The best front hub ebike kit to make an awesome ebike

Today we will show you how to transform your regular bicycle into an electric bike using the best front hub ebike kits.  With these kits you can achieve the performance of a commercial ebike at nearly a third of the cost! These hub motor kits can be used on a variety of bicycles including:

• Beach Cruisers
• Mountain Bikes
• Fat Tired Bicycles
• Hybrid Bike
• Tricycles

Although each of these ebike kits have different features, most can be used in 3 separate modes.

• Full Electric Mode- Use your bike like a scooter without pedaling
• Pedal Assist Mode- Pedal with the assistance of the electric motor
• Regular Mode- Use your bike as an ordinary bicycle without electric

Advantages and disadvantages of front hub motor conversion

A front hub motor kit install is just one of the three popular types of ebike conversions.  Each different type of conversion has it’s own benefits. The other types of common electric bike conversions include:

• Rear hub motor kit- You can check out our video and blog here. 
• Mid drive motor kit – Learn more about mid drive install and see our video here. 

Many DIY Ebike enthusiasts typically prefer mid drive and rear hub drive conversions over the front hub drive conversions mainly because:

• In a front hub conversion the front wheel may slip because of lack of rider weight over wheel
• Climbing elevations might be more difficult and cause tire spin
• The front forks of the bike might not be as sturdy as the rear dropouts of the bike.
• The look of the front hub conversion might not appear as stealthy as rear hub or mid drive

If you want to learn more about how to install a torque arm on your hub motor conversion, watch the video here.

On the other hand, the advantages of a front hub conversion may include:

• Not needing to deal with the chain or derailleur on the motor install
• A front hub conversion can evenly distribute weight if you have a heavy battery on a rear rack
• Smooth shifting and gear functionality that isn’t modified by motor installation

Check out this video of our recent install of a 1000Watt front motor kit.

This electric bike has a top speed of 28mph and with a 48V13Ah Lithium Ion battery the full electric distance range is 22 miles.

Don’t forget to subscribe to our YouTube Channel

If you have any questions about the process of converting a bike to electric, drop us a comment in this YouTube video or at the bottom of this blog.

 

Here are some of the best front hub kits that can be used to transform your bicycle into an ebike.

 

The Best Front Hub Ebike Kit 1000watt

AW 1000W Front Wheel Electric Bicycle E-Bike Conversion

Pros-

• Motor made for bike frame with 26” tires
• Powerful 1000 Watt electric motor
• Lower priced conversion kit 
• Brushless hub motor for noiseless running
• Pedal Assist functionality

 

Cons-

• This unit requires additional controller to be stored on bike
• Wiring is not as minimal as a mid drive conversion installation  
• Increases weight of bike

 

We always find it exciting to see the different types of DIY electric bike conversions that have been created by our friends.

Tag us in a photo of your conversion on our Instagram @ expedition_electric

 

The hub drive motor conversions require a metal controller to be stored on the bike. Notice we used this back rack and waterproof bag to store the controller and the 48V13ah ebike battery.

 

 

The Best Front Hub Ebike Kit 500W

Bafang 48V 500W Front Hub Motor Electric Bike Conversion Kit 

 

Our complete ebike hub conversions weigh an average of 55lbs!  A wobbly tipping over ebike can cause damage to the electric components… Also you will look like a noob if your ebike keeps falling over.

Here is a heavy duty kickstand we use to securely hold the ebike in place.

This is the other option of kickstand we’ve used for bikes that don’t have a center mount kickstand.

 

The Best Front Hub Ebike Kit 1200W

EBIKELING  Ebike Conversion Kit 48V 1200Watt  Direct Drive Electric Bike Conversion Kit –

 

 

Pros-

• Powerful Motor 1200Watts 
• Aluminum double-walled rim
• Includes torque arms
• Quick Connect Wires
• Includes PAS system
• Reputable manufacturer with many positive reviews

Cons-

• Battery and tire not included
• Requires additional controller computer to be stored on bike
• Like many ebike hub conversions, can be difficult to do the first time. 

