The cheapest 750 watt front hub kit you will find is this one. It's a HCYHSLH 24 inch 36 volt convertible frontal wheel conversion system with a brushless toothed hub motor on your front fork and for less than any other competitor at full price. Check current pricing on amazon (https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0GZZV2MBY?tag=gd053b-20) to see if you're getting a deal. But here is what you need to know before you click buy. This product has zero reviews. Nobody has reviewed it yet so you are going to be purchasing based on paper specifications of the manufacturer. That makes this review more important because right now the only things you can rely on are the specifications. If you're new to ebike builds, we have article tutorials posted in our blog (/blog/) that explain everything step-by-step starting from beginning to end.
Features and Build Quality
At the center of this kit is a 750-watt, 36-volt brushless toothed hub motor. The "toothed" designation is important and it is worth considering before you purchase. Unlike larger kits that contain gearless direct drive hub motors, a toothed hub motor utilizes planetary gears to increase torque at lower rpm. The reason for this increased torque at lower rpm is directly related to the amount of torque available off-the-line for a specific sized motor. Thus, the specification sheet indicates 35 n-m of torque and a motor speed of 390 rpm. For a 24-inch wheel, 390 rpm equates to a practical cruising speed. It is the internal gearing that enables a compact motor to feel like it has a greater strength than its physical dimensions suggest.
Build quality refers to a few features you may want to consider prior to placing an order. The specifications list the wheels as being well-made. However, well-made wheels provide stability at higher speeds and allow for easy setup of brakes versus fighting with rubbed-on brake pads. The specifications indicate this kit is capable of holding riders weighing up to 220.46 pounds and their gear, therefore, this kit is intended for commuter usage only. Therefore, do not attempt to utilize this kit for heavy touring loads or large cargo racks. The three hall sensors send positional information back to the controller. Thus, they enable smooth speed control and clean starts as opposed to the abrupt engagements associated with less sophisticated systems. The controller is what provides support for the 12-degree slope claim. Thus, it is relatively modest compared to many e-bike hill climbing applications.
Installation and What's In the Box
This is a front-wheel kit. Therefore, installation is typically simpler than installing a rear-wheel conversion kit. To install this kit simply remove your original front wheel, slide the pre-laced motor hub into your fork dropouts and connect the controller. Due to the fact that the kit ships as a complete wheel assembly with the motor already mounted and laced onto the rim, you will avoid the most difficult component of any hub-based build - spoke preparation. Many amateur builders' weekends turn into disasters when attempting to lace their own motor into their wheels. If you are still trying to determine whether to convert your front or rear wheel, we have an article posted in our blog (/ebike-conversion-kits/) titled "conversion kits: choosing between Front & rear wheels" that discusses the pros and cons of using either a front wheel or a rear wheel conversion kit.
In addition to the motor wheel and the controller, the contents of the box include a thumb throttle and a battery indicator allowing you to view your charge status during operation. The hand brake lever contains an auto-shutoff switch. Thus, once you apply the brake, it immediately shuts off electrical power to the motor. You should regard an auto-shutoff switch as absolutely necessary rather than just nice-to-have. The length of the cables provided allows for sufficient slack to properly route them along your fork and into your frame without having to stretch them. Short cable lengths can cause frustration during installation, particularly when working with a front-hub conversion kit.
Real-World Performance
Real-world performance of this kit is essentially based solely upon manufacturer specifications due to lack of actual mileage testing from any owners of this product. This is relevant to purchasing a zero-review product. Based on specs alone, the combination of a 390 rpm motor producing 35 n-m of torque appears suitable for creating rapid acceleration from a standstill, which is essentially what a typical thumb throttle experience feels like. Twist the throttle and the front wheel begins pulling forward and for a commuter on flat ground, that is essentially all you are looking for. The thumb throttle allows for instant power delivery without pedaling effort and the three hall sensors maintain a consistent flow rate of energy transfer resulting in smooth power delivery vs. harsh on/off transitions inherent in less complex systems.
