E-Bike Conversion Kits: The Service Most Cycle Shops Won't Touch
Owners of perfectly good bikes want electric assist, but no one offers fitting. A retrofit kit gives them that โ at a fraction of a new e-bike's price.
E-bike conversion involves fitting an electric motor, battery, controller and associated components to a standard bicycle. The service can be offered as a fitting-only job using the customer's own kit, or as a complete package including supply of a certified kit. Key challenges include frame and drivetrain compatibility, lithium battery safety, and compliance with UK/GB regulations (max 250 W, assistance up to 15.5 mph / 25 km/h). A newcomer should expect several months of hands-on practice before handling the full range of conversions independently and safely.
New e-bikes cost thousands of pounds and customers see them as an unnecessary replacement for a perfectly functional machine. Most established cycle shops decline conversions โ they lack the know-how or willingness to take on the liability. That gap is exactly where a skilled technician can build a profitable niche.
๐The e-bike market keeps growing
UK cycling infrastructure investment and rising fuel costs are driving demand for electric assist. Customers want a cheaper alternative to a new e-bike โ and conversion gives them exactly that.
