Why is it better to build your own mid-drive Ebike?
 

I assert that one can build a better Ebike, than those ready to ride, by installing a mid drive motor kit available from several manufacturers, on their favorite bicycle. Those that build their own will end up with a lighter, sportier, faster, more powerful Ebike for much less money.In this thread, I will give my reasoning why I believe this to be true.

Mid drive kits are available from CYC, Bafeng, Tong Shen and others from 250 to 5,000 watts and from 50 to 240 Newton Meters from $500 to $1200 plus battery and charger. A good battery is about $500 and a great charger is about $300.
CYC and Tong Shen have very natural torque sensing pedal assist. Bafeng has 9 levels of totally programmable cadence sensing pedal assist.
One can install a throttle and use it if they so chose.
Mid drives are much more efficient than hub drives and utilize the bicycles gearing for the best climbing performance.
Mid drive kits can be installed on most bicycles, steel, aluminum, or carbon fiber. Some carbon fiber bikes might not have a strong enough bottom bracket.
If one can change out a crankset and bottom bracket, one can install a mid-drive kit. It is easy to do in a short time.
You can set your mid drive up to be Class I, Class II, Class III, or total Outlaw. Your choice, you are in control.
You can do your own servicing and repairs. Parts are readily available.
It can be installed on a $100 bicycle from Craigslist or a $14,000 bicycle from your LBS. It is your choice.
Great support is available from the DIY Ebike community and those dealers that supply mid drive kits.
Scores of Youtube videos are available that address every facet of Ebike building. The Johnny Nerd Out channel is a great one to see a huge number of different types of bicycles built into a mid drive Ebike.

I hope others here will share their experiences with building their own mid-drive Ebike. Criticism and dissent is welcome also. More on this subject to come from me in the future.

Just fyi, here is the rubric for this sub-forum ('General Cycling Discussion'): 'Have a cycling related question or comment that doesn't fit in one of the other specialty forums? Drop on in and post in here! When possible, please select the forum above that most fits your post!' (emphasis added).

This (your new) thread belongs here, in my opinion: https://www.bikeforums.net/electric-bikes/

Thanks for your opinion.

I believe it to belong here because Ebikes are rapidly becoming generalized and this thread is about getting the most value for your money. It will become more about philosophy and economics than how to build a mid-drive Ebike.

I see. I wasn't aware that individual members of Bike Forums could unilaterally change what are, to my mind, quite clear guidelines about forum usage when it comes to what topics belong where.

I shall have to keep that in mind.

Sounds like P&R

How so?

When I read the topics on the front page of General Cycling , I see many topics that could also be discussed in another sub forum. I believe that how our members invest in Ebikes is of general interest.

You are just adding to the problem, and no, it is not of general interest, and yes, we have an ebike in the family.

This isn't the place to have a debate about economics, either.

qed.

This is bicycle economics, the relative value of building one’s own mid-drive Ebike vs purchasing one ready to ride.

A topic already covered extensively ... in the e-bike sub-forum.

That's economics like home economics is an economics class.

Once again, bicycles are not investments. The only people investing in eBikes are people on the manufacturing side.

OP getting into Chatbot/sock territory.

I don’t see it covered much there. Please give me some links.

Like Q-Anon says, "Do your own research."

Perhaps it is time for you to become familiar with the forum structure, so you aren't tempted to post any more of these garbage threads.

PS: Welcome to my ignore list, troll.

Okay, let’s call it discretionary spending.

I will miss you.

Well this one may have broken some kind of record. Zero to Dumpster Fire faster than you can say e-bike.

I recently built a mid drive e-bike on a Jamis Coda Sport in very good condition which I purchased for $150. In has a nice Reynolds 520 Chrome Moly steel frame.
I installed a CYC Stealth Generation 3 mid drive kit which has 1500 watts and 150 NM of torque. It drives a 9 speed cassette with a Deore rear derailleur. The kit was about $1100 dollars. Battery about $500 and their best charger about $300.
with the 32 tooth chainring and the 13 tooth top gear cog my legs spin out at about 20mph. With throttle only, it will go somewhere over 35mph on the flats.
It handle’s extremely well and suits my tastes.

Here are some photos:


https://cimg2.ibsrv.net/gimg/bikefor...b9f7ed189.jpeg
https://cimg3.ibsrv.net/gimg/bikefor...dd52fec02.jpeg
https://cimg4.ibsrv.net/gimg/bikefor...bc161d793.jpeg
https://cimg5.ibsrv.net/gimg/bikefor...3da559ba0.jpeg
I use this trainer as my work stand.

No they aren't. You are the only one generalizing. Check out the e-bike forum instead.

I’ve been eyeing a used cargo bike that has everything I want except the motor. E assist is actually the deal breaker for my wife. The price is right.

I didn’t realize that a conversion was possible except with those cheesy hubs.

I actually just learned a lot and I never would have known that if this was buried in the ebike forum.

I appreciate the comment in the general section.

Delightful. It'll eat your pantleg at the speed of sound and skew your Q-factor off-center at the same time.

Chainline is perfect and the Q factor is good.