Buying an eBike conversion kit

[Pasley68]

I was aiming to convert my Giant Revolt gravel bike with a TongSheng 36v 250w mid-drive motor kit. But they seem to be just about unobtainable (Australia, USA, NZ, Canada). I can pre-order - but I really don't want to shell out that much money, only to find out 6 months down the track the manufacturer has gone broke or re-tooled for vacuum cleaners. Does anyone have reliable information on if/when they my become available.

[Retrobyte]

These guys in Brisbane are saying late October delivery, which isn't that long to wait .... https://caprouge.com.au/products/tongsh ... ersion-kit

[warthog1]

One of these was on the Mt Alexander bunch ride a few weeks back.

https://www.giant-bicycles.com/au/revolt-eplus

Delimited somehow. It was swapping off at 40+ kmh shod with gravel tyres.
I didn't speak to the owner much but it has plenty of battery capacity apparently.
Pretty impressive.

[brumby33]

One of these was on the Mt Alexander bunch ride a few weeks back.

https://www.giant-bicycles.com/au/revolt-eplus

Delimited somehow. It was swapping off at 40+ kmh shod with gravel tyres.
I didn't speak to the owner much but it has plenty of battery capacity apparently.
Pretty impressive.

I was looking at the Revolt plus model below this one for $5,199 and it was a decent bit of kit, it was shaped more like a hybrid tourer and had a range up to over 230kms but averaged at around 130kms and extreme is around 65kms or so.
It was one of the better e-bikes I've seen, so even if on a decent ride you were to average around the middle, that in it'self would lend itself for some serious touring provided of course you had a way to charge it regularly. But given the Middle range, that should give the bike enough to say ride from Albury to Bright and return on a single charge.
I'm giving special consideration on the Revolt range, even to perhaps replace the Vivente.
I had also considered doing an E-Conversion to the Vivente which also may be a reasonable idea.

brumby33

[warthog1]

I was looking at the Revolt plus model below this one for $5,199 and it was a decent bit of kit, it was shaped more like a hybrid tourer and had a range up to over 230kms but averaged at around 130kms and extreme is around 65kms or so.
It was one of the better e-bikes I've seen, so even if on a decent ride you were to average around the middle, that in it'self would lend itself for some serious touring provided of course you had a way to charge it regularly. But given the Middle range, that should give the bike enough to say ride from Albury to Bright and return on a single charge.
I'm giving special consideration on the Revolt range, even to perhaps replace the Vivente.
I had also considered doing an E-Conversion to the Vivente which also may be a reasonable idea.

brumby33

I haven't been doing as many bunch rides lately. Have gotten to an age where 20+ years of rotating shift work has screwed my sleep.
I have trouble sleeping all night so struggle to get up early.
Been riding alone alot more.
The Mt Alex bunch is on tomorrow but I'll miss it. Have to be home for the sparky who is working on our extension at home.
When I see that bike and rider again I'll ask some more questions.

I have ridden with him before and he said g'day and "how are you going?" as he passed he going up the mount with a bunch of young blokes.
"Not as well as you!" I said as he slowly rode away
I then realised it was an ebike as he is older and slower than me usually.

[brumby33]

I was looking at the Revolt plus model below this one for $5,199 and it was a decent bit of kit, it was shaped more like a hybrid tourer and had a range up to over 230kms but averaged at around 130kms and extreme is around 65kms or so.
It was one of the better e-bikes I've seen, so even if on a decent ride you were to average around the middle, that in it'self would lend itself for some serious touring provided of course you had a way to charge it regularly. But given the Middle range, that should give the bike enough to say ride from Albury to Bright and return on a single charge.
I'm giving special consideration on the Revolt range, even to perhaps replace the Vivente.
I had also considered doing an E-Conversion to the Vivente which also may be a reasonable idea.

brumby33

I haven't been doing as many bunch rides lately. Have gotten to an age where 20+ years of rotating shift work has screwed my sleep.
I have trouble sleeping all night so struggle to get up early.
Been riding alone alot more.
The Mt Alex bunch is on tomorrow but I'll miss it. Have to be home for the sparky who is working on our extension at home.
When I see that bike and rider again I'll ask some more questions.

I have ridden with him before and he said g'day and "how are you going?" as he passed he going up the mount with a bunch of young blokes.
"Not as well as you!" I said as he slowly rode away
I then realised it was an ebike as he is older and slower than me usually.

Your new steed should punch you along nicely Warty, it's a lovely bike, so many choices these days, so many bikes and models.

A mate of mine who used to race a lot in the early 80's with Bianchi and Campag gears came back for a visit from Japan a few weeks ago and I took him round to do a bike shop tyre kick around the area and another day in Sydney City and he was like a kid in a lolly shop (so was I ) he couldn't believe what was on offer today and the amount of E-MTBs and full on racing bikes with electric everything going for well over 12K and beyond, I think the most expensive was about $22K. All the bike shops we went to, about 6 in total were chockablock full of bikes, no shortages there!!

He is trying to talk me into getting an E-bike, so far I've resisted the idea but I'm kind of warming to the idea now that the battery systems can take you a lot further to the point I can see E-bikes feature a lot in Touring and trekking and it's already doing so.
As I'm pushing close to 63, not old but getting up there and my endurance isn't so good now without multiple rest breaks.
I'm also reluctant to get rid of my Vivente either because they arn't making any more derailleur models and are going full on Rolhoff hub and gates drives and will retail for around $6K plus so for that price, E-bikes are looking rather attractive. My friend also suggested to alter the Vivente and change it to an E-bike, I don't know if I really want to do that even though it'd be the most economical way to go but those motors in the link above are actually illegal and even though they mention the speed restrictions in their e-bay listing, many of those motors are good for well in advance of 35-45kph.
I for one would not want to get caught by a savvy cop and get the bike confiscated, so I'm thinking to invest later on a Aust legal e-bike.

Another way of consideration is that the MTB and Gravel bike sector has mostly gone to the 1 x 12 gearing, would this gearing be as low as MTBs in the past with the 3 x systems or would they suit bicycle touring? I know bike packing is going this way but they don't usually carry as much as a touring bike.

Anyway, I'm going to wait till my move to Albury and do a bit of riding to see how I go with the terrain before I make a decision.

brumby33

[warthog1]

I reckon a decent E-bike will see you out and on it more.
That's got to be worth it.
That electric Revolt shocked me with what it was capable of tbh.
Just rolled through smoothly and quietly on 40mm tyres.
I was very impressed.
I can see something like that in my future at some point too.