My conversion experience.
Im in my 60s and where we live is on a steep hill which, as Ive aged, has become more intimidating from a bike riding perspective. Consequently, my mountain bike has been collecting cobwebs and dust for the past few years.
Im not a great DIY guy. So, I was a bit nervous about whether Id be able to convert my own bike. But I purchased the conversion kit and took the plunge, aided by a fantastic video which you can view here
My Kit.
- 300 Watt Bafang BBS01 mid-motor kit
- 36 Volt 14.5 Amp hour frame-mount battery
My Process.
I realised quickly that I didnt have the right tools to remove the cranks. And, I also needed to remove the front derailleur and have the chain broken so that it could be removed. So, rather than purchase the tools, I took my bike into a bike shop and had them do this work for me. It took them about 10 minutes.
I took the bike home, and with the video at my side, began the process of installing the motor kit. Installing the motor was a breeze, as was installing the battery. One other challenge for me was removing the rubber grip on my left handle bar so that I could install the touch pad controller and throttle. A teaspoon with a wet handle took care of that I pried the teaspoon under the grip and slowly worked the grip loose so that I could roll it off the handlebars.
Installing the throttle, controller and display unit was easy. Installing the speed sensor was easy. Connecting up all the cabling was easy there was only one option in each case of what plugged into what. Which left a tidy up of all the cables, again easy with the use of cable ties.
The final job was reinstalling the chain over the single front cog and through the rear derailleur. I wasnt certain I could do this, but again found a video which walked me through the process.
The verdict?
If I can do it, I believe pretty much anyone can do it. Having the right tools is essential. Patiently following the videos is a piece of advice I highly recommend you follow. And, if you dont have the right tools or simply dont want to mess with the tasks of removing the cranks, front derailleur and chain, take your bike into a bike shop and have them do it.