SSThing

Thank you. To be fair, I didn't want a throttle... I just completely underestimated how painful my hip would be trying to pedal.

Please excuse my very rudimentary diagram and obvious lack of technical understanding (I haven’t had chance to even separate the plug to count the pins because I’m currently out of action with covid and bored/thinking). My situation is this:- I’m 99% happy with my Boostbike conversion. After years of being told my frame shape was incompatible with the kits available, I was over the moon to finally get my bike converted. But I have a dodgy hip and this can “go out” at any time or place and for no apparent reason. When it does, pedalling is extremely painful and the conversion doesn’t include a throttle. So, can the kit be modded to include a thumb throttle? I’m not looking to be able to zip around at full speed everywhere, just be able to get home without having to call a taxi (again!). My overly simplistic thinking is that the only thing needed is a live feed from the battery to the throttle and a feed from the throttle into the wiring loom that bypasses the controller? Am I being totally naive thinking it might be this simple? Has anyone managed to fit a throttle and, if you have, how? Yours thoughts are invited.

Sorry, another q. If the controller is part of the mid-drive, do I then have to source a battery without an inbuilt controller, or will any downtube battery work?

Display? I like the 500c with the integrated buttons but I am wondering if there are any advantages by choosing one of the newer models such as the P850c or 750c (with BT)? Do the newer displays allow access to more tweaking options?

And is the controller built in with the BBS01B?

So the 44/42t chainwheel will turn/drive independant from the pedals?

Yes, sorry I didn't explain properly, I understand that I can freewheel but I meant going uphill (which is when my hip invariably plays up). It would be nice to be able to keep riding using the throttle without my legs having to move, instead of getting off to push.

I have an old injury that gives me a clicky hip, so I just wanted fit a kit with a throttle so I could stop pedalling every now and then and keep going. Obviously with a mid drive the pedals will turn if I used a throttle so I couldn't do what I need. I am only going to be using my bike for roads, towpaths and dirt tracks through woodland, absolutely no proper offroading nowadays. Are those model numbers all the same hub rebadged or are they each different? With regards to the cables, I had anticipated (once everything was fitted and working, that I would need to cut and solder/heatshrink everything to the right length, or am I being naive thinking it's that straightforward?

This isn't as easy as I had hoped. I can't find anyone with UK stock and looking on the likes of AliExpress etc it seems that very few of the stores will ship from EU to the UK (good old Brexit). But I am just getting more and more confused. I am settled on a rear hub configuration and the Mxus Xf08c looks like a good contender, using a downtube battery with built in controller. All of the kits are shown as including a separate (silver box) controller but no battery. Are there two types of downtube battery, one with built in controller and one without? Or do I just order a kit and a battery and then not use the separate controller?

Couple of questions. Is the number of magnets significant? If four would be enough, is it feasible to attach four neodymium magnets directly (using their own magnetic ability) to the bolts on the smallest chainwheel and then position the sensor accordingly? Or, in order for them to be attracted to the bolts would this mean that they would be incorrectly polarised for the sensor?

Looking at your photo vfr400, is there something (spacer?) between the magnet disc and the bearing? I have zoomed in but cannot tell. I have a scrap pas to experiment with (as per photo). Would I be right in thinking that I could Dremel out some of the centre so that the disc fits onto the splines, use a spacer to keep the disc away from the bb case and then tighten everything up (meaning that the left pedal is now offset by a few mm)?

vfr400.... No, you aren't wasting your time at all. I am a carer so I am up and down stairs frequently, in between typing replies and reading, so there is inevitably some cross posting. But I appreciate everyone who is replying and I am reading everything (sometimes in catchup).

And his explanation was that the sensor would only work if pedalling backwards. I didn't say anything to him but my immediate thinking was surely just reverse the two wires?

Nealh, fitting on the other side was exactly what I thought (and asked the question when I collected the bike) and he said impossible. Any chance of pics of yours please?

Nealh, I haven't purchased a kit yet because I still deciphering what I need to order.

I had been thinking that a sensor on the rear brake only would be sufficient and, from looking at the various types, I was thinking of drilling the lever and fixing the magnet with both adhesive and a small self tapper? (once I have ascertained the correct position of course).

Two places now have said that there is no possibility of fitting on the chainring side because there isn't enough space? (Was typing while you were posting)

Good morning and thanks for allowing me to join. I would really appreciate your help, please. Last year I took my MB to a company local to me so they could check whether it was suitable for a rear-hub conversion. It was wheeled off to the workshop and 5 minutes later the answer was “yes, no problem “. I brought the bike home to give it a thorough clean and remove various accessories and before I got chance to return we went into the first lockdown. Fast-forward to last week. I prepped my bike, paid for the conversion and dropped it off to be done. The same mechanic took a look at my bike and said “oh, I am not sure if I can do this “. He then went on to explain that because I had a Hollowtech bottom bracket the normal way to fit the pedal assist sensor wouldn't work and that he would look at removing the smallest chainwheel and modifying the magnet disc to fit. I agreed. But the following day he rang me to say that it couldn't be done. For the reason previously explained plus I have hydraulic brakes and “there is no way to fit a brake sensor”. Dejected, I brought the bike home yet again. And began reading... and reading......... and reading. (I know what some of you are already thinking). I decided that I was going to attempt the conversion myself. I am reasonably adept with tools and repairs (the main reason I was going to have the conversion done for me is because a different company had told me that the setup “had to be programmed and calibrated” to stuff such as wheel size, gearing and my weight etc (naively I accepted this). But the more I read the more confused I get. My bike is a Boardman Pro FS (2009), not the absolute highest spec but certainly decent and in remarkably good condition because it has hardly been used (because of injuries sustained at work) and I am determined that it won't collect any more dust. When I was originally thinking of the conversion, front or rear hub were the most affordable. Plus, I like the idea of keeping the bike fairly “stock” as my intention is to actually pedal as much as possible and only use the drive when absolutely necessary. My other consideration was that I could (if there was ever a problem with the electrics etc) just swap out the rear wheel, remove the battery pack and still use the bike without too much faff. But I now need to find a way to fit the pedal assist sensor and also which one/where from? Another question for a rear hub setup is this... let's say that I am half way up a long hill and my legs are knackered, can I just use the throttle and (without the pedals turning) continue on electric only (hope that makes sense)? If the answer to the last question is no, I may well go mid-drive, that throttle question becomes moot because obviously the pedals will turn if a throttle is fitted and used (which is, I now realise, the reason most oem bikes with MD have no throttle) . But, although in some ways the MD system is more straightforward, swapping back out (if needed) is more work. I have spent hours and hours now and my head is about to explode. As much as I would like to save a few quid by ordering direct from China, I am convinced that buying from a UK supplier will be preferable because not only will I have the benefit of a warranty but most importantly, we all need to start supporting UK shops/companies more because if we don't, they are doomed. What system do you recommend and why? Which UK based companies do suggest? I am mid 50’s, about 13 stone (82.5kg) which is a bit over my preferred 11 stone, but my stamina has dropped off a cliff. My days of proper off-road mountain biking are way behind me so most of my riding will be roads and canal/river paths but I do want to be able to explore a bit too as I have a little holiday shack on the outskirts of the Wyre Forest. Thank you in anticipation.

Morning all. Mid 50's, overweight and confused. Very active until about 10 years ago when I snapped both my biceps (more painful than I can describe) and, not long after, fell off the back of a delivery van and injured my hip. Looking for advice on converting my Boardman Pro FS (2009?). Will be posting soon (in the conversion forum) my journey so far and some questions. Atb Chris