B'TWIN ORIGINAL 700 36V ELECTRIC BIKE

[JOIG]

I am considering buying my first electric bike and have been looking at this bike from Decathlon unfortunately it only seems to be available online. Does any one have any opinion on this bike ?
I live near the local canals with lots cycle paths which are mainly on the flat but the route to them has a couple of long hills which play havoc with my knees . Once I am on the cycle paths i have no problem cycling 20- 25 miles on the flat its the last 2 miles home that is the problem
My present bike is a specialised globe hybrid with 700c wheels which I find is well suited to me. Would a conversion kit be worth considering ?
Any suggestions to any other bikes would be welcome my budget is £700 to £1000

 

[Tabs]

Don't know anything about the decathlon bike but if you know a wee bit about bikes fitting a kit is pretty straightforward,you can get a kit for between £400 and £500,where abouts in Scotland are you ?

 

[Nealh]

A decent hub kit about £500 min though some don't like the end result as they tend not to be as neat as an oem bike.
Though select the right kit and you can have a 19/25mph bike which invariably means more then 250w.
For about £850 you can have a 250w 25a BBS02B mid drive.

 

[JOIG]

Don't know anything about the decathlon bike but if you know a wee bit about bikes fitting a kit is pretty straightforward,you can get a kit for between £400 and £500,where abouts in Scotland are you ?

I live near Falkirk
I have looked at kits but would still like to use it as a standard bike.I have a tow bar cycle rack and am quite happy if can pop it on back and drive to a flat off road route but having said that if I fit a kit and use bike without battery fitted will it change the way the bike behaves .? Another thought is buy a second hand bike and convert. I have recently retired and have a technical back ground so a kit is something I would consider. Suggestions for a good kit would helpfull?

 

[Tabs]

I bought a second hand bike off gumtree and fitted a kit to cause I wanted to keep my "good bike" as it was,It was £425 for the kit from electric bike conversions and fitting was pretty straightforward,It does what I was looking for and I'm happy with it.I'm from Glasgow and use the canal to get to work weather permitting.

 

[Deleted member 4366]

The B'twin will be fine, but you'll have to do servicing yourself on things like brakes, tyres and gears. If you can't do that, you'll have to buy a bike from Halfords or your local ebike shop.

 

[Tabs]

Just wondering why he would need to basic maintenance himself?

 

[Deleted member 4366]

Just wondering why he would need to basic maintenance himself?

It's a mail order bike.

 

[Tabs]

Wouldn't think that would matter,surely a LBS wouldn't have a problem doing basic maintenance on it,I could understand if they didn't want to get involved with the electric side of it .

 

[Deleted member 4366]

Electric bikes are often too heavy for their stands. You might get lucky, but most won't touch them.

 

[anotherkiwi]

You will have to upgrade the tyres on the Decathlon bike probably. I have seen a couple in the store with Continental tyres mounted however. The whole 9 yards is the best bet: Schwalbe rim tape, tubes and tyres because I have had trouble with bad Decathlon rim tape...

Brakes: grab a hydraulic Magura HS11 for the front, you won't regret the expense. You don't need a brake cutoff on both wheels so the brake lever that is mounted can go in your parts box.

Otherwise it is a Bafang kit that is mounted so if you break anything all the spares are easy to find.

 

[Tugwell Gibson]

Electric bikes are often too heavy for their stands. You might get lucky, but most won't touch them.

Ignorance is bliss. I've had standrd bike work done by two local bike shops to my oxygen. Neither mentioned the weight. Tho I admit I had removed the battery. Not for weight but to discourage joy riding lol.

 

[Wirdy]

Old thread, I know, but just in case anyone else is considering the btwin original 700 for mid-drive conversion, I've just done one for my missus.
Tsdz2 48v 500w kit from ebay, rack mount 48v 15Ah battery from aliexpress.
Engineer background, so install was easy for me. This bike was ideal for our purpose; commuting & light trail/cycle paths use only. The dual suspension, although simple, works well on this bike & apart from a couple of turns more preload on the rear suspension spring, no further upgrades were required. Brakes, although simple rim affairs, are adequate even with the extra weight & performance, but get some spare brake blocks cos they'll wear out faster. £2 a set so hardly breaks the bank.
Fitting required a delete of the front triple chain ring, so only 7 gears remain, but still fine.
There is just enough clearence to keep the rear derailleur cable going under the bottom bracket. I needed to install a nylon spacer to the motor mount but apart from that the removal of the BB & install of the motor was easy. You do have to lose the original side stand, so another was fitted that attaches further back near the rear wheel.
All cables follow original routing easily & looks nice once covered in spiwrap.
The bike was already quite light & it wears the extra weight of the kit+battery very well.
The rack mount battery is needed due to the frame design not allowing a downtube battery & this bike having the 'triangle' occupied by the rear shock, but that's fine for us as it enables a larger battery & gives a rack for panniers.
All in all, a very nice bike to convert & I like the progressive power from the torque-sensing tsdz2 much more than my mtb with hub motor. The missus loves it.
You can pick up a btwin original 700 2nd hand for about £100, add the kit (£289) & battery (£275) and you've got rather a bargain for quite a good ebike commuter.

 

[Wirdy]