You don't need to be an 'investor' to invest in Singletrack: 6 days left: 95% of target - Find out more
Anyone have experience of fitting these kits to their hardtail? Looking for a cheap ebike option to cart the kids around the hills. Was thinking of fitting it to my Solarismax but seems a bit of a waste of that bike so now considering buying a second hand bizango or similar to fit one to. Anything to watch out for in terms of compatibility. The crank spacing/chainring size has me wondering a bit..
Some people are fine with the q factor, I'm not.
I've got mine down to 9mm difference by using pedal spacers and bafang cranks.
Before , I was getting knee pain after a mile.
Having to use the pedal extender means that I'm not happy to do any proper off roading on it, therefore it's turned into a shopper.
I'll also add that if you buy a B motor it's really difficult to fit a smaller ring and keep the chain line due to the old adaptor not fitting.
I seriously considered ditching my conversion and buying a rear wheel drive bike from decathlon for £800. That idea was killed by the 27.5 frame running a straight steerer. Good luck finding decent forks once the cheapo ones die.
I don't suppose you could elaborate a bit more about the q factor? My concern was that I'm sure I read somewhere that it's non boost spacing cranks on the kit but my Solarismax needs boost cranks to clear a 34t chainring, or with non boost it's 32t for clearance on the chainstay. The kit comes with a 42t ring I think so obviously it would need a new ring. Do you know what the smallest ring you could fit on it is? Sorry if these are basic questions but any help much appreciated!
If it helps, I successfully fitted a Tongsheng to a standard, cheapish Felt Niner that was 73 mm BB shell and 135 mm qr.
Fitted a 34T 110 chain ring and managed to get the chain line close enough. Using a 11 - 48 T Microsoft rear sprocket with no problems.
Also reduced the q factor with a Bangfang crank on the drive side.
You can get adaptors to fit smaller front chain rings.
Always the option of Narrow wide chainrings, even at 110 bcd if the chain line is a problem.
It is great fun, and I can now get out to places that I couldn't because the MTB tyres on tarmac were such a drag before getting off road and with a 10Ah battery in a frame bag not too obtrusive or heavy
Ok that's good to hear. Is there some sort of adjustment to the chain line in the kit or is that a case of using different offset chainrings?
Also where did you purchase it from?
Cheers
Also is there any potential to damage the frame/bb with the kit?
I would have said no potential to damage the frame. There is limited ability to move the chainring out using spacers, the problem is really getting it inboard far enough. I think my chain line is 3 mm further out than it should be, but everything works well.
I bought mine from Whoosh bikes who are in Southend. I could have got it cheaper, direct via e bay or even Ali Express but they were very helpful and responsive.
Happy to help further, it has transformed my local riding but still self powered for bigger trips and overnights. Message me for any pictures etc, easier to share to your E mail address.
Thank you. I will pm you in a bit for more info.
Hi there, wondering if you used the Bizango for this project as am thinking to so same thing – already have the bike and battery but concerns about chain line, I don’t want to lose the bigger sprockets - cheers
A newer type of mid drive conversion kit. looks very neat.
I used to have a Bafang BBS01 fitted to my 2016 model Voodoo Bizango.
Not sure how the kits compare, but the bafang worked just fine. I did fit a smaller chainring (think it was a 36t lekkie ring). I think I got some other crank arms too as the ones that came with the kit kept coming lose. From memory I think these were Shimano.
The kit came off a few years ago, but the frame is still going strong and is used as my commuter.