It’s no exaggeration to say e-bikes are having an extended moment globally. In Australia, e-bikes now make up about 50% of total bike sales through retailers, according to Peter Bourke from Bicycle Industries Australia, with approximately 250,000 e-bikes sold in the past year.
For many people, however, the upfront cost remains a barrier, with quality e-bike brands selling for anywhere between $5,000 and $10,000. But there is a way for you to join the ranks of those effortlessly sailing up hills for a fraction of that price.
If done through a reputable store, converting your push bike into an e-bike can be as simple as adding a battery, engine, controller and enhanced components.
What are the benefits of converting?
Rev Bikes in Nunawading, in Melbourne’s eastern suburbs, has been specialising in e-bike conversions for over a decade. According to the company’s founder, Rebecca Lee, most bikes can be converted for under $1,000 if you want to do it yourself, or about $1,300 to have it done for you.
Lee says the key benefits of converting your old bike include value for money (especially if you already have a decent bike), the fact that you can customise the e-bike just how you like it, and that you will end up with a much lighter bike than many new e-bikes currently on the market.
She says many people choose to get their bikes converted in-store rather than DIY because they usually don’t have the right tools to do it at home. Doing a dodgy job on the conversion can make the bike dangerous if inadequate brakes are left on the bike, or if the battery isn’t properly attached or is a poor-quality product.
“Buying a kit from local sellers with years of experience, who can support the install and provide alternative parts if required, gives the peace of mind that the system will be reliable and safe,” says Lee.
“Sellers who offer kit options prompt the enthusiast to consider which components they actually want or need for their specific bike. Clear instructions should be provided by sellers at a minimum, as well as detailed video guides – [these] are helpful because every bike is different, and they will often throw up unexpected challenges.”
A dream come true
For Dennis Moll, a longtime mountain bike rider who lives in Ballarat in Victoria, getting a new e-bike was cost prohibitive and would have meant selling one of his beloved bikes.
“I’ve been riding mountain bikes for 21 years, but a little while ago I started thinking of getting an e-bike,” he says. “But all the e-bikes that I was considering buying were quite expensive.”
Moll had no experience converting a conventional bike into an e-bike and didn’t even know if it could be done. “I already had a bike that I loved, so turning it into an e-bike was a dream come true,” he says.
After doing some research, Moll decided to get his old mountain bike converted in store.
He says the shop he chose did a great job and sent him photos throughout the process to ensure he was happy with the layout of the conversion. “Since I’ve received my new e-bike, I haven’t looked back,” he says.
Considering a DIY conversion at home?
Unless you are an experienced bike technician and have some of the tools and expertise to do so, it’s recommended to get professionals to convert your bike in store.
However, for those wanting to attempt to do it yourself, there are plenty of Australian businesses that will post you the kit.
The process varies depending on whether you get a mid drive or hub motor for your bike: mid drives require removing your pedals, cranks and bottom bracket to install the motor in their place, while hub motors involve the replacement of one of the wheels, tyres and tube, gear cassette (if rear wheel) and rotor for installing disc brakes.
Both systems also require the addition of a few sensors, such as a pedelec (crank cadence sensor) for the hub motors and a speed sensor and gear shift cutout sensor for some of the mid drives.
There are the display and other controls (such as brake cutouts and maybe a throttle) for the handlebars, and most importantly, the mounting of a battery somewhere on the frame (it depends on your bike, but most mount in the triangle, where your water bottle would normally go).
Most reputable suppliers will provide detailed instructions and a video guide, but unless you have the right tools and expertise, you may find it simpler to let the mechanics in the store do the conversion for you – it will be worth the extra investment.
Remember to take fire safety precautions
E-bike conversions are far more likely to be involved in house fires than manufactured e-bikes. According to Fire and Rescue NSW, cheap, unprotected, and second-hand batteries used in DIY projects have led to severe fires causing significant loss. Like all E-bikes, exercise caution when charging. This includes charging in an open area like a garage away from exits, and not charging when you’re asleep or not at home. It’s also important to only use an approved charger that matches the battery.
Beware dodgy e-bike conversions
According to Bourke, there is something of a wild west scenario emerging, with dodgy e-bike conversions sometimes falling foul of the law. Under Australian law, e-bike motors must cut out when bikes reach 25km/h.
New South Wales is implementing better regulations around e-bikes, including penalties for those exceeding speed limits and ensuring that batteries and electronic components meet the Australian standards.
“The problem is that there are currently no national uniform regulations in place for e-bike conversion,” says Bourke. “We’d like to see national regulations to ensure a safe product for both riders and other road users.”
