(Newbie here) Can all Ebikes be modded/upgraded/improved??

[new2thegame]

Hey everyone!!

I have recently picked up my first Ebike. It’s a Cycrown Ultra. I am sure compared to most of your bikes it’s nothing special, but I absolutely love it. I think for my riding needs/wants for now it’s perfect. Loving the bike so far!!

I have attached a link if anyone wants to check out the bike.

CycUltra Electric Bike

cycultra electric bike cutting-edge technology meets sleek design. e bike experience unparalleled performance and redefine your cycling adventures.

www.cycrown.com

I have been doing a lot of reading/research/ and watching Youtube videos to learn more, I have even seen a ton of talented people converting their regular pedal bikes over to Ebikes. I am not very good at the DIY stuff, but I would like to learn more.

I guess my overall question is can pretty much all ebikes (including mine) Be modded over time with better upgradable parts? I think most of the stuff that came on my bike is fine for me for now, but I know I’d like to upgrade the tires to a better compound and that got me wondering about other parts such as brakes/motor/suspension and if all that stuff is upgradable with the right budget.

I have a friend who definitively was telling me nothing could be upgraded on my bike and if the screen malfunctions or breaks that it’s essentially useless. Usually, he likes to pretend like he knows everything and is quite negative, so I wanted to talk to folks like you and get the real scoop. To be perfectly clear at the moment I am not looking to make any kind of upgrades to the brakes/suspension/power (I may never need to) but my question was simply IS it possible?? In example over time some things break and from there I can upgrade and build an even better customized bike over time that’s unique to me.

Thanks, and so happy to be part of the forum!



Chris

 

[indianajo]

Welcome to the hobby. Enjoy your ride.
Most everybody changes tires after their first flat. Some people love tubeless, some hate the noise of knobs, some people like armor, some people like slime, some people like a particular brand or model tire. Lots of people change the seat, people have different shaped pelvises and hips. I've tried 8 seats on the bike in the avatar.
This appears to be a fat tire geared hub motor full suspension bike. As you get serious about off road riding, people have lots of opinions about superior suspension parts. For $1299 I doubt if yours are top of the line. More detailed suspension discussions are on the mountain bike forum. I ride a hard frame on road so I am no expert on suspensions.
Displays, my first one fogged over from the rain in under a year and I deleted it. It posted stupid inaccurate numbers anyway, like 0 kph downhill when I turned the power off. I have been riding without a display for 6 years. Some controllers will not start or change PAS level without a display. Others will. I buy controllers with no display connector to make sure.
My first geared hub motor lasted ~4500 miles before the gears wore out. My second the wire harness was burnt off in the rain due to controller pins too close together. Then 18 months later I learned how to take it apart and replace the wire harness to fit a controller with pins farther apart, and started riding it again. Clutch went out in July 24, about 2500 total miles I suppose. 3rd hub motor was too wimpy, 350 w, burned the winding about the second trip. I carry groceries tools water 3 tubes & a tire, I'm 158 lb, total load about 320 lb. 77 hills on my commute to summer camp. 4th hub motor was advertised as 500w instead of 350, but it burned the winding in the 70th mile. So what I am saying, if you ride a lot, be prepared to change geared hub motors. I keep a spare in a wheel in the garage so I am not without transportation for more than a few days. That 4th motor that burned in a week, put the nails in that coffin.
Brakes, I use standard organic pads that do not require the force of metal pads. I changed the brake handles from 3 1/2" long to 5" long to cut the force. Also the new brake handles had cutoff switches for the controller. I changed brake and shifter cables to slick stainless. Some people love to change brakes to hydraulic action. I prefer the simplicity of cable pull 160 mm disk brakes. I have had about 5 shifters and 4 derailleurs. The shifters because my hands get problems from the force required. One wore out, the cable end pulled through in July. The derailleurs because they wore out (pins & holes) or were damaged by a stick on the sidewalk.
Happy trails.

 

[harryS]

If the screen breaks or some other electronic problem comes up, you go to the seller for a new one. If he's out of business or blowing you off, the entire electronics is replaceable with someone else's product, You just replace it all, and it's not expensive, just somewhat labor intensive, as you need someone who knows how to do it,

The hub motor can be replaced with another one, The battery is probably found on other bikes of this type, Really not a lot of proprietary stuff on generic ebikes like there is on more expensive and exclusive brands.

 

[Chargeride]

The hub is pretty well maxed out for reliable usage, but thats still quick, you can replace the controller and display if it breaks with cheap generic versions off ebay, but youll probably need to replace the cadence sensor etc with the new ones, not a big job.
You can run that hub up to 40 amps peak if you want, but that requires careful monitoring of the heat.

All cheap parts, but they will do the job.

