If you're looking for a way to convert your bike into an electric bike, DIY Electric Bike are the perfect option.
Esoulbike offers a wide range of DIY conversion kits that are easy to install and provide a great riding experience.
Our DIY ebike kits are available in different styles and offer a variety of advantages over other types of electric bike DIY projects.
This blog post, will take a closer look at the best DIY conversion kits and show how they can help you enjoy the benefits of best electric biking!
This blog contains:
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How to Make Your Bike Electric with DIY Electric Bicycle Kits
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Choosing a suitable bike for a better electric bike
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Key Factors to Consider When Choosing a DIY Ebike Kit
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How to DIY your favorite electric bike with Esoulbike conversion kits
1. The bases of building electric bikes with electric conversion kits
Starting with a guide on how to make your bike electric using a DIY electric bike kit, we explore the steps to transform your bike, enhancing your existing skills.
Starting at the easy hobbyist's end and going to the engineer's fun quest at the other, let's cover all the bases of building an e-bike from a kit or from scratch.
Knowing which type of electric bike kits you need
There are two main types of DIY e bike kits: pedelec and throttle.
A pedelec kit is an electric bike conversion kit that provides power assistance when you pedal. This kit is excellent if you want help on your commute or while riding uphill.
On the other hand, a throttle kit gives you power at the push of a button, regardless of whether you're pedaling. This kit is perfect if you want to zip around town without breaking a sweat!
No matter which type of DIY electric bike kit you choose, our team at Esoulbike can help you find the perfect solution for your needs.
Knowing how skilled are you in e-bike maintenance
If changing a tire is the most you've done, then a front hub motor from our electric bike DIY kits would be the ideal choice.
If you have better bike mechanic skills or just want to stretch yourself, then in order of difficulty, the rear, crank, and DIY options may be your choice and are under your control.
Of course, the difficulty level in installing an electric bike conversion kit will also depend on the quality of the kit itself.
Esoulbike DIY electric bike kits are designed for easy installation, even for those with limited mechanical skills.
Knowing is that a bit of fun for you to set up your own e-bike instead of buying or a new one
If you're the type who enjoys tinkering and challenges, DIY electric bicycle projects are definitely for you!
Not only will you save money by doing it yourself, but you'll also get the satisfaction of knowing that you built your own electric bike from scratch with the electric bike conversion kit.
And even if you're not the DIY type, our team at Esoulbike can help you find the perfect e-bike conversion kit for your needs.
We offer a wide range of kits that are easy to install and provide a great riding experience. So whether you're looking for a pedelec kit or a throttle kit, we've got you covered!
With these answers in mind, let's now look at the questions above in more detail, including what's required. In addition, I learned how to build an electric bike with high-quality kits and components.
2. Selecting the Right Bike for Your DIY Ebike Kit
When choosing a bike for your electric bike conversion, there are a few things you'll need to consider.
First and foremost, you'll need to decide which type of bike is best suited for your needs.
A mountain bike or fat bike is probably the way to go if you're looking for an electric bike that can handle off-road conditions. On the other hand, if you're primarily riding on paved surfaces, then a road bike or hybrid bike would be a better choice.
Once you've decided on the type of bike you want, the next step is to choose a suitable frame size. This is especially important if you're planning on doing any serious riding with your electric bike.
If you're unsure what size frame to get, it's always best to err on caution and go with a larger structure. You can always make adjustments later if needed.
And finally, you'll need to decide on the type of electric bike conversion kit you want. As we mentioned, there are two main DIY electric bike conversion kits: pedelec and throttle.
If you're unsure which type of electric bike conversion kit is right for you, our team at Esoulbike can help you make the decision.
We offer a wide range of pedelec and throttle kits that are easy to install and provide a great riding experience.
3. Factors that should be considered when choosing suitable ebike conversion kits
After knowing which type of bike is best for your needs, you need to take into account a few other factors before choosing ebike conversion kits.
Motor
Two main types of motors are available: hub motor type and mid-drive motor type.
Hub motors are the most common type of motor used in electric bikes. They're located in the front or rear wheel and directly provide power to the wheel.
On the other hand, Mid-drive motors are located in the middle of the bike frame and provide power to the chain ring. This makes them more efficient than hub motors and allows you to use gears like on a regular bicycle.
Battery
The next factor to consider is the battery. This is probably the most crucial part of your electric bike, as it provides power to the motor.
There are two main types of batteries available: lead-acid and lithium-ion. Lead-acid batteries are the cheaper option but they're also heavier and have shorter lifespans than lithium-ion batteries.
Lithium-ion batteries, on the other hand, are more expensive but lighter and have longer lifespans.
The main parameters you'll need to consider for your battery are voltage and capacity. An electric bicycle's battery voltage is usually measured in 12V increments ranging from 24V to 72V.
