The Ultimate Starter Guide to DIY Ebike

Electric bikes gradually replaces traditional and regular bikes. They are not only efficient but also premium with sleek designs. Since it’s becoming a trend in society, an individual needs to understand the concept of DIY Ebike. Sometimes, users decide to update their existing traditional Ebike into the electrical mode. However, a user needs the best e-bike conversion kit to achieve this purpose. A user also needs to choose the right bike. It will be unrealistic to pick any random motorcycle in your garage with the hope of achieving a premium electric bike. The bike shop in your residence should be able to recommend the best option for you.  

The fundamental concept of the DIY Ebike is to curb the high rate of electric bicycles. Users can beat the traffic at a lesser cost using a DIY e-bike kit. This article contains information about electric bike conversion kits and other related exciting topics for the readers.  

Choosing the Best Battery for Your DIY Ebike

An electric bike’s battery is one of the critical features you need to develop a DIY e-bike. Electric bikes operate on electrical energy against the traditional means of commuting with fossil fuel. Hence, the battery serves as an energy reservoir for this transport mode. Meanwhile, a battery determines the rider’s maximum speed, voltage, and riding capacity. 

Your battery capacity describes how far you can travel before it runs out. If your battery capacity is high, a rider can cover a longer distance and vice versa. However, some factors may influence the distance level, such as weather conditions, support, and body size. Most electric bikes with high battery capacity are usually more expensive than those with low battery capacity. Nevertheless, Haidong has several battery capacity ranges that suit many users’ preferences.

An electric bike with a high voltage rate also yields massive motor operation and power. Several users request different voltages, depending on the ride’s intended purpose. For instance, the required voltage for rough terrain will vary from a south road. Meanwhile, experts and experienced riders opt for high voltage e-bikes for driving on rough terrains. Other factors to consider in choosing a suitable battery for a DIY e-bike are highlighted below. 

Understanding the basic battery parameters, bearing in mind your requirements, financial capacity, and taste.

Communicate effectively with your battery provider and in more explicit terms for every product or kit agreement.

Ask yourself the maximum weight of the electric bike.

Installing Motor in your Bike System

There are popular motor types in electric bikes: the rear hub, front hub, and mid-drive motor. It would help if you altered the front wheel of an e-bike to use the front motor. Users with rear hub motors put the motor in the middle, alternating the rear wheel position. Also, a mid-drive motor has the pedal assist function, with the motor located at the bottom of it. Each of these motors serves a distinct function. They all have pros and cons, while a user is in the best position to make a choice or preference. 

The mid-drive motor is often popular among DIY e-bike enthusiasts. They are user-friendly because they allow riders to adjust their speed and torque appropriately. It is also the best option for a rider who wants to go uphill. Meanwhile, hub motors are cheaper than mid-drive motors. An average engineer can try the hun motor drive, especially riding downhills. 

Assembling your Electric Bike Kits

Assembling electric bike kits has its challenges, except you have studied the engineering input. Hence, it will become easy at this point. The start phase will require you to put the inner tube and tire at the rear wheel. These components are usually removed from the hub motor wheel. Slowly screw them to the electric bike motor to prevent the elements from threading. If you have trouble aligning your motor unit to the disc brake, adjust them properly before continuing. This is a DIY e-bike strategy you should be cautious of.

If your kit already marked the torque arms as the left and right positions, fix them into the axle nuts. It may take about ten minutes, then set the controller upright. If the pedal is immediately above the down tube, it may not be easy to notice it. After successfully fixing the controller, return the electric bike to its previous position. Afterwards, place the e-bike upright and let the tires support its weight. Then, go ahead to include the e-bike battery.

Implement basic engineering skills while fixing the battery, especially if the mounting plate holes do not align with the bottle bolts. Hence, draw small holes in this frame region, where the screws can fit perfectly. The best solution is to replace the shock so that the battery can fit in. Hence, this will not require a shock replacement. In most cases, a 21’’ frame is compatible and ideal for most electric bike systems.

The next assembling tool for your DIY e-bike is the cycle analyst meter. Make sure the handlebars can accommodate the cycle analyst meter. Also, the throttle assembly should fit into the right handlebar appropriately. The bottom bracket will bear the pedal-assist function, considering it’s a DIY e-bike. Wherein pedal-assist is also based on users’ choice. After setting these, assemble all the cable wires. Connect the cables to the controller, following each unique size and location. You can try cable wires for a neatly done connection.

The Step-by-Step Procedures

Beyond batteries and motors, other features contribute to the conversion success rate. Any slight fault from these features is powerful enough to affect the overall performance. The best bikes are categorized by their features, performance, and effectiveness. An e-bike conversion kit often has an installation manual. However, this guide provides the step-to-step process of installing your electric bike kit. 

Step One

Many users make a mistake by starting the bike without prior testing. You want to make sure the needed materials are complete. Even though having a complete package will attract an extra fee, it is the best caution step. 

Step Two

The best step is to install your motor unto the machine. However, the installation procedure will be determined by the rider’s type of motor. Also, check that the brake is in good shape and fix the speed controller and accessories to the e-bike frame.

Step Three

The three key features at this stage are the throttle, battery, and speed controller. When these three are appropriately connected, your e-bike will operate without interruption. Also, make sure to use the proper cables to prevent any fire outbreak or spark. 

Step Four

The handlebar region is the spot for an electric bike display. This is where you see activities with the e-bike, such as the speed. Unscrew the display region, and tighten it back. 

Step Five

A throttle should be connected to the brake lever. However, some DIY e-bike enthusiasts only fix the throttle to the brake level already. The ignition button will prove if you have done an excellent job or not. When an individual uses the switch button, the battery will be ignited, and the cycle analyst meter will light up. However, ensure the battery is fully charged before riding your bike into the cities.

Top Challenges while Assembling E-bike Kits

One of the main challenges people have is removing the shifter. Meanwhile, this can be quickly done when you have removed the handlebar. This can be time-consuming, so you need to use premium tools only. Also, make sure every other thing is in order before fixing the handlebar. A pretty tricky handlebars grip can be removed with water instead of oily spray. This will stop the substance from messing up the whole process.

Another challenge is installing the bottom bracket shell with the whole system,  even though the diameter is compatible with the system. New bikes often have little pieces of metal at the bottom bracket. The solution is to identify if they are any metal stuck in the shell. When the bottom bracket area is free of anything that could stand in the way, you shall overcome these challenges.

Conclusion

If you have been thinking of investing in transportation, maximize the advantages of DIY e-bikes. Both cyclists and random riders are saved from the high prices of electric bike features. This is most especially common for mountain bikes. You can still enjoy the benefits of electric bikes without losing the attachment to your regular bike. Also, many young people find it attractive to convert their pedal bikes to electric bikes. This mainly applies when they live in a dense urban area.

Once you have the basic technical and electrical skills, you can easily add conversion kits to your bike. Ensure the electric bike conversion kit has everything you may need, and follow the instructions stated above in this article. However, make sure to run your DIY ebike in a less congested area before going into the cities. You can quickly identify any error or fault in the installation process and fix it up.