They say that necessity is the mother of inventions – and that is certainly true with our DIY electric kick-bike (or “footbike” if you prefer).  Wanting a stand-up that we could use to quickly zip to the store, visit family, run an errand, or commute to the train station (last mile solution) where a bike locker awaits, we explored our options. We already had a handy little e-scooter  (by GoTrax) that was being used for this purpose, but, anyone who’s ever ridden one of those knows they are quite literally an accident waiting to happen – mainly due to their tiny 5 to 8-inch wheels (usually hard rubber), and lack of any suspension.

Why we chose the Crussis “Cross 6.2” kickbike to electrify:

• It was a known commodity. We already had this trail worthy kick-bike (discussed here)
• The steel frame was an important feature, especially when considering the amount of torque an electric motor generates (which translates to wear/tear on the rear-wheel drop-outs)
• Large pneumatic tires:  A 26″ front, combined with the 20″ rear, would be ideal for cruising safety and comfort;
• Dual disc-brakes
• Front Suspension fork – with lock-out
• Available on Amazon
• Dimensions were ideal to fit with available E-built kits (again, Amazon)
• Torque arm fits existing bolt pattern on rear-end (no funky hose clamps or drilling needed!). Learn about the importance of torque arms here.
• Standard rear mud guard fits perfectly, ideal for shedding mud and prevents any wayward feet from  getting caught in the tire (never good)
• Crussis has a wider foot-deck available to swap out with the original (recommended!)
• If you’d rather kick, simply remove the battery pack.  This allows the necessary “comfort” space between knee and frame!

It turns out that the Crussis was a perfect choice for the DIY E-conversion.  Mr. SUB able to order a build-kit straight from Amazon, plus a few additions, and in less than 5 hours, had a beautifully built, one of a kind, E-Kickbike. 

Have fun building – and go green!

If you do a DIY E-kick-bike conversion, we’d love to hear about it!  Share your builds in the comments below and ask any questions!