The higher the voltage, the higher the e-bike's power and speed. 24V e-bikes are relatively weak and sufficient for low speeds and flat ground with light riders.
For those desiring a little more speed and power, 36V and 48V are the most common options for electric bicycles and are both excellent for up to approximately 28 mph (45 km/hr). This is a good quality 36V e-bike battery made from Samsung battery cells,
However, we wouldn't recommend going this fast on your first e-bike unless you have light motorcycle-riding experience, as that's basically what you're creating.
Also, remember that the higher the voltage, the larger and more expensive the battery will be. You'll also want a high-quality, dual-suspension mountain bike for speeds over 30 mph (48 km/hr).
Finally, you'll need to decide on the type of controller you want. There are two main types of controllers available: brushed and brushless.
Brushed controllers are less expensive but less efficient than brushless controllers. Brushless controllers are more expensive but more efficient and have longer life spans.
The main difference between brushed and brushless controllers is that brushed controllers have physical contact between the rotating parts, while brushless controllers don't. This makes brushless controllers more efficient because there's less friction and heat buildup.
Now that you know the different types of electric bike conversion kits available, it's time to choose the right one for you.
If you need any help, our team at Esoulbike is always happy to help. We offer a wide range of pedelec and throttle kits that are easy to install and provide a great riding experience.
4. How to DIY your favorite electric bike with Esoulbike conversion kits
Now you have the design in your head, we will look at how to build an e-bike.
With the kits, there will usually be a YouTube video and/or paper instructions on how to put the system together. You will still need some intelligence and thought to put the electric bike conversion kit together in a way that doesn't look like a complete ebike conversion kit mess!
A note on timings – don't believe what the instructions on your kit say regarding how long it will take. Unless you are a skilled mechanic or electrical engineer (let's face it: most aren't), double the time suggested in the manual or YouTube video.
Generally, that will mean 2-3 hours for a front, or rear hub system, five or more for a crank motor, and longer for a scratch DIY ebike conversion kit build.
If you have never worked with electrical systems before, it is best to ask a friend or professional for help fitting electric bike conversion kits. This will avoid potential accidents and give you a second pair of eyes to check your work.
The next step is installing the motor on your bike. For a hub motor, this means taking off one of your wheels and attaching the motor in its place.
For a mid-drive system, you will need to install the motor onto your bike's frame where the bottom bracket would generally go.
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Motor
Though a front or rear wheel hub kit will cost as little as $300, including a battery, be prepared to spend $1000 on a crank motor kit before the battery.
The work involved is not easy either, and for someone with just a little knowledge of bike maintenance, this probably isn't the job for you. That said, you will have a rocking mid-drive-motor e-bike for your efforts!
Before you balk at the price, remember that unlike Bosch or Shimano mid-drive motors fitted to European machines, the Tongsheng and Bafang kits are serviceable.
That means for a similar outlay to a midrange mid-drive-motor e-bike, you will be able to have a machine that can be fixed when it breaks. You could keep the bike on the road for many more miles than a pre-built mid-drive motor e-bike.
Building a mid-drive e-bike requires most of the work on the bottom bracket.
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Front hub
The kit will come with a wheel that has been pre-threaded with spokes and the rim.
If you have gone out and bought a secondhand bike to convert or are using an old but quality bike as a platform, think about the tire they supply – this might not be brilliant, so you may need a new tire that suits your needs or to swap the tire on the old front wheel onto the new wheel.
If it has disc brakes, you will need to fit the old disc (or a compatible new one) to the new wheel too.
The wheel itself should go on quickly. Spin it to see if it rubs anywhere. Hydraulic disc brakes are a little bulkier, so we suggested a mechanical system above – replacing will take more time but should prevent unwanted friction.
You then fit the torque arms to the fork and wire up the loom, controller, and battery. After brake replacement/servicing, this will take the most time as you need to fit it right and neatly.
Ultimately the look is going to be important to your handiwork – you don't want it to look like an old bag of spanners at the end of the day!
Converting your bike into an electric one is a great way to save money and get around town without sweat! Our DIY conversion kits are easy to install and offer a great riding experience.
If you're interested in a DIY electric bike conversion, we highly recommend checking out our kits! We offer a wide range of options that meet your needs.
Building your own electric bike with a DIY ebike kit is not as daunting as it might seem; you just need basic mechanical skills and the right DIY electric bike kit.
But if you don't feel confident about your abilities, plenty of how-to videos and articles on the internet can help you out. The most important thing is to take your time and work carefully.
With Esoulbike's electric bike conversion kits, you will have everything you need to DIY your favorite electric bike! Check our website and purchase today for more information on our kits and how to convert your bike into an electric bike!
