Converting a folding electric bike with a throttle

[jmiglorine]

HI,

I would like to purchase a folding bike then use a covrsion kit (with a throttle). Cn anyone reccommend...

Best folding bike to use (I have a cycle to work voucher of £3k)?
Best conversion kit to use?
Do i need anything else?
Do any companies fit these?

I appreciate this info is probably on the site but its very confusing as i am very new and can't find it

Thanks

 

[guerney]

My Bafang BBS01b converted Dahon folder has a "Rebar", a strut supporting the hinge, which I have on good authority never end up back in the shop with a broken hinge. I don't know what the size of the bottom bracket is on this one for example, but I'm sure if you ask CW White, they'll be able to tell you - they used to do Bafang BBSXX conversions:

Dahon Custom Built Models

Dahon models that we build in our workshop from New Dahon Framesets and New Parts especially either to create a combination that Dahon do not currently produce, or just to give increased value over the normal model range.

foldingbike.biz

An example of a larger folder with rebar on Amazon (out of stock)

2014 Dahon Espresso D21 Folding MTB : Amazon.co.uk: Sports & Outdoors

Shop 2014 Dahon Espresso D21 Folding MTB. Free delivery and returns on all eligible orders.

www.amazon.co.uk

Many of the newer Dahons, Terns and other folders don't feature the rebar. The owner of CW White knows far too much about folding bikes, and is a great source of spare parts and advice.

Some of their other custom builds:

Dahon Custom Built Models

Dahon models that we build in our workshop from New Dahon Framesets and New Parts especially either to create a combination that Dahon do not currently produce, or just to give increased value over the normal model range.

foldingbike.biz

I purchased my kit from IEBIKE on Amazon last year:

Bafang BBS01B 36V 250W Mid Drive Electric Bike Motor Ebike Conversion Kit Mid Motor for Mountain Bike Road Bike : Amazon.co.uk: Sports & Outdoors

Shop Bafang BBS01B 36V 250W Mid Drive Electric Bike Motor Ebike Conversion Kit Mid Motor for Mountain Bike Road Bike. Free delivery and returns on all eligible orders.

www.amazon.co.uk

They have found some sort of UK based warehouse since my purchase, but diagnostics are still done in China - if anything goes wrong, you'll be posting faulty items back there. There are many UK sellers, who I'm sure others on this forum have experience of, and can recommend. If purchasing from IEBIKE, ask first via message about what stock they hold in the UK! Waiting for the slow boat from China would be very disappointing.

Here's a conversion video. It's pretty easy. His kit is illegal:

 

[Nealh]

Never fit an ekit (esp a mid drive) to a Tern as the bikes just cannot take the stress and torque of an ekit, the hinge on the Tern is very weak and there have been many bikes where the welds simply give way. Tern stole the Dahon tech specs when the ex wife and a son of David Hon left the company under acrimonious terms, but have never been able to replicate the hinge design successfully. The main issue with Terns have been poorly welded joints that simply don't penetrate in to the metal seam deeply or efficiently, I have see one Tern thread 300 pages long cataloging incidents with pics and commentary.
Even the Tern HSD mid drive has suffered the same fate.

The Dahon afaik is an excellent design to choose and use.

 

[guerney]

Never fit an ekit (esp a mid drive) to a Tern as the bikes just cannot take the stress and torque of an ekit, the hinge on the Tern is very weak and there have been many bikes where the welds simply give way. Tern stole the Dahon tech specs when the ex wife and a son of David Hon left the company under acrimonious terms, but have never been able to replicate the hinge design successfully. The main issue with Terns have been poorly welded joints that simply don't penetrate in to the metal seam deeply or efficiently, I have see one Tern thread 300 pages long cataloging incidents with pics and commentary.
Even the Tern HSD mid drive has suffered the same fate.

The Dahon afaik is an excellent design to choose and use.

I've even been forced to do some jumps with my Dahon with rebar, nothing's broken yet. When my aluminium frame does eventually crack under the weight of heavy pumpkin carriage duties, my next folder may well start with a new Dahon frame. It's a pity that there are not many good suspension options for Dahons, but you can fit fat tyres if you get the right rims, which unfortunately tend to be Tern - but they work well (double walled Weinmann) with 1.75", with the option for 2". I put my battery on the rear rack.

I might get a Cane Creek Thudbuster - even though they don't make them for (some) Dahons anymore, you can fit a thinner one into a Tern seat tube (that's true for mine at least, thank you C H White!).

 

[guerney]

Never fit an ekit (esp a mid drive) to a Tern as the bikes just cannot take the stress and torque of an ekit, the hinge on the Tern is very weak and there have been many bikes where the welds simply give way. Tern stole the Dahon tech specs when the ex wife and a son of David Hon left the company under acrimonious terms, but have never been able to replicate the hinge design successfully. The main issue with Terns have been poorly welded joints that simply don't penetrate in to the metal seam deeply or efficiently, I have see one Tern thread 300 pages long cataloging incidents with pics and commentary.
Even the Tern HSD mid drive has suffered the same fate.

