Consumers have a tendency to look away when they encounter a new brand. It’s not a bad strategy most of the time but in the electric bike world, including conversion kits, you’ve got to be more open than that. If you aren’t open to names you’ve never heard of you will find the options limited. A lot of the names you may come across are unfamiliar to you but have a solid history behind them. Before anything, familiarise yourself with the laws regarding e-bikes in your region. Then you may want to choose a conversion kit based on your range and journey needs.
Smaller riders, particularly those riders less than 5 feet 5 inches tall face a real challenge when shopping for an e-bike. Most e-bikes are built in a size well-suited to someone 5 feet 10 inches, but the quality of that fit drops the more someone deviates from that height. This is a Class 2 e-bike with a throttle and a maximum assist speed of 20 mph. While we like hydraulic disc brakes for their feel and power, the Tektro mechanical discs with 160mm rotors do a great job of keeping the Blix Sol Eclipse under control.
When we give it power and the motor “kicks in” the chain comes off the motor sprocket. Some systems, such as the Pendix kit listed above, are only sold via physical stores and the fitting is sold as part of the overall package. However, with kits bought online such as the Bafang kit, the shop will charge you for the time it takes, which will add to the cost of the overall conversion. In our opinion, knowing that it’s been done correctly and safely is worth spending extra. Prices will depend very much on the conversion kit in question.
Co-op Cycles is REI’s house brand and they only have one electric bike model so far. The only reason I mention them on this list is that the one ebike they do have, has front suspension, lights, rear rack, and a Shimano schwinn beach cruiser motor for $1,999. These vintage-inspired, modern electric bikes are built with durability, power, and speed in mind. Vintage Electric Bikes currently have 5 models to choose from, ranging from $3,995 to $7,249.
You can order their bikes online, but they have local dealers all over. I don’t have much knowledge on hunting and don’t talk about hunting ebikes much on this site but, they’re Rambo. Any company that makes big powerful ebikes made for the outdoors and hunting in the wild that calls itself Rambo Electric Bikes is schwinn beach cruiser worth mentioning. Juiced Electric Bikes is another company that uses the direct-to-consumer distribution model. Juiced launched their first electric bike in 2010 and have since become quite competitive in the US market. As with Trek though, you will pay top dollar for a Specialized ebike, but it’s worth the price.
Equally, for the aesthetically conscious, the latest breed of e-road bikes are almost indistinguishable from a non-powered bike at first glance. Then again, both those options are much more expensive than a conversion. Usually the e-bike’s battery will bolt onto your frame or be attached to your handlebars, although sometimes you can fit a battery pack to a rear rack. With the heavier Pinnacle on maximum assist (and on draggy routes) we were getting slightly under the 30km for the Max battery. As with all e-bike batteries, range depends on the terrain, weight of bike and level of assist.
There’s also an easy-to-use control unit, 7-speeds, and mechanical disc brakes—nice features for the price. The Schwalbe Fat Frank tires and steel frame and fork combine to deliver a smooth ride, and the comfortable saddle and retro handlebar beckon you to relax and let the e-assist do most of the work. And despite its weight, the disc brakes help you come to a smooth stop, whether you’re dodging squirrels on the bike path or avoiding tourists on the boardwalk. The new Model E is a sturdy, elegant beach cruiser assembled and painted in the U.S. We tested the brand’s model X last year and it impressed us with its high quality. All Electric Bike Company models are assembled in the U.S., and the attention to detail is immediately evident.
This new version, released in 2022, comes with a 500W motor, a suspension fork, mechanical disk brakes on 180mm rotors and a 48V, 10.4Ah battery that has a pretty decent range (for its size). Toss in recent editions like a rack that can support 150lbs (and a buddy with the right accessory package), revamped contact point’s that are softer and more. Its overall performance and utility has so far stood the test of time. My opinion is, that even though most electric bikes are made overseas, supporting US companies is still a good thing. These companies employ thousands of people, here in the US, helping our economy, and most importantly getting people on ebikes.