Specialized Stumpjumper
This is an early Specialized Stumpjumper (Circa 2001) with a Bafang 750w mid drive motor and a 48v 10.5Ah side entry battery.
Welcome to island city bikes: Electric Bike Conversions
Alvin Carpenter, CEO
Why Convert Your Bicycle into an Electric Bike?
Why Convert Your Bicycle into an Electric Bike?
Greetings and welcome to Island City Bikes.
May 30th, 2020
As a courtesy to our clients we offer free tuneups on any bike we have converted to electric.
Keeping your bike in top shape after it leaves our shop is as important to us as it is to you. As you know the one thread that consistently runs through everything we do at Island City bikes is safety. We want to have your bike back in our shop for tuneups on a regular basis in order for us to insure brakes are properly adjusted, shifter is smooth, and the motor is running as it should. In addition, sometimes we change motor programming and this gives us the opportunity to update your settings.
As an undergraduate I remember in biology they talked about symbiotic relations in fauna and flora. A symbiotic relationship is a relationship that is mutually beneficial. An example might be the small bird that lives on the back of the rhinoceros. This small bird eats the insects the rhinoceros attracts and in return acts to warm the rhinoceros of anyone approaching. A rhinoceros has very poor eyesight and is dependent on this small birds warning to alert of possible danger.
Our work is not finished when the bike rolls out the front door. Our relationship with the client is one of symbiosis. We need to see the bike on a periodic basis to insure it is always in tip top condition. On the other hand, you need us in the future to maintain your bike as nobody knows it better than we do.
Over the years we have worked hard to insure we have the best motors and batteries and as such I am confident they will stand the test of time. But on bikes there are those parts called perishables. Perishables are those things that wear out and it is those perishables we need to keep an eye on because they effect the performance and safety of the bike.
Alvin Carpenter, PhD
Quick Links:
Best bike to convert to electric
The three classes of electric bikes
What is the difference between the BBSHD and the BBS02?
Why Convert Your Bicycle into an Electric Bike?
Why Convert Your Bicycle into an Electric Bike?
Why Convert Your Bicycle into an Electric Bike?
We sell prebuilt electric bikes but 90% of those who come to us prefer to convert their existing bike to electric. Here's why....
1. All electric bikes are simply bicycles with motors and batteries.
That's it in a nutshell. The frameset, fork, wheels, tires, stem, chain, derailleurs, bars, grips, shifters, brakes, brake levers, seatpost and saddle are exactly the same on an electric bike as they are on a standard bike. The only thing unique to an electric bike is a motor and a battery. There is no need to buy a new electric bike...just add the motor and battery to the bike you already have. It just makes sense.
2. Electric bike conversion costs 1/3 of a prebuilt electric bike.
By way of comparison, were you to purchase a bike similar to one of our standard conversions it would cost between $4,000 and $4,500. In addition, the motor that we use is has more power, simple to use, and is maintenance free.
3. Service of your converted electric bike
All of the bikes we convert to electric we service "in house." We never send anything back to the factory for service because we are the factory.
4. All of our conversions use the Bafang Mid Drive Motor
The Bafang BBS02 750w mid drive motor is the most popular electric bike motor in the world. Bafang Industries produces and sells over 1,000,000 of these motors every year. They are maintenance free, reliable, lightweight (eight pounds), simple to use, and have incredible hill climbing torque.
5. Our batteries are manufactured by the largest Lithium Ion battery factory in the world: UPP Unit Pak Power
Of the last 800 batteries used on our conversions the failure rate has been zero.
6. We have the best warranty in the business. Our motors, batteries and craftsmanship carry a one year warranty.
7. Free tuneups on your bike for life. Know one knows your bike better than we do once we are finished with the conversion process. There will be a time when your new electric bike is ready for a tune up and we will be here to provide that service at no cost.
What is the cost of conversion?
All of our conversions meet Federal Guidelines
All of our conversions meet Federal Guidelines
The cost of converting your bike to electric is $1699.
This includes the most popular, powerful, reliable, maintenance free motor in the world and a long range 48v battery rated at 624 watt hours. We also include a one year no fault warrantee on the motor and the battery. "No fault" means you do not have to fill out reams of information to explain why the battery is failing to charge or the motor to run, just give us a call to set up an appointment and let's get you back on the road.
What it includes: For the best explanation of what it includes see our next page on the conversion process. The entire process can take up to three days as it is very labor intensive. Each employee is trained in bike mechanics, and the installation methods of motor, battery, cabling, and instruments of the Bafang motor system.
We have developed proprietary methods of both motor and battery installation. In addition, we have our own machine shop that allows us to mill custom bottom bracket adaptors, and battery spacers. If we we do not have a part we make it ourselves to insure your bike is finished on time.
Our consultants include a Senior Engineer at Tesla Motors, a Professor of Federal Law at Golden Gate University, a Professor in Engineering from California University and a Senior Electrical Engineer from Stanford (retired). Our employees are former road bike racers, old school mechanics, new to the field mechanics, in training mechanics, and a CEO who has over 50 years of experience working on bikes.
All of our conversions meet Federal Guidelines
All of our conversions meet Federal Guidelines
All of our conversions meet Federal Guidelines
Here are the three classes of eBikes
Class I: A class I electric bike is a bike with a motor that cuts off at 20mph and does not have a throttle. Class I electric bikes are allowed anywhere a standard bike is allowed. Class I one bikes are accepted on most bike paths, century rides, and Grand Fondo's.
Class II: A class II electric bike is a bike with a motor that cuts off at 20mph and has a throttle. Class II electric bikes are allowed anywhere a standard bike is allowed. Class II electric bikes generally are not allowed on bike paths, century rides, and Grand Fondo's.
Class III: A class III electric bike is a bike with a motor that cuts off at 28mph and does not have a throttle. Class III electric bikes are allowed anywhere a standard bike is allowed. Class III electric bikes generally are not allowed on bike paths.
We let you choose what type of electric bike you would like. One of the benefits of the Bafang mid drive is you can set you own MPH limit anytime you wish by changing the setting in the display.
To read a fuller account of both Federal and State laws governing the use of electric bikes please click the button below:
Meet a few of the team
Isabella, Mechanic
Isabella, Mechanic
Isabella, Mechanic
This is Isabella one of our top mechanics and former pro racer.
Jeff, Mechanic
Isabella, Mechanic
Isabella, Mechanic
Jeff has been with us for two years and is smart, talented, and a father of two.
Our CEO, Alvin
Isabella, Mechanic
One of our workstations
This is Alvin racing for Davis. He worked his way up to number one in the Nation in road races in the USAC. He has been building bikes since the 60's and plans on continuing building and designing bikes until...well you know.
One of our workstations
Our new location in San Leandro
One of our workstations
We have three workstations supplied with every tool each technicians needs to get the conversion competed in a timely manner.
Scoobie, our neighbor
Our new location in San Leandro
Our new location in San Leandro
Scoobie drops in for a daily snackie. Scooby is a little dog that just loves a treat and on a hot day likes to lay on the cool concrete floor of our shop. We miss Scoobie since we moved to our new location
Our new location in San Leandro
Our new location in San Leandro
Our new location in San Leandro
Over 2,000 feet of build area for our work. In the back we have a machine shop in the front we have an office. Outside our large roll up door we have plenty of space to test your newly converted electric bike.