Conversion kit fitting

[UA17]

I bought the Raleigh Access folding bike a few weeks ago. I am planning to convert it to an electric bike and I have bought a rear pannier conversion kit which should arrive in the next few days. I am just wondering if anyone knows anyone/any businesses in or around Bristol who can fit conversion kits onto bikes?

 

[Jonah]

Chris at the Electric Transport Shop might be able to help. They usually fit their own kits but might fit yours if you ask. Electric Bike Sales - Bristol Store Details

 

[UA17]

Thanks Jonah, I will give them a call tomorrow and see what price they will charge. I called Atomosphere electric bikes but they were hesitant to do it because they said questions of liability arise especially when problematic issues with the bike are encountered which is understandable.

 

[Cyclezee]

Hi UA17,

Welcome to the forum.

If you hadn't already got a new folder this might have been a good choice for you eZee Dahon - electric bikes and conversion kits

Another suggestion, if you feel up to DIY, there is plenty of help available here to guide you through the process, but you need to specify exactly what you want, your intended use and what your budget is

 

[jerrysimon]

I have done quite a few folding bike conversions. The main challenge is that the front fork spacing are often narrower than standard bike front forks 100mm.

Do you have details of your kit ?

A bit far away (Cambridge) if you are prepared to post/bring the bike to me and depending on which kit your have purchased, I will happily help fit it.

As stated one of the challenges may be if its a front hub kit and the motor is 100mm wide against common folding bike front forks which are usually only 80mm wide

Regards

Jerry

 

[Cyclezee]

Hi again UA17,

You won't get a better offer than Jerry's, he is an expert

 

[UA17]

Hi Jerry,

My bike Is the Raleigh Access folding bike which came out in 2012 and the conversion kit I bought is a rear pannier conversion kit from a website called alibaba. If I am able to get my bike & the conversion kit to Cambridge, how much would you charge to fit the conversion kit? The link to the kit I bought is below:


Diy Ebike Kit - Buy Diy Ebike Kit,Electric Bike Motor Kits,Electric Bicycle Kit 24v 500w Product on Alibaba.com


Regards

 

[jerrysimon]

UA17,

Looking at the kit linked I assume its a front hub with a disk brake fitting ?

If so things don't look promising

Have a look at your front forks and if you can remove the wheel and/or try and measure the distance between the forks. I suspect it will be around 75mm wide. To spread your forks to 100mm will probably be too risky depending on what they are made of.

In addition a 500W motor is a little over powered for a small folder and would also need some kind of strengthening (a torque arm) to make it safe and not spin out the fork dropouts under full power.

I would recommend you get a smaller kit. Something like this

Electric bike kit for 20" folding bikes 36v 250w without battery 80mm narrow hub | eBay

Whilst 24V kits are cheaper they also require larger wiring as they require more current for the same power at 24V. Again I recommend a 36v kit.

email me on jerrysimonsimon at hotmail dot com if you want to chat more off line for options. Most of the work I do is for friends and family and I don't really charge for labor just for parts. For me its just a hobby.

PS looking at the bike spec the forks are steel.

http://www.jejamescycles.co.uk/raleigh-access-folding-bike-id78303.html

That said I would not really want to spread them out from 75-100mm to take the motor. In practice they would probably need to be spread to about 115mm because they will spring back. As I said perhaps measure them and let me know how wide the spacing is ?

Jerry

 

[UA17]

Thanks,

I will email you now Jerry.

Regards.

 

[Deleted member 4366]

I think he said it was a rear-wheel kit, Jerry. and the 500w is only in the URL. The actual kit is 250w.

UA17, can you tell us exactly what you ordered: front or rear? 24v or 36v?

 

[UA17]

Hi d8veh,

I ordered a 20" front wheel kit & it is 36v.

Regards

 

[UA17]

The Wisper 806 classic e-bike is a very similar commuting bike like mine and it has managed to have a kit fitted into it although I am not 100% sure about it's specifications i'm pretty sure it is 36v as well.

I have provided a link to the wisper 806 classic e-bike below:

http://www.ebikeshed.co.uk/products/wisper-806-classic.php#.Ug4xhylwbIU

 

[Deleted member 4366]

If it isn't too late, you should change it to a rear kit, which will be much easier to fit, but you'll need to spend an additional £25 on a 11T free-wheel. The problem is the width of the forks. The motor is 100mm wide. How wide is the gap between the forks? 20" bikes can be as low as 70mm.

 

[UA17]

I was going to originally buy a rear kit but the seller told me that most people get a front kit because it is easier to fit!

I have just measured the space between the forks and it is 75mm. The forks are steel so I am not sure whether they are easy to extend or not or whether there is something I can buy to enable me accommodate more space for the front hub motor?

It would be interesting to find out how the wisper 806 classic managed to fit a front hub motor as it is very similar to my Raleigh access bike

 

[Deleted member 4366]

The Wisper has forks that are 100mm wide. The seller was probably right for 26" or 700C wheels, but for a 20" wheel, you need a Narrow motor, which often give less power. The best solution would be to change to a rear kit, if the order hasn't progressed too far. The other thing you need to check is the RPM of the motor. You need about 330 rpm in a 20" wheel.

 

[jerrysimon]

I emailed you but it seems you have now measured them and confirmed that they are 75mm. For folding bikes where you want to retrofit a front motor, you should really use 80mm wide motors which makes things much easier.

As Dave stated for more power a rear motor would be better.

My view is that folding bikes need to be light to carry hence why my preference for retro fit is to fit lower powered light front motors.

Whispers forks probably are 100mm wide but they will have been made specifically by the manufacturer.

Regards

Jerry

 

[UA17]

Hi,

So my best bet is to return the item and exchange it for a rear hub motor kit which will also be 36v as this will be easier to fit and generate more power?

Also do I need to be aware of anything when buying a rear motor e-bike kit e.g. spacing/distance for the bike?

Regards

 

[patpatbut]

Hi,

So my best bet is to return the item and exchange it for a rear hub motor kit which will also be 36v as this will be easier to fit and generate more power?

Also do I need to be aware of anything when buying a rear motor e-bike kit e.g. spacing/distance for the bike?

Regards

Hi there,

Dont bother to send the kit back as it would cost about the same as you paid for this kit.

Will you be able to measure the length of the rear dropout? Normally should be 135mm...not sure 20 inch bike though

Pat

 

[Deleted member 4366]

If you've already got it, you can't send it back. Shipping to China is way too expensive. The best thing to do now is stretch the forks. If they'e steel. it should be OK. Best to check with a magnet to be absolutely sure. If they're not steel, you're a bit stuck. Whereabout do you live?

 

[UA17]

I live in Bristol. I have decided to keep the kit that I have bought. However, since the space between the forks is only 75mm I am going to buy a smaller front hub motor as the one I have currently got is 100mm.