 

All of the front hub ebike conversion kits in this blog come with handlebar brake levers. These brake levers should be used replace your current bicycle handlebar brakes.

In addition to operating with your current brake cables, these brakes also include an additional cord that connects to the controller and sends an electronic cutoff to the motor.

When the brakes are used, an electronic signal is sent to the motor to stop providing power. An important safety feature.

 

Check out our ebike newsletter for in depth interviews and tips about advanced ebike conversion topics.

Yes, Sign Me Up for Expedition Electric Ebike Newsletter

 

Honorable Mention 1500 Watt Front Hub Electric Bike Conversion Kit

Conhis Motor 36V 48V 1500W eBike Front Wheel Conversion Kits 

Pros-

• Powerful motor 1500Watts 
• 48V 1500W Front Brushless Gearless Motor Wheel is available in several sizes. 
• 5-speed level PAS, turn on/off PAS
• Optional Regenerative braking function
• Options for battery to match system

Cons-

• Torque arm not included
• Requires additional controller computer stored on bike 

 

Here are the tools and accessories we used for our recent front hub conversion.

Tools that are necessary for most ebike conversions include

• Hex Key Set
• Adjustable wrench large pliers
• Screwdriver to install torque arm
• Pedal wrench-If installing Pedal Assist
• Crank Puller– If installing Pedal Assist
• Zip Ties

Bike accessories that we used in this conversion

• Rear View Mirror
• Bell
• Gel Seat Cover
• Tire Gauge
• Bike Floor Pump
• Back Rack
• Battery and Controller Storage Bag
• Torque Arm

You may want to check out our best ebike accessories blog to learn about all of the exciting upgrades that are possible for your ebike.

 

Additional popular front hub electric bike conversion kits

Schuck Front Hub Wheel 500W Electric Bicycle Conversion Motor Kit

 

Pros-

• Motor made for a variety of tire sizes  16”/20″/24″/26″/27.5″/28″/29″/700C 
• This is a lower cost ebike conversion system 
• 12 month warranty for this motor
• Includes pedal assist functionality

 

Cons-

• Smaller wattage- although great starter ebike
• Requires additional controller computer to be stored on bike
• Does not come with torque arm 

 

Make sure the electric cords of your motor are securely fastened to your bike frame and away from all moving parts.

Besides fixing the typical flat tire, the most common ebike repair we perform is fixing broken cables and cords. These repairs are usually a result of:

• A weak kickstand causes the ebike to tip over, pulling out cables
• Cables improperly zip tied to frame and the bike tire chews through, exposing wire
• Regular riding use, transportation, and storage of ebike.

 

 

Honorable Mention Front Hub Electric Bike Kit

RICETOO Electric Bicycle Kit 500W Hub Front Brushless Gear Motor 

Pros-

• Kit is available in 36v and 48v
• Fits tires of sizes 16″, 20″, 24″, 26″, 27.5″, 28″, 700C
• Great starter motor size 500W
• Includes PAS system

Cons-

• Battery not included
• Requires additional controller computer to be stored on bike
• Torque arms not included  

Our final thoughts on front hub electric bike kits

If you have any additional questions about which bike to choose for your conversion or questions about the install, feel free to drop us a comment on YouTube or this blog.

Some ebike conversions are straightforward and can be completed very quickly. But there is a chance that you run into a small hiccup or stubborn bike frame that isn’t cooperating with your install.

A grip that won’t come off, a brake that isn’t lining up with your wheel, a chain that gets tangled, wiring that doesn’t seem to match up.  But with a little advice, these are all small issues that can be resolved quickly.

So whether you are creating a 1000w mountain bike, 750w beach crusier or 500w tricycle you can transform your regular bicycle into an electric bike using these front hub ebike kits.

Good luck in your conversion and happy ebike riding!