New Bike or Conversion?

My brain is fried from looking at all this stuff.

I have a very good Giant Hybrid CRS which I'm thinking of converting.

But a conversion appears to cost more than a whole bike in many cases.

I would like to use an electric bike to commute to work, it is a 16 mile trip (one way) mostly flat with a few small, gentle hills.

I'm not sure if I would be able to charge the battery at work, so assuming I can't I think I'm going to need the most powerful battery they make, which is what? 48v 15mah? Or perhaps carry two batteries? More weight though.

I feel this is going to cost big bucks.

What conversion kit would you recommend?

Or what bike would you recommend? And it's no good recommending a German bike that costs more than my car did (as wonderful as I'm sure they are).

Another thing, how do you keep all this elastic trickery waterproof when it rains? I remember from being a year round commuter on my Honda 90 years ago, some days I'd get absolutely drenched.

Which leads to the next question....what to wear? I can hardly wear a full one-piece motorcycle weatherproof suit, gloves, boots and full-face crash helmet.

Wear a big grin!

I hope you've found time to check our own bikes and kit prices...

I think I'm going to need the most powerful battery they make, which is what? 48v 15mah? Or perhaps carry two batteries?

Biggest battery?

60V 30AH V2.5 LiFePO4 Battery Pack

1.8kw/h of power! That'd get my bike 75 miles @ 25mph. It all depends on how much you're willing to spend and how heavy you're willing to go.

I can recommend conversion. You will generally end up with a better bike that you know will be comfortable as you already ride it and will be better speced, plus you get the satisfaction of putting it together yourself. I fitted an EZee kit (mk1) to my Giant Escape and have been very pleased with both the kit and the service provided so far. There are lots of kits on the market though and its best to do your research to see what suits your needs best. You should be ale to do tha journey on one charge provided you are prepared to put some effort in pedaling, you will find that the effort you would normally put in to ride at 8mph will give you double with assistance so you won't need to get too sweaty. I find I'm going the same speed as unassisted pedellers on the flat or downhill but overtake them on the hills or in headwinds.q

As for wet weather gear , loads on the market something breathable will help and neoprene overshoes will keep your feet dry. Despite this poor summer I have only actually needed full waterproofs on 5 occasions and I ride to wrk 5 days a week mostly.

Hi Waspy,

Welcome to the forum and the world of electric cycling.

Which ever route you decide to take eZee has a wide range of bikes and kits.

Please take a minute to check them out here electric bikes and conversion kits - Home

Regards,

Converting a bike is more a way of getting the bike you want rather than a cheaper option. You can buy a perfectly adequate electric bike from Woosh very cheaply, which has all the standard stuff on it that you'll find in most kits. Then you could remove that electrical stuff and put it on the bike of your choice - if you wanted.

Another reason to fit a kit or otherwise convert a bike would be to get something outside the parameters offered by the mainstream bikes: lighter, stronger, longer range, better load carrying, faster, torquier, etc.

Applying a kit to a high-end bike can get you a much better electric bike for your money than a ready-made bike of the same quality, but if you want a basic electric bike, pricewise, it's about even, and you normally have to do a bit of head-scratching as well.

So, to make your decision, you need to make it clear in your head, what exactly you're looking for: how fast do you want to go; how far; how comfortable; etc.. My advice would be to buy a ready-made bike first, and then you'll learn enough to help you with what you want in the future. Requirements for electric bikes can be different to a non-electric one so it doesn't always follow that a good non-electric one is a good prospect for conversion.

My commute is 16 miles although lots of hills. I bought a Ping 36V 20Ah, which does the round trip with ease. I'd be happy with 15Ah without the hills.

I use cheap Aldi waterproof gear as it sits in the panniers for 98% of its life. I keep spare clothes at the office just in case. Have considered switching to Lycra and getting wet, but I just don't want to be associated with the MAMILs.

My commute is 16 miles although lots of hills. I bought a Ping 36V 20Ah, which does the round trip with ease. I'd be happy with 15Ah without the hills.

 

I use cheap Aldi waterproof gear as it sits in the panniers for 98% of its life. I keep spare clothes at the office just in case. Have considered switching to Lycra and getting wet, but I just don't want to be associated with the MAMILs.

Any links mate?

Thanks for all your replies.

I am definitely thinking of conversion.

It makes no sense really when people like Woosh are doing a whole bike so cheaply, but I love my Giant, or I'd end up with two bikes in my tiny shed.

So.........bit of a learning curve ahead, I need to learn how to remove cranks and bottom brackets and get tools.

It's strange how they haven't thought about the brake levers on the shifters problem, I wonder how they solve that in bike shpos that offer to fit a conversion for you? There is such a shop in my town (Swindon) here:

Electric bikes, bicycles, mopeds and scooters from Powerbyke, Wisper, E-Max and Raleigh - E-Motion Electric Vehicle Company Ltd

you could remove that electrical stuff and put it on the bike of your choice - if you wanted.

It's nuts but it makes sense, especially a used bike off eBay as a donor.