Sticky Tiered component lists...would help a lot of ppl with the "What XXX should i buy for my xyz build?" type questions.

[TwisterGripper]

So many ppl like myself with a little bit of skill/knowledge, but suffering from information overload / Analysis paralysis (too many options). I think it would be great to see a tiered list, kind of like some PC builder forums have - like this Toms Hardware list: Best PC builds for gaming 2025: From $500 budgets to $4,000+.

Some example categories for tiered lists.
Best value kit under $500 (might include 1000-1500w kits) for 20" wheels, 26" etc.

Best kit under $750 (might include 1500-2500w kits)

Best kit under $1000....and so on

and then sub headings under "best for top speed", "best for torque" and "best for range" etc.

I've found some outspoken ES forums users to expect a certain (rather high) level of technical knowledge and not very welcoming to those with less than stellar knowledge. I also get that ebikes.ca owns the forum and would not take kindly maybe to suggestions pointing to aliexpress kits....maybe there would be tiered lists geared towards "quality" and others toward "lowest price".

Not all of us have time nor desire to spend endless hours searching parts online.... I am not a newb, and have some technical knowledge, but i am far from an expert on all things EV. I'm just looking for the best value kit for a 20" wheel under X price currently.

If you look at the Tom's guide for pc builds by price range, its a quick recommendation for some of the best value bits of kit, specifically by component. It is incredibly useful, especially for those diy'ers who are getting stuck due to information overload or "analysis paralysis". . Such a list for ebike building would be immensely useful for a great many aspiring diy'ers. There are dozens or possibly hundreds of ebike parts stores on aliexpress....and wading through all that could literally take forever.

I accept there are hurdles presented because of specificity, but not too many, an ideal tiered list would have sub-categories by wheel size, power, budget. it might be a lot, but not unmanageable. I'm strictly talking about specific component recommendations that meet specific goals (wheel size, speed, power & budget and common combinations of those goals).

I have compiled for myself the best deals I could find for my own 20" fat tire upgrades in the 1500w, 2000w, 3000w ranges, but am left very uncertain as to whether or not these specific bits of kit are any good.

What say you Mods & highly active users - are you interested in creating and occasionally updating such a set of tiered lists? You could save a ton of time down the road by pointing most build newb questions to the list...so it would be a massive time saver for forum users and new builders alike.

 

[E-HP]

I like the idea of a sticky for guidance regarding kits. The problem with stickies is that they aren't maintained. They may be initially, but not in the long run. However, well thought out guidance on what to look for in a kit is something that can better stand the test of time. The guidance has a lot of value to a newbie, even if it just serves to explain what they get or don't get with a kit, and what issues they may observe depending on some component choices being offered (I see people complaining that their ebike takes off too abruptly, which sometimes indicates a controller that uses a speed based throttle rather than power/current based, etc.). The experience of a "bad" kit could turn people off to ebiking.

I put a little blurb in my FAQ regarding DIY kit builders vs component builders, and how even as a new kit builder, there are opportunities to choose kits that are flexible and allow for future upgrades, for example. It would be great to have a sticky that I could add a link to or refer to regarding kits.

Here's the intro to the two sections, sort of lengthy, but a work in progress:

DIY Newb - Kit builder (all components were purchased as part of a kit, battery may be purchased separately)

Ebike kits are usually comprised of Motor and controller and optional peripheral components, such as a display, pedal assist sensor, and throttle. Some kits may also include a battery as an option, but most do not include one.​

Kits are an easy way to get into DIY ebiking, since all components are compatible and usually "plug n play".​

​

In many or most cases, a kit becomes an introduction to ebiking, and can provide the DIYer a great experience. Over time, many DIYers will "outgrow" their kit as they begin to discover areas where they may want more options or increased performance, range, comfort, etc. In other words, kits are seldom a "one and done" option, but rather a learning experience about the DIYer themselves and what their desires are, after the initial glow has faded.​

​

Some DIYers may know this about themselves well before delving into this new hobby. For those folks, they may want to keep in mind flexibility in kit components that may allow an upgrade path for the future. An example of this would be selecting a kit that has a controller that can operate across a range of voltages (e.g. 36V/48V/60V), that allows the DIYer to initially power their kit at a lower voltage, with the ability to upgrade just the battery rather than battery and controller if they desire more speed or torque in the future.​

DIY Newb - Component builder/upgrader (some or all components were not purchased as part of a kit)

The DIY component builder chooses various components to support their end goal. The components may not be directly plug n play, but may require testing and troubleshooting, as well as physically modifying things like connectors in order for the components to be connected together. Patience and discipline are required in order to not damage components when they are connected or operated. The reward for the component builder is building an ebike that is specifically tailored to the needs of the particular DIYer, and while sometimes challenging, provides an ebike better matched to DIYer, and almost always worth the additional work.​

 

[TwisterGripper]

thx for your input. I like the diy newb post - definitely i still have stuff to learn and there is good resources there for me.

