An electronic bike has been the most popular thing to invest in over the past several years. With an influx of these being present for consumers to buy, the need and desire have become more and more rampant. But they can be quite pricey!
To alleviate that, perhaps if you’re someone who’s into doing things themselves, you may want to try to build yourself a cheaper version as you see in the store, friends.
But, of course, the easiest way to do that is to take an already-built bike and utilize an e-bike conversion process to take that to new levels.
You’ll need things like a motor, battery, and other accessories to do this, but there are kids out there that can help you do this. This option can wind up being way more budget-friendly than one might think. Let’s take a look at how you can build a cheap DIY e-bike.
Can You Make Your Own E-Bike?
It may sound like a difficult task for you to do your electronic bike. But it’s a lot easier but maybe imagine. All you need is a bike and a few other pieces, and you can make your E-bike.
Of course, if you’re someone who’s not super handy with tools, this may be more challenging, but that’s OK. There are plenty of how-to-use tutorials that you can follow along with to ensure you’re not missing a step.
All you have to do is be a little patient and follow the steps one by one, and you should be able to enjoy your rides with a smooth electronic glide in no time.
What Do You Need to Have?
In order to get started, you have to have certain tools on hand, but you also have certain core components that need to be present. So the very first thing you need to do is ensure that you choose a mountain bike that has front disc brakes and wider handlebars.
Though you can use other types of bikes, mountain bikes are easier because they have all the components already present, like the wider handlebars.
On top of that, you’ll then need an electric bicycle conversion kit. These kits typically have components like a throttle, speed control, and a hug butter.
The last component that you’ll need is a 36 or 48 Volt battery. Typically you’re going to want these batteries to have a capacity of 10Ah or 20Ah. Some batteries are created specifically for electric bicycles, and we highly suggest that you utilize these.
Which Tools Do You Need?
Just like there are components you’ll need to create a cheap DIY e-bike, there are also tools you need for the installation itself. Though there are not many, these are the vital tools that you will need to execute your project:
- wrench set
- pliers
- zip ties
Depending on the bike model, you might find that there may be specific tools that are necessary that aren’t on our list. This could include things like duct tape or even a silicone sealant.
Just take the time to do your research on this specific bike model you’re utilizing to convert it into your electronic bike.
How Long Does it Take to Make it?
Even though this may be a passion project for you, the last thing you want to do is for it to take hours and hours out of your day. After all, you want to get out there and test your new DIY electric bike, don’t you? Most conversion kits will take about half an hour to complete.
This, of course, depends on the level of conversion you’re looking to do and the difficulty of that conversion in and of itself. But on the whole, the whole process of converting your bike and making a cheap DIY e-bike should take no more than an hour.
The time allotment depends on how quickly you execute the following steps:
- Replacing the current wheel with a new wheel. You want to make sure that Azure replaces these wheels. You are ensuring that they are tightened and appropriately attached to the system is necessary.
- Once that is done, you can then attach the throttle and speed control from the conversion kit.
- The next step is to connect those components to the battery and ensure all the cables are connected properly.
- Next comes the placement and mounting of the motor. You want to ensure that you find the right placement for your motor so that it doesn’t interrupt any of the wires or functionality of the bike itself. Once you find the proper placement, then you can mount it.
- After you’ve done that, all you have to do is connect all the wiring and then get out there and give your new DIY e-bike a test run
What is the Cheapest You Can Spend on it?
Other than the time, the only other consideration most people look at is the cost itself. This, of course, depends on many factors, including if you need to purchase a bike to do the conversion.
But, on the whole, if you already have the bike, you’re probably looking at between $200 and $500.00 for the complete conversion.
If you have to purchase the bike plus the conversion kit, then you may be looking at a budgetary cost for your electronic bike up to about $1000. This may still seem like a lot, but some electronic bikes come in with a price tag of up to almost $3000.
Final Thoughts on Cheap DIY E-Bike
If you want the ease and comfort of an electronic bike but aren’t willing to pay for an arm and a leg, then choosing to convert a cheaper bicycle into an electric option may be the way to go.
The steps above and the information should be able to help you create a cheap DIY E-bike in no time.