Rather than buying an e-bike, many cyclists already have a decent quality cycle and may wish to convert it to an electric bike. There are a number of e-bike conversion kits on the market making this relatively easy to do with a little know how and a few tools.
Powered E-bike Kits: Front Motor Wheels
The easiest way to convert a conventional bike to an electric bike is by using a hub motor situated in the front wheel. There are lots of kits available providing all the parts required including a front wheel, some form of speed controller / display unit, cabling, pedal sensors, brake sensors and sometimes a battery.
Installation of such a kit requires a few tools such as spanners, screwdrivers, allen keys, tyre removal levers, pump, cable ties etc. A bike maintenance stand will also come in handy
Choose a suitable location to work on your bike, ideally in a clean, well-lit area.
Make sure your bike is on a stable surface, and consider using a bike stand or asking a friend to help hold the bike while you work.
Remove the Old Wheel:
Start by removing the front wheel of your bike. Loosen the axle nuts or quick-release skewer to release the wheel.
Carefully detach the brake caliper (if you have rim brakes) and the cable connected to it.
Install the Electric Wheel:
Take the front wheel from your electric bike conversion kit. It should have a hub motor pre-installed.
Slide the electric wheel into the fork dropouts of your bike, making sure it’s centered and aligned with the fork.
Secure the wheel in place by tightening the axle nuts or reusing the quick-release skewer. Use a torque wrench to ensure the proper torque settings (usually specified in the kit instructions).
Connect the Motor Wiring:
The electric wheel will have wires coming out of it. Follow the kit instructions to connect these wires to the controller, which is typically mounted on the frame near the handlebars.
Secure the wires with zip ties, cable management clips, and electrical tape to keep them tidy and out of the way of moving parts.
Install the Battery:
Depending on your kit, the battery may mount on the frame, under the seat, or in another location. Follow the instructions to properly attach the battery and connect it to the controller.
Install the Throttle and Display (if included):
If your kit includes a throttle or a display, follow the instructions to mount these components on the handlebars. Typically, you’ll need to run wires from the handlebars to the controller.
Test the System:
Before fully tightening all bolts and securing all wires, turn on the electric system and test it to ensure everything is functioning correctly. Check the motor, throttle, brakes, and display (if present).
Final Adjustments:
Once everything is working correctly, make final adjustments to ensure the wheel is properly aligned, and all connections are secure.
Double-check that the brake caliper is properly aligned and adjusted to work with the new wheel. Adjust the brakes if necessary.
Safety Check:
Carefully inspect the entire setup for safety. Make sure there are no loose wires or components that could interfere with the operation of the bike.
Take a Test Ride:
Before using your ebike in traffic or on challenging terrain, take it for a test ride in a safe area to get used to the electric assist and make sure everything is functioning correctly.
Please note that this is a general overview, and specific instructions may vary depending on the brand and model of your electric bike conversion kit. Always follow the manufacturer’s instructions provided with your kit for the best results and safety. If you’re not confident in your ability to perform the installation, consider seeking assistance from a professional bike mechanic.
How easy to install the easy fit kit?
Fitting a conversion kit is easy and only needs few tools. Follow these steps: Take off the front wheel from your bike and replace it with the electric wheel supplied in the conversion kit.
Put the electric battery into the holder and fasten it to the bike frame.
Lock the bike battery in place, you dont want it moving around.
Attach the electric motor to your electric bike battery, its just the one cable provided is all that is needed.
Download the app. You can now locate and calibrate your ebike wheel.
Start riding.
Do you need to add a tyre and inner tube?
Ebike conversion kits like the Swytch kit, do not provide a tyre or inner tube.
Each easy fit e bike conversion kit has a new tyre and inner tube pre-installed. This reduces the time taken to get cycling.
All kits cover the three most popular sizes. That is 26 inch, 27.5 and 700C front wheel sizes.
