Whether you grab a wrench and electrify your bike yourself or let the experts do it all depends on your skills and time. Many drives, especially front engines, can be installed with little effort. With other, more exotic models, a little more knowledge, skill and equipment is required.
The description of the motor usually shows whether the installation is possible for hobby mechanics or not. There are plenty of instructions for conversion on the internet. Some manufacturers even provide their own tutorial videos. In the case of more complex engines, the manufacturers often also offer installation via a partner workshop or their own mechanics.
What does an e-bike retrofit kit consist of?
- electric motor
- battery pack
- sensors
- control unit
An electric motor alone will not help you to cope with your everyday life. It only converts electrical energy into movement and brings it to the bike to make your ride easier. For the energy supply you need a suitable battery, which can have different shapes and storage capacities. A sensor is also required to ensure that the motor does not push you at the red traffic light. In new e-bikes with well-known motor systems such as Bosch, Yamaha, Brose, Shimano or Fazua, the sensors are usually very complex. A less complex pedal sensor is often installed in retrofit kits, which detects whether and how fast you pedal with the bike. Some torque sensors also recognize how hard you are pedaling and adjust the engine output accordingly. In addition, the control unit comes into play with good e-bike motors. So you can decide whether you need more or less support. This is not only relevant for your comfort, but also for the range of your battery.
Where can you buy e-bike drives for retrofitting?
You can find retrofit kits for converting your bike. The advantage of online shops is the wide range of products.
With crowdfunding platforms like Indiegogo or Kickstarter you can potentially find bargains and sometimes even find really original and new drives – but the waiting time is sometimes several years. The manufacturers first collect the money for their project and only start production when they have reached their funding goal. Sometimes it even happens that a project doesn’t work out and you’re left with no money and no product afterwards.
Which e-bike drive is best suited for the conversion?
There is no such thing as the best conversion kit. Just as there are many advantages and disadvantages of different systems with conventional e-bike motors, retrofit kits have different quality features. The price also varies greatly.
You should always pay attention to the performance of the engine and the battery capacity or the promised range. In addition, some engines are offered for retrofitting in this country, which are not permitted on German roads. Remember that above 250 watts and pedal assistance above 25 km/h you need a registration including insurance, license plate and the corresponding driver’s license.
Upgrade the e-bike drive with a new front wheel and battery
The easiest and fastest way to convert your bike into an e-bike is with the hub motor in the front wheel. Here your e-bike is powered by a motor inside the wheel hub. Most conversion kits therefore consist of a new wheel with the motor already laced, a sensor and a battery that you can attach to your bike. The installation is completed in a few hours, if at all.
However, front motors are generally less popular on e-bikes, such as gforce t41. The riding characteristics suffer due to the changed center of gravity on the bike and the feeling of being pulled takes some getting used to. Nevertheless, the hub drive on the front wheel remains a popular retrofit kit for beginners without high demands.
Retrofit front-wheel drive advantages
- easy and quick installation
- low price
- large selection
- compatible with all circuits
- compatible with coaster brake
Disadvantages of retrofitting front-wheel drive
- not always good sensors
- changed driving experience: Front engine shifts the center of gravity forward
- the front wheel can spin when the load is relieved and the drive is running
- no hub dynamo possible
Retrofit rear-wheel drive on the bike
Like the front engine, the rear engine sits in the wheel hub, but on the rear wheel. The shifted center of gravity to the rear wheel can even have a positive effect: You get more grip on the driving wheel.
In general, the driving experience is much more appealing with a rear engine. The motor pushes you powerfully, which is particularly desirable for sporty bikes such as e-MTBs.
However, the effort involved in installing the retrofit kit on the rear wheel is slightly higher than on the front wheel. Firstly, removing the rear wheel is often a bit more of a hassle than removing the front wheel anyway. Secondly, you have to transfer the cassette with the sprockets of the gear shift to your new rim. It’s not rocket science, but you still need the right tools.
There is no way around the derailleur anyway, because the rear hub is already occupied by the motor. The use of a hub gear is therefore not possible.
