auraslip
10 MW
- Joined
- Mar 5, 2010
- Messages
- 3,535
I purchased an ebikekit.com conversion kit from user drasp in the "used section". It was $250. Despite waiting a week for him to ship it and some hiccups installing, I am now rather pleased with the deal.
Pleased is an understatement. I don't want to gush, but the first time I deactivated the European speed suppressor I had a wind in my face at 23mph grin until the batteries were dead. I am right now thinking up an excuse to go for a ride around my neighbor hood.
The kit is $380+shipping from ebikekit.com. Their kit comes with a universal tourqe arm $25, better instructions, support, warranty, and a most importantly an ebikekit t-shirt
I went with $100 (shipped) worth of slas from portable power systems. The ebike kit charger was $40, and the wiring harness was $15.
Total cost: $400
That's a hell of a deal!
Now the bad:
The brake levers feels, and are cheap. It is a wuxing brand that almost every kit comes with. The lever is metal, but the housing is some sort of plastic. They work like wal-mart bike brakes; that is to say I'm not trusting my life with them. My entry level avid brake levers ($20) make them look like cheap toys.
The connectors on the wires have been slipping out of the back of the connectors. Twice now the three pronged connector on the controller has managed to find a to come undone and spark. Saving 3 cents at the risk of burning out a $80 controller is unacceptable. Keep in mind that I have the version of their kit they're no longer selling, so hopefully they come with better connectors now.
I spent $40 for a charger from ebikekit.com because I assumed it was a better product then the $20 ebay chargers. When I, of no fault but my own, mis-read the wiring instructions and reversed the polarity on the charger, I learned that it didn't have reverse polarity protection. I was really bummed because I was out $40, but forum user dnum sent me another. He is a true hero
The wheel was out of true. I blaming this one on the seller, but I only payed $250 so I can't complain =)
The nipples on the wheels barely fit into my park tool spoke wrench. It's a pain to true them.
If it wasn't for the endorphins flowing through my pleasure center after a 30 minute bike ride, I am positive my hand would be in pain from the thumb throttle. Someone needs to come up with a better design.
The good:
The hub motor is comparable to the higher end models other companies sell. It can handle a lot more power than it's advertised 500w.
The controller is very upgradeable and overvoltable. People have reported running it at 48v with no problems. Others have done minor mods to run it at 72v! You can add (if you are comfortable with a soldering iron) many features like a usb port, a cycle analyst port, cruise control, and regen braking.
Verdict: The hub motor and controller have been shown over and over to be abusable, upgradeable, and generally bullet proof. Even with the cheap components this kit is a steal at $380.
Pleased is an understatement. I don't want to gush, but the first time I deactivated the European speed suppressor I had a wind in my face at 23mph grin until the batteries were dead. I am right now thinking up an excuse to go for a ride around my neighbor hood.
The kit is $380+shipping from ebikekit.com. Their kit comes with a universal tourqe arm $25, better instructions, support, warranty, and a most importantly an ebikekit t-shirt
I went with $100 (shipped) worth of slas from portable power systems. The ebike kit charger was $40, and the wiring harness was $15.
Total cost: $400
That's a hell of a deal!
Now the bad:
The brake levers feels, and are cheap. It is a wuxing brand that almost every kit comes with. The lever is metal, but the housing is some sort of plastic. They work like wal-mart bike brakes; that is to say I'm not trusting my life with them. My entry level avid brake levers ($20) make them look like cheap toys.
The connectors on the wires have been slipping out of the back of the connectors. Twice now the three pronged connector on the controller has managed to find a to come undone and spark. Saving 3 cents at the risk of burning out a $80 controller is unacceptable. Keep in mind that I have the version of their kit they're no longer selling, so hopefully they come with better connectors now.
I spent $40 for a charger from ebikekit.com because I assumed it was a better product then the $20 ebay chargers. When I, of no fault but my own, mis-read the wiring instructions and reversed the polarity on the charger, I learned that it didn't have reverse polarity protection. I was really bummed because I was out $40, but forum user dnum sent me another. He is a true hero
The wheel was out of true. I blaming this one on the seller, but I only payed $250 so I can't complain =)
The nipples on the wheels barely fit into my park tool spoke wrench. It's a pain to true them.
If it wasn't for the endorphins flowing through my pleasure center after a 30 minute bike ride, I am positive my hand would be in pain from the thumb throttle. Someone needs to come up with a better design.
The good:
The hub motor is comparable to the higher end models other companies sell. It can handle a lot more power than it's advertised 500w.
The controller is very upgradeable and overvoltable. People have reported running it at 48v with no problems. Others have done minor mods to run it at 72v! You can add (if you are comfortable with a soldering iron) many features like a usb port, a cycle analyst port, cruise control, and regen braking.
Verdict: The hub motor and controller have been shown over and over to be abusable, upgradeable, and generally bullet proof. Even with the cheap components this kit is a steal at $380.
