deardancer3
10 kW
For first time ebike purchaser, newbie, whether to buy a turnkey ebike or a kit;
Some categories of ebike customer assembly needed and upgrade potential are below. Top of the list is the least amount of customer assembly, bottom is the most. You decide which level you have the time and skills for.
**Prebuilt turnkey ebike, no modification possible, Example Giant Twist and others. what you buy is what you get on the e-drive part. The specifications are what you get. virtually impossible to modify the e-drive without LOTS of electronics background. NO assembly required. Normal bike maintenance and charging of battery according to manual. Local dealer services.
**Prebuilt turnkey ebike, some modification possible, Example Ezip Coastline - Diamond Frame and others. If bought from a local retail outlet, no assembly required. A Brushed motor SLA with throttle. some upgrades available after purchase with some basic skills. Same assembly and serviced as above. NO assembly required. Normal bike maintenance and charging of battery according to manual. Possible Local dealer services.
**Easy installation prewired Add-on kits, no after market modification possible. Example Bionx and others. Primarily Rear hub. You may specify voltage, power, wheel size, battery chemistry and enclosure, and a few other things at time of purchase. but after purchase, no modifications are possible without support of dealer/manufacturer unless you have very without advanced skills in electronics. Same assembly and serviced as above plus: The Assembly steps include swapping of the rear wheel, mounting of tire, tube, & freewheel, routing preassembled wiring harness, attaching harness and console to frame with hand tools. If you have changed a rear tire a few times, you can probably do this. Where you buy is where you get service. Could be local or could be remote phone/email support.
**Easy installation prewired Add-on kits, some after market modification possible. Example Go Hub. and others Front hub only. some options at purchase time. A brushless SLA kit with throttle. slightly weird connectors. Harness supplied. . The Assembly steps include swapping of the front wheel, mounting of tire, tube , routing preassembled wiring harness, attaching harness and throttle to frame with hand tools mounting battery. If you have changed a front tire a few times, you can probably do this. Usually remote service support.
**Complete add on kits, you make the harness. Same as Easy installation prewired Add-on kits, except you make a battery wiring harness. wires and connectors may or may not be supplied. You will have to measure wire lengths and attach connectors. crimping/soldering skills required. You may or may not add switches and fuses. Throttle/controller/motor harness supplied. sometimes you have to make a battery enclosure and mounting brackets. Usually remote service support. Being able to operate a Digital Multi Meter might be helpful at this stage and beyond, if you have any problems. Usually upgrade-able
**You pick the parts , single vendor. you supply vendor with your needs, vendor recommends certain motor, controller, battery, etc. Vendor verifies everything will hookup together as supplied or not. you follow vendor instructions for installation. wires and connectors may or may not be supplied. You may have to measure wire lengths and attach connectors- crimping/soldering skills required. You may or may not add switches and fuses. Throttle/controller/motor harness usually supplied. sometimes you have to make a battery enclosure and mounting brackets. Vendor answers questions about each piece and the system. Usually upgrade-able
**You pick the parts, multiple vendors. Most common is separate source for battery. You decide what you need, you are responsible to ensure everything will hookup and work together correctly. you may have to change/make some cables, change some connectors. wires and connectors may or may not be supplied. You may have to make decisions about wire lengths and attach connectors. crimping/soldering skills required. You may or may not add switches and fuses. Throttle/controller/motor harness may or may not be supplied. sometimes you have to make a battery enclosure and mounting brackets. There may not be any diagrams or instructions. Vendor answers questions about their pieces. Usually upgrade-able
Some categories of ebike customer assembly needed and upgrade potential are below. Top of the list is the least amount of customer assembly, bottom is the most. You decide which level you have the time and skills for.
**Prebuilt turnkey ebike, no modification possible, Example Giant Twist and others. what you buy is what you get on the e-drive part. The specifications are what you get. virtually impossible to modify the e-drive without LOTS of electronics background. NO assembly required. Normal bike maintenance and charging of battery according to manual. Local dealer services.
**Prebuilt turnkey ebike, some modification possible, Example Ezip Coastline - Diamond Frame and others. If bought from a local retail outlet, no assembly required. A Brushed motor SLA with throttle. some upgrades available after purchase with some basic skills. Same assembly and serviced as above. NO assembly required. Normal bike maintenance and charging of battery according to manual. Possible Local dealer services.
**Easy installation prewired Add-on kits, no after market modification possible. Example Bionx and others. Primarily Rear hub. You may specify voltage, power, wheel size, battery chemistry and enclosure, and a few other things at time of purchase. but after purchase, no modifications are possible without support of dealer/manufacturer unless you have very without advanced skills in electronics. Same assembly and serviced as above plus: The Assembly steps include swapping of the rear wheel, mounting of tire, tube, & freewheel, routing preassembled wiring harness, attaching harness and console to frame with hand tools. If you have changed a rear tire a few times, you can probably do this. Where you buy is where you get service. Could be local or could be remote phone/email support.
**Easy installation prewired Add-on kits, some after market modification possible. Example Go Hub. and others Front hub only. some options at purchase time. A brushless SLA kit with throttle. slightly weird connectors. Harness supplied. . The Assembly steps include swapping of the front wheel, mounting of tire, tube , routing preassembled wiring harness, attaching harness and throttle to frame with hand tools mounting battery. If you have changed a front tire a few times, you can probably do this. Usually remote service support.
**Complete add on kits, you make the harness. Same as Easy installation prewired Add-on kits, except you make a battery wiring harness. wires and connectors may or may not be supplied. You will have to measure wire lengths and attach connectors. crimping/soldering skills required. You may or may not add switches and fuses. Throttle/controller/motor harness supplied. sometimes you have to make a battery enclosure and mounting brackets. Usually remote service support. Being able to operate a Digital Multi Meter might be helpful at this stage and beyond, if you have any problems. Usually upgrade-able
**You pick the parts , single vendor. you supply vendor with your needs, vendor recommends certain motor, controller, battery, etc. Vendor verifies everything will hookup together as supplied or not. you follow vendor instructions for installation. wires and connectors may or may not be supplied. You may have to measure wire lengths and attach connectors- crimping/soldering skills required. You may or may not add switches and fuses. Throttle/controller/motor harness usually supplied. sometimes you have to make a battery enclosure and mounting brackets. Vendor answers questions about each piece and the system. Usually upgrade-able
**You pick the parts, multiple vendors. Most common is separate source for battery. You decide what you need, you are responsible to ensure everything will hookup and work together correctly. you may have to change/make some cables, change some connectors. wires and connectors may or may not be supplied. You may have to make decisions about wire lengths and attach connectors. crimping/soldering skills required. You may or may not add switches and fuses. Throttle/controller/motor harness may or may not be supplied. sometimes you have to make a battery enclosure and mounting brackets. There may not be any diagrams or instructions. Vendor answers questions about their pieces. Usually upgrade-able
