Whyte T129 conversion

[Alfie]

Hi,

I'm looking to convert my 2014 Whyte T129 to electric.

I have worked out the motor will fit but the battery is proving to be a problem. The frame triangle is too small to fit a battery pack. I have made a rough mockup to see if it will fit under the tube but wheel fouls the battery when the suspension is compressed. My mockup I very rough maybe the actual battery would be a better fit.

Has anyone converted a T129 and if so what was your solution?

Any help would be much appreciated.

Alfie

 

[Mattzzzzzz]

I have not converted one but have changed the front forks to 140mm RS Revelations so maybe that will give you more clearance?

 

[Alfie]

I have not converted one either, but are you serious? Just NO

HahaHa, I'm not going down the route of having the battery underslung. I have found a member who has converted one with custom built batteries. He has very kindly talked me through every thing I need to do for the conversion.

I have been mountain biking for the best part of 30yrs and bought this bike new in 2014. Just before my hip decided to give up the ghost. After a failed operation and a lot of pain and rehab I am looking at getting back in the saddle. My down hilling days are over, I just want something to get me riding again and the electric route seems like a good option.

I'll keep you posted on how things are going.

 

[Alfie]

The Tongsheng mid-hub is the way I'm going.

I'm looking at using a small pack in the triangle built from 21700 cells (13S2P).

To be honest I could just go buy a bike off the shelf but I fancy having a bit of fun with the bike I already have. It will keep me out of trouble for a week or two.

 

[Alfie]

Hi, I managed to get get my bike converted at last.

This is it in commuter mode with road tyres. As soon as the rain stops here those mudguards will be gone and the Knobblies will be back on.

48v 500w, weighs in at 20.5kg, running custom firmware. I have two battery options at the moment, 8 and 12ah, both fit securely in frame bags. I did have to reverse the shock to get the battery packs to fit. Other than that everything else is standard.

 

[Singletrack Scene]

Hi, I managed to get get my bike converted at last.

This is it in commuter mode with road tyres. As soon as the rain stops here those mudguards will be gone and the Knobblies will be back on.

48v 500w, weighs in at 20.5kg, running custom firmware. I have two battery options at the moment, 8 and 12ah, both fit securely in frame bags. I did have to reverse the shock to get the battery packs to fit. Other than that everything else is standard.

View attachment 50965View attachment 50968View attachment 50969View attachment 50967View attachment 50966

Nice!

 

[Mattzzzzzz]

@Alfie I would be interested to know where you sourced the parts as I’m looking at doing one for the missus

 

[Alfie]

@Alfie I would be interested to know where you sourced the parts as I’m looking at doing one for the missus

The motor is the TSDZ2 48v 500w. I purchased it from Amazon before Christmas although that route is now closed due to Breshit. You may be able to find one in the uk, but I imagine the easiest route would be Aliexpress. The kit comes with everything you need apart from the battery. Because of the shape of the frame I had to build the batteries myself. A major saving over buying one off the shelf, even with the cost of having to buy a battery welder. The Wild Man case and Revelate frame bag can be bought from various places online.

I am running custom firmware with the 860c display although the motor performs pretty well out of the box.

Let me know if you go down this route and I try to help as much as I can.

 

[Alfie]

@Alfie Which Tongsheng controller did you for, any issues.

I went for the 48v 500w. No real issues as yet. The nylon gear is the real Achilles heal of this motor but mine is still ok after a few hundred miles. I have a couple of spares incase it does go.

 

[Mattzzzzzz]

Thanks for your reply, its on my to do list so will reference this thread when I am ready??

 

[Alfie]

Cheers, yes I went to say which display did you go for, but just read earlier you went for the 860c?

I have read you can get an alloy replacement main gear, but that will probably increase noise, I will stick with the nylon.

I have a metal gear but not fitted it. If/when the nylon one gives up the ghost I'll put it in.

 

[Silver63]

I have the same bike and found this thread as I am interested in doing a conversion but I need to stick to a 250W motor, how has the bike been since the conversion what is it like off road?

 

[Kiwiscoot]

I have the same bike and found this thread as I am interested in doing a conversion but I need to stick to a 250W motor, how has the bike been since the conversion what is it like off road?

Check out the CYC Photon motor. I have an Giant Trance X2 that I converted and it is such a smooth ride. Has two modes, Street (250W/110nm) and Race mode (1200w/110nm). Very straight forward conversion and excellent quality. Done over 1000kms with no issues. The default start-up mode is 250W so you should be OK in the UK.

I have a Whyte E160 with the Bosch Gen4 motor and the CYC Photon is as responsive. I also had a Giant Trance E3 with the Syncpro motor and a Bafang BBS01 Rocky Mountain Trailhead hardtail conversion, both which is not as nice as the CYC or Bosch motors.