If you are new to the idea of power assisted cycling, there is a whole world of electric biking to become absorbed by, but have you considered that instead of buying an electric bike you could instead shop for a converted ebike or have your existing pedal cycle converted into an ebike?
Electric bikes feature a motor to give you extra power when pedalling, which can be very useful when going uphill or cycling for longer distances. When making a purchasing decision you can either buy an ebike or choose a pedal cycle and get your local electric bike converters to add the motor, battery, thumb throttle and anything else necessary to convert your cycle into an e-bike.
If you go for the converted ebike option, here is some useful information on what to expect:
Benefits of converting a pedal cycle into an electric bike
If you’re thinking about getting an ebike conversion, here are just a few of the benefits that might persuade you to go down this route:
- It will cost you less than buying a new ebike. Using electric bike converters to upcycle (if you’ll pardon the pun!) your existing pedal bike into an ebike will be a lot cheaper as the conversion kits plus the installation costs are less expensive than purchasing a new (or second hand) ebike.
- You can get better performance from your existing bike. If you really love your current pedal cycle or have just bought a new one and aren’t ready to part with it, why not convert it into an ebike and enjoy it even more? You’ll be getting everything you love about the bike you bought – such as the comfort, style, position of the handlebars and saddle – but with the added bonus of extra power!
- You don’t have to convert your existing bike. If your current pedal cycle is old and tired or you don’t have one, you can still enjoy the benefits of a converted ebike. Simply find your local electric bike converters and ask them to convert the pedal cycle of your choice. Depending on how their service works, they may even be able to purchase the pedal cycle for you and convert it, saving you the time and money of shopping around.
- It’s pretty easy to convert a bike into an ebike, so if you’re handy with that kind of thing and want to have a go, you can simply purchase an ebike conversion kit and turn your existing pedal cycle into an electric bike.
The legalities of converted ebikes
Whether you buy a new ebike or have an existing cycle converted, there are a few road rules you need to be aware of to ensure that you can cycle safely and legally here in the UK.
- In order to ride an ebike on the roads you must ensure that it can’t provide power unless you are pedalling and that the motor doesn’t exceed 250 watts.
- All electrical assistance must be cut off when the bike reaches the speed of 15.5mph.
- You must be aged 14 or over to ride an electrically assisted pedal cycle (EAPC).
- Your ebike must show either the output or manufacturer of the motor and the battery’s voltage or maximum speed.
If your ebike has a motor that exceeds 250 watts or has motor assist beyond 15.5mph then it is classed as a motorcycle and needs to be taxed, insured and have a valid MOT to be used on the roads. Of course, you can convert your bike into an ebike to be used solely off road, in which case more power is acceptable.
Nippon e-bikes are electric bike converters specialising in the supply of ebike conversion kits and the conversion of pedal cycles into electric bikes. You can find out more information about the benefits of having a converted ebike on their website.