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Haul it up any hill with the powerful, mid-drive Bikee Bike BEST e-bike conversion kit

Bikee Bike BEST e-bike conversion kit, on bike
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Bikee Bike BEST e-bike kit, on beach

When you come from an Italian town called ‘motor valley’ that happens to be home to both Ferrari and Ducati, you don’t mess around making piddly, underpowered motors. Accordingly so, when brothers Matteo and Luca Spaggiari decided to use their manufacturing expertise to create an e-bike conversion kit, they made one that’ll do proper burnouts!

While burnouts are fun, the real point of the powerful motor is to drive cyclists up any hill with ease, even super steep inclines found in mountainous areas. The Bikee Bike BEST kit features a mid-drive motor that replaces the crank and bottom bracket. The unit drives your bike’s chain on two front rings, and allows riders to use a full rear cassette.

There’s already a lot of interest in the concept- The BEST kit won several awards at CES 2016 (Consumer Electronics Show) and the product quickly doubled its funding goal on Kickstarter. This little piggy is definitely going to market, and we’ve got the details below…

The BEST kit’s inventors found out climbing steep hills (especially from a dead stop) could be problematic for hub motor powered e-bikes, so they set out to create a mid-drive conversion kit that could handle such demands. They seem to have met that goal, as they claim the Bikee Bike kit allows cyclists to tackle up to 58% grades.

The motor, which creates zero drag when not in use, drives your chain on a 28/46t two-ring front setup and whatever gear range you want in the back. Between the wide options for gear range and high-torque motor, there’s plenty of power on tap to whisk you along.

Bikee Bike BEST e-bike kit, compatibility image

The BEST conversion kit comes in bottom bracket widths of 68-72mm, or 100-110 for fat bikes. Bikee Bike says the kit should work on most city, mountain, downhill, recumbent, fat bikes and folding bikes but you’ll need a reasonable amount of space in your front triangle for the battery pack, bottle cage lugs for the battery mount, and spacing for two front rings to start…not every bike is going to fit this kit. The creators also emphasize that their conversion kit is an ideal addition for cargo bikes, as its powerful enough to shoot you uphill with a full load in tow.

The motor provides 120Nm of torque and gobs of power- There are different limits for various countries, but America gets the most juice with 749w and 999w options. Regardless of the wattage, all the motors put out the same torque so even the weakest models can still handily haul you along.

Bikee Bike BEST e-bike kit, battery
Regardless of wattage, all batteries are the same dimensions as above

The BEST kit allows for top speeds of 30mph and a range of 25-35 miles on throttle alone, which reaches to well over 100 miles with pedal assistance. The kit’s lithium-ion battery is 48v, but comes in your choice of 320, 420 or 550Wh depending on your priorities- reducing weight or having a longer range and more power. The battery’s charge status is indicated by a strip of LED’s on its casing, and the mount bolts to the water bottle lugs on your down tube. A USB charge port is also included on the mount, and the entire kit is waterproof.

Bikee Bike BEST e-bike kit, smartphone app

A handlebar mounted throttle unit controls the motor modes. The motor offers pedal assist or full throttle, plus a throttle override which kicks in no matter what mode you’re currently in. To fine-tune the motor’s output, a smartphone app (compatible with Android or iOS) allows the rider to adjust power settings to their preference. You can select the Kickee mode for economy, Kickit for a bit more speed, or Kickass for all-out power.

Some interesting things to bear in mind are that the BEST creators acknowledge that the motor will accelerate the wear on your drivetrain components. Also, despite plugging the advantage of enjoying your full cassette, the creators warn riders not to shift your rear derailleur while the motor is engaged!

Bikee Bike BEST e-bike kit, on cargo bike
*Photos and video courtesy of Bikee Bike

Depending on the motor and battery you select, the complete BEST kit weighs in at 16.5-18.7 lbs. With their powerful Italian-made motors, these kits don’t come cheap- The 749w version is currently available to Kickstarter supporters for $1430 USD, and the 999w for $1650. The eventual retail prices will rise to $2216 and $2438.

