How to Convert Your Bike to Electric: A Step-by-Step Guide
Share
That bike gathering dust in your shed?
It's already 80% of an ebike.
The frame fits you. The geometry's proven. You probably even like it.
The missing 20% is a motor, a battery, and a controller — and that's a solved problem.
Here's the honest, no-fluff path from pushbike to ebike.
Step 1: Check Your Donor Bike
Not every bike deserves a motor. Before you spend a dollar, check:
✅ Frame — solid, no cracks, ideally steel or quality alloy
✅ Brakes — you're about to go faster with more weight. Disc brakes strongly preferred.
✅ Drivetrain — a worn chain and cassette will get eaten alive by a mid-drive motor
Unsure? We'll look it over in the workshop before you buy anything. Honest answer, even if it's "don't convert this one."
Step 2: Pick Your Kit — Hub vs Mid-Drive
⚡ Hub motor kit — motor built into the wheel. Simpler install, cheaper, low maintenance. Great for flat commutes.
⚡ Mid-drive kit (Bafang, CYC) — motor at the cranks, drives through your gears. Better hill climbing, better balance, the choice for serious riding.
The rough maths: hub kits suit flat, steady riding. Mid-drives suit hills, cargo, and anyone who wants the bike to still feel like a bike.
Step 3: Battery — Where Most People Cheap Out (and Regret It)
The battery is half your budget and 90% of your safety.
Quality cells (Samsung, LG, Panasonic), a proper BMS, and a mounting setup that won't rattle loose. A no-name battery from a random marketplace listing is how garages catch fire. Not a joke.
See our battery range → — and if you're not sure what voltage matches your kit, ask us. It matters.
Step 4: The Install
A mid-drive install involves removing the bottom bracket, fitting the motor, wiring the display, sensors, and battery, and setting the controller to sensible levels.
Confident with tools? It's a solid weekend project.
Not confident? We install kits in the Alphington workshop — done right, torqued right, and tuned so it doesn't blow the controller in month two. We service what we fit.
Step 5: Know the Road Rules
Quick reality check: in Victoria, road-legal ebikes are pedal-assist limited to 250W continuous and 25km/h assistance. More powerful setups belong on private property. We'll always tell you straight what's legal where — just ask.
Convert or Buy? The Honest Answer
Converting makes sense when you love your current bike, want more power than entry-level ebikes offer, or enjoy the build.
Buying makes sense when your donor bike is tired, or you just want to ride tomorrow. Here's the ready-to-ride range →
Either way — you end up on an ebike. That's the win.
Want a Hand?
Bring the bike in. We'll tell you in ten minutes whether it's a good donor, what kit fits, and what the whole job costs. No obligation.
📍 2 Wingrove Street, Alphington
📞 Call: (03) 8542 9500
📧 Email: info@graceandpace.com.au
Your bike. Your build. Our backup.
