Live in South Africa. Looking for advise on convert a Kona Cube Duel suspension MTB to an e-bike.

[MGW]

Hi from South Africa. My wife road my e-bike the other day and of course loved it. I know have the challenge of converting her MTB to to an e-bike. Reason for conversion is her MTB is very sturdy, new and not worth selling. It will definitely handle the additional stress/ load. I have done a little research and be feel the mid drive kit will most probably be our best bet?. Rear drive is also a possibility. Would also like to keep the cost down, being from South Africa limited products are available. Am thinking a 750w motor with a 20amp battery with at least four pedal assistance settings and a throttle so she can also ride out of pedal assist mode. Looking for the best kit for the best price, the challenge will be trying to get the kit to South Africa

 

[Gionnirocket]

I had a lot of success with the Bafang BBS02B. If you can still locate a UART version it can be tuned to make it very user friendly. 12,000mi and no issues. The hardest part may be fitting the battery on a FS MTB.
@PedalUma is having a lot of success with the new ToSeven motors. They add a layer of refinement as it uses a torque sensor which gives a more natural ride experience. The aforementioned BBS02B uses a cadence sensor to implement assistance.

Not sure if these are CANbus or UART... but you can inquire with Anna: [email protected]

Bafang BBS02B kit 48V 500W/750W with 48V 15AH~24AH Jumbo shark new polly battery-Greenbikekit.com BBS, ebike batteries, Bafang M620, Bafang M600, Bafang M500, Bafang M510, KT controller with display-GreenBikeKit.com

Bafang BBS02B kit 48V 500W/750W with 48V/52V Jumbo shark new polly Panasonic/Samsung battery for high power ebike conversion.

www.greenbikekit.com

Bafang 48V BBS02B/BBSHD BBS, ebike batteries, Bafang M620, Bafang M600, Bafang M500, Bafang M510, KT controller with display-GreenBikeKit.com

8FUN BBS02B/BBSHD central middle kit is a better choice for ebike especially mountain bikes.

www.greenbikekit.com

 

[harryS]

Three questions.
1. Since your wife loves your ebike, what are you riding at the moment?

2. Also, many of us do not know the Kona line, How about a link to your wife's bike? Full suspension can make battery placement pretty challenging,

3. Where/how will it be used? Expected range?

 

[PedalUma]

I had a lot of success with the Bafang BBS02B. If you can still locate a UART version it can be tuned to make it very user friendly. 12,000mi and no issues. The hardest part may be fitting the battery on a FS MTB.
@PedalUma is having a lot of success with the new ToSeven motors. They add a layer of refinement as it uses a torque sensor which gives a more natural ride experience. The aforementioned BBS02B uses a cadence sensor to implement assistance.

Not sure if these are CANbus or UART... but you can inquire with Anna: [email protected]

Bafang BBS02B kit 48V 500W/750W with 48V 15AH~24AH Jumbo shark new polly battery-Greenbikekit.com BBS, ebike batteries, Bafang M620, Bafang M600, Bafang M500, Bafang M510, KT controller with display-GreenBikeKit.com

Bafang BBS02B kit 48V 500W/750W with 48V/52V Jumbo shark new polly Panasonic/Samsung battery for high power ebike conversion.

www.greenbikekit.com

Bafang 48V BBS02B/BBSHD BBS, ebike batteries, Bafang M620, Bafang M600, Bafang M500, Bafang M510, KT controller with display-GreenBikeKit.com

8FUN BBS02B/BBSHD central middle kit is a better choice for ebike especially mountain bikes.

www.greenbikekit.com

ToSeven Communication protocols: UART/RS232/CAN

 

[MGW]

Thanks guys will respond ASAP after a bit more research after your helpful advice and comments.

 

[indianajo]

Batteries have an amp rating, usually not stated, typically 40-50 amps. You probably are thinking about the amphour rating, which correlates to range.

 

[MGW]

Thanks guys will respond ASAP after a bit more research after your helpful advice and comments.

I had a lot of success with the Bafang BBS02B. If you can still locate a UART version it can be tuned to make it very user friendly. 12,000mi and no issues. The hardest part may be fitting the battery on a FS MTB.
@PedalUma is having a lot of success with the new ToSeven motors. They add a layer of refinement as it uses a torque sensor which gives a more natural ride experience. The aforementioned BBS02B uses a cadence sensor to implement assistance.

Not sure if these are CANbus or UART... but you can inquire with Anna: [email protected]

Bafang BBS02B kit 48V 500W/750W with 48V 15AH~24AH Jumbo shark new polly battery-Greenbikekit.com BBS, ebike batteries, Bafang M620, Bafang M600, Bafang M500, Bafang M510, KT controller with display-GreenBikeKit.com

Bafang BBS02B kit 48V 500W/750W with 48V/52V Jumbo shark new polly Panasonic/Samsung battery for high power ebike conversion.

www.greenbikekit.com

Bafang 48V BBS02B/BBSHD BBS, ebike batteries, Bafang M620, Bafang M600, Bafang M500, Bafang M510, KT controller with display-GreenBikeKit.com

8FUN BBS02B/BBSHD central middle kit is a better choice for ebike especially mountain bikes.

www.greenbikekit.com

Thanks for the info greatly appreciated it

 

[MGW]

Three questions.
1. Since your wife loves your ebike, what are you riding at the moment?

2. Also, many of us do not know the Kona line, How about a link to your wife's bike? Full suspension can make battery placement pretty challenging,

3. Where/how will it be used? Expected range?

My e-bike is a Titan racing volt E 2
Mainly riding on gravel, tar and then some off road, some very steep hills around.
40 kms max distance.
The Kona cube is more a touring bike very sturdy will try attach a pic.

