Ebay seller ' Electric Bike Conversions ' seem to be doing well :)

Fordulike

Esteemed Pedelecer
Feb 26, 2010
3,802
1,537
hi all just spotted this thread, I have a specialised sirrus elite flat bar road bike with carbon front forks.
would a front wheel 250w kit fit and be ok with this? re the forks.

secondly a bit confused re a 500 w rear wheel kit (possible buy cheapish mtb from Halfords/bt win) add kit and have a lighter bike than my ready kudos?

I thought 500w was illegal on road, (only ok off road)?

I can see no mention of a controller anywhere or is it inside the battery.

oxygen kits are dearer is it worth the extra. I have no idea on eclipse kits or woosh.

but I would like more range over my 10.4ah and the kits offer 5 levels of assist over my 3.

almost forgot if a twist throttle is opted for would it be full speed (15mph) or only walk assist?
Blimey, you didn't arf brainstorm for questions lol

I'll have a bash at answering a few, but bear in mind that some answers are only opinions and other members may have different views.

  • I personally wouldn't fit a front wheel kit on carbon forks. I've read they are more prone to failure than aluminium or steel forks. I don't think it's worth the risk.
  • The 500w kit will be illegal to ride anywhere, so fit one at your own risk.
  • Don't know about the controller. Drop them an e-mail for a definitive answer.
  • Oxygen kits are most excellent and are certainly worth paying more for.
  • You probably won't get any more range out of the kit, as the 500w kit goes faster than 15.5mph, so extra assist levels just help to control the assisted speed a little better.
  • The twist throttle will most likely range from a crawl to maximum speed, as you twist the throttle.
Hope this helps :)
 

footpump

Esteemed Pedelecer
Mar 19, 2014
713
75
75
thanks fordulike re forks 500w I recently spoke to someone who had a Chinese import bike 48w 500 watt I suspect could do 30mph fly up hills but 20 miles range.

have emailed ebc

thank you
 

Ruadh495

Pedelecer
Oct 13, 2015
145
63
51
I've got the EBC 250W front motor, so can answer on that:

The controller is separate and they provide a little bag, like a tool bag, to keep it in.

There is a torque arm provided, but it's the type that attaches to the fork with a hose clamp. This is likely to be a bad idea with carbon forks. You could consider changing the fork for a steel one. Then if you want to convert back to unassisted you change the whole assembly at the steerer.

Range is 20-30miles as advertised. The figures provided by some other members of this forum suggest this is achievable with a 10AHr battery, so the EBC kit (which has 13AHr) may be less efficient than the very best.

The throttle works from 0 to whatever the limiter is set to. This should be 25Kph to be legal, but has to be configured when you set up the kit. Mine is a thumb lever, but I imagine the twist throttle works the same way. Worth noting that this set up will not be road legal in two weeks time, unless built before the law changes.

If you are considering a kit from anybody except EBC, check what you are actually getting. EBC provide everything, including the special tools required to fit it, other kits which appear similarly priced seem to require a lot of extras.
 
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footpump

Esteemed Pedelecer
Mar 19, 2014
713
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hi all just looked on ebc website have the prices increased for all kits?
some of the earlier links show kits about £390 e bay. (might be mistaken I thought I saw them for £375 when I first noticed this thread very recently)
I would proberbly opt for 259w mtb rear
how many pas levels on these kits please
 

Fordulike

Esteemed Pedelecer
Feb 26, 2010
3,802
1,537
hi all just looked on ebc website have the prices increased for all kits?
some of the earlier links show kits about £390 e bay. (might be mistaken I thought I saw them for £375 when I first noticed this thread very recently)
I would proberbly opt for 259w mtb rear
how many pas levels on these kits please
  • The 250w is still £375.
  • 5 levels of PAS assistance.
Mentions the power levels around halfway down the description blurb:

