Mountain Bike Electric Conversion Kit Review 2022

Navigation

Mountain bike electric conversion kits enhance the excellent aspect of cycling on steeper hills. Besides, they also allow you to go longer without needing to pedal harder.

There is a wide range of conversion kits for every type of mountain bike rider.

Therefore, if you are looking for an ideal conversion kit for your needs, we have compiled different types of mountain bike electric conversion kits in this article. There is also a buying guide that will assist you in choosing an ideal conversion kit.

Sounds interesting? Read on to find out more.

Types of Mountain Bike Electric Conversion Kits

Mid-Drive Conversion kit

The best mountain e-bikes tend to be mid-drive, which is also valid for mountain bike electric conversion kits.

Its weight sits low in the frame of your e-bike, and it sends power to the crank or rear wheel. It allows you to use lower gear when cycling up a hill.

This conversion kit allows you to climb hills faster and cover longer distances without burning out.

Mid-drive conversion kits also use torque sensors instead of cadence sensors. The sensors provide power from the motor according to how hard you pedal. Which gives you a more natural sensation or feeling that makes some cyclists forget that they are being assisted while pedalling.

The only downside of these conversion kits is that they are more expensive.

The best example of this conversion kit is:

Bafang BBS02B Mountain Bike Electric Conversion Kit

This conversion kit includes all the necessary electric bike conversion accessories such as:

• 1000W Bafang BBSHD mid-drive motor
• Display panel
• Speed sensors
• 1T4 wire
• Thumb throttle
• Brake levers
• Crank
• Magnets
• Chainring wheel

Front Hub Conversion Kit

The front hub conversion kit is more reliable and standard. That is because they are easy to fit and maintain. Besides, they are relatively cheaper.

The major downside of these conversion kits is that they can not handle too much power without spinning the bike's wheel. For instance, they are considerably heavier than standard rims. So, they put too much strain on the bike's front forks, which could damage them.

A perfect example of this type of conversion kit is:

500W BAFANG 48V Front Hub Bike Electric Conversion Kit

It is a complete mountain bike electric conversion kit that includes:

• Front-wheel and motor
• Brake lever/ hydraulic brake sensor
• Controller
• Bafang LCD display
• Charger
• PAS (2 pcs)
• Thumb throttle
• Controller case
• Extension cable
• LED light

Rear Hub Conversion Kit

Rear hub conversion kits are also reliable and cheap. However, unlike the front hub conversion kits, they are slightly tricky to fit. They also make changing the tube or tire harder.

These conversion kits can handle more power because their weight over the rear tire offers more traction. However, putting your e-bike battery at the rear can cause an unbalanced feel and unwanted wheelies.

The rear hub conversion kits restrict riders to 7-speed cassettes because of the hub size. Ultimately, they offer more performance but sacrifice some practicalities.

An ideal example of this type of conversion kit is:

48V Bafang 500W Rear Hub Conversion Kit

It is a top rear hub conversion kit that includes the following:

• Hub motor with spokes and rim
• Motor controller
• Controller box
• 1T4 cable
• Motor extension cable
• Thumb throttle
• PAS sensors
• Brake levers
• Battery
• Charger

Factors to Consider While Buying Mountain Bike Electric Conversion Kit

Here are some of the factors you need to consider while screening for your ideal mountain bike electric conversion kit:

The conversion kit brand

The most common conversion kit brands are:

• Bafang
• Ebeling
• Tongsheng

Bafang is a top e-mobility brand that makes both mid-drive and hub motors ranging from 250W to 1000W. It is known for its high-performance mid-drive conversion kits that are ideal for mountaineering. However, the conversion kits from Bafang are on the higher end of the price spectrum.

Ebeling is another top brand that makes rear and front hub conversion kits. Although conversion kits from this brand are not very powerful, they are sufficient for hill riders.

Tongsheng is another brand that specializes in mid-drive conversion kits. Besides, their kits have an excellent weight-to-power ratio. They are also a budget choice.

The type of motor

The three types of electric bike conversion motors are:

• Mid-drive motor
• Front hub motor
• Rear hub motor

The rear and front hub motors are relatively easy to maintain and fit. They are ideal options if you wish to lighten the load on your way. However, they restrict you in terms of the parts you can use, especially tires, cassettes, and rims.

Mid-drive motors are the most common for mountain e-bikes. They allow you to use cassettes, tires, chains, and rims. However, the parts must be heavy-duty to withstand this motor's torque.

Power

You should consider buying at least a 750W conversion kit model for regular mountain or steep hills rides. Besides, a conversion kit with at least 80Nm of torque will allow you to accelerate quickly and cycle over rough terrain.

Compatibility

Before buying a mountain bike electric conversion kit, you must ensure it is compatible with your bike.

For instance, if you are buying a mid-drive conversion kit, ensure that it is compatible with your bike's cassette and the diameter of its bottom bracket.

Besides, if you go for front or rear hub conversion kits, ensure that the motors can work with your bike's brakes type. It is also vital to note that rear hub conversion kits will not work with anything larger or wider than a 7-speed cassette.

Legal Requirements

Different states or countries have unique e-bike speed restrictions ranging from 15 to 30mph. Therefore, you must check the e-bike's legal requirements in your locality before choosing your ideal conversion kit.

Final Thought

The best mountain bike electric conversion kit allows you to add power to the bike you already have.

However, if you do not prefer electric conversion kits, there are many affordable mountain electric bikes in the market that you can opt for.