Electric Bike Outfitters 48V Burly Kit Review

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2019 Electric Bike Outfitters 48v Burly Kit Electric Bike Review
2019 Electric Bike Outfitters 48v Burly Kit
2019 Electric Bike Outfitters 48v Burly Kit 350 Watt Motor Black
2019 Electric Bike Outfitters 48v Burly Kit Battery Mounting
2019 Electric Bike Outfitters 48v Burly Kit Cockpit View
2019 Electric Bike Outfitters 48v Burly Kit Optional Color Display
2019 Electric Bike Outfitters 48v Burly Kit Optional Headlight
2019 Electric Bike Outfitters 48v Burly Kit Integrated Headlight
2019 Electric Bike Outfitters 48v Burly Kit 8 Magnet Sensor
2019 Electric Bike Outfitters 48v Burly Kit 48v Battery Pack
2019 Electric Bike Outfitters 48v Burly Kit Included Display
2019 Electric Bike Outfitters 48v Burly Kit Motor Internals
2019 Electric Bike Outfitters 48v Burly Kit Stock Kit Black
2019 Electric Bike Outfitters 48v Burly Kit Electric Bike Review
2019 Electric Bike Outfitters 48v Burly Kit
2019 Electric Bike Outfitters 48v Burly Kit 350 Watt Motor Black
2019 Electric Bike Outfitters 48v Burly Kit Battery Mounting
2019 Electric Bike Outfitters 48v Burly Kit Cockpit View
2019 Electric Bike Outfitters 48v Burly Kit Optional Color Display
2019 Electric Bike Outfitters 48v Burly Kit Optional Headlight
2019 Electric Bike Outfitters 48v Burly Kit Integrated Headlight
2019 Electric Bike Outfitters 48v Burly Kit 8 Magnet Sensor
2019 Electric Bike Outfitters 48v Burly Kit 48v Battery Pack
2019 Electric Bike Outfitters 48v Burly Kit Included Display
2019 Electric Bike Outfitters 48v Burly Kit Motor Internals
2019 Electric Bike Outfitters 48v Burly Kit Stock Kit Black

Summary

  • A complete geared hub-motor and mid-mounted battery electric bike conversion kit, made with versatility and application in mind, can fit a wide range of accommodations from various frames, various speeds, and various layouts
  • Powered by an upgraded 350-816 watt hub motor than can be mounted on front or rear wheels, includes four hall sensors now for smother and more responsive ridding, 8 magnet cadence assist, throttle options, upgraded 48v 12.8ah battery, and display options like color, landscape orientation, or portrait
  • The kit fits wheel sizes ranging from 16” to 29”, has varying cable lengths for different applications like a recumbent frame or folding frame, can handle different derailleur and chain ring setups, includes mechanical brake levers with motor inhibitors but can also be configured to work with hydraulic brakes or linear pull brakes
  • Mounting the battery can take up bottle cage bosses, mounting is also done with a more basic2 bolt setup versus a 3 bolt system some production electric bikes use, charging is slow, display is not removable, kit can look homemade or be frustrating to put together if you are not a tinkerer, you may want to have a shop install it
Warning, in some configurations this electric bike kit is classified as a moped or motorcycle and may not be ridden on cycling trails or paths. It may require licensing, insurance and lights when used on public roads.

Video Review

Introduction

Make:

Electric Bike Outfitters

Model:

48V Burly Kit

Price:

$1,425

Suggested Use:

Cargo, Commuting, Cruising, Neighborhood, Road, Urban

Electric Bike Class:

Pedal Assist (Class 1), Throttle on Demand (Class 2), Speed Pedelec (Class 3), Moped or Motorcycle (Class 4)
Learn more about Ebike classes

Warranty:

30 Day Return, 1 Year Comprehensive

Availability:

United States, Canada, Europe, Worldwide

Model Year:

2019

Bicycle Details

Battery Weight:

7.2 lbs (3.26 kg)

Motor Weight:

5.75 lbs (2.6 kg)

Frame Fork Details:

100mm Hub Spacing Compatible, 1.25mm Thread 12mm Axle with Keyed ~9.8mm Spacing, 18mm Nuts

Frame Rear Details:

120mm, 135mm, 142mm, 145mm Hub Spacing Compatible, 1.25mm Thread 12mm Axle with Keyed ~9.8mm Spacing, 18mm Nuts

Gearing Details:

10 (Single Speed or 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, or 10 Speed Cassettes from Shimano or SunRace)

Brake Details:

Mechanical Wuxing 5 Star Brand Four Finger Levers with Motor Inhibitors, Optional Motor Inhibitor Switch for Hydraulic Brake Levers, Disc or Linear-Pull Caliper and V-Brake Compatible

Rims:

Aluminum Alloy, Double Wall, 36 Hole, 19mm Inner Width, 25.4mm Width, Machined Sidewalls, Silver or Black

