Electra Townie conversion with kit from Bluenergy

[EMGX]

It's all good as long as everything works. If it doesn't, it if blows up or quits, and YOU built it, YOU have to figure out what went wrong. Hopefully that doesn't ruin it for you like it did for me. I want to RIDE my bikes, not tinker with them.

If you can't start on a hill you're in the wrong gear. That's my story and I'm sticking to it. LOL

Good luck and have fun with it!

My wife often is in the "wrong gear", she isn't going to change and a throttle for takeoff should help her. The motor makes up for that as well as helping her to get out and enjoy riding some hilly hilly routes and distances that wouldn't even be possible for her otherwise.

I like to ride, I like to tinker, I like stuff I already have. DIY allows for all three. Any bike, even multi thousand dollar bikes can fail or "blow up". I've read many posts complaining about failures on very expensive bikes and accompanying poor support from dealers and manufacturers so throwing money at an ebike doesn't prevent that. If something goes wrong with my Yamaha PW-SE powered gravel bike, including simple things like a controller failure, the only solution in most cases is to replace an expensive motor. If the battery fails, or if I want a spare for touring, that is a $1,000 item, charger $250. I can get almost any part for my tongsheng mid drive motors fairly inexpensively if need be. The tongsheng performance is on par with the Yamaha. And in the end, as much as I like them, they are only bicycles and I'd never spend the "fifteen thousand" you have spent on ebikes. Lastly this is a DIY section of the forum, presumably for those who have the interest and modest ability. Not for everyone, for sure.

 

[stanmiller]

StanMiller:

Thanks for the post and tips. I have the 21D version of this same bike. I love the way it "fits me". Old injuries and an aging body and well... I guess I just needed a comfort bike. I really appreciated finding that it could indeed be done. I thought about just buying one of the eGo versions of the Electra Townie from the local bike store. It was $1499 about 2 weeks ago. Went back in 3 days ago and sold out. Apparently they are popular all the way around dang it...

Given how few miles are on my bike it also seemed a shame to buy a replacement for it already. I find the hills we have around here a bit... punishing given the shape I am in at the moment. After test riding some RadPower bikes it became clear to me that I like my Townie better and I want an e-bike desperately.

I went looking at the links you put in your post, and being a total newbie at all of this, and they looked great to me. But I think I would ask as I was narrowing down my selections if there were any updated thoughts or suggestions you might have after so many miles? I would love any suggestions etc...

I suppose one question I would love an answer too if you have any thoughts. If it were you would you convert the existing bike? Or would you go and buy the new factory one? The new one is only 7d, but with a motor it might not matter so much, and has disk brakes already, but no throttle PAS only and I admit I really did like that feature on the RadPower I test rode.

Joshua

Hey there!

I still love my custom Electra Townie. It’s relatively light, fast, and fun to kick around.

When I started this project in late 2018, I wasn’t ready to drop $1500 or more on an entry-level bike like those from Juiced or Rad Power. And I liked my bike. Installing a kit was the least expensive option and I was pleasantly surprised by the ease of integration with the Bafang kit from Bluenergy.

Nowadays there’s a lot more starter bikes to choose from in the sub $2000 range. The Rad Power bikes are more refined. And there is a big user following plus third party upgrade support. Pretty cool.

As @EMGX suggests, you should be comfortable tinkering with your bike to do a conversion. Or wanting to learn. You may need to remove/reinstall this or that (i.e. to install the display, throttle, PAS sensor), cassette, adjust the derailleur, brake alignment, and so on…

These Bafang SWX02 motors are really good on flats and moderate hills, but they are by no means long hill climbers. The bike plus me tips the scale at about 250 lbs. When I’m climbing something steepish, I drop the PAS down to 1 or 2 to lessen the burden on the motor. And it does fine.

These Bluenergy bike controllers are on the fast side at the lowest assist, PAS 1. On a full battery, it will accelerate to 10 mph before leveling off. That can be annoying if you’re on a busy greenway trying to navigate around pedestrians, dogs, and other cyclists. In these cases, I drop to PAS 0 and pedal normally and maybe bump the thumb throttle here or there. I’ve thought about looking into if it would be possible to swap out the Bluenergy controller with a programmable KT version.

A definite advantage of going the Bafang SWX02 route is availability of parts, choices of batteries, and so on… If something breaks, you can swap it out. After 5000 miles, I’ve only had to replace the clutch/gear assembly on the motor. These motors have nylon gears and eventually they wear down and the motor gets noisy. But that was an easy swap.

I have the same Bluenergy kit on my Mongoose Envoy.
https://electricbikereview.com/forums/threads/mongoose-envoy.33132/

Given the choice today, I’d still integrate with a kit. Good luck!