The Dahon afaik is an excellent design to choose and use.

What about a BBS01b on a Birdy? The dual suspension is supposed to be very good:

Riese & Müller Birdy - Folding bike 18" | eBay

Find many great new & used options and get the best deals for Riese & Müller Birdy - Folding bike 18" at the best online prices at eBay! Free delivery for many products!

www.ebay.co.uk

68mm BB:

BB for BIRDY

www.rideabikes.com

 

[guerney]

Never fit an ekit (esp a mid drive) to a Tern as the bikes just cannot take the stress and torque of an ekit, the hinge on the Tern is very weak and there have been many bikes where the welds simply give way. Tern stole the Dahon tech specs when the ex wife and a son of David Hon left the company under acrimonious terms, but have never been able to replicate the hinge design successfully. The main issue with Terns have been poorly welded joints that simply don't penetrate in to the metal seam deeply or efficiently, I have see one Tern thread 300 pages long cataloging incidents with pics and commentary.
Even the Tern HSD mid drive has suffered the same fate.

The Dahon afaik is an excellent design to choose and use.

I'm someone who must have at least one folding bike handy - at one point I considered converting a Decathlon B'Twin Tilt:

Commuter Bikes - Electric, Hybrid & Standard | Decathlon

Decathlon's range of town and city bikes are perfect for those looking for a commuter bike. Available with FREE delivery. Shop now to enjoy free,…

www.decathlon.co.uk

 

[guerney]

Never fit an ekit (esp a mid drive) to a Tern as the bikes just cannot take the stress and torque of an ekit, the hinge on the Tern is very weak and there have been many bikes where the welds simply give way. Tern stole the Dahon tech specs when the ex wife and a son of David Hon left the company under acrimonious terms, but have never been able to replicate the hinge design successfully. The main issue with Terns have been poorly welded joints that simply don't penetrate in to the metal seam deeply or efficiently, I have see one Tern thread 300 pages long cataloging incidents with pics and commentary.
Even the Tern HSD mid drive has suffered the same fate.

The Dahon afaik is an excellent design to choose and use.

New Birdy Classics:

Birdy New Classic 8 Speeds

The Classic Birdy was discontinued in 2005 and replaced by the Monocoque Birdy. Following that, the Classic Birdy became one of the top items on collectors’ lists! Now back in the lineup, the Birdy New Classic retains the vintage appearance of the original model with a more tubular, cleaner main...

www.birdybicycle.com

Birdy Touring?

Birdy Touring Folding Bike Blue

 

[guerney]

Never fit an ekit (esp a mid drive) to a Tern as the bikes just cannot take the stress and torque of an ekit, the hinge on the Tern is very weak and there have been many bikes where the welds simply give way. Tern stole the Dahon tech specs when the ex wife and a son of David Hon left the company under acrimonious terms, but have never been able to replicate the hinge design successfully. The main issue with Terns have been poorly welded joints that simply don't penetrate in to the metal seam deeply or efficiently, I have see one Tern thread 300 pages long cataloging incidents with pics and commentary.
Even the Tern HSD mid drive has suffered the same fate.

The Dahon afaik is an excellent design to choose and use.

Before I converted the Dahon (which I continue to be very happy with), I almost bought and converted the better iteration of this:

1970s Micro portable bicycle

vintage small wheelers, folders and other interesting bicycles like Moulton, Raleigh RSW and Royal Enfield Revelation

bootiebike.com

...but not enough gears, and it may have ended badly. The welds on the original were very ropey indeed, as was the rapid onset of rust. The nice thing about the Radnall, was that it used standard bike parts and was easily repairable. Pashley bought the design and made a better version with a longer wheelbase, but still not enough gears:

Original Pashley ( Cresswell ) Micro Luxe Folding Bike. Rare and Collectable | Cycling Shop

I don't know that there's anyone else on this forum, who has converetd a Dahon folder. Well worth doing - BBS01b + Dahon folder is a great combination. Dahon wheels are excellent, very well made indeed but I wish they were tad wider to accommodate wider tyres. Terns wheels do the job, they turn, but the finish and contruction is nowhere near Dahon's high level of quality and design. That being said, Tern have bought the "Kinetix" trademark.

 

[guerney]

Never fit an ekit (esp a mid drive) to a Tern as the bikes just cannot take the stress and torque of an ekit, the hinge on the Tern is very weak and there have been many bikes where the welds simply give way. Tern stole the Dahon tech specs when the ex wife and a son of David Hon left the company under acrimonious terms, but have never been able to replicate the hinge design successfully. The main issue with Terns have been poorly welded joints that simply don't penetrate in to the metal seam deeply or efficiently, I have see one Tern thread 300 pages long cataloging incidents with pics and commentary.
Even the Tern HSD mid drive has suffered the same fate.

