The 10 Best Ebike conversion kits

We will show you the best Ebike conversion kits that will transform your ordinary bicycle into an electric powerhouse. 

The rise of ebike popularity in the US has led to a competitive market of DIY ebike conversion kits. 

The two main types of ebike conversion kits we will recommend in this article: 

• Hub Drive Conversion Kit 
• Mid Drive Conversion Kit 

 

There are several options for electric motor kits and we will cover the 10 best hub motor and mid drive kits.

Before deciding if your bike should be converted, it’s important to know which motor installation will be the best for your bike frame. 

 

Can I Convert My Bike to an E-bike?

 

Here are some of the important points to consider when converting a bike 

• Do the brakes of the bike have adequate stopping power for an ebike traveling at high speeds? 
• Is the bike frame strong and free of any damage? 
• Is there enough room for a hub or mid drive motor? 

To determine if there is enough room for an installation, measure your bike. 

Hub drive motors 

• Are made in different sizes, with a 26” tire being the most popular. 
• A bike with multiple gears is usually needed, because of the width of the motor itself. 
• 5.12 inches of space is needed inside the bike fork to fit several of the hub motor brands.

 

We always find it exciting to see a new ebike conversion. Tag us in a photo of your ebike on Instagram.

This measurement can be taken with a caliper tool. 

For slightly less accurate measure you can use a measure app on your phone. 

Measure from inside the fork from dropout to dropout. 

Also, if you have a bike in question, leave a comment on this blog and we’ll get back to you with our suggestion. 

Mid Drive motor 

In order to get an accurate measurement you will need a caliper tool to measure the bottom bracket of the bike. 

Here is an empty bottom bracket from our recent mid drive ebike conversion. 

Here’s the tool that we recommend for measuring the bottom bracket of your bike.   

Mid drive motors are made in a variety of sizes and can fit many bikes.  The sizes are posted on the purchase pages. 

For a general measurement of your bottom bracket, you can use a measure phone app.

For several brands the chainring is available in multiple options of numbered teeth. 

If you are stuck with the measurement of your bike feel free to ask in the comments and we help find a solution. 

Now lets get into the 10 best ebike conversion kits 

 

Editors Choice best ebike conversion kit hub drive: 

Voilamart 1000W rear hub drive conversion kit for 26” bike tire 

 

Pros-

• No need to disassemble the bike 
• Can reach an approximate speed of 28mph with full electric mode
• Motor operates silently 
• Lower Cost for total ebike conversion 
• Works well with chain and drive of many geared bicycles

Cons-

• Finding storage for computer on bike 
• Motor is not discreet on back wheel 
• The wire and battery connections aren’t quick connect 
• PAS isn’t very smooth 
• Display doesn’t show speed or distance (Use GPS app) 

 

This is the battery we chose to go along with this kit. 

 

Check out the installation video of this ebike conversion kit.

When selecting your motor kit, make sure to take note of whether the battery is included in the price. 

Most sellers can be quickly contacted for questions about the types of batteries compatible with a certain motor. 

This kit does not come with Torque Arms. 

To learn more about the safety features of torque arms, check out this article. 

As an added safety feature, we recommend installing an ebike torque arm for hub drive motor installations. 

 

Editors Choice- Best ebike Conversion Kit Mid Drive 

The Bafang BBSHD Mid Drive 1000Watt Motor 

Pros-

• Mid Drive motor gives a good feel for low center of gravity
• Reaches approximate speeds of 28mph 
• Silent Operation of Motor 
• Additional computer not necessary to attach to bike
• Quick Connect Wiring 
• There are multiple display options that can provide many details

Cons-

• Expensive compared to Hub Drive 
• May need to secure motor with harness  
• Additional tools are required to take apart the bottom bracket of your bike

This is the battery we installed with this conversion kit 

To see the complete installation video and review of the BBSHD Mid Drive Motor, check out this blog. 

