Hi All

 

I'm wanting to buy a conversion kit to fit to an old steel bike I have. I have a 4 mile commute to work with no hills. I'm in the UK and hold a full car and motorcycle licence. Is the kit in the link below worth buying? I'm new to electric conversion but not new to cycling, I'm an area co ordinator for a worldwide cycling community but our forum does not have an electric section.

 

This is the kit I have found to be, I think, best suited for me:

 

https://kirbebike.com/products/250w-ebike-conversion-kit?variant=43365620678809

 

I also have a few questions:

 

1. As I'm used to riding a Yamaha R1 and KTM 690 Duke can I go for a larger 750w motor or similar and be legal in the UK?

2. If I buy the kit above should I buy it without a battery and buy a 48v battery seperately? If so where can I buy such a battery in the UK?

 

Thanks in advance :-)

 

Trebz

For a four mile flat commute you really don't need to be looking beyond standard 250W hub motor kits.

 

750W is a moped, not legal under pedelec / EPAC / EN15194 rules. Pedelecs are bicycles in law, your motorbike licence makes no difference.

 

Throttle (kit linked has throttle and a warning about off road use only) you need to read up on. The rules for user fitted vs manufacturer fitted have some differences.

As matthewslack says, the 750w would not be not legal as a pedelec. Just to clarify:

It could be legal as an s-pedelec/moped. You'd need to get it approved to ride on the road, then arrange insurance, registration, license plate etc. And you couldn't legally ride it off road in any publicly accessible space such as bridleways, cycle path, canal paths, etc.

 

I assume if you went 750w it wouldn't be a front wheel conversion?

For a 750w motor to be street legal you would have to have it SVA tested, fit a number plate, compliant lights, have it insured, wear a full motorbike helmet and not ride on cycle paths. Worth it?

On the face of it the kit you've linked looks to be fair price, as it includes a battery perhaps on the cheap side.

So I would ask a few questions:

What cells are in the battery?

What is the maximum output current of the battery?

What make and rating is the controller?

The battery maximum amperage output needs to be greater than (10-25%) the maximum current draw of the controller for battery health.

As a cyclist a 250w motor will be plenty for you. The 250w rating is merely a rating at which the motor willnot overheat in continuous use. It is not a limit. The controller is likely to be at least 15A which, at a nominal voltage of 36v, will give you a maximum of 540w assist, plus your own input. Ask, what can a sports cyclist develop on a hill climb?

Welcome to the fascinating world of electrickery biking!

Edited March 9, 20242 yr by Benjahmin

For a 750w motor to be street legal you would have to have it SVA tested, fit a number plate, compliant lights, have it insured, wear a full motorbike helmet and not ride on cycle paths. Worth it?

On the face of it the kit you've linked looks to be fair price, as it includes a battery perhaps on the cheap side.

So I would ask a few questions:

What cells are in the battery?

What is the maximum output current of the battery?

What make and rating is the controller?

The battery maximum amperage output needs to be greater than (10-25%) the maximum current draw of the controller for battery health.

As a cyclist a 250w motor will be plenty for you. The 250w rating is merely a rating at which the motor willnot overheat in continuous use. It is not a limit. The controller is likely to be at least 15A which, at a nominal voltage of 36v, will give you a maximum of 540w assist, plus your own input. Ask, what can a sports cyclist develop on a hill climb?

Welcome to the fascinating world of electrickery biking!

 

Can point me in the direction of the door heheheheheh ;-)

Ok thanks for all the feedback so far, one last question before I buy the 250w kit (Not the 750w):

 

If I buy the kit below with the 48w battery would this cause legal issues?

 

https://kirbebike.com/products/48v250w-ebike-conversion-kit?variant=43851302535321

 

Or should I just get the 36v battery kit and rest easy knowing I'll not get into any trouble?

 

:-)

Those Kirby front wheel kits are a great alternative to the Swytch kit for a fuss free quick installation.

 

Also if you have hydraulic brakes you can’t use the supplied brake levers with the motor cut off switches. It’s debatable if you need them anyway at 250 watts, but some people find them useful.

 

You should do some homework first before jumping in and see if an alternative better suits your needs.

 

Have you considered a mid drive or rear wheel kit? They all have their pros and cons.

Edited March 9, 20242 yr by AGS

https://kirbebike.com/products/48v250w-ebike-conversion-kit?variant=43851302535321

 

This kit is not legal, but can be if you restrict throttle to walk assist and speed to 25km/h.

