To move from one place to another, in a comfortable, economical way and without harming the environment, a good option is to use an electric bicycle.
Although it is a motorized vehicle, it does not produce polluting gases, making it ecological. In this section, we are going to discuss how to put a motor on a bike to make it easier for us to move, especially on challenging routes.
In the market, we will find different types of bike motors. When acquiring ours, we will have to take into account the bicycle model to which we want to incorporate the engine, the size of the wheels, and the power that we want to obtain with the system.
What is an electric bike? Why is it a good idea to put a motor on my bike?
An electric bicycle or also known as an e-bike is a bicycle with assisted pedaling that must not exceed 250w and where the maximum speed is 25 km / h. When this speed is reached, the engine stops.
- It is becoming a widely used means of transport both for going to work and for mountain routes with steep slopes.
- If you want to go to work quickly, and economically, avoid long car caravans, and especially not get tired, it is a good option.
- If you like to do mountain routes and want help climbing those steep climbs, do not hesitate and invest in a kit to turn your bike into an electric one.
- And if you already have a mountain bike and you don’t want to invest in another bike for the economy, due to lack of space, don’t worry, there is an economical option that allows you to use your mountain bike without taking up more space at home.
Tools to put a motor on a bike
- Allen key ø 4 mm
- Allen wrench ø 6 mm
- Chainsaw
- Adjustable hook wrench
- Ratchet
- Ø 14 mm socket wrench
- Cutting
- Pliers
- Fine grit sandpaper
- Materials
- Bike
- Electric motor for bicycle in kit
- Universal glue
- Lubricant
- Saddlebag
- Spray paint
- Flanges
How to put a motor on a bike: discussed step by step?
- The first thing we are going to do is apply lubricating oil to the nuts and bolts that are rusted, to be able to loosen the different parts of the bicycle more easily.
- Next, we completely disassemble the bike, taking care not to damage any part.
- Before installing the motor, we will take the opportunity to paint the metal surface. For that, we first pass fine-grit sandpaper and remove the dust produced.
- We can now color both the frame and the handlebars, using spray paint, in this case, black. When applying the product, do it uniformly and respect the minimum distance that the manufacturer indicates.
- We wait for the paint to dry and place the chain, which we have previously greased, in its position. We also put the brakes, which in our case are new, and we installed the wheels.
- The next step is to fix the control unit under the saddle. The cables of the rest of the elements that make up the electrical system of the motor will be connected to this device.
- Introduce the bottom bracket, add the sensor that will detect our pedaling, and place the pedals.
- Now, we go with power control. We put the device on the handlebar, following the manufacturer’s instructions; thus, we will always have it at hand: either to activate or deactivate the motor or to vary its power.
- Next, we put the shift lever and brake lever on the handle.
- It is the turn of the electrical connections. After connecting both the motor and the power control to the control unit, we put the sensor and throttle cables and plug them into the same device.
- We fix the battery holder on the bike frame, insert the power supply, and connect it to the control unit.
- We save the connections in the bag where the control unit is housed and close the zipper. Finally, we hold the rest of the wiring together and to the bike frame, with simple plastic cable ties.
- Thanks to this motor, we can move around by bicycle, in any environment, and with little effort. The motor, which is only activated when pedaling, can be turned off if you want to do it without it. The battery, meanwhile, is equipped with a cable with a conventional plug, to be able to be recharged in any outlet.
Tips
- Wear a helmet, even if you don’t start the engine.
- Respect the current rules of road safety for the use of bikes or mopeds.
- Drive through the indicated lanes. If you are going to use the engine, you cannot ride the bike paths.
Conclusion
And to finish the big question. Is something like that good for you? Well, as we discussed from the beginning, everything depends on the use you are going to give it. This option of the motor is exciting if you have been thinking about ‘e-bikes‘ for a while, but don’t want to part with your old bike.
This option can help you achieve both objectives without leaving you a fortune, but you must be sure that it will be useful to you.
Buying something like this and finally not using it will end up becoming a thing that will make you change critical parts of your bicycle for nothing, it will make it more substantial and more expensive, so you will hate it a little more.
So it is better to know how to put a motor on a bike and convert your old one without any guilt.