The Dahon afaik is an excellent design to choose and use.

Talking of Pashley, here's a Bafang converted folding trike:

Pashley E-Bike Tri-1 Folding Tricycle | eBay

Find many great new & used options and get the best deals for Pashley E-Bike Tri-1 Folding Tricycle at the best online prices at eBay! Free delivery for many products!

www.ebay.co.uk

 

[guerney]

Never fit an ekit (esp a mid drive) to a Tern as the bikes just cannot take the stress and torque of an ekit, the hinge on the Tern is very weak and there have been many bikes where the welds simply give way. Tern stole the Dahon tech specs when the ex wife and a son of David Hon left the company under acrimonious terms, but have never been able to replicate the hinge design successfully. The main issue with Terns have been poorly welded joints that simply don't penetrate in to the metal seam deeply or efficiently, I have see one Tern thread 300 pages long cataloging incidents with pics and commentary.
Even the Tern HSD mid drive has suffered the same fate.

The Dahon afaik is an excellent design to choose and use.

I also considered converting a DiBlasi folding trike, for pumpkin transport duties:

https://missioncycles.co.uk/product/diblasi-r32/

... it's a very small folded design, for a trike.

 

[harrys]

I own a BBS02 on a full size bike, and never considered a mid motor for a folder. On one hand, it is a simpler install, The controller is inside the motor, so there is no need to locate a box on the frame for electronics. The wiring is also simpler. The tradeoff is I don't need the power of a mid drive, We ride our folders fairly slow. Also, hubmotors are less expensive, and since I was converting bikes for both of us, I went that route.

How about Pashman's kit. I don't think it ever sold? I believe it's FWD. You would have to buy a Brompom. but you can't go wrong with that,

My Brompton electric conversion kit (Woosh Bikes kit) for sale on ebay.

Hello good cycling folks, Sadly, due to ill-health, I am having to sell my Woosh Bikes Brompton electric conversion kit- it has hardly been used, but cared for with kid gloves!! Here is the ebay link.. https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/284560713023 It's a brilliant kit, I'm rather sad that I'm...

www.pedelecs.co.uk

 

[guerney]

HI,

I would like to purchase a folding bike then use a covrsion kit (with a throttle). Cn anyone reccommend...

Best folding bike to use (I have a cycle to work voucher of £3k)?
Best conversion kit to use?
Do i need anything else?
Do any companies fit these?

I appreciate this info is probably on the site but its very confusing as i am very new and can't find it

Thanks

Dahon Helios XL ultra light, Aluminium folder, | eBay

Find many great new & used options and get the best deals for Dahon Helios XL ultra light, Aluminium folder, at the best online prices at eBay! Free delivery for many products!

www.ebay.co.uk

 

[I893469365902345609348566]

Dahon Helios XL ultra light, Aluminium folder, | eBay

Find many great new & used options and get the best deals for Dahon Helios XL ultra light, Aluminium folder, at the best online prices at eBay! Free delivery for many products!

www.ebay.co.uk

That might be the lightest version of the Dahon Helios. It's also on Gumtree

Used stuff for sale | Gumtree

Find the latest stuff for sale on Gumtree. See used items for sale from clothes,electricals, furniture to tickets and more.

www.gumtree.com

 

[guerney]

That might be the lightest version of the Dahon Helios. It's also on Gumtree

Used stuff for sale | Gumtree

Find the latest stuff for sale on Gumtree. See used items for sale from clothes,electricals, furniture to tickets and more.

www.gumtree.com

The 20th anniversary Dahon Helios XX was lighter at 7.7kg - there was a Helios XX on ebay priced £999, sold

Folding Bicycles and Folding Bicycle Accessories by Dahon

Folding bikes by Dahon. The world's largest manufacturer of folding bicycles and folding bike accessories. Folding bikes for every riding requirement - from commuting, to traveling, to touring, to mountain biking.

www.cyclemotion.co.uk

 

[guerney]

That might be the lightest version of the Dahon Helios. It's also on Gumtree

Used stuff for sale | Gumtree

Find the latest stuff for sale on Gumtree. See used items for sale from clothes,electricals, furniture to tickets and more.

www.gumtree.com

I'm keeping a lookout for a Helios SL, which is even lighter at 7.6kg - lighter than any production Brompton. 20" wheeled bikes are nicer to ride than 16":

Cyclemotion - Mobility Solutions for an Integrated World

Folding bikes by Cyclemotion UK. We offer the world's largest selection of portable folding bicycle and bicycle accessories. We have folding bicycles for every riding requirement - from commuting, to traveling, to mountain biking.

www.world-wheels.co.uk