While hill-climbing represents an area where even high-performance front-hubs have limited capabilities, this kit specifically claims an upper-limit climb angle of 12 degrees. While suitable for gentle slopes, overpasses, and rolling hills encountered during average commutes, do not expect it to perform comparably to kits utilizing higher voltages such as those found in 48 volt or 52 volt configurations. Additionally, due to all drive forces applied through the front wheel and fork, some degree of wandering is inevitable when driving uphill and can result in unpredictable steering response.
If you reside within genuinely hilly terrain, take a closer look at this overview of hub motors and how they operate before making a commitment.
Who Is This Kit For
This kit is designed for hobbyists seeking the lowest-cost method to add electric capability to their 24-inch bicycles. There is clearly a market for affordable products for enthusiasts who desire throttle functionality on smaller bicycle frames for transportation purposes on campus, commuting locally etc... The 24-inch wheel dimension and maximum load capacity of 220.46 pounds indicate that this product is optimized for casual/lightweight recreational use. It was never designed with heavy-duty cargo carrying or steep mountainous terrain in mind. If these attributes meet your requirements regarding your bicycle type and budget, then this offers a viable entry-point option.
You need to acknowledge upfront that the review situation is currently unknown. I'm not going to try to sugar coat it. With zero reviews you don't have consumer-verdicts as part of your decision process. You rely strictly on the spec-sheet and manufacturer's credibility. Double-check each spec against your own bike before ordering and understand that accepting this risk is the real cost of achieving the lowest price in this category. For an overview of what a frontal-hub conversion entails visit our blog and our conversion kit comparison so you know your alternative options before committing.
Frequently Asked Questions
Which size bike does this kit fit?
The manufacturer specifies compatibility with 24-inch wheels and rims, and states that the motor unit is shipped pre-laced onto a 24-inch rim. Although the manufacturer also lists compatibility with 12", 16", 18", 20", 24", 26", 700c, and 28"-diameter wheels/rims, it implies that the motor unit and controller may be adaptable with other diameter rims as long as you obtain matching hardware components. Before ordering ensure that your dropouts align and that your brake mounts are identical.
How much battery do i need?
As this system operates at 36 volts, you'll require a 36-volt battery pack to supply energy to it. Ensure that the battery pack you select can continuously supply sufficient amps (amps x volts = watts) to sustain the demands of your 750 watt motor. Also ensure that the connector(s) supplied with your selected battery pack match those utilized by your controller.
Is the thumb controller included?
Yes - it is included - this kit includes both a thumb throttle controller and a battery-level display screen (a.k.a., a battery indicator), as well as a hand-brake lever containing an auto-shutoff function switch. Therefore, in terms of controls required to operate this kit. You receive two controllers (thumb throttle + hand brake/auto-shutoff) in addition to the motor wheel & controller.
Will it work on my mountain bike?
This kit will install onto your mountain bike provided you possess compatible forks with dropouts suited for 24-inch wheels - although keep in mind that this kit's design is geared towards casual/trail riding (light-load carrying). Not heavy-load carrying nor aggressive downhill riding and jumps - if you plan on engaging in serious off-road activities you'd likely benefit from significantly more volts/more powerful motor units.
How fast will it go?
According to specs indicating a motor speed of approximately 390 rpm per minute on a standard-sized 24-inch wheel. You can anticipate cruising speeds that are generally acceptable for casual/small-wheeled bicycle use - i.e., faster than walking slower than highway-speeding - exact numbers depend on multiple factors including: rider weight/tire-pressure/battery-condition.
Is risk involved when buying a kit without any reviews?
Yes - there definitely is - acknowledging it outright - you're taking risks by purchasing an item with no reviews - so be aware of it - rely completely on the manufacturers spec-sheet - not reviews from fellow customers - hence verify compatibility very thoroughly - purchase from someone offering good returns