Are ebike conversion worth it?

[brman]

I used to do fair bit of riding and still have my bikes. Unfortunately health issues mean I now have to be very careful not to over-exert myself and the bikes have not been used for a few years. Recently I have been getting the urge to start riding again and wondered if an ebike would help me manage the exertion thing.
The trouble is, I don't want to spend thousands on a whim and I don't really want to get rid of my existing bikes, even though they are no longer used!

So I have been wondering about ebike conversions.
I have a choice of bikes I could convert but would prefer off road so that narrows it down to a 2008 trek fuel EX8 full suss or a hardtail - unknown frame but with hope brakes, deore/XT running gear mavic/xt wheels etc.

So my question is, is it sensible to convert an existing bike or is it a new bike or nothing? I could sell the old bikes but I suspect a 2008 EX8 isn't worth that much,even if it is near mint.

If conversion is practical, which way to go, bottom bracket, front or rear wheel drive? I am capable of rebuilding wheels if necessary.

All comments welcome, including "don't bother!".

[Barchettaman]

Hi,

I have a Swytch conversion kit on my 26“-wheeled folder.

It works really well. Definitely one for leisure rides or commuting as the motor doesn’t put out as much torque as the Bosch mid-drive system (which I also have), and the battery capacity seems much smaller.

You have to sign up for a waiting list, then they go on sale at 50% discount.

Any questions fire away.

[colin_p]

I've done a Bafang BBS02b mid drive conversion and it is amazing. This is to a Boardman hybrid bike with Deore bits on it.

Very easy to fit if you have ever used spanners.

Cost me about £800 for the complete kit including a hefty 17 amp hour 48 volt battery for the 750w motor (obviously only used exclusively on private land). You can also "tune" them with of £15 lead and free software. I actually down tuned my so as to preserve battery life and to be kinder to the power controller.

This is a good read:

https://edrivenet.com/bafang-programming/

[J4CKO]

Part of me would really like to convert my old Trek Hardtail with a 1500W motor off eBay, appreciate they arent legal etc but looks like would be a fun project.

[brman]

Thanks All.
So if I wanted to stay road legal I would need it to be under 250W. Correct? Anyone used a 250W one and can comment on whether it is up to a few hills and light off road stuff?

[Barchettaman]

You might want to check user Cupramax‘s posts on his Bafang conversation. His recently went pop after 4 years, I think.

[SamR380]

250w is plenty for anything on the road, especially as an assistance to human legs.

[stargazer30]

I did a rear wheel hub conversion on a boardman. It was a yose kit from eBay £350 including the battery and all the tools to fit it.



It was a good kit, not as good as a 2k Bosch mid motor bike but to get you from a to b it was fine and totally legal.

[Mr Obertshaw]

I have a 250w bAfang bbs01 mid drive on my boardman hybrid. It's great.

[colin_p]

Barchettaman said:

You might want to check user Cupramax‘s posts on his Bafang conversation. His recently went pop after 4 years, I think.

Have you got a link to the thread?

The first generation BBS001 / BBS002 units had slightly weaker power controller, hence the re-jig and issue of the BBS01b / BBS02b.

I wonder if Cupramax's motor was b version.

[Barchettaman]

colin_p said:

Have you got a link to the thread?

The first generation BBS001 / BBS002 units had slightly weaker power controller, hence the re-jig and issue of the BBS01b / BBS02b.

I wonder if Cupramax's motor was b version.

Just scroll back through the e bikes thread. He posted pretty regularly on there, ISTR.

[Pickled Piper]

I found a conversion kit was the most cost effective way to get an ebike. I quite like spannering on bikes so the fitting was half the fun. I purchased a second hand Boardman hybrid just for this purpose. This was pre Covid so second hand bikes were still at sensible prices. I fitted a Bafang mid drive.

I would definitely do it again. A lot of conversions are let down by poor routing of the cables. It's worth spending some time to run these carefully round the bike frame and using cable ties and cable clips.