A 48-volt, 1500-watt rear hub kit for a fraction of the cost. That is the typical spec that gets a listing stopped and actually read. JAYGOVAN dropped a brushless rear wheel kit on Amazon that claims to deliver mountain climbing torque without asking you to take out another home equity loan. So does it? This review will answer that question.
Specs and Build Quality
Start with the numbers since those are the things that get a person to click and continue reading. 48-volts, 1500 watts. Brushless rear hub motor. 80%+ efficient. Peak torque of 55 Nm. Enough oomph to handle hills that would send a 500W motor crawling and whining for help.
Direct drive (gearless) hub motor. No planetary gears within the hub. Direct motor-to-wheel connection. Near silent operation. Fewer moving parts to break. Strong regenerative braking capability down the line if you pair it with a controller that supports regen. Trade-off is weight and drag while pedaling unassisted.
Aluminum alloy rims. Not the cheap steel hoop rims used by most other kits at this price point. Aluminum is necessary for the hub motor. All that torque flows through the rim and spokes. Cheap rims bend. Bending equals broken spokes. Good news, these are made with aluminum.
IP54 electrical rating. Splash-proof. Rain, mud, puddles, you've got protection for everyday riding conditions. But don't think you're getting away with going creek-fording anytime soon.
LCD display. The feature-rich LCD provides speed, trip miles, battery level and fault codes. Proper fault codes are a great asset. Before, you'd spend hours trying to guess why the motor went dead. Now you'll know exactly what's wrong thanks to the display.
Installation and Compatibility
This is a rear wheel kit. Size is 26 inches and includes the complete wheel laced together and ready to install onto your bike. If your bike uses a 26-inch wheel with either quick-release or a standard axle width, installation should be a simple matter of swapping wheels, no spoke adjustment required. Nothing beats a pre-built wheel.
The wiring harness. Your kit comes with a controller, PAS sensor, twist throttle and the display. Connectors are color-coded which makes connecting everything much easier than staring at a large pile of identical-looking white connector plugs.
PAS sensor mounts to your bottom bracket. Cadence is detected via your bottom bracket using the PAS sensor. Modes include: pedal assist, electric only and 1:1 power assist. The 1:1 mode is interesting. As you pedal harder (or easier), so does the motor provide its own thrust assistance. This gives the impression that your bike is working much harder than it was prior to installing this kit.
Rear wheel drive puts the power where the weight is, so traction is better than a front hub on loose surfaces. It also means you keep your front brake and fork. Rear conversion is the more common choice for good reason. If you are weighing this against other options, our overview of ebike conversion kits breaks down the tradeoffs.
What Amazon Reviewers Are Saying
There is one potential drawback to purchasing this kit today: currently there are only three customer reviews available on Amazon. While this may limit our ability to gauge long-term reliability based upon customer experiences, it is certainly something worth considering when evaluating whether or not to purchase this particular model.
Amazon reviewers have reported that the amount of power delivered by the motor is substantial. Those familiar with other models having only 300-400W outputs find the increased performance offered by this 1500W kit impressive.
Reviewers have been complimentary regarding the overall build quality of the hub including the aluminum rims and exterior appearance. There were no complaints related to poor-quality materials or fragile components.
While it is true that there are only three reviews available on Amazon at present, it is equally important to consider that relatively few customers typically report problems with products early in their life cycle due to manufacturer defects or poor-quality construction. Conversely, if a product had significant shortcomings, they would likely appear quickly in online forums and product reviews.
As such, while I personally would prefer to see additional feedback from riders utilizing this particular product prior to selecting it for my own daily commute, for those interested in building an affordable ebike with sufficient power to tackle moderate inclines, I believe this product represents a viable option.
Who Is This Kit For?
Buyers looking for a lot of power at an affordable price. DIY builders willing to wire their e-bikes themselves. Hill riders that frequently encounter steeper inclines. If you're comfortable with wiring basics (e.g., multimeters), this kit will be a fun weekend project to assemble.
If you regularly ride up steep grades, the high-torque output of this 55Nm 48V kit will provide plenty of assistance.
Less ideal buyers: pure flat commuters desiring a very light weight-assist kit. Builders that require extremely quiet operation. Lightweight commuters preferring smaller motors. The gearless hub design will make your bike heavier than a smaller geared motor would weigh, so it's not recommended for commuting on completely flat terrain.
For anyone planning to upgrade their kit later, the direct drive nature of this hub motor combined with the headroom provided by the controller allow for further upgrades. We track the broader landscape in the blog if you want to compare.
Frequently Asked Questions
How fast will a 48V 1500W kit go?
Maximum speed will depend upon your battery capacity, gearing and weight. On flat ground, you can expect speeds ranging from approximately 28-35 mph depending on your specific configuration. Legal limits in many regions cap you at 250W and around 15 mph for road use, so check local rules before you go flying.
What type of battery do I need?
You'll need a 48-volt battery. Amp-hours vary according to desired range. Starting with a 48-volt 13Ah battery is generally considered acceptable. Larger batteries increase your mileage, but add additional weight and expense.
Does this kit work with disc brakes?
Whether or not this kit works with disc brakes depends on your bicycle's current brake setup. Most bicycles equipped with disc brakes have free hubs and therefore require the correct freehub body and rotor combination compatible with this rear wheel kit. Additionally, some bicycles have drop-outs suitable for installing disc brakes, however others will require specialized adapters. Please ensure compatibility before making a purchase.
Is the LCD display easy to read?
Yes. The LCD displays speed, mileage, battery state and fault codes clearly. The fault code readout is especially handy for diagnosing issues without pulling the wiring apart.
How waterproof is this really?
This kit has an IP54 rating which indicates that it will withstand occasional exposure to water such as rain, mud, and puddles. However, please do not attempt to submerge this unit underwater. Keep the display and connectors protected and you are fine.
Is 1500W too much power for a beginner?
Yes, 1500 watts is quite a bit of power. If you've never ridden an e-bike before, opening the throttle wide-open could be overwhelming. I recommend using the lower settings initially and start in pedal-assist mode until you gain experience operating an e-bike.
Conclusion
Based upon its specifications (48V 1500W) and features (alloy rims, proper LCD display, IP54 rating), this JAYGOVAN rear hub kit appears to offer a ton of value at an incredibly attractive price-point. The lack of reviews, while a concern, shouldn't necessarily scare you off yet. Once more users post feedback about long-term reliability, we'll have a better understanding of the strengths and weaknesses of this product. For background on how hub motors compare to mid-drive options, the technical explainer over at Bafang is a solid reference.