 

48V batteries are legal.

 

This kit is very expensive.

 

Edit:

48V battery they sell is HUGE!

 

Not sure why they market throttle as advanced safety feature. They made me laugh.

This kit is not legal, but can be if you restrict throttle to walk assist and speed to 25km/h.

 

48V batteries are legal.

 

This kit is very expensive.

 

Edit:

48V battery they sell is HUGE!

 

Not sure why they market throttle as advanced safety feature. They made me laugh.

 

Ok thanks, all points noted. Does anyone have a link to a 250w kit that is less expensive. I'm wanting to buy something this weekend if possible. I've been looking around for days and I'm working off YouTube recommendations at the moment.

Those Kirby front wheel kits are a great alternative to the Swytch kit for a fuss free quick installation.

 

Also if you have hydraulic brakes you can’t use the supplied brake levers with the motor cut off switches. It’s debatable if you need them anyway at 250 watts, but some people find them useful.

 

You should do some homework first before jumping in and see if an alternative better suits your needs.

 

Have you considered a mid drive or rear wheel kit? They all have their pros and cons.

 

I'm looking at a front wheel kit as it's the simplest installation in my opinion. The kit will be fitted to my steel 1988 Specialized Rockhopper with standard Cantilever front and rear U-Brake, more than enough to stop me at lower speeds. I used a 1988 Rockhopper all through the late 80's up to the mid 90's in the UK. riding the North Yorkshire Moors, Lake District and Dalby Forest etc etc. I'm sure I'll be ok on my daily flat commute I just need a little help as I don't want to get to the office all sweaty and have to shower / change before I start work. I recently lost my car and have been using a 1965 Moulton Deluxe to get to work but I just got myself a new job with a longer ride to work. The Moulton will be restored or sold and I'll be going back to my original commuter bike (The Rockhopper) but with electric assist. The Rockhopper is ready to go with mudguards, rear rack etc etc so all I need is a front wheel kit.

Woosh kits are similarly priced.

 

https://wooshbikes.co.uk/?hubkits

 

If you want to save money you can buy all of the parts from China. Delivery will be longer and you will need to understand what you are ordering and how to assemble the thing properly.

 

Here is a link to Topbike kit where a few experienced people on here order their parts from.

 

https://topbikekit.com/

https://www.yosepower.co.uk/collections/e-bike-conversion-kit-with-battery

 

I advice against importing things from China. Especially batteries.

Woosh kits are similarly priced.

 

https://wooshbikes.co.uk/?hubkits

 

If you want to save money you can buy all of the parts from China. Delivery will be longer and you will need to understand what you are ordering and how to assemble the thing properly.

 

Here is a link to Topbike kit where a few experienced people on here order their parts from.

 

https://topbikekit.com/

 

Link appreciated but I'm not experienced enough to buy the items seperately. I'd be happier with a 'Full Kit' purchase like the one in the link i posted.

UK suppliers import everything from China. You have to pay their mark up, but they have done all of the leg work for you and you get warranty that means something to lessen your risk. Also they keep stock so delivery is quicker.

Link appreciated but I'm not experienced enough to buy the items seperately. I'd be happier with a 'Full Kit' purchase like the one in the link i posted.

 

Woosh sell full kits. Prices higher than average, but UK based company and excellent customer service.

Woosh are similar to Kirby. They will both supply you with a full kit from the UK. Both of them are regular posters on here and have a good reputation.

Woosh are similar to Kirby. (...) Both of them are regular posters on here.

 

Really!?

I wonder how did I miss that...

Can you post a link to something written by Kirby please?

Like building a house....you can have a good house, a low cost house and a quick house, but you can only have two of those three.

 

If you want quick, good with excellent customer service and technical assistance, maybe pay the bit extra and talk to Woosh today.

 

Disclaimer: I am not a Woosh customer, just giving the benefit of two years reading this forum.

The kit is sold as 36v. If you use a 48v motor you may need to change the controller and possibly the display.

If you are lucky they will already be OK for 48v, but very likely not.

The kit is sold as 36v. If you use a 48v motor you may need to change the controller and possibly the display.

If you are lucky they will already be OK for 48v, but very likely not.

 

The kit as posted here is sold as 48v by default with the option to have the lower 36v at a lower price. As the kit is shown with the 48v by default i should expect it to work ok.