As for the "Tiered kit lists" - i'd start it but i dont know enough or buy enough equipment to write it. maybe willing to spend time updating, but this would definitely need to be a crowdsourced thing to compile....

And then theres the problem of it just getting buried like everything else - it would need to be a sticky, or something off site.

 

[neptronix]

A lot of people have proposed this idea over the years but nobody has volunteered to produce or maintain such a list.
Sticky posts are a problem because multiple people cannot edit them. That's why our knowledgebase would be a better format ( anyone approved as an editor can edit )

If you'd like to make a draft or outline of it, i'd be happy to have it on the knowledgebase:
Apply to be a KB Editor

 

[TwisterGripper]

A lot of people have proposed this idea over the years but nobody has volunteered to produce or maintain such a list.
Sticky posts are a problem because multiple people cannot edit them. That's why our knowledgebase would be a better format ( anyone approved as an editor can edit )

If you'd like to make a draft or outline of it, i'd be happy to have it on the knowledgebase:
Apply to be a KB Editor

I think I would like to volunteer to draft & help maintain such a list, but would others be likely to contribute? also would ebike.ca have a problem with this as it WOULD by its nature link to products....not all of them from ebikes.ca.

 

[neptronix]

Maybe we can think even smaller and less high maintenance than that..

..just have a list of vendors and what they offer, kind of like a yellow pages for all vendors that ES appreciates.

For example, using a table in Xenforo ( this can be copied + pasted right to our knowledgebase )

Vendor name	Known for	Location
grin technologies	phaserunner, all axle, large variety of kits	Vancouver, Canada
leaf bike	leafbike 1.5kw 35mm hub	Shenzen, China
em3ev	excellent batteries	Pudong, China

 

[neptronix]

I think I would like to volunteer to draft & help maintain such a list, but would others be likely to contribute? also would ebike.ca have a problem with this as it WOULD by its nature link to products....not all of them from ebikes.ca.

Cool, yes, anyone approved as an editor will be able to help maintain the article. That's the main reason why we built the knowledgebase.
Right now we only have 3 editors who aren't very active, so nobody's gonna fight you at worst

Ebikes.ca shouldn't have a problem with it, they keep out of forum content issues and are devoted to keeping the commercial influence out.

 

[TwisterGripper]

Maybe we can think even smaller and less high maintenance than that..

..just have a list of vendors and what they offer, kind of like a yellow pages for all vendors that ES appreciates.

I'm really wanting to make specific recommendations for newer builders. a list they can trust will match their goals, but maybe also include the list of vendors known to not be scammers and likely to be around a while. Im thinking a yearly or Biennial update/refresh to reflect new equipment coming onto market.

 

[docw009]

A noble goal, but unbiased reviews take time and money, maybe sponsorship, This ad-free website runs in the red. Sites like Electric Bike Review are paid for their reviews. The DIY contingent isn't going to be a rich revenue source.

I like Neptronix idea of listing vendors, and if there was a way for people to vote up ratings like amazon, then it might be useful.

 

[neptronix]

In the knowledgebase software, we have a commenting feature that people could give feedback on. Anyone registered with the site can comment.
It doesn't give them the ability to vote on things, but they could comment, hey, this vendor was good to me, they deserve to be on the list. That would be a workable feedback mechanism that helps us keep such a list updated.

I'm for it!

 

[TwisterGripper]

In the knowledgebase software, we have a commenting feature that people could give feedback on. Anyone registered with the site can comment.
It doesn't give them the ability to vote on things, but they could comment, hey, this vendor was good to me, they deserve to be on the list. That would be a workable feedback mechanism that helps us keep such a list updated.

I'm for it!

If im enabled as editor, would I be able to keep the updated list stickied or at top of list? Sorry i've never even noticed the "knowledgebase" link - checking it out now.

 

[neptronix]

Right now, the names alphabetically sort in the list of articles.. but when you click a category, it's kinda like a forum view where it shows the most recently updated article.

We might add that feature in the future.

Happy to have you contributing!