How to Convert Analogue Bike to an Electric Bike (2025)

Say you want With minimal pedal power, ride your bike up and down the hill. What is your occupation? The first option is simple: buy an electric bike. But ebikes aren’t cheap. These days, the cheapest yet reliable eBike is the Aventon Soltera 2.5, which is about $1,200. You can rent ebikes, find city bike programs that use them, or, if you’re really lucky, you can find ebikes in the lending library.

Or simply put your regular bike in your electric bike. This means you can slap aftermarket units on a traditional bicycle and create a little motor-assisted Ebike on the bike and various aftermarket power sources. What previously was a very niche field with only a handful of products has become the cottage industry pretending to be a candidate, and the number of startups offering off-the-shelf conversions to bikes.

So how do you turn a traditional bike into an ebike? And what’s the best product out there? We walk you through it. If you don’t see what you like, be sure to check the guide The best electric bike or The best electric scooter.

Hot to Slot

Photo: Ryan Waniata

Well, first you need to decide what conversions you need. There is Two basic types of eBikespedal assist and throttle. Many new models boast a combination of both.

Pedal Assist This is a mechanism that adds power when the pedal is throttled. Using the use of cadence and/or torque sensors (the speed at which the pedals are rotating and their respective power), the pedal assist unit kicks on at a certain point in time, making the pedal easier. Pedal assist can be very minimal. It’s hard to know how much work you’re doing compared to the amount of load your bike is handling.

Throttle unit It acts like a motorcycle or moped, allowing the rider to twist a tube mounted near the handgrip or use a thumb-based knob to provide immediate power to the wheels. Throttle-based eBikes can be ridden without pedaling.

As for Ebike Conversions, you can see several different ways where your power comes from and how it is delivered. Several mechanisms provide power either to the back of the bike or to the front hub. The rest is located in the bottom bracket (that is, where the crank meets the bike frame). Also, some new conversion kits are like treadmills that help you use rollers to propel the wheels forward, and act like treadmills attached to your bike.

Roll the clip

Photo: Stephanie Pearson

That being said, it is important to consider the level of bicycle know-how. For rentals, the conversion process is generally simple, regardless of the unit type. If you can change tires or cassettes, then you’ll probably be fine with a bit of trial and error and the help of a YouTube tutorial. If you’re asking yourself, “What is a cassette?” it’s probably best to visit your local bike shop and have the professional handle.