Best Electric Bike Conversion Kits

According to Mordor Intelligence, worldwide, the e-bike market was valued at $14,755.20million in 2018. During the forecast period 2019-2024, it is expected to rise at a CAGR of 6.39%. In addition to the rising consumer preference towards adventure and recreational activities, other factors such as e-bike rental services and logistics will drive the market in the years to come.

With all the noise around electric bikes, you may be considering to purchase one. However, do you need to buy a new one while you can convert your current bike using a conversion kit? The best part about using an electric bike conversion kit is that you will spend just a quarter of the amount you would have paid for a brand new e-bike.

Well, absolutely YES!

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Whether you ride a road bike, mountain bike or hybrid bike, you can electrify yours in several ways. You can replace a powered wheel with either the rear or front wheel of your current bike. Alternatively, if you do not want to touch the wheel, you can attach a drive unit to your bike’s bottom bracket and enjoy zooming up those hills. Easy peazy, right?

Before looking at our top picks, here is a brief look at some of the essential factors you should consider when in the market for an electric bike conversion kit:

Now that you have learnt how to convert a normal bike into an electric bike, let us now look at the best electric bike conversion kits in the market today.

Best Electric Bike Conversion Kit Quick Summary

Best Choice – MegaBrand Front Wheel Conversion Kit

Best Premium Kit – Bafang 8fun Mid-Drive Conversion Kit

Best Value Kit – EBIKELING Direct Drive e-Bike Conversion Kit

Best Rear Wheel Kit – AW Rear Wheel Electric Bicycle Conversion Kit

Best Front Wheel Kit – Voilamart Front Wheel Conversion Kit

Types of E-Bike Conversion Kits

Since you can power your bike with an electric motor in different ways, it is only prudent that we have a brief look at the various types of conversion kits:

Concealed

The concealed e-bike conversion kit is a sneaky but a costly solution for converting your bike to an electric one. A battery and motor fit the seat tube and drive the bottom bracket. If you want to hide the fact that you own an electric bike, you should consider this conversion kit. Because of the cost involved, this kit is only worth if you desire a secret e-bike.

Friction Drive

With the friction e-bike drive conversion kit, a roller and motor sit on the rear wheel utilizing friction to push your bike forward. We consider it a somewhat crude solution because you have to grapple with weight distribution issues and system efficiency.

Mid-Drive Conversion

The mid-drive conversion kit design features a motor and battery that are mounted to your bike’s frame. The motor is usually attached to the bottom bracket. Because weight is kept low, it helps you to feel the ride. Nonetheless, the drawback is that the motor can be susceptible to damage due to the exposed position particularly when riding off-road.

E-Bike Wheels

These are the most commonly found conversion kits. You replace either the back or front wheel of an existing bike by a wheel that features a special gearing and hub. You can also put the battery in the hub or mount it elsewhere. If you opt to mount the battery separately, a front-wheel motor would be excellent for road riding because it will evenly distribute the kit’s weight across the bike. Otherwise, all the weight usually sits on a front-wheel hence making the steering heavy. This video covers the process.

FAQs

Q: Are these motor kits waterproof?
A: Although e-bikes are water-resistant, they are not waterproof. What does this mean? It simply means that it is possible to ride them in the rain but cannot submerge them in water.

Q: What type of battery should I buy for my e-bike kit?
A: Your kit’s battery voltage determines everything. Those with 48 volts and 36 volts are the best. They guarantee better performance.

Q: How do I take care of my e-bike conversion kit’s battery?
A: Here is how you can take care of your e-bike conversion kit:

• Always make sure that your kit’s battery is fully charged
• Once it is fully charged, remove it
• Deep charging your battery is harmful. It shortens its lifespan.

Selected Best Electric Bike Conversion Kits

AW Front Wheel Conversion Kit

If you are hunting for efficiency, the AW Front Wheel Electric Bicycle Motor Conversion Kit should be your first target. It has 1000-Watts brushless motors that can achieve a pickup speed of zero to over 28mph in less than 7 seconds. The kit is one of the affordable electric bike conversion kits that have the most features. It comes with an LCD screen that shows the battery level, mileage, gear status, and time. To power it up, you will need an electrokinetic battery cell with a standard 48-volt and a charging capacity of 17Ah or more.