The wheel size is more important than the tyre width. With your particular wheel diameter you still have a good range
of tyre sizes that can fit to the electric wheel supplied in the kit. With the Swytch kit and the cheap Amazon kits,
you only need to order the correct wheel size.
With the easy fit front wheel conversion kits, you have to be more specific when ordering. Each conversion kit
includes a fitted tyre and tube, you will need to find the tyre size written onto your existing tyre and order a match.
Tyre widths can be different, if you’re willing to accept a close match you can obtain your electric bike kit quickly.
eg. the difference between a 700x32C and 700x35C is only 3mm.
Connecting cables.
Your new electric front wheel will have a 9-pin waterproof connector. This has to be matched with the 9-pin
waterproof connector from the battery holder. An embossed arrow on each side helps to direct. Align the two arrows first
and carefully push together for a solid connection.
Your conversion kit will come with cable ties to tidy up and prevent them
from sticking on the spokes and catching the cranks. Be sure to leave enough slack, but not too much, to
ensure that the fork can turn sufficiently without impediment.
Attach magnet disc and PAS sensor
Magnet discs with a split design that fit within the crank and are held by the retention ring are required for
many conversion kits. Next, mount the sensor directly to the frame to let it to detect if a crank has moved.
For most ebike kits, these discs and sensors are cardinal for the bike battery to know when and how much electric
power to give out.
Attaching the phone holder.
The advanced easy fit conversion kits are controlled by your smartphone. You will need to attach a phone
holder to your handlebars. Just about all ebike conversion kits will have a mobile phone holder. They
are not expensive for kit suppliers to supply but they are a neccesity.
They should be removable but secure on your bike.
Install and Launch the Kit Smartphone App
Download the ebike kit app for your phone to the ebike controller, Bluetooth, and also
to calibrate your new electric bicycle on a flat surface. An important step, as the electronics in the
battery holder will calculate the amount of electrical power needed in relation to your speed and incline.
Setting the pedal assistance on your smartphone takes away the need for another controller.
Mid-drive Electric Bike Conversion Kits
Lots of the available bikes feature a mid-drive system with a motor mounted at the base of a rim near a pedal.
They can be placed lower on bikes improving the stability – BUT – can be damaged should they touch the ground.
Rear-mounted Friction Drive Conversion Kit
Rubbee is an e bike kit and a good choice for riders who need a fast and reliable ebike. Rubbee’s base
models boast an average weight of 2.7 kg and have 16 km of range.
Is it safe to convert a bike?
The standard e bike conversion kit is technically safe. Some have questioned whether using electric motors on standard
bikes is safe, others believe it’s perfectly safe. Many converted electric bicycles can be much more powerful than permitted
by current law. The UK government states an electric motor can have a max. power output of 250W. The motor must not propel
the electric bike if travelling more than 15 mph.
All electric bikes not complying with this rules must be classed as motorcycles or mopeds and need to be registered and taxed.
You must have a battery charger. E-bike batteries have to be charged on a regular basis and this must be using a
charger that is designed to work with the battery.
A common mistake for ebike owners is to assume that all electric bike batteries are the same and use universal chargers.
Not so, you should always get your charger from the manufacturer of your ebike.
Where do i source an electric bike kit?
Electric bike conversion kits are available at numerous online retailers but most of the online retailers are
selling out fast and most recommend customers order ASAP. Swytch was one of the largest Ebike converter kit sellers currently
selling all the kits.
How much are they?
The cost for a kit varies depending upon where it is bought and the kind you need.
The e bike kit for rear wheels can be cheaper and easier to fit than the mid-drive versions and is also the
most common. The Easy Fit front wheel kits are easier to fit than all other ebike kit types but usually more expensive
to convert to an ebike.
The average ebike conversion kit price is around £400. The kits differ in power, quality and size so you need
to research before buying. Some electric bike kit costs around £500, others more than £2,000.
Ebike kits are becoming cheaper as ebikes become more popular.