Description Blurb
 
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footpump

Esteemed Pedelecer
Mar 19, 2014
713
75
75
thank you fordulike I spoke to ebc today, I have decided to go for 700c rear wheel kit 250w which comes with 7 speed freewheel cassette.
rather than change the carbon forks on my spec sirrus elite. fit kit to rear I will only lose 2 cogs(9 speed on bike) and can apparently keep triple chainring.

also if I decide to change to 29e type mtb or hybrid over my 700c flat bar road bike the moter wheel is apparently the same.

the only thing is this kit seems rather heavy at 10.5 kg
 

Fordulike

Esteemed Pedelecer
Feb 26, 2010
3,802
1,537
thank you fordulike I spoke to ebc today, I have decided to go for 700c rear wheel kit 250w which comes with 7 speed freewheel cassette.
rather than change the carbon forks on my spec sirrus elite. fit kit to rear I will only lose 2 cogs(9 speed on bike) and can apparently keep triple chainring.

also if I decide to change to 29e type mtb or hybrid over my 700c flat bar road bike the moter wheel is apparently the same.

the only thing is this kit seems rather heavy at 10.5 kg
You won't notice the missing 2 cogs, believe me ;)

The 10.5kg may be the quote for all the components, including LCD display, battery, controller, torque arms and motor.
Once installed, the bike will be obviously heavier than the stock bike, but may be fairly well balanced, due to the battery placed in the frame ahead of the seat tube.

On the road, you will hardly notice the difference. If you do, then you will naturally adapt your style of riding to compensate.
But nothing will prepare you for the big cheesy grin you will have on your face... Guaranteed :D
 

footpump

Esteemed Pedelecer
Mar 19, 2014
713
75
75
thanks for info I have just noticed the handlebar mounted lcd has a wattage display, would I be correct in thinking that it would show 468watt when battery is fully charged

36v x13ah =468w if so would be handy to know what s left in battery after a certain milage
 

Fordulike

Esteemed Pedelecer
Feb 26, 2010
3,802
1,537
thanks for info I have just noticed the handlebar mounted lcd has a wattage display, would I be correct in thinking that it would show 468watt when battery is fully charged

36v x13ah =468w if so would be handy to know what s left in battery after a certain milage
13Ah is the capacity of the battery and is not relevant in how much power the motor puts out.
To find out the maximum power of a set-up, you need to multiple the maximum current that the controller provides, by the voltage of the battery.

For example, if the controller has a maximum of 10 amps and the battery is 36 volts, then:

10 amps x 36 volts = 360 watts of maximum power available

There will be slight variations to this, due to the ultimate battery voltage, which will be slightly higher when fully charged, and the ability of the controller to accurately control the current.

Bear in mind also, that the watt meter on the LCD display will show the wattage at any particular time. So, riding downhill may show a low wattage, and riding uphill will show a higher wattage.

Unfortunately, I have no idea what their controllers are rated at, so you will need to drop them an e-mail to find out.

There is no way of accurately calculating how much juice you've got left in the battery, with a basic display like the one on the kit. It will likely have a battery indicator, showing from full to empty, but take this as a pinch of salt on how much power is left in the battery.

The best way to find out how far you can go potentially, is to test ride the bike on a regular route until the battery is empty. Then note how many miles you get and use this as an indicator for future rides.
Be prepared to ride home without power though, so best done on a day off work lol.

If you get 25 miles, then you know at around the 20 mile mark, that it will be a good idea to start heading home.
 