The first complete units are expected to be ready for November or December of 2016, and global shipping is available. Check out the Kickstarter campaign here, or visit their website for more info.

bikeebike.com

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alex
alex
7 years ago

and so it has begun….and I thought everyone was saying that “ebikes just level the playing field”….”it only makes an average rider’s output like that of a pro”….”It’s just a little assist”. NOW THEY ARE DOING BURNOUTS! How is this not just called a motor bike at this point? When your “assist” motor is powerful enough to roast your tires, thats well beyond the output of any pro rider I’ve ever heard of. Here come the trail closures! As a side note, I’m all about ebikes for commuting if it is getting people out of black smoke billowing diesel trucks…but somehow i don’t think they are.

Matt
Matt
7 years ago
Reply to  alex

I don’t know what all fuss about these “e-bikes” is, when you have been able to add gas motor to a veloped for many years (http://www.adsinusa.com/c/4240/4240b4934.htm). In fact some of these have done away with the pedal system completely and are very poweful indead (e.g. http://powersports.honda.com/offroad/competition.aspx?&cid=main_reprise/google/LG_Motocross_Bike/LG_Motocross_Bike_Exact/honda%20mx%20bikes&mkwid=s813rKrMB|dc_pcrid_97810003042_pkw_honda%20mx%20bikes_pmt_e)

Gunnstein
Gunnstein
7 years ago

Blame US regulations. In (most of) EU/EEC it is limited to 250W, no throttle allowed, just pedaling assistance: not a motorbike. With 1000W it is well into motorbike territory.

Looks like huge Q-factor…

bearCol
bearCol
7 years ago

Putting a motor on a bike with moto width tires is sure to help our image with other user groups we share the trails with.

My god, what is wrong with the bike industry these days? Just because they are out of innovative ideas doesn’t mean we need motors. Look, if you want a motor on a mountain bike you are not a mountain biker! Not only are you not a mountain biker you are contributing to the demise of the sport!

Duzzi
Duzzi
7 years ago

How shortsighted to publicize e-bike for Mountain BIking. I already run into two people on my local trails using an e-bike. It is only a matter of time before doing so will help closing down trails to bike use all over the place.

Wuffles
Wuffles
7 years ago

So in other words it’s a clip on motor kit for a bicycle. Why does that sound familiar?

Oh, right, my father’s old Honda Cub F from 1952.

How on earth junk like this wins “innovation” awards is beyond me. I guess that’s the state of consumer goods.

-rizza
-rizza
7 years ago

Not only do these vehicles endanger trail access in the U.S, if ebikes become indistinguishable from motorcycles and bicycles, all will be viewed as the same by the authorities and we can expect increasing regulation and enforcement of all two wheeled transport, both on the dirt and the street. Like drones, eBikes are a perfect example of “this is why we can’t have nice things”,..

SmooveP
SmooveP
7 years ago

What’s the cutoff point for bikerumor to cover/not cover a particular e-bike? Just the fact that it has pedals?

Mike
Mike
7 years ago

Please stop. Please.

Durianrider's son
Durianrider's son
7 years ago

the GUI of the remote is just awesome!

Justin
Justin
7 years ago

If by awesome you mean hideously garish, then I agree.

BARF.

Conrad
Conrad
7 years ago

What a bunch of spoiled babies . You think the trails are just for you? You’re sooo special.

charlie-ebike
charlie-ebike
5 years ago

These comments above are unbelievable. All you so called bikers with conventional bikes miss the point by 1000 miles. Here, let me educate some of you. I am an dedicated rider for years. In my 60’s with a incurable terminal illness, I push myself to the limit with my physical energy with a e-bike with level 1 assist only and then if need be on the way home after a 15 mile ride which helps me stay on this planet I use maybe 2. I do not tear around at 30-40 miles per hour. I travel at 9-14 mph. Now all you closed minded people that want to wrap me up in the same cult camp as a 15 year old, go a head. The comment section of this blog reminds me of the conservatives and liberals battling to tell me how I should run my life. Unbelievable. If you all had your way I would be restricted to a wheel chair because I do not fit your idea of a bike enthusiast. Grow up.

M.warne
M.warne
5 years ago

Great article Charlie ebike, I am disabled myself and I’m thinking getting an ebike so that I can still enjoy the trails is they only have one good leg I will need mostly Electric Power but I feel the trails are for everyone disabled included

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