 

https://kirbebike.com/products/48v250w-ebike-conversion-kit?variant=43851302535321

I can’t tell from the photos what controller this kit is using, but many controllers are dual voltage ie 36/48 volt.

The kit as posted here is sold as 48v by default with the option to have the lower 36v at a lower price. As the kit is shown with the 48v by default i should expect it to work ok.

 

https://kirbebike.com/products/48v250w-ebike-conversion-kit?variant=43851302535321

Should be fine. Odd that the link you posted in post #1 only showed 36v battery, no 48v option.

Woosh are similar to Kirby.

 

It is interesting how perceptions can vary. I have nothing but respect for Woosh while Kirby is more like a joke company to me.

I see why what is sold by Woosh is so expensive, while I have no idea why Kirby is asking so much.

Edited March 9, 20242 yr by Az.

Hi All

 

I'm wanting to buy a conversion kit to fit to an old steel bike I have. I have a 4 mile commute to work with no hills. I'm in the UK and hold a full car and motorcycle licence. Is the kit in the link below worth buying? I'm new to electric conversion but not new to cycling, I'm an area co ordinator for a worldwide cycling community but our forum does not have an electric section.

 

This is the kit I have found to be, I think, best suited for me:

 

https://kirbebike.com/products/250w-ebike-conversion-kit?variant=43365620678809

 

I also have a few questions:

 

1. As I'm used to riding a Yamaha R1 and KTM 690 Duke can I go for a larger 750w motor or similar and be legal in the UK?

2. If I buy the kit above should I buy it without a battery and buy a 48v battery seperately? If so where can I buy such a battery in the UK?

 

Thanks in advance

 

Trebz

You should buy the kit according to your needs, not what's available or what's on YouTube. The most important things are your weight, the hills that you want to climb and how far you want to go.

 

Your brakes might be adequate for non-assisted riding, but will be inadequate when you fit a motor unless you're less than 80 kg, and definitely inadequate if you want to assistance above 15 mph. The energy you need to dissipate goes up with the square of your speed, so to go up from an average of 10 mph to 14 mph, you need double the braking, four times the braking at 20 mph, and ten times the braking at 30 mph.

 

My advice is that you should buy a kit that has a standard Hailong type battery, standard controller and LCD, and other standard parts so that you can easily get replacements in the future. Unfortunately, many sellers don't sell a lot of kits and fashions change, so when you need spares a couple of years down the road, they don't have them. You should only by a kit that's specific to a seller if it has something that you specifically need.

 

If you're heavy (95kg plus), a 48v system would be better than 36v.

 

It's OK to buy stuff from China. Many of us have been doing it for many years without problems. There are many resellers in the UK, who can sell the stuff cheaper than you can buy the stuff from China, so you only need to buy stuff from China if you need something to be exactly how you want it.

 

Greenlance is a good seller of batteries in the UK, with very good prices.

 

If you want a ready made kit from the UK, Woosh ones are a good price and you get good customer service and guarantee, otherwise Yosepower or any of the plethora on Ebay, Amazon, Aliexpress, etc.

 

The Kirbebike kit is fairly standard apart from the battery. It has the desirable KT controller that has a very nice pedal assist function. If your bike has a non-cartridge bottom bracket, the pedal sensor won't fit, and, even if you have a cartridge one, there might not be enough room for it. You need to check the gap between the back of the pedal arm and the BB. If you need a couple of extra mm, you can grind it off the back of the pedal arm to create more space.

Edited March 9, 20242 yr by saneagle

Ok I think I know where I'm going now. I'm starting to lean more towards buying the parts I need individually instead of buying a kit as I don't want peddle assist, kit brake levers, Peddle Assist sensor etc.

 

What I believe I need is as follows:

 

Front wheel with 250w motor - Unable to find a wheel only sale on Ebay

Handlebar throttle unit - Throttle

Controller - Controller and LCD

48v battery and mount kit - Greenlance 48v

Front and rear light kit - Light Kit

 

I have used Ebay just for reference. I still obviously need help as I'm new to this and genuinely still don't know what to do or what to buy. Is this list worth buying? Bearing in mind Iv'e not been able to find a 250w front wheel unit.

 

Can anyone provide me with a quick list of things I should buy for a throttle only kit?

 

Or should I just buy this off Ebay and buy the battery listed above from Greenlance?: Front wheel kit