Idk about brands, the price difference between retail and DIY was 300% so I put my money into the battery and motor and slapped it on a $20 frame.
Could probably save a couple hundred more buying individual cells and building your own battery but eh.
Not sure when @AlephNull built their bike, but prices seem to have fallen on retail ebikes in the last few years, the difference between DIY and retails seems marginal now where I am.
Bosch motor or shimano steps seem to do pretty well, they're common on most major bike brands.
The difference is still absolutely huge, really. But you do have to be more tactical where you buy the components and which ones you buy.
You'd also have to buy a used bike for it to be the absolute most frugal. If you can make the battery yourself also then you get absolutely massive savings.
Actually not quite, I bought some old datacenter modem batteries and upcycled them into my ebike, so I got 1.4kWh of batteries for around 350$. Good deal, and less polution too. Hasn't caught on fire yet :p
Idk about brands, the price difference between retail and DIY was 300% so I put my money into the battery and motor and slapped it on a $20 frame.
Could probably save a couple hundred more buying individual cells and building your own battery but eh.
That’s really cool and all, but I am not very smart
Not sure when @AlephNull built their bike, but prices seem to have fallen on retail ebikes in the last few years, the difference between DIY and retails seems marginal now where I am. Bosch motor or shimano steps seem to do pretty well, they're common on most major bike brands.
The difference is still absolutely huge, really. But you do have to be more tactical where you buy the components and which ones you buy.
You'd also have to buy a used bike for it to be the absolute most frugal. If you can make the battery yourself also then you get absolutely massive savings.
My friend bought his family e-bikes off alibaba, and he likes them.
No idea on what models. The shipping is pretty crazy though.
https://www.alibaba.com/trade/search?fsb=y&IndexArea=product_en&CatId=&SearchText=e+bike
I built my ebike too, from the cells.
Actually not quite, I bought some old datacenter modem batteries and upcycled them into my ebike, so I got 1.4kWh of batteries for around 350$. Good deal, and less polution too. Hasn't caught on fire yet :p