Whether you grab a wrench and electrify your bike yourself or let the experts do it all depends on your skills and time. Many drives, especially front engines, can be installed with little effort. With other, more exotic models, a little more knowledge, skill and equipment is required.
The description of the motor usually shows whether the installation is possible for hobby mechanics or not. There are plenty of instructions for conversion on the internet. Some manufacturers even provide their own tutorial videos. In the case of more complex engines, the manufacturers often also offer installation via a partner workshop or their own mechanics.
What does an e-bike retrofit kit consist of?
- electric motor
- battery pack
- sensors
- control unit
An electric motor alone will not help you to cope with your everyday life. It only converts electrical energy into movement and brings it to the bike to make your ride easier. For the energy supply you need a suitable battery, which can have different shapes and storage capacities. A sensor is also required to ensure that the motor does not push you at the red traffic light. In new e-bikes with well-known motor systems such as Bosch, Yamaha, Brose, Shimano or Fazua, the sensors are usually very complex. A less complex pedal sensor is often installed in retrofit kits, which detects whether and how fast you pedal with the bike. Some torque sensors also recognize how hard you are pedaling and adjust the engine output accordingly. In addition, the control unit comes into play with good e-bike motors. So you can decide whether you need more or less support. This is not only relevant for your comfort, but also for the range of your battery.
Where can you buy e-bike drives for retrofitting?
You can find retrofit kits for converting your bike. The advantage of online shops is the wide range of products.
With crowdfunding platforms like Indiegogo or Kickstarter you can potentially find bargains and sometimes even find really original and new drives – but the waiting time is sometimes several years. The manufacturers first collect the money for their project and only start production when they have reached their funding goal. Sometimes it even happens that a project doesn’t work out and you’re left with no money and no product afterwards.
Which e-bike drive is best suited for the conversion?
There is no such thing as the best conversion kit. Just as there are many advantages and disadvantages of different systems with conventional e-bike motors, retrofit kits have different quality features. The price also varies greatly.
You should always pay attention to the performance of the engine and the battery capacity or the promised range. In addition, some engines are offered for retrofitting in this country, which are not permitted on German roads. Remember that above 250 watts and pedal assistance above 25 km/h you need a registration including insurance, license plate and the corresponding driver’s license.
Upgrade the e-bike drive with a new front wheel and battery
The easiest and fastest way to convert your bike into an e-bike is with the hub motor in the front wheel. Here your e-bike is powered by a motor inside the wheel hub. Most conversion kits therefore consist of a new wheel with the motor already laced, a sensor and a battery that you can attach to your bike. The installation is completed in a few hours, if at all.
However, front motors are generally less popular on e-bikes, such as gforce t41. The riding characteristics suffer due to the changed center of gravity on the bike and the feeling of being pulled takes some getting used to. Nevertheless, the hub drive on the front wheel remains a popular retrofit kit for beginners without high demands.
Retrofit front-wheel drive advantages
- easy and quick installation
- low price
- large selection
- compatible with all circuits
- compatible with coaster brake
Disadvantages of retrofitting front-wheel drive
- not always good sensors
- changed driving experience: Front engine shifts the center of gravity forward
- the front wheel can spin when the load is relieved and the drive is running
- no hub dynamo possible
Retrofit rear-wheel drive on the bike
Like the front engine, the rear engine sits in the wheel hub, but on the rear wheel. The shifted center of gravity to the rear wheel can even have a positive effect: You get more grip on the driving wheel.
In general, the driving experience is much more appealing with a rear engine. The motor pushes you powerfully, which is particularly desirable for sporty bikes such as e-MTBs.
However, the effort involved in installing the retrofit kit on the rear wheel is slightly higher than on the front wheel. Firstly, removing the rear wheel is often a bit more of a hassle than removing the front wheel anyway. Secondly, you have to transfer the cassette with the sprockets of the gear shift to your new rim. It’s not rocket science, but you still need the right tools.
There is no way around the derailleur anyway, because the rear hub is already occupied by the motor. The use of a hub gear is therefore not possible.
