You can convert your existing bike in a few hours into a very high - quality electric bike with
an electric bike conversion system.
I've previously covered Micah Toll's
electric bike conversion video course, but because he's now going to have his ebike book printed as an actual physical book, I asked him if he could offer us some insight into why building your own ebike is not only possible, but is also desirable.
Toll is currently running a very humble Kickstarter campaign (with only an $ 800 goal) to underwrite the costs of printing his DIY
electric bike conversion ebook as a physical book (you know, the kind made from actual paper, not electrons).
Micah Toll, the author of a popular DIY
electric bike conversion book offers us 6 tips for getting started with building your own electric bike.
UK e-bike startup Swytch is trying to lay claim to the «world's lightest, most affordable»
electric bike conversion kit, by connecting a front wheel with an integrated electric hub motor to a removable battery pack that hangs from the handlebars, for a total weight of less than 8 pounds, and priced at just $ 300.
Either way, e-bikes and
electric bike conversions seem to get a lot more play in the media and on the roads and trails than electric bike trailers, but a forthcoming unit from a German startup may help to change that.
Not exact matches
There are valid arguments on both sides, as purpose - built
electric bikes are said to be better able to handle the additional torque and stresses that
electric drive systems put on the frames and components, while the kits that enable
conversion of a conventional bicycle into an
electric bike allows cyclists to use the
bikes they already own and ride as the starting point.
There are two basic approaches to products in the growing
electric bike market, one of which is to build them from the ground up as dedicated e-bikes, and the other is to offer
conversion kits which allow riders to repurpose their existing
bike with an add - on
electric drive system.
In the current market, those who are considering going
electric on their bicycles have a lot of choices, ranging from incredibly cheap crowdfunded
bikes to top - of - the - line
electric cargo
bikes to drop - in e-bike
conversions, and while that variety can make it challenging to sort through to find the right e-bike, it also ensures that there are appropriate e-
bikes available for almost every situation.
With a top speed of 25 mph, and a range of up to 50 miles, this drop - in e-
bike conversion kit aims to make it easy to add an
electric boost to any
bike.
For the savvy consumer who wants to go
electric on their
bike, but doesn't want to have to buy another bicycle to do so, there are a number of e-
bike conversion kits on the market, most of which are DIY - friendly.