Spokes:

Stainless Steel, 12 Gauge, with Adjustable Nipples

Wheel Sizes:

16 in (40.64cm)20 in (50.8cm)24 in (60.96cm)26 in (66.04cm)27.5 in (69.85cm)28 in (71.12cm)29 in (73.66cm)

Tube Details:

Schrader Valve

Accessories:

Julet Color Coded Water Resistant Wiring (Customizable Lengths and Extenders for Motor and Control Systems), Optional Herrmans H-Drive QD197 Integrated LED Headlight (36v or 48v Compatible), Optional Zinc Coated Steel Torque Arm, Optional Silver or Black Motor Color, Optional Wuxing Half or Full Twist Throttle (Default is Trigger Throttle), Optional LED Display (Mode: Low, Med, High, Battery Level 4 Dots, Speedometer), Optional Color LCD Display (KT-LCD8SU or KT-LCD8HU)

Other:

Locking Dowtube Mounted Battery, Compatible with Disc Brakes or Caliper Style Brakes (Clamp Diameter 22.2mm), 17 Amp Controller, 4 Hall Sensors in Motor, 1.9lb 2 Amp Charger, Enhanced and Re-Written KT Display Manual

Electronic Details

Motor Brand:

Electric Bike Outfitters

Motor Type:

Front-Mounted Geared Hub, Rear-Mounted Geared Hub
Learn more about Ebike motors

Motor Nominal Output:

350 watts

Motor Peak Output:

816 watts

Motor Torque:

21 Newton meters

Battery Brand:

50 LG 3200 18650 Cells (13 Series, 4 Parallel)

Battery Voltage:

48 volts

Battery Amp Hours:

12.8 ah

Battery Watt Hours:

614.4 wh

Battery Chemistry:

Lithium-ion

Charge Time:

5 hours

Estimated Min Range:

30 miles (48 km)

Estimated Max Range:

65 miles (105 km)

Display Type:

KT-LCD3U, Fixed, Backlit, Grayscale, Buttons: Up, Power, Down, (Hold Up and Down for Settings, Hold Up for Backlight, Hold Down for Walk Mode)

Readouts:

Battery Level (5 Bars), Backlight Indicator, Brake Inhibitor Indicator, Trip Time, Assist Level (0 to 5), Speed (MPH or KMH), Avg Speed, Max Speed, Motor Watts, Motor Heat (Fahrenheit or Celcius), Odometer, Trip Distance, Battery Voltage, Outside Temperature (°F or °C)

Display Accessories:

USB Type A Port (5 Volt 1 Amp)

Drive Mode:

Trigger Throttle, Twist Throttle, Cadence Sensing Pedal Assist (8 Magnet Sensor)

Top Speed:

20 mph (32 kph)(Adjustable Up To 28MPH)

Written Review

To run the forums, host the website, and travel, I charge a universal service fee for my reviews. This in-depth review was sponsored by Electric Bike Outfitters. My goal is to be transparent and unbiased with you, this video and writeup are not meant to be an endorsement of Electric Bike Outfitters products. I welcome your corrections, additions, and feedback in the comments below and the Electric Bike Outfitters electric bike forums.

Pros:

