Hello, thinking about a conversion kit

[NoGearNoIdea]

So back from a trip away, I've been inspired to push forward with a thought in mind of converting my 2013 Specialized Sirrus to electric. I'm by no means a serious rider, electric or manual, and I do it to get the air in my face on a sunny day. The only that's stopped me is that Cardiff has a few hills and I don't do it enough to build my strength, meaning each ride is an eventual sweat-fest.

I will admit I know absolutely nothing about bikes or conversion kits and this past week of reading has felt like it's a foreign language, so I was on the verge of a Swytch Universal Kit with GO+ power pack at £379 but the constant negative comments about them plus comments like "there is cheaper and better available" has put me off. Though the latter comment leads me into no man's land. I even asked a cousin who is into bikes who told me to avoid kits completely and get a full ebike, but I'm really not that serious about it.

So here's what I'm after, if any straight forward advice is available –

• happy with the cost around that posted above, maybe a bit more.
• I'm average build, about 13st, very slow cyclist but happy with that
• Hybrid bike – Specialized 2013 (pic below)
• I only ride roads, never leave my bike anywhere, never off-road – always for leisure, about a couple of hours
• Wanting hills made easier, nothing too steep where I am, but they can keep going, and flat rides made a bit more fun though I like to keep pedaling
• I am absolutely useless at bike work and maintenance, even changing a tire – I need ease of installation, or someone local who can fit
• I'd like to not worry about confiscation for overpowered battery etc but I don't intend to ride like a wally
• Have no clue whether front/mid/rear is best – have no preference. I'd prefer something quiet but not super important

Here's what I'd like to convert:

 

[Waspy]

The two main suppliers of kits preferred on this forum is Woosh Bikes and Yosepower.

However, if you cannot even change a tyre (no judgement) then I think your cousin may be right, just buy an eBike.

But you are going to have to spend £600 minimum.

 

[NoGearNoIdea]

Ha! Yes. Thank you for your comment. The option then would be to not bother at all.

I mean, change a tire was an extreme example as I've found forums very much overestimate a newbie's abilities when they describe something as "really simple", I've found this in DIY, gardening, etc. So I can spend time muddling through and making posts on forums asking stupid questions and eventually get through many things. I just wanted to lower expectations and see if there's anything as simple as what Swytch claims to have.

 

[Sparksandbangs]

You would need to be able to take a wheel off. Then adjust the gearing to make sure it runs with the new hub and wheel. It will also need a tyre putting on the wheel. Possibly drill the frame to mount the battery and controller. Wire up , set up and test.

Putting that you can't change a tyre suggests that it might be too big a project to contemplate.

To make it easier you may be tempted to go for a front wheel motor. Don't as they are inherently more dangerous especially for someone with few mechanical skills. It would also be better to have a bike with disk brakes to give better stopping power as ebikes are heavier and faster than non assisted.

In short what I am suggesting is to save up and buy something off the shelf.

My first ebike was from Woosh and it ran for around 10 years quite happily until water ingress killed the motor. I them rebuilt it with help and advice from on here and learnt loads in the process.

During Covid I converted the wife's bike to a front wheel kit before I knew better. She doesn't use it much but I've added two bulky torque arms to it and I check it before and after she goes out just to make sure nothing has shifted. She is incredibly slow so I think there is not that much danger. If she starts to use it more often I will suggest an upgrade to something more suitable.

 

[saneagle]

That's a perfect bike for converting. I wouldn't get a Swytch kit for your circumstances. They have a front motor, which is the worst place to put a motor and they're not very powerful because of the small battery.

Whatever you get, go for a downtube mounted battery for best handling.

That leaves the motor and controller. A hub-motor is the most reliable, and has sufficient power if you run at 48v. If you can build a wheel, they're really cheap from Aliexpress, otherwise it's probably better to buy a conversion kit, but the problem with conversion kits is that they're nearly all 36v and have crappy control systems. Most people are happy with their hub-motor conversion kits, but once you've used a decent controller, it's hard not to disparage the kit ones.

The mid-drive kits are very easy to install. They work pretty well and most people are happy with them. They give a slightly harsher ride than a hub-motor and clunky gear shifting because of the power going through the chain. Woosh sell the 48v TSDZ02 and TSDZ8 at very good prices. They also sell hub-motor kits. Unless you want your own choice of components for your conversion, Woosh are the supplier I'd recommend.

You can also get some pretty good ready-made ebikes from Amazon with hub-motors for between £550 and £650. I'd look for a 48v 250w one with a downtube mounted battery. They use all standard catalogue parts, so are easy to fix if anything ever went wrong. Those type of ebikes are pretty reliable, though often not very well setup.