 

Honorable Mention best ebike conversion kit

Bafang BBS02 Mid Drive 750Watt Motor 

Pros-

• Low center of gravity for good balance on bike 
• Lower cost than Bafang BBSHD
• Lighter weight and smaller than BBSHD
• Silent Operation of Motor 
• Additional computer not necessary to attach to bike
• Quick Connect Wiring 
• Options to purchase battery directly from motor supplier

Cons-

• Not as efficient at cooling as the BBSHD 
• Not as robust as the BBSHD
• May need to secure motor with harness  
• Additional tools are required to take apart the bottom bracket of your bike

Honorable Mention best ebike conversion kit hub motor

Bafang Rear Wheel 500W 48V Hub Motor Electric Bike Conversion Kit

 

Pros-

• Lower cost than Mid Drive Install 
• Fits a variety of size rear wheels- 20″ 26″ 27.5″ 700C 
• Can be used with a variety of displays 
• Silent Operation of Motor 
• Quick Connect Wiring 

Cons-

• Higher Price than Voilamart Brand 
• Requires additional controller computer to be stored on bike
• Weight of motor is in the back of bike rather than between the pedals on mid drive 

 

Honorable Mention best electric bike conversion kit high power

Ebikeling 1500W Conversion Kit for 26″ tire

 

Pros-

• 1500W Power Size
• Lower cost than Mid Drive Install 
• Straightforward wire connections 
• Quick Connect Wiring 
• Comes with Torque Arms 

Cons-

• Higher Price than Voilamart Brand 
• Requires additional controller computer to be stored on bike
• Weight of motor is in the back of bike rather than between the pedals on mid drive 

 

To see the hub drive and mid drive bikes in action, check out this blog. 

Honorable Mention best ebike conversion kit for 700C Wheel

Ebike Conversion Kit 48V 1200W 700C

Pros-

• Made for a bike with 700C tires
• Straightforward wire connections 
• Quick Connect Wiring 
• Comes with Torque Arms 
• Has a variety of throttle options

Cons-

• Higher Price than Voilamart Brand 
• Requires additional controller computer to be stored on bike
• Weight of motor is in the back of bike rather than between the pedals on mid drive 

 

Honorable Mention best ebike conversion kit hub drive 

JAXPETY 48V 1000W Electric Bicycle for 26″ Wheel

 

Pros-

• No need to disassemble the bike 
• Can reach an approximate speed of 28mph with full electric mode
• Motor operates silently 
• Lower Cost for total ebike conversion 
• Works well with chain and drive of many geared bicycles

Cons-

• Finding storage for computer on bike 
• Motor is not discreet on back wheel 
• The wire and battery connections aren’t quick connect 
• PAS isn’t very smooth 
• Display doesn’t show speed or distance (Use GPS app) 
• Instructions are confusing.   Watch an installation video here 

Here is the battery storage bag that we used for a conversion. It fit a computer and 48V13Ah Unit Pack Power Battery. The 48V15Ah Battery also fit, but it is a tight squeeze.

Honorable Mention best ebike conversion kit with battery

EBIKELING 48V 1200W 26″ Direct Drive Electric Bike Kit with Battery 

Pros-

• Made for a bike with 26” Tires
• 1200W Power Size
• Comes with Battery 
• Straightforward wire connections 
• Quick Connect Wiring 
• Comes with Torque Arms 
• Includes a pedal assist sensor

Cons-

• Higher Price than Voilamart Brand 
• Requires additional controller computer to be stored on bike
• Weight of motor is in the back of bike rather than between the pedals on mid drive 

 

Honorable Mention best conversion kit for 26″ tire 

AW 1000W Rear Wheel Electric Bicycle LCD Display Motor Kit E-Bike Conversion

Pros-

• Made for a bike with 26” Tires
• 1000W Power Size
• Low Cost Conversion Kit 
• Comes with PAS system 

 

Cons-

• Higher Price than Voilamart Brand 
• Requires additional controller computer to be stored on bike
• Weight of motor is in the back of bike rather than between the pedals on mid drive 

 

Honorable Mention best ebike conversion kit for a variety of tire sizes

Schuck  500W Front Wheel Electric Bicycle Conversion Motor Kit

 

Pros-

• Made for bikes with tires 16”/20″/24″/26″/27.5″/28″/29″/700C 
• Low Cost Conversion Kit 
• Comes with PAS system 

 

Cons-

• Front wheel conversions are not as popular as rear wheel conversions.
• Higher Price than Voilamart Brand 
• Requires additional controller computer to be stored on bike
• Does not come with torque arm 

 

Finding the best ebike conversion kit for your needs

We hope you end up with the best ebike conversion kit for all of your travels. Whether you are commuting or on an expedition, a ebike kit will help you go further distances at a fast pace compared to non electric cycling. 

The continued rise of ebike popularity in the US will lead to new innovations in the electric bicycle world. 

If you have any questions about bike measurement or installation, feel free to drop a comment at the bottom of this blog.

Ride Safe.