 

[MGW]

ToSeven Communication protocols: UART/RS232/CAN
View attachment 199882

Thanks

 

[harryS]

I've owned a Bafang BBS02B conversion since 2016. It's almost 2X more powerful than a DM02 mid drive or a TSDZ2B mid drive, which I also own. I also have hub motor bikes that more powerful than the latter two motors.

You can lazily ride the bafang slow as molasses or fast as hell. It's versatile. The DM02/TSDZ2B are,in my opinion, for bikers who want to spin the pedals and get exercise. You can set them in turbo and be lazy though. Their throttles work, but are mainly used to sustain speed and give the rider a brief rest. Throttles on the BBS02B and on hub motors are used to accelerate.

However, I'm partial to mid drives because they require less creativity to install, Hub motors have controllers that need to go somewhere on the frame. I tend to sit and stare at a frame for hours deciding where to hide the controller.

The original Bafangs could be owner tuned to meet the pedaling preferences of the rider. The newer ones are more restrictive. My 2016 model was perfect. I installed a 2023 unit for a friend and found it unrideable. It was rideable if you were willing to walk it thru the assist levels during acceleration, but I didn't like that. It was easy to retune to the same settings as mine. Have no idea how a 2025 model works or if it can be retuned. I don't need bafang power, so if I had to start over, it would be the Toseven or TSDZ2B, That's another topic.

Batteries are another install process. I like to have a battery not look like an ugly wart on the bike, but no matter what you do, most downtube packs look ugly. If you don't need extensive range, smaller batteries that look like water bottles work. Full suspension bikes usually have no space in the frame to install a battery,

 

[MGW]

I've owned a Bafang BBS02B conversion since 2016. It's almost 2X more powerful than a DM02 mid drive or a TSDZ2B mid drive, which I also own. I also have hub motor bikes that more powerful than the latter two motors.

You can lazily ride the bafang slow as molasses or fast as hell. It's versatile. The DM02/TSDZ2B are,in my opinion, for bikers who want to spin the pedals and get exercise. You can set them in turbo and be lazy though. Their throttles work, but are mainly used to sustain speed and give the rider a brief rest. Throttles on the BBS02B and on hub motors are used to accelerate.

However, I'm partial to mid drives because they require less creativity to install, Hub motors have controllers that need to go somewhere on the frame. I tend to sit and stare at a frame for hours deciding where to hide the controller.

The original Bafangs could be owner tuned to meet the pedaling preferences of the rider. The newer ones are more restrictive. My 2016 model was perfect. I installed a 2023 unit for a friend and found it unrideable. It was rideable if you were willing to walk it thru the assist levels during acceleration, but I didn't like that. It was easy to retune to the same settings as mine. Have no idea how a 2025 model works or if it can be retuned. I don't need bafang power, so if I had to start over, it would be the Toseven or TSDZ2B, That's another topic.

Batteries are another install process. I like to have a battery not look like an ugly wart on the bike, but no matter what you do, most downtube packs look ugly. If you don't need extensive range, smaller batteries that look like water bottles work. Full suspension bikes usually have no space in the frame to install a battery,

Thanks for the info

 

[harryS]

Thanks for the info

I didn't mention that I prefer to ride the torque sensing DM02 and TSDZ2 motors, because the pedal feel is better.

 

[Gionnirocket]

Though I haven't tried the ToSeven motors as I moved on to a bike with integrated battery and motor... I too appreciate the torque sensor experience over the cadence sensor of the BBS02B. My current bike with a 1000w M620 feels much more refined...but again it's a UART user tune'ble version which I have dialed in perfectly to my preferences.
That said if I was going to do another build, the ToSeven would probably be at the top of the list because of the torque sensor and end user tune_ability.

 

[MGW]

Thank

Though I haven't tried the ToSeven motors as I moved on to a bike with integrated battery and motor... I too appreciate the torque sensor experience over the cadence sensor of the BBS02B. My current bike with a 1000w M620 feels much more refined...but again it's a UART user tune'ble version which I have dialed in perfectly to my preferences.
That said if I was going to do another build, the ToSeven would probably be at the top of the list because of the torque sensor and end user tune_ability.

S for the advice

 

[EMGX]

Keep in mind that mid drive conversions often result in a very poor chainline when on the largest cassette cog. I think that Toseven chainrings can come with a 9mm offset which might be adequate but even with a aftermarket 10mm offset chainring on my older TSDZ2 the chainline can be problematic. Also with the higher offset chainrings you may be limited to minimum 42t chainring and will lose the offset with lower tooth count chainrings. Some mid drives apparently do offer better chainlines with a larger choice of chainrings.

 

[MGW]

Keep in mind that mid drive conversions often result in a very poor chainline when on the largest cassette cog. I think that Toseven chainrings can come with a 9mm offset which might be adequate but even with a aftermarket 10mm offset chainring on my older TSDZ2 the chainline can be problematic. Also with the higher offset chainrings you may be limited to minimum 42t chainring and will lose the offset with lower tooth count chainrings. Some mid drives apparently do offer better chainlines with a larger choice of chainrings.

I am presently looking at the 500w Bafang motor kit and the Toseven DM01 1000w conversion kit. I am sure I can work around the offset.

 

[Gionnirocket]

I am presently looking at the 500w Bafang motor kit and the Toseven DM01 1000w conversion kit. I am sure I can work around the offset.

My BBS02B chainline was dead on bawls center of a 7sp cluster... but this is a very bike specific detail.
I like going big and tuning down within reason as I think it adds a layer of reliability. Operating at around 80% of rating is a nice buffer.
ymmv