However, the power battery comes separately, but it is logical considering the price cut of the kit. The conversion kit comes with a twist mode motor controller that works in both the non-hall-effect and Hall Effect. Its twist controller not only gives you a smooth ride but also extends the lifespan of the electric motor.

Voilamart Front Wheel E-Bike Conversion Kit

Voilamart front-wheel e-bike kit tops our list as one of the most affordable front wheel conversion kit. With a maximum price of around $250, it makes a viable selection if you want to replace the front wheel of your regular bike without breaking the bank.

You have two options on the front hub motor. They include a 48V 1000 watts motor with a maximum speed of 30 miles per hour and 500 watts 36V drive-motor with a maximum speed of 22 miles per hour. Upon purchase, there is an accompanying 26-inch front nylon tire with a double alloy wall rim. This conversion kit has a pedal-assist system and brake lever that spontaneously cuts off power from the wheels for instant braking.

The kit’s motor uses a lithium-ion battery, lead-acid, or a NiMH battery with a nominal capacity of 11.6Ah as well as a voltage of 48V and above. It features a unique motor with a rare earth magnetic metal for a powerful thrust.

Clean Republic Electric Bike Kit – 250 Watt

Next on our list is the Clean Republic electric conversion bike kit. It comes with a 250W front motor hub and a powerful lithium-ion battery. You get two types of cells to choose from – one that has a 20-mile capability and another one with a 12-mile capacity. The front hub motor has a 24-volt power that can propel you to speeds of up to 18 miles per hour in throttle mode and 30 miles per hour on power assist.

It’s effortless to install and convert your regular bicycle to an electric bike with this kit. You can do in just under five minutes. Your kit comes with a 24-volt lithium-ion battery, charger, a tire, and a USB cable. All you need is a wrench to fix your bike with no additional tools or skills. It’s very light and compact, making its portability and storage easier. It gives you the option to peddle like a regular bicycle when the power motors are turned off. Alternatively, you can use the 250W front hub motor and cut your commute time by almost half.

Clean Republic Electric Bike Kit – 350 Watt

The Clean Republic electric bike comes with a 350W and voltage of 36V. It has a better hilltop thrust than its predecessors, making it ideal for family rides, beating traffic, and as a cargo bike. The kit can cover very long distances and carry heavy loads as well as propel you on steep slopes. You can choose between a 20-mile and a 14-mile lithium-ion battery. It can accommodate riders weighing 170 lbs on flat terrain without pedal assist.

You can fit this conversion kit on regular standard wheel bike sizes ranging from 29 inches, 700c, 24, and 20 inches. To know your wheel bike size, look at the number etched at the side tire of your bike.

It has a simple installation process that lets you power your regular bike within 5 minutes using a wrench to fit all parts together. This kit includes a motorized wheel, a charger, a lithium-ion battery, a cable set, and a tire.

It comes with a 1-year extended warranty and an accommodating technical support team of engineers and mechanics. They ensure your product is shipped within four days or less and handle any issues arising while using their product.

MegaBrand Front Wheel Conversion Kit

The MegaBrand e-bike conversion kit falls under the front wheel conversion kit category. It uses an efficient brushless motor with a top speed of 30 miles per hour on throttle mode. It’s recommended you use a lead-acid or a lithium-ion battery with voltage is not less than 42 volts and a charge capacity above 17Ah. Its motor motion is smooth and can be used to power uphill or beat city traffic on throttle mode only.

However, it does not have a pedal-assist system. Still, it has enough accessories to power up your regular bicycle into an electric-powered bike. It comes with a speed controller that lets you push the throttle, supply power to the brake lever, and display the battery level. The speed controller also has instant braking capability that cuts off the power supply to the wheels and lets you make an immediate stop smoothly.

AW Rear Wheel Conversion Kit

If you prefer a rear motor hub, the AW Rear Wheel e-bike conversion kit is the right option. With this conversion kit, you get enough accessories to turn any regular bicycle into an electric-powered bike. It’s very affordable and offers many features than other regular electric conversion kit models.

