Conversion Kits: The Great Debate

[EdBike]

I posted a thread a few weeks back about creating a mini guide for people looking to get an "at a glance" overview of conversion kits and help the ~12,000 people a month searching for conversion kits to figure out if they're for them or not.

Your opinions really do matter, and I'd love to be able to publish the good, the bad and the ugly all in one "super-guide" - so if you don't mind spending just 30 seconds adding what you think are the 'Pros and Cons'.

From this, I'll put together a guide, and pull in a few of the best quotes of what people have submitted which should give a pretty comprehensive overview for people just starting to research them.

I've set it up with Google Docs (fantastic by the way, and free) and you don't have to part with your email or anything silly like that.

And if you've submitted some suggestions, please mention you've done it in this thread

Thanks you!

Ed

 

[flecc]

The authors of the Electric Bicycles book made a big mistake in omitting one of the best kits around from their kits feature, namely the eZee kit.

The eZee kit is without doubt one of the best there is and a good allrounder for meeting a wide range of needs.

The motor is at the powerful end of the spectrum and was developed by eZee to improve upon the Suzhou Bafang "8fun" motors they had mostly used until then.

It comes in both front and rear wheel versions.

Both fit standard bike frames and forks.

They come complete with disc brake for those who want that option.

The 37 volt battery system has a number of options in various capacities up to the long range lithium polymer 14 Ah and there is a lithium iron phosphate (LiFePO4) option. The battery qualities are high, the 14 Ah made by the Advanced battery company who also make the same battery for Wisper.

The system includes a rear battery rack and carrier.

Batteries can be run in pairs with the coupling kit option to give extended range and increased performance.

Despite these top benefits the kit is mid-priced, well below the Heinzmann and BionX options.
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[EdBike]

Interesting response. It begs the question - how to review and compare kits? Now, and in the future? There's more than just specs to look at, and its not nearly as easy as taking a complete bike for a spin

 

[flecc]

Interesting response. It begs the question - how to review and compare kits? Now, and in the future? There's more than just specs to look at, and its not nearly as easy as taking a complete bike for a spin

Yes, I've highlighted exactly those difficulties in my Google response Ed. There doesn't seem to be any ready answer short of one organisation carrying out comparative builds and tests of all the brands, probably impractical for such a small market.

I think we have to conclude that it's a market for the informed technically competent and aware, rather than for the general public at present.
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[EdBike]

The page is now live - thanks to all the people who have submitted suggestions!

Electric Bikes Conversion Kits | Experts Argue the Pros and Cons

Includes the video interview, full list and explanation of pros and cons, and also a brief checklist whether or not electric bikes are right for you. As always, do post your feedback in this thread

 

[NRG]

It's good Ed, well done. The whole site is well thought out and full of info, keep it up!

 

[Steveu]

ezee kits

Who supplies eZee kits in the UK - is there a network of dealers or just one?

 

[Cyclezee]

Who supplies eZee kits in the UK - is there a network of dealers or just one?

Coming soon Steve I have sent you a PM.

 

[Steveu]

Shimano STEPS

I've been reading article today about Shimano STEPS electric bike kit which suggested this might be available from December 2010. I suspect it will be priced at the high end but does anyone know if its been launched or if/when it might reach the UK?

 

[flecc]

I think it's likely to go to e-bike manufacturers first Steve, it's a system rather than a kit and they'll almost certainly go for the big market first.
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[ghostrain]

I saw the Shimano STEPS system at a recent bike show in Den Bosch, it was all built onto a Caravel cycle. The parts were not intended to be a DIY kit more a supply to bike OEM's. The bike was hidden behind a perspex screen and so not easy to observe closely, I talked to a very knowlegeable Shimano guy,he described the system as high end,read by that I think expensive. However I must say the parts looked very high quality and designed to be used as an integral system not for individual parts selection. Aside from the frame it seemed to offer all parts including battery,motor,controller,brakes,crankset etc.

 

[Steveu]

STEPS kit

You may well be right Flecc but the articles I've read all use the term 'kit' - maybe its a kit of parts (about 9 components as far as I can see) for manufacturers to use but it could equally be a kit for an end user to build an electric bike (or convert an existing bike). As it has so many components, I'm sure it will have a price that reflects this but it does sound interesting.

 

[flecc]

Yes, I've noticed they've all been calling it a kit, but the same could be said about the Alfine system. That's primarily supplied to bike manufacturers, virtually no individuals use it completely and not much with individual components.

Like you, I'll be interested to hear about this motor system when the first bikes appear with it, but I strongly suspect it will be quite low powered in the usual Japanese fashion.
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[Steveu]

re-programming

On the latter point, the report in issue 2 of the Electric Bike magazine says the Shimano system can be hooked up to a computer for configuration so perhaps they will provide EU versions with more oomph. So perhaps there is hope.

Maybe, in future, it will be possible to reprogram or re-chip our ebikes just as can be done today with our cars

 

[morphix]

Yes, I've highlighted exactly those difficulties in my Google response Ed. There doesn't seem to be any ready answer short of one organisation carrying out comparative builds and tests of all the brands, probably impractical for such a small market.

I think we have to conclude that it's a market for the informed technically competent and aware, rather than for the general public at present.
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The other problem you have is that the technology is so fast moving that no sooner have you tested/reviewed a kit, than the manufacturers in China have come up with revisions and improvements or a new kit.. but I guess if you're doing this online you can constantly update whereas books go quickly out of date in the technology field.

 

[flecc]

The other problem you have is that the technology is so fast moving that no sooner have you tested/reviewed a kit, than the manufacturers in China have come up with revisions and improvements or a new kit.. but I guess if you're doing this online you can constantly update whereas books go quickly out of date in the technology field.

Tell me about it, even online updating gets irksome!

Every time I update my Panasonic support site another change comes along straight afterwards. I've almost given up on some detail now and often just note that "so-and-so factor is variable".
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[Spornofthedevil]

I just wanted to say thanks guys for creating this post, a lot my initial questions have been answered. I'm still unsure which kit to go for but I have much more of an idea as to what I want and what to look for now. Daahub looks very interesting!

Jay