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footpump

Esteemed Pedelecer
Mar 19, 2014
713
75
75
thank you yesterday ordered kit at 12.10 arrived today at 11 very quick delivery.
I noticed the 700cc moter wheel was fitted with 6 speed cassette rather than 7.
quick phone call ebc will dispatch 7 speed cassette + the tool to remove and install said cassette.

the wheel is wider than my existing alex rims at 25 mm also has rather large hole for the valve (too big for presta) so will have to fit shrader tube.
I did have a omg moment I was considering front moter at 100mm gap, but ordered rear wheel I completely forgot to check if the wheel would fit my bike.

quick measure seems ok.

the only thing that seems a little concerning is the spokes at moter end have small domed nuts , there seems to be a small gap between moter flange and bottom of nut.
spokes are quite thick at 2.6mm

moter wheel weighs 4kg 8.8 lbs

10.4 ah bottle battery 5.3 lbs
ebc battery 3.1 kg 6.8lbs with mounting plate (not sure how I separate battery from mount t
 

Fordulike

Esteemed Pedelecer
Feb 26, 2010
3,802
1,537
upload_2015-12-24_18-20-9.png

Use key to unlock battery, then slide the battery along the docking station, away from the power cable end.
 

Fordulike

Esteemed Pedelecer
Feb 26, 2010
3,802
1,537
the only thing that seems a little concerning is the spokes at moter end have small domed nuts , there seems to be a small gap between moter flange and bottom of nut.
The motor is fairly large in diameter, so the spokes will be at a greater angle than spoke on a regular bike. After a few miles riding, check and adjust spoke tension with a spoke key. Chinese hub motor spokes are rarely tightened properly at source.
 

Fordulike

Esteemed Pedelecer
Feb 26, 2010
3,802
1,537
Was writing when you posted that piccy of the spokes.

Mmmmmm, haven't seen spokes attached like that at the motor end before.
I should imagine the procedure is the same though. Check that the nuts are tight after riding a few miles and also at rim end.
 

trumpeteom

Finding my (electric) wheels
Jan 7, 2016
5
1
55
Just after Xmas I bought the 500w rear wheel kit from EBC. I ordered it over the phone rather than from ebay or the website. It was ordered at around 1pm and it arrive at 11am the following day.

I opted for the rack mounted battery rather than the bottle mounted one.
This comes supplied with the rack at no extra cost, and it is a 2 tier affair, so is used to hold the battery, but also can be used with panniers.

I was impressed with the what is supplied in the kit, as it included a crank puller, plenty of cable ties, and even a 2GB thumb drive containing the video of the kit being installed. The video is also on youtube, and if I'm honest is quite useful, but could do with being updated slightly.

It took me about 2 days to fit the kit although I did take my time, it was new years eve after all.

I noticed a couple of loose spokes as it was putting it together, I tightened them up, but on my 1st ride out (up the road and back), the wheel wasnt very straight, and when I got home I checked and one of the spokes was loose again.
I emailed them and they were very apologetic, and sent me a new wheel the next day, followed by a courier to collect the faulty wheel the day after.
The replacement wheel is perfect, although I only got round to re-fitting it yesterday.
I'm fully aware of the legality or not of these kits, I've spoken to a chap I met who has a 48v 1000w front wheel kit, he has been riding to work on for over 2 years, and hasnt been bothered by the police once.

On this system the max assisted speed and throttle speed can be limited, and is set to 25kph. It is not possible to change this (easily) while riding.
You have to turn the power off with the key at the battery, in my case the battery is at the back. Leave it 10 secs, then power the battery back on.

Then power the system on with the button on the handlebars, and within 10 seconds hold the up and down arrows for 3 seconds. Only then do you get to the adjust the max speed setting. During this time the system doesnt work at all, until the setup has been saved.
Overall so far For £395 I'm very pleased with the kit, the components and the aftersales, both over the phone and via email.
 

Kudoscycles

Official Trade Member
Apr 15, 2011
5,566
5,048
www.kudoscycles.com
Yes comes with VAT receipt, and 12 month warranty
Thanks...it's very hard to make a profit selling electric bikes on e-bay when 20% vat,10% e-bay and Palpal fees, and delivery are discounted off the sale price. HMRC are currently targeting e-bay and Amazon,checking vat compliance.....the guy must be working on super tight margins,good luck to him.
KudosDave