E-Conversions Kits

Sidesaddle Blog                                        #004: E-kits

E-conversion kits

Long before ebikes were a popular way of getting around town, cyclists have been finding ways to boost pedaling power with the help of motors. The oldest versions of the ebike date to the late 1800s, but it wasn’t until the 1990s, when the production of smaller, lighter batteries became widespread, that the ebike began to gain widespread popularity. Now, ebikes are enjoying a huge boom in popularity. 

Consumer trends are driving ebike production and design. That’s not a bad thing per se, but it does mean that most factory-made ebikes are catering to a particular type of riding. For riders who want more choice or customization—whether in terms of e-system and the bike itself—it can be hard to find a factory-made ebike that checks all the right boxes. That’s where e-kit conversions shine.

Factory Made E-Bike By Marin Bikes: Sausalito E2

E-conversion of Marin Muirwoods with
Rear Axle kit from Grin Technologies 

What's the Difference?

All e-bikes have the same basic components: a motor, a battery, and controls. However, some ebikes have these parts integrated into a bike’s design and some are standard bikes that have had them added post-purchase. The first kind is called a “factory-made” or “purpose-built” ebike, the second is a “e-conversion.”

Standard bikes are made to be propelled by the human body. You can add a motor later, but the original bike was built to be person-powered. Likewise, you can ride a factory-made ebike with pedal power alone, but it’s fundamentally a motorized vehicle. If you’ve ever wondered why factory-made e-bikes look so different from standard bicycles, this is why.

Being light, ergonomic, and efficient—very important factors in standard bikes—matter much less for a purpose-built ebike. Instead, priority goes to having a frame that’s big enough to house the motor and battery and beefy enough to handle the dynamic forces of riding a faster, heavier bike. From a manufacturing perspective, the easiest way to check those boxes is to overbuild the frame. Thick, heavy tubing and inefficient geometry might be drawbacks for person-powered bikes, but they’re less of a problem when there’s a motor in the mix. As a result, these bikes are often cumbersome to ride without the e-assist—as anyone who’s battery has died mid-ride can tell you!

Bombtrack bike with e-kit: Mid-drive motor
 and 52V system from Tongsheng feat a HUGE 750wh battery

One thing we like about e-conversions is that you can get the best of both worlds: electric assistance when you need it, on a bike that still rides the way you want. Adding an e-kit will make your bike heavier, but it won’t change its basic design. And many—though not all—standard bicycles are strong enough to handle both the extra weight and increased force that come with motorization.

REASONS TO CHOOSE AN E-CONVERSION

You Want to choose your own adventure.

Unlike off-the-shelf ebikes, conversion kits can be customized according to a rider’s need.
Conversion kits allow you to dial in the “e” aspects such as:

• battery range
• torque
• throttle vs. pedal-assist
• torque sensor vs. cadence sensor
• mid drive vs. hub drive
• integrated lights
• add-ons like a charger for your personal electronics or even solar panels to power your bike!)

Converting a standard bike with an e-kit also means you get to choose the bike itself. Any good quality bike can be converted, which means a much wider range of styles, features, and sizes to choose from. Last but not least, a converted e-bike can always be turned back into a standard bike, should you ever want to go back to basics.

Bike Friday Haul-A-Day with Ekit:
GMAC Superharness RtR Kit 10T motor winding

You Already Have A Great Bike, But Need A Boost

Many cyclists opt for e-kit conversions because it means you can keep your beloved steed and ride further, faster, and with greater ease. It may be that your commute has gotten longer and hillier, that you just started your CSA delivery business, have your heart set on reaching remoter bikepacking spots, or that your body has changed but your verve for riding hasn’t!

You’re In It For The Long Haul

Remember when you could just pop a new battery into your tired iPod and give it a new lease on life? We’re all misty-eyed for those days. Unfortunately, like many other consumer electronics, factory e-bikes are increasingly made with corporate interests ahead of customers’.

Too many e-bikes are designed to be disposable—or to force you to dispose of them thanks to engineered obselescence. Cheap parts mean more affordable final products, sure, but those parts don’t last. When they eventually stop being available, you’re left with no choice but to turf the whole bike and buy a new one.

While not all conversion kits are created equal (we beseech you, do not go with a cheapo e-kit!), they do offer the option of a system with generic parts that are easy to source and replace. This means an ebike with a much longer service life—a benefit from both an environmental and financial standpoint.

You Need A Workhorse, Not A Dressage Pony 

Factory e–bikes tend to be built for fairly casual riders and folks who aren’t hauling much more than a couple of panniers. That means that their power and range won’t be up to every kind of riding.

You Want To Streamline Ebike Life

Different brands and models of e-system mean different batteries and chargers. If your household wants to rock an fleet of e-bikes, going with conversion kits will mean each bike uses the same batteries and chargers.

You Believe In Buying Local

There are some amazing local suppliers of e-conversion kits. At Sidesaddle we’re so lucky to work with Grin Technology. They’re not only world famous ebike innovators but East Van neighbors!

REASONS TO CHOOSE FACTORY-MADE

You’re On A Budget

We think e-conversions tend to beat factory e-bikes when it comes to long term bang-for-your-buck, but a good conversion kit isn’t cheap. (And please, we beg of you, don’t risk it with the cheap ones!)

Depending on your needs, you should budget between $2000 and $4000 for the e-kit and installation by an experienced tech. Your foundation bike should also be relatively new and in good working order with a strong frame, brakes and wheels.

Factory Made e-bike: Marin Sausalito E1

Factory Made e-bike: Surly Skid Loader 

You Need A Simple Ebike

Every e-conversion is a custom job. That’s one of the strengths of a conversion over a factory-made ebike, but it can also come with complications.

Unlike factory-made ebikes that are carbon copies of a road-tested prototype, a conversion may need some fine-tuning at first. Visits to the bike shop for e-system troubleshooting and a bit of a learning curve on your part are normal parts of a conversion. But once we iron out any kinks and you get to know the system a bit, it should be smooth sailing.

Reach out if you are considering an e-conversion for your bike 📧👈