  • A fully featured and complete electric bicycle conversion kit that allows you take a conventional bike and upgrade it with an electrical 48v system, is extremely versatile in application as well as options available to the consumer, applications range anywhere from folding bikes to trikes while options allow you to change even the legal class limitations of the project
  • They also offer the Cruiser kit that mounts the battery in the rear with included rack, for some, this may fit your application better, although very similar, make sure to check out that review to weigh the pros and cons of each application to see what is best for your situation
  • The main benefit to the Burley setup as opposed to the Cruiser is that the Burley keeps the weight nice and center, having the 7.2lb battery in the middle makes for a better ride and turning, this also reduces frame flex that the Cruiser can create on certain frame types
  • The display options get an upgrade for 2019/2020, you can now chose between grayscale, or a color display option for both landscape or portrait configurations, it is little details like this that make the kit so versatile and considerate of the many options customers my want or need
  • The motors have been upgraded, one of my past gripes was that the motor seemed to take a moment to catch on, they went from three hall sensors now to four, this means a more consistent speed reading and makes for a much better feeling system
  • The battery gets a boost too, it was once a 48v 11.6ah, now it is using a 48v 12.8ah system, so it is over 600 watt hours, this means you get the same powerful system, but now with more range than before, they are also using LG cells, so you know it is a high quality battery
  • The battery is very functional and has many features such as a USB charging port (so you can power items off of it or use it as a portable power bank), an LED charge level indicator, is secured via lock and key, has a latch handle, and also a power switch, I also love that the charging port is nice and high up away from the crank arm, so it won’t get snagged if the bike is charging and gets bumped
  • Continuing on the versatility of the kit, the battery setup can be accommodated for not just dual batteries, but multiple batteries in one set up, Electric Bike Outfitters tells me they have done up to 4 batteries in one setup before which is pretty much unheard of, great for if you really want to go the distance
  • Charging is done with a 1.5lb 2amp charger so that slower charge will help the battery life, to really care for this and other lithium-ion packs, I have heard that storing in a cool dry location vs. extreme heat or cold will extend the life and try to keep it about 50% full when not using for long periods so you won’t stress the cells, try not to let it run down to zero, because that’s really hard on the cell chemistry
  • Electric Bike Outfitters also has battery integrated light options, I find the headlight to be really bright here, safety has always been a priority for myself and other cyclists, so it’s nice to see that more and more companies are including these on ebikes
  • During my factory tour, I got to see all sorts of behind the scenes things that attest to the direction of the company, for example, they work with a local hospital to make custom trikes and special consideration bikes, their kit works on wheels from 16”-29” so there is so much versatility, they even have custom cable lengths so you can outfit recumbent trikes, this really shows you how much they care about spreading the joy of ebikes
  • EBO has been around since 2012, they offer a generous 30-day return policy with a one year warranty, and they ship worldwide… I trust them a lot more than some of the generic kits found on Ebay
  • The kits offer a lot of choice in terms of color, both the hub casing and rim can be ordered in silver or black to match your bike
  • Whether you’ve got a recumbent, kids bike, folding bike, city bike, or mountain bike, it seems like Electric Bike Outfitters can build a wheel to fit your bike because they spoke in-house and build to order
  • EBO uses nicer parts on their rims and thicker spokes to handle the additional forces of a hub motor, their Julet connectors are water tight and color-coded for easier assembly and repair
  • Safety is a big focus for me, so I appreciate the more sensitive cadence sensor, adjustable top speed settings, different throttle options (trigger, half-twist, and full-twist) as well as the brake lever motor inhibitors
  • If your bike uses hydraulic brakes, EBO does have an optional sensor and magnet unit that can be screwed and glued on to enable motor inhibiting, but it’s not as elegant or simple as the included stock mechanical brake levers, but it’s a nice option to have, their rims also work with linear pull brakes too
  • The original display panel is large, easy to read, full of interesting settings to experiment with (and EBO has a nice manual to help you do so on their website), and it has an integrated USB charging port, though the display cannot be easily removed for protection at bike racks or wet days
  • On the one hand, installing the hard-mounted cadence sensor takes more time and tools than one that is glued or zip-tied on, but on the other hand, it is going to be more secure this way, and I found that it worked very well during the ride tests
  • The motor is rated for 350 watts nominal and 816 watts peak, so you can really use it in a wide variety of ways, it feels really zippy when I tested it and I like that you can essentially build a Class 1, Class 2, Class 3, or even something beyond that depending on where you plan to ride it
  • The hub motor can be setup in a front or rear wheel configuration, and EBO offers single speed, 6 to 9 speed, and Shimano and Sun Race cassette options
  • Being able to transform an existing bike into electric with multiple drive modes and higher speeds like this for just over $1.4k seems pretty good to me, there are cheaper kits out there, but most of them don’t offer this level of performance or support, a kit is something you defiantly want done the right way for safety and reliability
  • You can activate walk mode to help move the bike by holding the down arrow if it is standing still, if you enter into the menu settings you can activate cruise control and then when riding over 6 mph, hold the down arrow for a few seconds to set cruise speed, in the settings you can also enable throttle mode at assist level zero if you want… or even remove the throttle and only use pedal assist only as a Class 3 ebike going up to 28 mph, there are just so many options
  • Before shipping each battery, the team at Electric Bike Outfitters actually drains and refills it to test all of the cells, I was told that they experience a 1% failure rate and by testing like this, it saves you time and hassle as the end consumer
  • The actual motor casing has been custom designed by Jason, the founder of EBO, and he made it fit on a wider number of narrower forks like the a Giant road bike for example, it works with linear pull brakes or disc brakes (you can mount dis brake rotors directly to the side of the hub casing)
  • Hub motor ebikes can often have more pedal gears to work with than mid-motors (because they can easily support multiple front chainrings), and shifting gears causes less wear because the motor power is separate from the pedaling drivetrain
  • 75% or so of Electric Bike Outfitters sales are done through bike shops, this is a great route to go to get your conversion done by a top notch place, you can still do it yourself if you are a tinkerer, but having the option to have shops help is great, it is not uncommon for those new to conversions to come across some unforeseen obstacles

Cons:

