensor, and also the USB programming cable.
Being a 29er it needed some fettling of the chain stay on the rhs to clear the chain ring, and I had to rack-mount the battery as there wasn't enough space within the frame.
Definitely worth getting the optional gear-shift sensor, and also the USB programming cable.
I’ve built loads of e-bikes, it gets a little addictive!
Info above is all good but if you are going for a Bafang mid drive, be aware of your bottom bracket size and also your chain line. This often needs some fettling or replacement of the supplied chainring, which whilst isn’t too difficult, all adds to cost. Similarly if you go for a higher powered mid drive it stresses the drive chain, rear cassette etc leading to quicker wear.
If you want something simple and are not doing too many hills or off road, I’d stick with a hub motor for your first build.
Info above is all good but if you are going for a Bafang mid drive, be aware of your bottom bracket size and also your chain line. This often needs some fettling or replacement of the supplied chainring, which whilst isn’t too difficult, all adds to cost. Similarly if you go for a higher powered mid drive it stresses the drive chain, rear cassette etc leading to quicker wear.
If you want something simple and are not doing too many hills or off road, I’d stick with a hub motor for your first build.
ruwokeenuff said:
Re the Yose kits. i see on fleabay several ones with differant wattages. What IYHO would be best for my wife. She has a regular bike and will do no more than 10k in any 1 day. mainly flattish but a few moderate hills here n there. She is quite fit....ish. Prices do vary quite a bit.
A Yosepower kit with a battery will cost about £380.To be legal in the UK it needs to be 250w (not that anyone seems to care much about that).
So you'd need to know the wheel size of her bike, also if she has a womans's bike frame a downtube battery may not fit and you'd need to consider a rear rack battery.
She might do 10k on a normal bike but most people find themselves doing easily twice the mileage on an ebike. You have to have a go on one to understand really.
Senex said:
ruwokeenuff said:
Re the Yose kits. i see on fleabay several ones with differant wattages. What IYHO would be best for my wife. She has a regular bike and will do no more than 10k in any 1 day. mainly flattish but a few moderate hills here n there. She is quite fit....ish. Prices do vary quite a bit.
A Yosepower kit with a battery will cost about £380.To be legal in the UK it needs to be 250w (not that anyone seems to care much about that).
So you'd need to know the wheel size of her bike, also if she has a womans's bike frame a downtube battery may not fit and you'd need to consider a rear rack battery.
She might do 10k on a normal bike but most people find themselves doing easily twice the mileage on an ebike. You have to have a go on one to understand really.
Senex said:
.....
To be legal in the UK it needs to be 250w (not that anyone seems to care much about that).
....y.
AFAIK, the 250W is the maximum 'average power'.To be legal in the UK it needs to be 250w (not that anyone seems to care much about that).
....y.
I've not seen anything coherent about how you 'average' the power in interpreting the law.
Could be 500W up hills, zero down?
Also 250W is a lot of thrust at low speed.
Power is force times speed.
Or torque times rpm (times a constant to fudge the units).
The hub drive I've ridden seemed to have a fair bit of thrust available.
The big thing with 'conversions' is that the pedal sensing doesn't seem to be as subtle and seamless in providing 'assistance' as with the 'proper' ebike I've ridden. It's maybe no big deal to a PH reader, but my mate's wife never got to like riding the conversion.
Try before buying if you can.
The conversion kind of feels like:
You turn the pedals.
The motor starts.
You then assist the motor rather than the other way around?
Top tip, it's a motorbike, but the left lever is NOT THE CLUTCH!
OutInTheShed said:
The conversion kind of feels like:
You turn the pedals.
The motor starts.
You then assist the motor rather than the other way around?
!
They can feel a bit like that, but if you make sure you buy a kit with power levels and settings you can access via the display you can eliminate that feeling to a great extent.You turn the pedals.
The motor starts.
You then assist the motor rather than the other way around?
!
If I ride mine on full power it really does feel like it is running away with me, on the middle level its just right, still need a full 1000w + to get up the 25% inclines I ride up often.
ruwokeenuff said:
That kit is for a rear wheel fitted with freewheel (rather than cassette) gears.This video explains how to determine which type you have.
It also shows what tools you need for removal and refitting.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iTJ3taJHOn8
Of course you could just bypass a lot of that by buying a new freewheel.
It can get confusing because sellers often call them freewheel cassettes (two different things).
It all seems a bit daunting at first but there's nothing to it really after you've done it once and tools (and freewheels) are cheap on eBay.
How many gears does your wife's bike have?
Edited by Senex on Sunday 26th March 16:20
Senex said:
That kit is for a rear wheel fitted with freewheel (rather than cassette) gears.
This video explains how to determine which type you have.
It also shows what tools you need for removal and refitting.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iTJ3taJHOn8
Of course you could just bypass a lot of that by buying a new freewheel.
It can get confusing because sellers often call them freewheel cassettes (two different things).