 

[new2thegame]

If the screen breaks or some other electronic problem comes up, you go to the seller for a new one. If he's out of business or blowing you off, the entire electronics is replaceable with someone else's product, You just replace it all, and it's not expensive, just somewhat labor intensive, as you need someone who knows how to do it,

The hub motor can be replaced with another one, The battery is probably found on other bikes of this type, Really not a lot of proprietary stuff on generic ebikes like there is on more expensive and exclusive brands.

Thanks Harry!! So along the same line of thought does that also mean that if I eventually wanted to upgrade some parts to better brakes/suspension/stronger motor+battery that is all possible would just require some extra customization and obviously a budget to do so.

Appreciate your reply

 

[new2thegame]

The hub is pretty well maxed out for reliable usage, but thats still quick, you can replace the controller and display if it breaks with cheap generic versions off ebay, but youll probably need to replace the cadence sensor etc with the new ones, not a big job.
You can run that hub up to 40 amps peak if you want, but that requires careful monitoring of the heat.

All cheap parts, but they will do the job.

Yea you kind of hit on what I was also trying to say. Being that all the parts are kind of cheap meh parts if I fall in love with the bike itself (like I seem to be doing) and eventually wanted to upgrade to better parts and so on I wanted to ensure that's an option.

Thanks again

 

[Chargeride]

A high current controller probably wont have a display, you,ll, have to track one down that works and its size will present mounting issues, ditch the hub lead quick connecor, it will melt and check your battery bms can output the amps.
And pray the frame and forks can handle tge extra speed

 

[new2thegame]

A high current controller probably wont have a display, you,ll, have to track one down that works and its size will present mounting issues, ditch the hub lead quick connecor, it will melt and check your battery bms can output the amps.
And pray the frame and forks can handle tge extra speed

Got it! Sounds like I should have started with a different bike because maybe i'd be changing every part over time.

Thanks for the help

 

[indianajo]

Strong 1000 w 48 v geared hubs are pretty much outlawed by the 3 class system. I cannot find a replacement in USA for mine. 500 w 750 peak is what everybody is carrying except the 250 w and 350 w ones. I burned the 350 w bafang motor with a 25 amp controller up some hills. Controller was left over from the 1300 w ebikeling motor that was so satisfactory. I had a 10 amp controller on when I burned the "500 w" motor this month. It made one trip on flatter dangerous Ste Hwy 3, but burned on the back roads with hills the next trip. So just because the vendor says the motor is capable, does not mean the motor really is. Bafang sells a 500 w geared hub motor but the website bafangusadirect will not sell you one unless you buy a battery+controller+handles+throttle+pickups. Tiny battery too, I run 17.5 ah down to shutoff about the next to the last hill of 30 miles.
I ran a 45 amp controller on the 1000 w 48 v Mac12t that broke the clutch instead of the winding in July. Nobody in USA sells those anymore. I can maybe buy 10 for $850 +freight+customs on aliexpress, not too bad since the one I wore out cost $700. Will chat with them 3 AM tonight after my SSI deposit is accessible. May be problems with aliexpress too, I've never used it before. They signed me up yesterday then would not recognize my user name or password.
500 w motor was peppy on the hills, but quit working a half mile after the 100' 12% grade. I thought maybe the controller shut off because the battery was empty, but when I pedalled to camp the battery was 51 something. The motor phase resistance was zero instead of 0.7 ohms like it is supposed to be. The controller will shut down if the motor resistance is too low. The 10 amp controller was unable to drive the 1000 w Mac12t more than 50' when I first tried it after fixing the wire harness. Resistance was too low. Had to put the 45 amp controller on.

 

[harryS]

It's perfectly natural to want to upgrade your bike. You have to realize that many of the expensive upgrades on non-ebikes are expensive because they are quite light while maintaining high strength.

WIth a fat tire ebike. it's enough to go a couple of levels beyond the entry level Shimano Tourney stuff. You don't need or want carbon seat post or handlebars. If you already have hydraulic disk brakes, you're fine,

 

[gromike]

If you so fancy ride it until it dies, or you decide on another ebike. You'll figure out what you want by doing.

 

[new2thegame]

If you so fancy ride it until it dies, or you decide on another ebike. You'll figure out what you want by doing.

Yes I guess I'll enjoy it and just upgrade as parts break. I just got back from a night ride with my wife and 10 year old daughter. Bike lights on. Helmets on. Crisp cool air in my face and making fun memories with her. I'm definitely loving this hobby and my bike! Thank you all for your advice. Looking forward to learning more on the forum.

 

[Jeremy McCreary]

Yes I guess I'll enjoy it and just upgrade as parts break. I just got back from a night ride with my wife and 10 year old daughter. Bike lights on. Helmets on. Crisp cool air in my face and making fun memories with her. I'm definitely loving this hobby and my bike! Thank you all for your advice. Looking forward to learning more on the forum.

Sounds like you're already putting your ebike to excellent use. Let the fun continue!