This one would be fine if you're around 85kg or less:

https://www.amazon.co.uk/Finbike-Electric-Removable-Suspension-Derailleur/dp/B0DTHWGZQJ/ref=sr_1_4?adgrpid=102670510475&dib=eyJ2IjoiMSJ9.NoLsHLtHlMrekfirT8HybKz7F0XYaobqB9fAjxhzaa_APyigk1T-VFpSneeFHbM-VmgFOcsgXd1xFXcOzjOsemAWEkt9I2YK8fGs3iWy65ccJ3AfHuqADUFjJQdTi_nqbLfUSAWO8VbcTQztp1Co9F6aLPdIsHNKU1F4tx5_RMg-KojRugkfMCUg4RaELXydAcuwlpbES6RLENT9gCrWeNLVD-Ic3WzWq-0kQ1MYKvc.Oj61jbr64oaEqJx5WGavejXWnJ23f1kRx9Mg5ZEUE6g&dib_tag=se&gad_source=1&hvadid=606005920297&hvdev=c&hvexpln=0&hvlocphy=9045437&hvnetw=g&hvocijid=9941481766153845382--&hvqmt=e&hvrand=9941481766153845382&hvtargid=kwd-302659593283&hydadcr=18559_2287528&keywords=amazon%2Bebikes&mcid=2caa6b85aead38cebfdf20efe8f7494f&qid=1752056822&sr=8-4&ufe=app_do%3Aamzn1.fos.a56bf500-33e2-4a49-b21f-ee6fbd593a4c&th=1

This one if you're more than 90kg:

https://www.amazon.co.uk/C29-Electric-Mountain-Removable-Professional/dp/B0D9LHX4R6/ref=sr_1_2?crid=11YO55M8LL30V&dib=eyJ2IjoiMSJ9.IVgtshnJHkmD5NljhpdlmL3whEZZ3HlO1nCv97WdcaYPPfaB_4JnvVbd_T-ainZ57IZ_YEoeT3XXUBBwvOvndBsaWyxbVtN6KN43dENDn88ZleiesIcMZv2LXLjGA90I_eesPqBCp9XTUkUdjuPsWm10nQxRPaN7ptXjcdofF6AxGK1K-HQc-LQWXTCxpvZiN2Eaed9g-4re5m-Dn9ftcsPimoyGxszFxld13UFEr7I.gLnyDHALi8e6AraCUwxKyOHop5v9oCdK5ZbbckLJPTI&dib_tag=se&keywords=48v%2B250w%2Bebike&qid=1752056991&sprefix=48v%2B250w%2Bebike%2Caps%2C100&sr=8-2&ufe=app_do%3Aamzn1.fos.a56bf500-33e2-4a49-b21f-ee6fbd593a4c&th=1

 

[saneagle]

Sorry, I missed the rim brakes on your bike. It's not good for conversion. Either get a different donor with disc brakes or buy a new ebike.

Front hubs are simple if you know how, but there are important safety issues to consider. I've had many myself, but I wouldn't recommend one unless you have no choice. Rear motors are always better.

 

[NoGearNoIdea]

Right, thank you all for the comments. I think the plan's off then. Will put my money towards the new bathroom and keep to pedaling when the sun's out!

All the best

 

[AndyBike]

I don't do it enough to build my strength, meaning each ride is an eventual sweat-fest.

**Well unfortunately going E isnt really going to increase your fitness* to a level bombing up a hill manual style is a breeze.

The sweating is unfitness, and as you're saying yourself, that you dont do it enough is the key and the answer.
If you do more, then the fitness will build and the profuse sweating will be seriously reduced.

*Like all exercise it will contribute greatly to your cardiovascular health

** awaits Saneagle

 

[Sparksandbangs]

With a new bathroom sweating won't be a problem.

 

[NoGearNoIdea]

**Well unfortunately going E isnt really going to increase your fitness* to a level bombing up a hill manual style is a breeze.

The sweating is unfitness, and as you're saying yourself, that you dont do it enough is the key and the answer.
If you do more, then the fitness will build and the profuse sweating will be seriously reduced.

*Like all exercise it will contribute greatly to your cardiovascular health

** awaits Saneagle

Sorry, maybe I was a bit unclear. Not looking to improve my fitness, just wanting hills made a bit easier to have a fun ride. I like a long walk everyday but powering myself uphill on a bike uses a different set of muscles!

 

[thelarkbox]

Describe or provide specs of the hills in question. - not too many round here but its all downhill from here so every trip home was a chore.. - post conversion i sail up all the hills though none are longer than 1/2 mile climbing.

If your hills are more demanding, If you can provide their details and an idea of how much mass your adding to the bike the resident experts can point you at an optimum solution.