It all seems a bit daunting at first but there's nothing to it really after you've done it once and tools (and freewheels) are cheap on eBay.
How many gears does your wife's bike have?
AH, I just picked that one out without perhaps doing due diligence etc. her bike is just a reg bike, gears etc....I dont know the diff between freewheel or cassette gears.....This video explains how to determine which type you have.
It also shows what tools you need for removal and refitting.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iTJ3taJHOn8
Of course you could just bypass a lot of that by buying a new freewheel.
It can get confusing because sellers often call them freewheel cassettes (two different things).
It all seems a bit daunting at first but there's nothing to it really after you've done it once and tools (and freewheels) are cheap on eBay.
How many gears does your wife's bike have?
Edited by Senex on Sunday 26th March 16:20
Thoughts please... The price seems very good?
I've decided upon front wheel, which is a 26inch which I've been struggling to easily find.
Alli express seems to have plenty though..
I get the impression that the bottle style batteries are a bit conference division, but id only be looking for a max on 30 miles a day really between charges..
I've decided upon front wheel, which is a 26inch which I've been struggling to easily find.
Alli express seems to have plenty though..
I get the impression that the bottle style batteries are a bit conference division, but id only be looking for a max on 30 miles a day really between charges..
This is a UK kit and when I tried it, I thought it rode better than some of the mid drive stuff I've rode.
https://www.cytronex.com/shop/c1-kit-uk-black-disc..._SID=U/&_SID=U
Not cheap though compared to Chinese alternative but at least you should be at less risk of burning your house down.
https://www.cytronex.com/shop/c1-kit-uk-black-disc..._SID=U/&_SID=U
Not cheap though compared to Chinese alternative but at least you should be at less risk of burning your house down.
Chicken Chaser said:
This is a UK kit and when I tried it, I thought it rode better than some of the mid drive stuff I've rode.
https://www.cytronex.com/shop/c1-kit-uk-black-disc..._SID=U/&_SID=U
Not cheap though compared to Chinese alternative but at least you should be at less risk of burning your house down.
Over £1000 for a front hub motor with a tiny 180w battery? You have to be mad to buy that. Better off with a complete Halfords ebike for that money.https://www.cytronex.com/shop/c1-kit-uk-black-disc..._SID=U/&_SID=U
Not cheap though compared to Chinese alternative but at least you should be at less risk of burning your house down.
If you are that paranoid about batteries just keep them in a lockable steel box.
ruwokeenuff said:
AH, I just picked that one out without perhaps doing due diligence etc. her bike is just a reg bike, gears etc....I dont know the diff between freewheel or cassette gears.....
OK, well if you watch that Youtube video from Park Tool I linked to you will see that if you remove the rear wheel and spin the cogs ant-clockwise you will see the middle bit also spins anti-clockwise (cassette) or you will see the middle bit does not spin (freewheel).Generally speaking older bikes and budget bikes with 5,6 and 7 speeds have freewheels while modern bikes with 8 speed and above have cassettes.
I would respectfully suggest that if you are not confident with working on bikes you might perhaps consider buying your wife a ready made e-bike, There are plenty under £900 on e-bike direct, their cheapest is £600.
https://www.e-bikesdirect.co.uk/
Trust me, your wife will love it and it will definitely get you out more for cycling based fun as a couple.
But if you want to buy a kit, I am more than happy to talk you through the process as best I can, as are many others here.(but I know nothing about mid-drive kits),
Edited by Senex on Sunday 26th March 22:49
I think i've got my heart / head set on this one at £378..
https://yosepower.com/products/e-bike-conversion-k...
I'd rather go for a 350w but the Yosepower stuff seems to get positive feedback..
I'm limiting myself to a FWD conversion for sheer simplicity I think...
https://yosepower.com/products/e-bike-conversion-k...
I'd rather go for a 350w but the Yosepower stuff seems to get positive feedback..
I'm limiting myself to a FWD conversion for sheer simplicity I think...
tommobot said:
I think i've got my heart / head set on this one at £378..
https://yosepower.com/products/e-bike-conversion-k...
I'd rather go for a 350w but the Yosepower stuff seems to get positive feedback..
I'm limiting myself to a FWD conversion for sheer simplicity I think...
Nice 15.6Ah battery!https://yosepower.com/products/e-bike-conversion-k...
I'd rather go for a 350w but the Yosepower stuff seems to get positive feedback..
I'm limiting myself to a FWD conversion for sheer simplicity I think...
250w not only keeps you legal but is plenty of power for a FWD conversion, any more power and you might need torque arms.
Keep the front wheel nuts nice and tight.
If you go into the settings menu on the LCD and set the max speed to 40KPH it removes the 15MPH cut-out and you should get about 17-18MPH on the flat.
That kit has a left-hand pedal sensor pictured, you will need at least 5mm gap between left crank arm and the bike frame..
You will also need a crank puller (5 quid on eBay) there are many vids on Youtube to show you how to use one.
If you don't fit the throttle, you don't need to fit the brake levers.
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