Electric Bikes - What's the cheapest piece of crap conversion kit out there?

Hi, I'm 40 and in good shape. I like pedaling and will only use this if I really have to. I may never use it...not sure yet. I know I won't be using it from October 15th to April 15th - too cold! Its kind of flat terrain here. I bike about 7 miles from and back to my house (14 miles total) only about twice a week. Its going on a 12 speed huffy 26" mountain bike.

I'm only interested in brand new items. So far, the cheapest is $199 on ebay but it doesn't come with batteries. I could make my own kit but it seems like I'd be spending more than buying a kit. I need to stay below $200 for everything - brand new please. Anyone know?

If its a piece of crap, I don't care, I may never use it. Of course the cost of the piece of crap ones should be really low. If I can get a reliable kit (meaning batteries included) for under $200, that would be great!

Thanks!!!

You can buy the bike, battery and motor at Wal-Mart for $300. Pull the pieces off you want and sell the rest to the metal scrap yard. You'd probably make money on the deal :)

300HURST

The cheapest complete kit I know of is the Currie Electro-Drive Conversion Kit, which costs $299 and has batteries and everything you need to make a bike go.

It is not "a piece of crap" it is just cheap, noisy and not very high tech. It's a BRUSHED (permanent magnet, DC) Motor and the batteries are SLA's, Sealed Lead Acid, regular old motorcyle battery brothers, two of them in a package with the rack to hold them. The battery package weighs 18 pounds, the rack and motor a few more. But the kit works. There are hundreds, if not thousands of them out there. They are the son of the Currie Direct Drive kit which was around for a decade. They are the cousin of the eZip line of bicycles made with the kit on a heavy Chinese frame. They are supported by probably the biggest, but not best organized eBike company in the US.

The kit is worth looking at.

Thanks for the quick replies. I'll look into both of those ideas. I was hoping for responses like "Here's one for $75. Wow, for nothing but a tiny battery, motor and controller, these things are expensive!

Yep, they're expensive. If you look on e-bay, you might find a used kit for a lower price.

the currie motor is available for $65 at tncscooters. the controler is 20, the twist throttle is 8. the bracket is 15, and you could probably find some SLA batteries for 35 a piece.

Compared to buying the currie kit for 299, by the time you add it all together.....you'll have to ask yourself if its worth saving the extra money, and possibly getting yourself into a whole lot of technical dificulties.

My advice would be to buy the kit, then use tncscooters as a source of replacement parts.

I think seizetech is right. His parts list is at $170 and you still don't have a rear wheel with a hub threaded at both ends or the freewheel to go on it or chain to link them ........ You need the mounting plate and brackets to hold the motor to the bike......

Maybe the Currie price isn't so bad.

Thanks, you guys have some good ideas. I guess I'll have to look around for a cheap used one. I don't want to buy used, since most have dead batteries or something is wrong with the conversion kit. I'll let you know what I find.

you could put a little cash away this month to make it easier to buy something more expensive next month if that is the way you decide to go next month.

either way, best of wishes to you

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Brushed 500 watt conversion kit
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36 Volts, 500 watts w/heavy-duty 30 amp controller unit,
brushed hub motor mounted in a front bicycle wheel,
lighted thumb throttle, 36V 2 amp Soneil smart charger,
36 volt extended range battery pack (12 amp/hr batteries X 3),
& heavy-duty rear bicycle rack.

Product Code: BD36 KIT

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I've been looking into getting a Currie kit, and I have a basic question that doesn't seem to be addressed by any of the vendors I've found:

Is there a way to coast? Is there a freewheel of some sort in the motor-wheel transmission, or does it drag as soon as you let go of the throttle?

Yes Jack. There is a freewheel on the left (motor drive) side of the wheel.

Peace of crap would cover any hub motor kit with gears. Front wheel kits of any kind as well.

Buy cheap you get crap though i would say maybe Bion X is getting a little out of sight with price increases in the range of 30% for the up coming 2010 season