Just converted my 2012 Bacchetta Giro 26 with the eZee conversion kit, work done by the good folks at Electric & Folding Bike Northwest. Holy cow. The transformation is amazing.
Color commentary…
- Went with the front hub kit for overall bike balance, didn’t want to go rear hub and overload the back end.
- Kit is 500 watts/Lithium battery: good for ~30 miles, cruising speed can go up to ~22mph, however speed limit law for on-road is 20mph.
- Charging time is ~6-7 hours.
- Added the eZee rear and front lights. The front light is super bright, will vaporize deer-in-the-headlights on contact.
- Upgraded tires to Schwalbe Marathon Plus for better stability and puncture resistance.
- Have both pedal assist (PA) and throttle. PA is great for long pulls on the flats and climbs where little shifting is needed. I use the throttle when getting underway, particularly at a traffic light change.
- Shout out to Mr. Hawkins at ElectricVehiclesNW.com for the very clean wiring and install job. Recumbent conversions need a little extra fine tuning and custom fitting.
Now for the punch line: I reduced my cycling commute in half. Half. HALF. From 55min to 25. That puts it close to car/motorcycle times, minus the stop-and-go annoyances. In fact, my commute just became awesome, as this is so much fun to ride. Recumbents are typically speedy on flats and downhills, never cheetahs going up climbs, and now the electric conversion makes riding a completely new experience. It’s a different kind of hybrid transportation, far less expensive than a Prius or Leaf, and still get a workout.
Next time someone asks “which bike should I buy?”, I’m going to make sure the word ‘electric’ is somewhere in my reply.
I am also considering converting a Giro 20 to electric. With the front motor do you find the tire slipping or is there enough weight on it to prevent spinning out? Has the added weight on the front changed the feel or handling of turning the bike?
No slippage up front, even on hills, good balance overall. Adding the motor didn’t significantly change the handling — it’s certainly heavier, but the Giro was never a nimble bike to begin with, it eats miles like nothing else I’ve had.
This is a very basic questions as i am considering putting a pedal assist system on my giro 26. However it is my understanding that the pedal assist motor reacts to how much pressure you are putting on the pedals. So with the motor on the front wheel how does it get this information?
Thanks,
John
How reliable is the eZee conversion kit over the long haul? I have a 9-10 year old Bachetta Giro 26 inch front and back. I live in central, rural Maine and am concerned with the lack of experience of the bike shops here to install and fix problems that might arise with the electrical system. What is the longevity expected with this system and will the kit definitely fit my bike? I have disc brakes. Thanks
Dave Axelman
Hiya gentlemen…
David — the eZee kit has been great for the past few years, reliable and steady, just keep the battery charged up and don’t let it run out. Here in Seattle, a retired Boeing engineer working in the bike shop installed the kit, and did a great job: seems to me that you’ll want to have the work done by a someone familiar with ebike aftermarket installs, and knows how to handle things like extra cable length needed for a recumbent and performs a good tight cabling job down the length of the bike. So…I’d be less concerned about the kit, and more focused on the expertise of the installer.
John — there’s a cable that runs to a sensor in the inside of the front derailleur that detects your pedal speed and runs it back to the power unit up on the handlebar. I think the eZee site has detailed information on how it works overall, if that helps.
Cheers!