If you’re tired of paying sky-high gas prices just to get around town in your car, but everything you need is far out of walking distance, it may be time to consider switching to an electric bike. Unlike traditional bicycles, an ebike, or electric bicycle, features an electric motor attached directly to the frame or integrated into the front or rear wheel hub.
These motors are powered by long-lasting, high-efficiency batteries that give you the extra boost of energy you need to get to your destination. Although electric bikes can be a bit more expensive than a regular bike, they are well worth the price and will pay for themselves in time and energy saved during your commute.
There are electric bikes available for many different purposes, from commuting to off-road racing for any commuter, and if you decide you want an ebike, but already have a bike you like, converting your old bike to an electric assist model is easy with an off the shelf ebike conversion kit.
When considering investing in an ebike, there are a few things to consider. First, what is your cycling style - do you use your bike for short trips to the grocery store and around town or do you use it for longer rides or even cross-country? Anyone looking for an electric bike should keep in mind that, because an electric bike uses friction against the wheels or a motor strapped directly to the wheel or chain to propel the bike while under electric assist, pedaling it without the motor running will give you a bit more resistance than you may be used to with a traditional bike.
You’ll also have to consider the added weight of the battery, and while high-efficiency electric batteries have come a long way in decreasing in size and weight in recent years, they’re still not what one would consider featherweights. On the plus side, many bikes are designed so that you can turn the electric assist mechanism on and off on demand, which means you can get rid of that extra resistance by flipping a switch. If you don’t think you’ll always use the electric assist when you ride, you should be sure to look for a model with this option.
Since a motor can greatly increase both the range and speed of your commute, an ebike can save you a lot of money on gas. It can also save the environment a great deal of harmful pollution, since you can now ride a bike where you would have otherwise taken a car. An ebike can get you from one place to another faster than a regular bicycle, it allows you to go farther and get there with more energy. In addition, many ebikes can fold up or have a low profile so you can easily store them when not in use or store them in the trunk of your car so you can take them with you when you go out of town.
Swytch has a 25-mile conversion kit for $299. The ebike will have a 15mph limit for the EU or 20mph for the US. The 25 miles is approximately the distance the bike can travel on a single charge. The Swytch conversion kit will work on any style of bike: mountain bike, road bike, beach bike or any other type.
The conversion kit contains the following 250W motor wheel in any size. Swytch 25-mile power pack, quick-connect handlebar mount, 36V 180Wh lithium-ion battery, pedal sensor, two brake sensors and a charger. Swytch also offers a twist-on or thumb throttle for an additional $15. Swytch also offers a 50-mile kit for $350.
Swytch estimates the time to install the conversion kit on your bike is 2 to 5 minutes. The kit can also be removed from your bike to convert back from an ebike to a regular bike. Estimated delivery is currently April 2018. Swytch is a product designed, manufactured and shipped from the UK.
EAZY Bike is another electric bike conversion kit manufacturer from Sweden. EAZY Bike also rides up to 20 mph (15 mph EU). The current offering is $159 for the EU kit and $169 for the US kit.
The kit contains a 250W or 350W motor (depending on the EU or US version), a 36V 216 Wh battery and a charger. The conversion kit allows you to go fully electric or use pedal assist. When pedaling, the motor is activated to assist or propel the bike. When you stop pedaling, the motor shuts off. The total weight added to the bike is 4.5 pounds or just under 2 kg.
Dillenger is another company that offers ebike kits. These kits are manufactured and shipped from the United States. The kits range in price from $629 to $2299. Dillenger offers street legal, off road and mid drive kits. They also offer a high voltage conversion kit, but that is not suitable for most bikes.
The street legal kit contains the following: 36V, 470Wh lithium-ion battery, 250W or 350W motor (depending on country), LCD handlebar controller, 1 tire with motor, charger, throttle pin cable, pedal assist sensor, brake sensor and brake sensor cable. Total weight is 17 pounds (9.9 pounds without battery, 7.1 pounds battery weight).
There are other ebike kits out there. The above are the three most popular, as of today, on the market. EAZY bike has the most simplified installation with the least number of parts. However, EAZY bike is a very new company and cannot be installed on all types of bikes. Swytch is also a new company. Swytch advertises that their conversion kit can be mounted on ANY bike. However, Swytch has a long product lead time.
Dillenger is a more established company that can ship more quickly. However, Dillenger conversion kits are more complicated and more expensive. Once the Dillenger kit is installed on the bike, it is not as easy to remove it and go back to the regular bike. Any of the three can be a good option.
Be sure to see what your priorities are when installing an ebike kit. If you want to be able to go back and forth between an ebike and a regular bike, the Swytch or EAZY bike kits may be your best option. They are also the most affordable options.
ATVs are not new to the recreational sports scene. They have been around for decades, and while certain models such as 3-wheel ATVs are no longer available on the market due to a spotty safety record, there are plenty of options to choose from when you want to get off the beaten path and enjoy some truly off-road recreational fun.
Today’s off-road vehicles on highways, roads, hills and trails are also referred to as four-wheelers, quads, ATVs or sometimes ATVs. They have 4 wheels that carry low-pressure tires, use a bar instead of a wheel to steer the vehicle, and the driver usually straddles a saddle-type seat, much as one would on a motorcycle.
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