Electric Bike Outfitters 48V Cruiser Kit Review

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2019 Electric Bike Outfitters 48v Cruiser Kit Electric Bike Review
2019 Electric Bike Outfitters 48v Cruiser Kit
2019 Electric Bike Outfitters 48v Cruiser Kit Silver Motor
2019 Electric Bike Outfitters 48v Cruiser Kit Rear Rack
2019 Electric Bike Outfitters 48v Cruiser Kit Cockpit View
2019 Electric Bike Outfitters 48v Cruiser Kit Color Display
2019 Electric Bike Outfitters 48v Cruiser Kit Trigger Throttle Button Pad
2019 Electric Bike Outfitters 48v Cruiser Kit Optional Integrated Headlight
2019 Electric Bike Outfitters 48v Cruiser Kit Rear Light
2019 Electric Bike Outfitters 48v Cruiser Kit Silver Rack Battery
2019 Electric Bike Outfitters 48v Cruiser Kit Grayscale Display
2019 Electric Bike Outfitters 48v Cruiser Kit Tear Down
2019 Electric Bike Outfitters 48v Cruiser Kit Stock Kit Black
2019 Electric Bike Outfitters 48v Cruiser Kit Electric Bike Review
2019 Electric Bike Outfitters 48v Cruiser Kit
2019 Electric Bike Outfitters 48v Cruiser Kit Silver Motor
2019 Electric Bike Outfitters 48v Cruiser Kit Rear Rack
2019 Electric Bike Outfitters 48v Cruiser Kit Cockpit View
2019 Electric Bike Outfitters 48v Cruiser Kit Color Display
2019 Electric Bike Outfitters 48v Cruiser Kit Trigger Throttle Button Pad
2019 Electric Bike Outfitters 48v Cruiser Kit Optional Integrated Headlight
2019 Electric Bike Outfitters 48v Cruiser Kit Rear Light
2019 Electric Bike Outfitters 48v Cruiser Kit Silver Rack Battery
2019 Electric Bike Outfitters 48v Cruiser Kit Grayscale Display
2019 Electric Bike Outfitters 48v Cruiser Kit Tear Down
2019 Electric Bike Outfitters 48v Cruiser Kit Stock Kit Black

Summary

  • A complete and fully featured hub-motor and rear rack-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
  • Rack batteries position weight high and towards the back of the bike which can add to frame flex and change handling, the rack battery weighs more than the downtube option, 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 Cruiser 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:

7.8 lbs (3.53 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:

Aluminum Alloy Rear Rack with Integrated Controller (Silver or Black), Integrated Spanninga Lineo Rear LED Light, 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 Rear-Rack 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 Burley kit that centrally mounts the battery if center balance fits 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 rear rack her is rated for 25kg, so about 55lbs, it also has a bungie loops as well as pannier blockers, another cool thing about the cruiser version is that the controller is integrated into the rack, this keeps it protected and you don’t really have to find a clever way to mount it like you would on the Burley version
  • 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
  • I love that the battery is surrounded by this metal casing, it is also secured via lock and key, so there is a lot of piece of mind here, the battery slides in and out along this tray and has an on/off switch for safety
  • 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 headlight option, 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 Cruiser 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
  • 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
  • Apparently this kit is named the Cruiser because the battery rack design works great on cruiser bikes! It frees up the center of the frame and is ideal for step-thru models, or maybe you even want to make use of the bottle cage bosses already present on your frame and add a rear rack, a great choice for those needs
  • 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 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 Cruiser version of this kit does weigh a bit more than the Burley, which is the mid battery mounted version, keep in mind where you want the weight on your bike before proceeding as the weight distribution can affect the overall feel of the ride
  • 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
  • Rear-rack mounted batteries position weight high and towards the back of the bike vs. low and center, which changes handling and can make lifting the bike more difficult, consider removing the battery before lifting and transporting the bike, having the setup can also add frame flex, especially if you have a step-through style frame or something similar
  • Unlike a purpose-built electric bike, kits usually have extra wires that aren’t as hidden or neat looking, a lot of care will have to go into the setup if you want something aesthetically pleasing, if you’re not careful the bike could really 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
  • The rear rack battery has an integrated light, but it isn’t controlled by the LCD computer, you have to physically turn it on and off each time you ride, there also is not a USB port on the battery… just the display
  • 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
  • This isn’t a big complaint, but the USB charging port on the battery pack has been disabled (to reduce phantom power draw over long periods of disuse), there’s a second USB port on the lower right side of the LCD display panel, but sometimes it’s nice to use the battery itself as a backup power source off the bike
  • 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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