Choosing a Hub Conversion Kit

This guide is for anyone interested in purchasing one of our electric bike hub/wheel conversion kits. We'll go over the standard components and features that all our kits come with, and help you choose which kit is best suited for you.

Currently we carry only one brand of hub motor, Golden Motor. If you're new to this, we know how overwhelming the selection can seem. But it’s actually quite straight forward, especially if you know how you want to use your e-bike - whether it be on the road, on the trails, or you're just looking for some occasional powered assistance.

Standard components and features

To simplify the differences right out of the gate, let’s go over the similarities between all of our kits.

• A bicycle rim with integrated motor: the foundation of every kit is the motor, which comes integrated into a complete rim that you simply swap out on your existing bicycle. Put the tire from your old rim onto your motorized wheel and you’re already half way there. Every model we carry has a front or rear wheel version, depending on your preference. Front wheels are very simple to install, and recommended for lower power motors. Rear wheels are more secure and provide better traction for higher power motors.
• Controller: this is the brain that controls your motor. On some kits, the controller is integrated into the motor, and others it’s a plug and play component but must be mounted separately. You also have the option of configuring the controller settings manually via our USB adapter cable (not included). Depending on the model, you can control settings like the voltage, max current (amps), max speed (rpm), and more.
• Brake levers: Custom brake levers are required so the controller knows to activate regenerative braking, which will help recharge your battery as you brake. And if you are using cruise control, the brake levers will also cut power to the motor as soon as you brake – which is an important safety feature.
• A throttle: You can choose either a thumb push button, or a twist grip.
• Dual button control switch: Mounts on your handlebars and is typically used for cruise control and/or lights.
• Battery: The battery is not included in the base price of the kit, but can be purchased as an optional add-on. Each battery comes with a charger. If you do not need a charger, we also sell batteries individually without the charger.
• All other necessary cables and parts.

So, which one do I choose?

Now that we've covered the basics of all the kits, lets figure out the differences, and where each one shines.

Best for high power

The Magic Pie 5 is the largest and highest performing hub motor we sell. It’s capable of putting out 1500W of peak power, and rated to run at a continuous 1000W when paired with a 48 or 52 volt battery. At 48 V This not a street legal bike, and should only be used for off-roading. To use this motor on the streets you will need to use a 24 or 36 volt battery and/or dial back the power setting using our USB programming cable.

We sell a number of Magic Pie variations, but they all use the same Magic Pie 5 motor.

• The Classic Magic Pie: This was the original design that has grown to be a best seller. It comes with a black and silver hub cover that was inspired by the look of a jet engine.
• The Black Pie: The only difference is the hub cover which comes in solid black for a stealthier look.
• The Magic Pie with External Controller: The difference with this kit is that the controller is not integrated into the hub, and does not come with the same sine-wave technology. It can also only be programmed via USB cable, unlike the newer models which can be programmed over bluetooth with an app on your phone.
• The Fat Pie: This motor comes mounted on a 4" wide rim designed for Fatbike conversions.

Best for power on a budget

The Black Magic is a multi-voltage motor that supports either 36 V for 500W, or 48 V for 1000W. Coming in at around 10% cheaper than its closest sibling (the Magic Pie 5 w/external controller), it is the cheapest 1000W motor we carry. With the reduced price you lose a lot of the features and technology of the Magic Pie 5, such as the sine-wave controller and Bluetooth support.

Best all-around/commuter

The Magic Pie Edge is our most well rounded motor, and comes with all the latest technology that the Magic Pie 5 has. It's rated for 500 W, which makes for a great street legal build. It's no slouch though; it can get up to speed quickly, and is surprising torquey for a 500 W motor.

If you are planning to do a rear wheel conversion, the Edge supports both freewheel and cassette style cogsets - unlike our other kits which only support freewheels. Most modern bicycles come with cassettes, so if you're installing this on a modern bicycle it may be one less component you need to purchase.

Overall, the Magic Pie Edge is a great motor, and we highly recommend it.

Best for light pedal assist and power-free pedaling

The Pro 902 is by far the best suited for you if you're only looking for some light to moderate assistance when needed. And if you see yourself pedal without any power, this motor is by far the best for the job. Not only is it the lightest motor we carry, coming in at just over 5 lbs, but it freewheels when powered off - meaning zero resistance when you pedal. All our other gearless motors add some resistance to pedaling when powered off, which makes them less than ideal for using primarily as a pedal bicycle.

That's it for now, but we will be adding more articles soon. Hopefully this has helped clear up some of the questions you may have had. If you're still unsure about anything, don't hesitate to reach out!