It comes with an electric controller that has a dual switch mode from non-Hall to a hall effect. Switching capability enables the electric motor to have a longer life span than an electric bike without the dual-mode controller. It also has an LCD screen that indicates the mileage, speed, time, and battery level of your electric bike.

You’ll also get the latest pedal-assist technology, which makes the uphill ride even more enjoyable and gives you enough exercise on your daily commute. The electric motor has a maximum speed of up to 28 miles per hour and a voltage of up to 42 volts equivalent to 470 revolutions per minute.

Voilamart 26-inch Rear Wheel Conversion Kit

The Voilamart 26-inch Rear Wheel Electric Bicycle Conversion Kit is straightforward to install and requires no special skills or tools. It’s one of the best electric bike conversion kits in the market at a very friendly price tag. If you decide to use a 1500-watt motor, you will need an electrokinetic battery cell that uses a lithium-ion battery. The cell should meet a nominal capacity not less than 15Ah and a voltage above 48 volts.

In addition, if you choose the 1000-watt motor, you should ensure that you use a lithium-ion battery or a lead-acid battery. Both of them should have a nominal capacity above 11.6Ah and a voltage not less than 48V. This electric bike conversion kit comes with an LCD screen to alert you on the battery level and control the power using the power cut-off button.

The motor uses electrokinetic battery cells such as lithium-ion batteries, lead-acid, with a nominal capacity above 10Ah and a voltage above 36V.

EBIKELING Direct Drive e-Bike Conversion Kit

So far, the Ebikeling direct-drive motor e-bike conversion kit is the most user-friendly electric conversion kit on our list. It’s compatible with any 26-inch regular bike wheel. It has a motor power of up to 1200 watts and 48V with a maximum speed of 30 miles per hour. You can use an electrokinetic cell, preferably lithium-iron, NiMH battery, or lead-acid battery to power up the motor. It is recommended to use batteries that have a nominal capacity of 14.5 Ah and a voltage capacity of 48V.

The Ebikeling brand is famously known for its excellent performance and high-quality motors. It has an LCD screen that shows the pedal assist level, the mileage, the speed, and the battery percentage. The LCD screen also comes in handy at indicating any error in the system. The kit accompanies all the necessary accessories to electrify your regular bike. It contains a charger, PAS sensor, brake lever, rear, and front light to ride at night. However, it does not include a battery and tire, but you can buy them separately to accompany your conversion kit.

Bafang 8fun Mid-Drive Conversion Kit

The Bafang 8fun Mid-Drive Electric Bike Conversion Kit bike is a little bit faster to set up than the regular models. It comes with all accessories necessary to convert a regular bicycle into a full-powered electric one. It has a lithium-ion battery and a robust mid crank motor with a maximum speed of up to 24 miles per hour. It can fit on most regular bicycles that have a bottom bracket ranging from 68 to 73 mm.

Bafang 8fun Mid-Drive Electric Bike Conversion Kit has a push throttle by default. However, if you require a twist throttle, you can request it to be included in your package when placing the order. It comes with an LCD screen that displays all the necessary information you require on your ride. It shows mileage, pedal assist level, the battery level, as well as your cruising speed.

You also get a mid-drive system with two working modes that enable you to switch between throttle mode and pedal-assist. It is an ideal feature when riding through heavy traffic or pedaling uphill.

Bafang BBS03B Mid-Drive Conversion Kit

The Bafang BBS03B, Mid Drive Electric Bike Conversion Kit, is one of the most reliable mid-drive conversion kits in the market. It features a powerful 1000 watts mid-drive motor with a maximum speed of 28 miles per hour. It is compatible with bikes that have 120mm, 68mm, and 100mm bottom brackets. It can run on any electrokinetic battery, such as lead-acid lithium-ion or NiMH battery that has a nominal capacity above 11.6Ah and a nominal voltage of 48V.

On your conversion kit, you will get magnets, a speed sensor, one pair of cranks, and an aluminum chain wheel.