  • The battery charger is a bit basic, only offering a standard 2amp power output, it could take a long time to charge the battery from dead to full, especially given the newer high amp hour rating, and it’s not super compact or lightweight… still, it should fit into your backpack or other bags easily for charging on the go
  • Bottle cage bosses are great for all sorts of accessories, but be prepared to potentially lose that feature if you are mounting the mid-battery setup here, if you want to keep the bottle cage bosses on your frame, I recommend taking a look at the other kit, the 48v Cruiser setup, it may be better for your application
  • Unlike a purpose-built electric bike, kits usually have extra wires that aren’t as hidden or neat looking, the battery mount slide connects to the downtube with two bolts vs. three or some even sturdier custom designs, this could really make the bike stand out in a bad way as it can look homemade if not done right
  • The 8-magnet cadence sensor worked pretty well, and can be adjusted for sensitivity in the settings area of the display, but it simply isn’t as fluid or dynamic as a torque sensor or multi-sensor, there’s a bit of lag starting and stopping, the four hall sensors do help with this though a bit
  • Geared hub motors tend to produce more buzzing noise than gearless, especially when running at higher power, this one is about average but you can always get the lower powered 36V kit if you want to be stealthier
  • Installing a kit like this will take a bit of time, energy, and possibly additional tools like a crankset puller and bottom bracket wrench, you might even want to get your local ebike shop to help you, and that adds to the price
  • The throttle is hot when the bike is turned on, I do like this for throttle override when you need to get out of the way of something quickly, but do be aware for new riders or people trying out the bike that a bump of the throttle could send it off
  • Most hub motors have the power cable entering into the axle from one side, and this can be a point of vulnerability if the bike tips or you ride close to obstacles that could snag or scrape it, a few of the new Dapu motors have their power cables tucked very closely (behind the disc brake rotor) but I don’t think that you can order them aftermarket as kits
  • Turning this bike on and off requires two steps, which adds a bit of time, you first have to click the battery pack itself on and then press the power button on the control pad, just remember to turn it all off before dismounting, transporting, and storing to prevent accidental activation

Useful Resources:

Review Updated On

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Comments (8) YouTube Comments

Jim
5 years ago

I have a Trec OCLV with a triple + 9 gear cassette. Would this motor be a pedal assist at any gear?

  Reply
Court
5 years ago

Hi Jim! If I understand you correctly… you’re wondering if your 27 speed bike (with 9 speed cassette and 3 speed chainring up front) would work with this kit and have pedal assist in all gears? Yes, hub motors operate independently from the bicycle drivetrain so the motor activates whenever you pedal… all the sensor measures is whether you’re pedaling. If yes, the motor activates, if no, the motor does not unless you’re using the throttle. I hope this helps :)

  Reply
roger brand
3 years ago

i am new to this electric bike stuff so be kind. Can you pedal and not have the assist by just turning it off, if so does it affect regular pedaling.

  Reply
Court
3 years ago

Hi Roger! Welcome, that’s a great question. Every electric bike that I’ve ever tested (over 1,000) do allow you to turn the pedal assist off. Some have throttle systems, so you can choose not to use them, or even turn the electric part of the bike completely off and just ride as a heavier regular bicycle. Most bikes do not affect regular pedaling at all, or very much. Some motors have a bit of drag to them, but that’s mostly the less commonly used gearless direct drive hub motors. Geared hub motors and mid-drives freewheel without any friction or drag. I hope this helps!

  Reply
Kevin
2 years ago

The 48V Burly Kit looks great. I have a Trek 24 speed tandem and was wondering what is the best system to use. I also live in Kamloops British Columbia, Canada. Where would be the best place to order from. Thanks so much for your help.

  Reply
Court
2 years ago

Hi Kevin! I’ve been to Kamloops before, it’s a beautiful place. Good choice, I think the 48V Burly Kit would work well for your tandem. I suggest contacting EBO Electric Bike Outfitters directly and seeing if they can ship to Canada. Hope this helps, I’d love to hear how your bike turns out :D

  Reply
Jack Day
3 weeks ago

As a long distance cyclist who turns 81 next week, I have been using an EBO Burly (Electric Bike Outfitters) electric kit on a cross-country or border to border ride each summer since 2017, covering over 28,000 miles of the 40,000 miles pedaled on my twelve rides. I have just completed my last long ride beginning in Olympia, Washington and finishing up on the GAP/C&O Canal Trails coming into Washington DC. No BS, I have seriously abused their product many many times, especially in the Sierra/Cascade, Rocky and Appalachian mountain ranges, but the motor was durable and outlasted me. I highly recommend the EBO as a quality product on any kind of bike that you might have. Other uses: Outrunning dogs, headwinds, keeping up with unloaded tag-along riders, from stopped to getting up to speed on a slope and quick-shooting those short steep hills. Jack Day

  Reply
Mike East
3 days ago

Hey Jack! Thats really awesome to see you out there still pedaling after all these years. I can only hope to be at your level if I am lucky enough to make it. Thanks for the great feedback! -Mike

  Reply

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