EBC kit to 25yo MTB Commuter?

[DynatechFan]

I started commuting a couple of times a week on one of my old fully rigid MTBs. Strong, agile CrMo frame with decent Shimano wheels, built up with 1.5" road tyres, mudguards and rack etc. Its a nice ride doesn't weigh much, looks anonymous and hopefully wont get pinched. The commute is about 12 miles, mostly downhill there, mostly uphill home - predominately on the road (but some of the surfaces are dire)

A kit conversion seems a good way to go and digging around EBC seem well liked and professional with decent customer service. A front hub 250W with frame mounted battery makes sense as (i) I often run some fairly full Ortliebs at the back (ii) I would probably swap the kit to other bikes in the future if/when my mongrel bike dies (and our off road Tandem would be a hoot with a motor)

Wondered what the wisdom here thinks? For not much more money I have seen stuff like barely used rear hub Carerra's et al but with e-bikes the battery seems to be the dear bit and the most fragile, so s/h feels risky for an e-bike newb like myself.

 

[Deleted member 4366]

A rear motor is always better. It gives better handling, better traction and is quieter.

 

[DynatechFan]

Wow - quick reply! Thanks for that

I don't disagree in principle with rear hub conversion, but *always* better?

This is a retro MTB with slightly different geometry to modern bikes, on a bad day I already have a lot of weight at the rear and on the steepest part of my return route I need to deliberately control the front of the bike to keep it on the ground.

Also my commuter is 7 speed, most of my other bikes 8/9 - though I suspect that doesn't really matter so much, it just makes swapping between bikes more work

 

[Deleted member 4366]

I don't disagree in principle with rear hub conversion, but *always* better?

Always!

 

[DynatechFan]

okay, please explain

 

[Deleted member 4366]

okay, please explain

i already did in post #2
I forgot to mention that a rear motor is safe too because it doesn't pop out of the forks and cause a face-plant.

 

[Benjahmin]

Front hubs can be 'lively' on loose or slimey surfaces. They are also a bit unpredictable in low speed manoeuvres. As you can see, I ride one so know it's foibles. Mine has a rear rack battery and regularly has panniers full of shopping with no ill effect in about 4500 miles. I think if you went for frame battery with rear motor it'd be fine and would avoid the handling eccentricities. That's the next conversion in my head.

 

[DynatechFan]

thanks folks

I see the advantages of rear hub - the EBC rear kit only seems to offer a 6 speed freewheel option. So who is reputable (and affordable) with a Cassette based rear wheel kit please - £429 with decent battery, pedal assist etc from a reputable retailer seems a good deal to me - and probably sets my top budget

 

[Deleted member 4366]

There's one on EBay from a German supplier for £200 that has the desirable KT controller. Search for electric bike cassette motor.

 

[DynatechFan]

thanks d8veh - saw the elifeshop ones but was significantly put off by the fact its ebay and the "German" seller is actually based in China - the battery choice was confusing also. For a newbie EBC seemed a better bet

I think the dishing in the wheel put me off rear conversions also - how can that carry 120kg of me, my bike and my kit?

 

[Tabs]

Av got the EBC rear motor kit and it's carried me (120k+)plus backpack for over a year so far.

 

[Spaceystud]

Av got the EBC rear motor kit and it's carried me (120k+)plus backpack for over a year so far.

Which EBC? There seems to be 2.

 

[Tabs]

Electric bike conversions,250w 36v geared rear hub kit.

 

[Spaceystud]

Electric bike conversions,250w 36v geared rear hub kit.

Thanks for reply.
Is that electric-bike-conversions or electricbikeconversionsltd? There are two firms wuth similar names and products showing up on my search results.

 

[DynatechFan]

mmm, yes I saw that and wondered which was which - the one I have looked at has an EBC logo on the web page, curious to know which is/are decent
http://www.electricbikeconversions.co.uk/
FWIW the other e-b-c sells Cyclotricity kits

 

[Tabs]

The one in the above link .

 

[Spaceystud]

The one in the above link .

Thanks both

 

[footpump]

i had the same rear wheel kit fitted to specialised sirrus elite 700c wheel but found it kept breaking spokes, although ebc replaced spokes and new whee;l rim twice still had same problem.
I met 2 people with there 500c rear wheel convertion kits who had no problems but they were fitted too 26" mtbs.

also found it a bit lacking on hills at 15nm but ok on flat at level 2 pas
they are however very helpful people to deal with.

 

[Tabs]

I had a wee problem with a broken spoke on mine (26") but it probably only happened cause I never checked the spokes after the first ride,since I replaced the spoke and kept an eye on the spoke tension it's been fine.i converted an old GT mountain bike that was probably about 20 years old,as long as you maintain the bike you shouldn't have a problem.

 

[Spaceystud]

i had the same rear wheel kit fitted to specialised sirrus elite 700c wheel but found it kept breaking spokes, although ebc replaced spokes and new whee;l rim twice still had same problem.
I met 2 people with there 500c rear wheel convertion kits who had no problems but they were fitted too 26" mtbs.

also found it a bit lacking on hills at 15nm but ok on flat at level 2 pas
they are however very helpful people to deal with.

Ah. Thanks. I live in South Pennines so hill climbing ability is an issue.