The SHZICMY 48V 1000W Fat Tire Conversion Kit is essentially a spec sheet for fat-tire builders. Typically, front-hub kits priced similarly to this use a very small motor coupled with a very small wheel. Therefore, a 1000W unit designed to work on a 20 inch wide fat tire wheel is quite different. Whether the actual hardware matches the stated specs can only be determined through the review portion of the Amazon page. As of today, there are only 4 reviews, therefore one could say they're betting on the spec sheet.
As mentioned previously, a front-hub kit is a way to help fat-tire bike builders address a specific issue. It installs into the fork and rotates the front wheel. Importantly, it leaves the entire drivetrain intact. There are no cassettes to mount, no chainlines to adjust, and no derailleurs to adjust. This is particularly beneficial when working on a 20 inch wide fat tire frame with a short rear triangle and a big tire.
Specs and Hardware Design
The key spec listed by SHZICMY is the motor speed. They list the brushless gearless hub motor speed at 500 RPM. At no load, they claim that it produces 29.82 mph using a 20 x 4 inch wheel. For comparison purposes, the vast majority of other 350-watt and 500-watt front hub kits for fat tires produce road speed around 15-18 miles per hour. Obviously, you'll never see the same speed as no-load speed when pedaling with a rider and battery attached due to rolling resistance and so on. However, this motor clearly has a lot more room for improvement than those smaller units.
It's also worth noting that gearless is a big part of the design. Gearless means there are no internal planetary gears that will eventually fail. This should result in reduced maintenance costs for you compared to the internal geared units. That being said, for a small fat tire wheel that you'd mostly ride flat or on gentle hills, you may give up some low-end torque performance with a gearless unit versus a geared unit. The motor is powered at 48 volts and 1kW (1000 watts). As noted in our Ebike Conversion Kits Guide, a 1kW motor requires a reasonably sized battery to function correctly. Don't even think about attempting to run this motor off a very thin 20-volt battery. You really should look for a battery pack that is at least 48V and has plenty of amp-hours.
Construction
Brushless hub motor construction follows industry-wide conventions. Brushed motors have brushes that will wear down and eventually fail. Geared hubs have multiple gear sets inside them which can also fail or need adjustment. A brushless motor has far fewer moving parts than either of these two types of motors and will therefore require less maintenance over time. The basic architectural style found in many low-cost front-hub motors is what is used in the motor provided with this kit. The main differences are you get a wide 20 x 4 inch wheel and a 1kW (1000W) motor at an overall price point that is usually lower than just about all of the competition offers. The full spec sheet for this item can be viewed on the Amazon page. Additionally, the Hub Motor article on Wikipedia goes into great detail comparing geared and gearless in layman's terms.
Compatibility and Installation
Compatibility considerations mainly relate to the 20x4 inch fat tire front wheel. The wheel is not a skinny 20-inch road wheel. A 4-inch wide tire requires enough clearance in the fork to allow for mounting and enough clearance in the dropouts to allow for the wider hub axle. If you're planning to build a fat-tire bike conversion using your existing fat tire folding frame or folding bike that already utilizes 20x4 inch hoops, then this product will be directly compatible with your existing components. If you're converting a narrow 20-inch cruiser frame, there will probably not be enough clearance in the fork to fit the wide tire regardless of how much you stretch or manipulate your fork trying to squeeze it in.
Installation is pretty much identical to installing a regular front hub kit. You attach the 20x4 inch wheel to the fork, tighten the axle nut, connect the wires to the controller, and then route the wire harness to the handlebars. Because the motor is mounted on the front of your bike, none of your cassette, chain line, or derailleur will be disturbed during installation, thereby removing virtually all of the troublesome alignment problems associated with installing rear hub motors. Prior to purchasing this product, ensure your fork has sufficient dropout width and sufficient tire clearance for a 4-inch wide wheel.
Controller and Control Systems
SHZICMY claims that their included controller is powerful. In practical terms, this translates into providing ample voltage and current output to fully activate the motor at maximum power levels. Many budget conversion kits come with controllers that severely restrict power output from the motor. Being able to supply current to this motor makes this controller advantageous.
The control system consists of three lights on your handlebar indicating your power level. A green light indicates you still have enough charge remaining, while yellow or red light(s) indicate you need to recharge your batteries. Some users like to see lots of data displayed via an LCD screen including speed, odometer reading, trip distance, and so on, whereas other users simply want to hop on and ride without any distractions. This configuration removes visual distraction and minimizes installation time.
Who Would Use This Kit
You will use this product if you are planning to create your own DIY fat tire bike conversion utilizing a 20x4 inch wheel (or bigger), and you want to incorporate a front hub motor at a reasonable price point without spending money on a geared motor or an LCD screen display. If you are looking for a simple and inexpensive method of creating a fat tire biking conversion from your existing fat tire folding frame or bike that already features 20x4 inch wheels and have been looking for an affordable solution for your needs, then this product meets your exact needs.
This product is not suitable for everyone who is interested in buying products like this. We feel that you deserve an honest representation of what this product will offer you. Currently we have only received four reviews for this product averaging out at 3.9 out of five stars. These reviews represent only early interest in this product, therefore treat this average rating as nothing more than an indication of interest rather than confirmation of reliability or longevity. Revisit us periodically as more consumers post comments about their experiences with the product.
Also note that if you intend to ride steep inclines where significant amounts of force are required by the front wheel, you will find that a gearless hub motor lacks low-speed torque compared to its geared counterparts. Finally, please keep in mind that while you might achieve a no-load speed of approximately 29.8 mph according to specifications, you will not realize such speeds when carrying cargo, having passengers aboard, and experiencing drag generated by wind, air, and surface friction. We have covered battery sizing in our ebike conversion kits guide. Browse our blog for more on front versus rear hub builds.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is the SHZICMY 1000W conversion kit easy to install?
Yes, easier than installing a rear hub kit since you don't have to deal with adjusting your cassette, chainline, or derailleur.
Will my bike's forks allow me to install this product?
Only if your forks provide both sufficient dropout spacing and sufficient tire clearance for a 4-inch wide wheel. A fat bike or fat tire folding frame that already runs 20x4 hoops is a direct match. A narrow 20 inch cruiser fork will not clear the wide tire.
What real-world speed can I expect?
Your expected speed will vary depending on conditions such as road type and the weight carried by the bicycle, however you can expect speeds well above those offered by lesser wattage front hub kits (approximately 15 mph). The motor is rated at 500 rpm with a 29.82 mph no-load speed on the 20x4 wheel.
Do I have to purchase another controller separate from this kit?
No. SHZICMY includes a controller capable of supplying sufficient voltage and current output for proper operation of this motor.
Is a gearless hub preferable to a geared hub?
Generally speaking it depends upon your intended usage. Level riding and mild hills on small fat tire wheels are often suitable applications for gearless units. A gearless hub has fewer moving parts and lower maintenance cost, but it gives up some low-end torque to a geared unit.
Why does this kit only have a few reviews?
This is a young listing with only four reviews at 3.9 out of 5 stars right now, so the long term track record is unproven. Treat the 3.9 average as a thin signal rather than a verdict, and check back over time as more buyers report their experience.