...i threw away $1500 buying a front wheel hub system from Clean Republic...they were one of the worst companies i've ever had the displeasure of working with.....their products are made from the cheapest , worst materials, and you'll be lucky to get any customer support, they lied and cheated me....since this terrible expierence i have purchased a new front wheel system that works fantastic.....
I don't know how op spent $1500 on a Hilltopper kit, they cost $399 last fall when this was posted. They went up $100 this year, currently their most expensive kit is $1000. It's all the same kit just different wheel or battery size.
Last fall i bought a HT lithium kit for a third of what the above poster claims. I paid full retail + shipping. It has worked fine for 8 months. It's not powerful but it is light weight, simple, rugged.
The 15a controller pushes out 350 watts at 24 volts, 100 watts higher than advertised. I overvolted mine with a 36v battery. It now pushes 500+ watts with no issues.
OP says the materials are the cheapest but that is not accurate. Mine has a Bafang 8fun, stainless 13g spokes, wires are thick with 2 big barrel connectors that stay put. All high quality. Battery plug is a 70 amp Deans connector used on high-end RC planes and helicopters. Most other kits cost a lot more and use multiple flimsy bullet or anderson connectors that can come loose and short out.
The battery bag is super thick. Many US kits costing much more don't come with a battery bag. Chinese kits are cheaper but with no returns and shipping is over $100.
Like the OP i have issues with the slick advertising and snarky, boilerplate email if you order a kit and don't select their "rush shipping" extra $29 fee which is a ripoff as you already pay $36 for shipping. They also respond with slick emails if you have a request, but at least they get back to you and the shipping is a lot cheaper and faster than china.
Overall i've found the company as legit as any other ebike outfit in the price range, which is the low end. You can get more power cheaper, but the quality will be less than HT somewhere. All other ebike kit vendors i've seen are either slick with US mba marketing flack, or else cheap quality from a china vendor with no warranty.
