The Helrgelrn 26 rear 1500W fat tire ebike conversion kit, is an attempt to solve the issue, by converting your fat bike into a snow bike, which is not possible using regular e-bikes. The kit consists of a brushless gearless hub motor (laced onto a 26 inch rim), and everything else needed for installation including controller, LCD Display, throttle, and wiring harness.
Specs and Build Quality
The brushless gearless hub motor allows for no gearing. Thus no gears to strip out while riding in deep snow. Aluminum alloy motor housing serves as passive cooling system for the windings. In addition to the motor, the kit includes a controller box, full wiring harness, LCD Display, and throttle. ## LCD Display and Riding Modes
The LCD shows current speed, mileage, battery voltage and fault codes. Five levels of pedal assist provide adjustable levels of assistance. Pedal assist provides assistance based on five user selectable settings. In addition to these settings, the kit also provides a fixed cruise setting which maintains a constant speed.
The kit is designed for 26x4.0 fat tires. The large diameter tires combined with the 1500W of torque allow for excellent floatation on soft surfaces such as snow. When riding through deep snow or sand, many bikes experience poor traction due to loss of motor torque. The Helrgelrn 1500W provides ample torque at slow speeds providing maximum traction in these difficult conditions.
The kit's motor wheel weighs approximately 14 pounds and is noticeably heavier than the original stock wheel. As a result of the increased weight of the new motor wheel, your fat bike will now sit lower and will handle more like a "plow" than a bike. However, this additional weight allows the bike to have incredible torque at very low speeds making it perfect for riding in deep snow or sand.
Installation and Compatibility
You simply remove the stock rear wheel and replace it with the Helrgelrn motor wheel. After replacing the wheel you then run the provided wiring harness to the controller and attach it to your handle bars. Mount the controller somewhere safe (underneath the seat tube or on the downtube) and mount the lcd to your handle bars. The lcd will show fault codes, current speed, mileage, battery voltage and five levels of assist as described above. The entire process takes about an hour once you've removed the stock wheel and cleaned everything.
While the Helrgelrn kit will fit any bicycle with 170mm open dropouts (typically found on fat bikes) it will not fit bicycles with 135mm dropouts (standard dropouts). Therefore, prior to purchasing make certain you measure your dropouts to ensure they meet the specifications. In addition to the correct dropout spacing, you'll need to match your tires to those specified, i.e. 26x4.0.
You supply the battery:
There is no battery included with this conversion kit. Therefore, you'll need to purchase a 48 volt lithium ion battery compatible with the wattage requirements of the Helrgelrn kit. Be careful choosing a battery as a weak battery will limit performance even with high powered motors.
One more thing, the torque arm:
Yes! A torque arm is required when installing this conversion kit. Due to the fact that this is a gearless 1500W hub motor it produces so much torque that it can easily rotate the rear axle within the dropout and damage your frame. Installing a torque arm will prevent this type of damage.
Why is this kit better than geared hub motors?
A major advantage of a gearless direct-drive hub motor is the elimination of internal planetary gears. As a result there are fewer potential points of failure (internal gears) when operating at extremely high loads (such as continuously pushing through snow or sand). Unfortunately, a major disadvantage of gearless direct drive hubs is their significant weight compared to similar geared hubs. Thus, riders may experience a slight difference in the balance of their bicycle. However, since most riders will be commuting through snowy environments at relatively low speeds, this excessive weight will actually enhance performance (torque). Thus, this weight is considered an advantage for a fat bike in snow.
Comparison to alternative kits:
If you're interested in comparing this kit to other kits in terms of power output, motor type, etc., please visit our ebike conversion kit comparison. Additionally, we have published some general information regarding building ebike conversions and selecting appropriate batteries in our gomotorbikes blog.
Ultimately, if you're ready to take your fat bike into the snow and you have 170mm dropouts, measured correctly prior to purchase, and choose a suitable battery for your needs, the Helrgelrn 26 rear 1500W fat tire ebike conversion kit is a great choice.
Who Is This Kit For?
Go into this with eyes open about the review record. Two buyers have rated this kit so far and the average sits at 2.5 stars. That is a thin sample, and it means you are buying on specs rather than social proof. If the dropout measurement and battery choice check out, the hardware itself is straightforward.
This kit is for people who want to ride their fat bikes through snow without experiencing slippage and lack of traction at every corner.
Frequently Asked Questions
Five quick answers before you order. This kit is for people who want to ride their fat bikes through snow without experiencing slippage and lack of traction at every corner. Using a 1500-watt rear hub motor in conjunction with 26 x 4.0 fat/snow tires converts your seasonal bike into a winter bike. Commuters who regularly ride in cold weather or utilize their fat bikes on beaches or snow trails will find value in this product.
Is this kit suitable for casual commuters?
No. This kit was developed for extreme commutes in harsh conditions and has been designed for serious cyclists. While this kit can perform well in mild conditions, it is intended for aggressive use. For example, casual commuters who merely desire a gentle boost while riding on paved roads will want to consider smaller motors (i.e. 250 - 750 watts).
Does the kit include a battery?
No. The kit includes a pre-built motor wheel along with all necessary electronic components except for a battery. You will need to select and purchase your own 48-volt battery that corresponds to the required wattage of your Helrgelrn kit. A weak battery will severely restrict performance regardless of how powerful the hub motor.
How realistic is the claimed top speed?
While the claimed top speed of 55km/h is accurate (with respect to actual motor capabilities), there are several factors that affect maximum achievable speed including rider weight, tire pressure, air resistance and condition of battery. In milder conditions with lighter weights, etc, this motor can achieve higher speeds.
Do I need a torque arm?
Yes. Because the Helrgelrn is a gearless hub motor capable of producing massive amounts of torque (over 180 ft/lbs) it is imperative that you utilize a torque arm in order to prevent destruction of your frame from excessive rear axle movement.
What makes this kit different from a geared hub motor?
One of the primary advantages of gearless direct drive hub motors is that they contain far fewer moving parts than geared hub motors. Since there are few moving parts in a gearless hub motor (i.e. none internally), there are also fewer opportunities for them to fail (due to wear & tear) when subjected to high mechanical loads (i.e. constantly fighting snow). The primary disadvantages of direct drive hub motors are their size and weight. They are generally larger and heavier than equivalent sized geared hub motors. Therefore, because most riders utilizing their fat bikes in snowy conditions will be commuting at slower speeds than faster speeds encountered in warmer conditions or smoother surfaces, riders will benefit from the added torque produced by direct drive motors.