The cost of DIY ebikes

[wagonrd]

I’ve ordered a full suspension emtb frame with bafang 560 motor and battery, and have the wheels and fork for it. There are several more components necessary to make the bike work, e.g. brake set, derailleur with shifter, stem, handlebars, dropper seat. So there’s lots of work and money ahead. As I research complete emtbs for sale, I see Cyberlink, Luna Cycle, and a host of Chinese bikes for sale a prices less than what my project will cost. I’m beginning to think that this may be the thousandths mistake I’ve made over the past 91 years, including the fact that I need a fast e-bike like a hole in the head..

 

[Mabman]

Sky's the limit as usual but building any bike the attraction is that you can use parts you already own, have perhaps discounted access to or perceive to be the best for you and your riding style. The only way I know of to do DIY on the cheap is to fit an add on motor and battery to an existing bicycle you have in the shed. They look wonky but can still get you where others can go.

 

[arTNC]

Sky's the limit as usual but building any bike the attraction is that you can use parts you already own, have perhaps discounted access to or perceive to be the best for you and your riding style. The only way I know of to do DIY on the cheap is to fit an add on motor and battery to an existing bicycle you have in the shed. They look wonky but can still get you where others can go.

You make some really good points. Being a long time MTB'er, I have/had some decent bikes hanging on the hook in the shop. When it came time to consider emtb's, I took a 2003 Santa Cruz Bullit and stuck a Bafang BBSHD motor in it. I rode the wheels off that bike for three years...and actually it's still working fine. I bought a Trek Rail 7 on sale at the beginning of the year, and that's what I'm riding now.

But if you don't already have a good MTB platform to convert to emtb, it will get expensive.

 

[wanderingjim]

Many of those extremely cheap bikes like Cyberbike have strange-looking geometry (which they don't publish) and use all knockoff parts. If you're going to only ride on smooth gravel or paved trails, then that's probably fine, but if you want to ride anything slightly challenging are you willing to trust your life to a $3 carbon stem or $5 carbon cranks?

Also, many of them have knockoff or non-serviceable parts. If you're comfortable rebuilding your own fork that might be ok, long as the fox service kit works on the knockoff Cyberbike fox suspension. But no bike shop is going to touch that stuff so it's basically throwaway garbage.

 

[Goff]

Here is my DIY ebike, good comports and geo is bang on, I shopped around for good gear at the right price. The build cost was $8000 nzd or $4900 usd.
Rides as good as a mainstream bike at half the price.

 

[Bac]

Here is my DIY ebike, good comports and geo is bang on, I shopped around for good gear at the right price. The build cost was $8000 nzd or $4900 usd.
Rides as good as a mainstream bike at half the price.

View attachment 143829

do you have a link to the frame, etc?

 

[Goff]

M820 Bafang - LIGHTCARBON LCE930 Frame (lightweight)

 

[Goff]

China Carbon Bicycle Framesets,Carbon Bicycle Wheelsets Factory | Lightcarbon