 

[jdiner]

Adding a conversion to an existing bike is akin to building a computer or an experimental aircraft, just not quite to the degree. You need a healthy dose of DIY ability, technical troubleshooting ability, and a keen sense of cause and effect. Knowledge of electrical testing and wiring is essential.

If you're a crafty do-it-yourselfer with a willingness to tinker, it's an inexpensive option compared to a high quality factory bike. The ones you listed don't really fall into that category, but can provide reasonable service nonetheless.

[/QUOTE]

Browneye:

Thanks for the reply and your thoughts. As I am new to all of this I really appreciate all of the feedback.

I have built all of my own computers for nigh on 30 years now. I like to tinker and I do enjoy learning about things as I go. As my kids were a late in life addition I am now working on bikes and learning about them in order to keep them on the go and to be able to go with them. I don't have a great deal of experience but I switched out a broken shimano 6-speed twist shifter on a Specialized Hot-Rock hot pink child's bike last weekend. Managed to get it done even after realizing that I can't count. I very specifically ordered the 7-speed shifter after counting twice to discover that there were only 6 gears. Luckily it only cost a few bucks more... But by carefully adjusting things the derailleur is tracking perfectly and the limit screws keep the chain from falling off in attempting to go to the 1st gear, of 7. My middle one who's bike it is has been extremely happy to the have gears back in operation and the bike back on the road.

But I find the concept of changing the pedal hub daunting, but wheels reasonable.

As for wiring etc... I have no concerns at all. I have volt meters and continuity checkers aplenty.

Joshua

 

[jdiner]

I agree that for some bikes/riders a throttle is over rated but not in all situations. I'm going to install the throttle on my wife's Biria front hub assist bike. When she stops on an uphill grade she has difficulty initially pedaling the bike the first 1/4 or so crank turn until the PAS kicks in. That wasn't an issue with the Tongsheng mid drive that I installed on another bike for her - the TS gives immediate assist without the 1/4 turn lag of a PAS bike.
To me the purpose built ebikes seem very over priced especially compared to adding a kit to a bike that you already have and like.

I have ridden on 3 e-bikes now. The first was a townie about 2 years ago at a bike shop. I decided then, foolishly I guess, to get the 21d standard bike instead of the e-bike. Then this year a town share e-bike. Which was huge, rigid, clunky and terrible. Summit-bike-share should be ashamed honestly but OK it was $2 to rent for an hour and ride around that town. And finally the rad power.

The rad power had a throttle and it was in a very steeply hilly area. I used the throttle much like what you described for your wife. I was able to start moving and enhance my balance by doing so as I got going on steeper hills where I was riding. I know I panned the town rent-a-bike but it was seriously heavy and with pedal assist only I found a few times it was super hard to get going uphill. In fact on 1 start I was starting lose my balance for real and is finally kicked in at "full blast" and I went down hard and right into an old wooden fence. It was... a moment to laugh as I wasn't really hurt but it made the throttle to start really stand out for me.

And you know having said that... I think that that honestly is a good enough reason not to buy a new townie ego. It just doesn't have all of the features that I want.

Joshua

 

[jdiner]

I still love my custom Electra Townie. It’s relatively light, fast, and fun to kick around.


These Bafang SWX02 motors are really good on flats and moderate hills, but they are by no means long hill climbers. The bike plus me tips the scale at about 250 lbs. When I’m climbing something steepish, I drop the PAS down to 1 or 2 to lessen the burden on the motor. And it does fine.


Given the choice today, I’d still integrate with a kit. Good luck!

Thanks for the quick reply. Sorry my own is delayed. I did read these but had some hardware issues that pushed off any chance to reply. My home router gave up the ghost and wouldn't reconnect. After working on it and the machines connected to it I seem to have been attacked. Weird.

When I first read this I was thinking about perhaps getting a larger motor. I top 250 right now without the bike being factored in. Hence the decision to start riding more and perhaps trimming down... a lot. There are just enough hills here in this area where I live that there really are some long long slops to climb. I have seen 500, 750 and even 1000 watt motors. I think that the top end of that is way more than I need... But maybe a 500 would be helpful in my case.

There are some rail-way conversions into riding "trails", can you call a paved pathway about 7 feet wide a trail?!!?, that I am wanting to go out and use. And they have generally gentle slope but that does tend to make them longer.

One of these trails goes from just a mile or so from my home to about a mile from where I work. Once on the trail there were only 2 cross streets to have to deal with traffic at over the course of about 15 miles on the trail.

My goal I suppose is to work my way up to it and then ride to work and back as much as weather and time permit.

Thanks for the feedback. After that many miles and doing it all again on a new bike knowing that you would still use the same kit and would do it again is very helpful for me.

Joshua