You've Got Three Ways To
Convert Your Bike
eBiking Means Riding Is Fun Again!
How do I know if my bike can be converted?
It all comes down to brand. Brand-name bikes come from reputable manufacturers that use quality materials, designs, and assembly methods.If you bought your bicycle from a bike shop, you likely have a quality frame from a reputable brand you can trust.
The least expensive brand-name bicycles (under $700) will still have quality frame construction. Brands keep the cost of these entry level models low by using entry-level components from well-known component companies. And remember, components can always be upgraded.
If you aren’t sure if the brand is a good fit, look it up on bicyclebluebook.com. If your bike isn’t listed in this Bluebooks , it probably isn’t a conversion candidate.
Got questions? I have answers.
Most.
You can convert just about any bike. Some are easier than others. Frame shape is a big factor. How you intend to ride is another factor.
Easy to convertNo!
Technically, you can convert a big box store bike. You won’t be happy with the result.
Big-box bicycles are made with the cheapest materials and construction methods.
The components on these bikes are questionable at best.
Those lower-quality bikes aren’t designed or manufactured to last very long and certainly won’t stand up to the additional stresses of an eBike.
It all comes down to brand.
Brand name bikes come from reputable manufacturers that use quality materials, designs, and assembly methods.
If you bought your bicycle from a bike shop, you likely have a quality frame from a reputable brand you can trust.
The cheapest brand-name bicycles (under $700) will still have quality frame construction.
Brands keep the cost of these models low by using entry-level components from well-known component companies. Components can always be upgraded.
If you aren’t sure if the brand is good, look it up on bicyclebluebook.com.
If your bike isn’t listed in this database, it’s probably a lemon.
Maybe.
We’re switching from two or three gears in the front to just one.
As such, we remove the front gear shifter and the front derailleur.
The derailleur is what guides the chain between gears. It also serves to keep the chain aligned when you’re bouncing around.
On most bikes, the new chain alignment is fine and won’t require anything extra.
For some bikes and for some riding conditions (e.g. mountain biking), you’ll need a chain guide to ensure the chain stays aligned as you go over those obstacles.
I recommend that you ride for a while and see if you need one.
If you do, try this chain guide. I've used it on several installations and it works great.
Not really.
If you have basic mechanical skills, you can do this.
The actual installation of the motor and battery is easy.
Routing the wires is more of an art form. Attaching the display is simple. Each of the sensors has its own challenges, but nothing too complex.
The difficult part is removing the old parts.
You’ll need a Crank Puller and a Bottom Bracket Tool.
You might need a Pedal wrench.
A Crank Puller removes the cranks from the bottom bracket.
Once you have the motor on the bike, you may remove the cranks a few times to make adjustments.
I recommend buying one from your local bike shop. They aren’t expensive.
If you don’t want to spend the dough, RJ The Bike Guy has a great video for doing this without a crank puller.
Yes, unfortunately.
Removing the bottom bracket is the hardest part of the entire conversion process.
Each manufacturer has a proprietary locking system that requires a unique removal socket.
Use the Park Tool Bottom Bracket Tool Finder to figure out which bottom bracket you have and which tool you will need.
You can buy this from your local bike shop if you want.
Since you’ll only need it once, I suggest you ask if they’ll remove it for you.
They might charge you a few dollars but it is worth it.
Maybe.
You will take your existing pedals off the old cranks and install them on the new cranks.
This requires a wrench narrow enough to fit between the pedal and crank.
Your standard open-ended wrench should work.
If it's too wide, you can go to your local bike shop and get one.
Another maybe.
You may need a Torx security wrench.
In some Bafang kits, the screw used to hold the gear shift sensor in place has a Torx head with the security pin.
You can buy a special set of Torx wrenches, but I suggest borrowing one from an auto mechanic friend.
If you need to do any basic bicycle maintenance like replacing the chain or the gear shift cables, there are special tools for those procedures.
Your best bet is to go to your local bike shop and have them look it over.
Hi. I'm Brent.
At the beginning of the pandemic I was overweight. Do you remember that “high-risk of ending up in the hospital” group? That was me.
I decided to get healthy.
I tuned up my old Specialize bike and started commuting. Each ride I was out of shape, struggling up hills, and covered in sweat.
I hated it. I was ready to give up.
I researched eBikes and quickly learned they were very popular, ridiculously expensive, and sold out everywhere.
I found eBike conversion kits.
With these kits, you can transform almost any bike into an eBike in a day. It made so much sense. Take that bike I love, electrify it, and hit the trails.
That’s what I did. With that extra assist when I pedaled, I pushed through. I rode all the time. I took longer routes and tried more challenging trails.
And lost 50 pounds!
My passion is sharing my story with others. My goal is to encourage people to join the biking community and enjoy the benefits of riding.