Convert YOUR bike into a hill eraser

The best deal in electric bicycle conversions kits. The Nine Continent is a fast, efficient, brushless hub motor for converting your own bike into an electric bike.

An excellent and fast hub motor at half the cost of geared motors.

This motor has more torque than the standard Crystalyte motors at a lower cost. It can handle voltages from 24V up to 48V, which means you won't outgrow this motor if you want to upgrade your speed or power later on.

The Cycle 9 Nine Continent kits are part of the latest revolution in direct-drive motor kits. More efficient than Crystalyte, these motors compete in performance to some of the best out there, reaching speeds of 30mph without sucking down your battery. They erase hills. Say good-bye to the days of your bike sitting in the garage. With this kit, you won't be putting off riding it, you'll want to leave the car at home and take the bike instead! And all at a price you can afford.

Front wheels are factory-built 20", 26" or 700c wheels that we hand check and true before sending out to you. NOW AVAILABLE - Rear wheels are hand laced into sturdy Sun Rhyno-lite rims (24", 26" or 700c) by our very own, professional wheel-building staff. We dish and true them to the maximum extent possible on this motor, although due to motor manufacturing specs, the rear wheels will not be exactly centered. This means your rim brake will need some tweaking to get it to work properly, similar to most motors of this type on the market.

BEST USES: Commuting, general riding, hills, cargo/utility bikes on flat or rolling terrain

Specifications:

• Top speed 25mph at 36V, 30mph at 48V
• Max power 1200W (though we know of people who've used more than that without problems)
• Motor weight 17.6 lbs (8kg)
• Front (silver) OR Rear (black) wheel available
• Use with standard rim brakes only -- not compatible with disc brakes

What's in the Box?

• Direct drive, brushless, 500W motor
• Front 20", 26", or 700c double-wall rim (custom order other sizes), with rim strip OR
• Rear 24", 26", or 700c Sun Rhyno-lite rim with double butted (2.0/2.3) Phil Wood spokes
• dual voltage 36/48V 25A Infineon controller
• Your choice of throttle: thumb throttle or right-hand twist
• Optional ebrakes to cut off motor power when brakes are activated
• Front wheel includes a torque arm -- choose frame clamp style or fender mount style
• Rear wheel includes 6-speed freewheel
• All required wiring to connect the parts of your system and cable ties. Contact us for wiring extensions for very long bikes.
• Complete instruction manual and installation support
• Choose battery option separately or use your own

How far can I go on my battery?

There is a lot of technical jargon in the electric bike world, and we think that scares many people off. But some of the jargon has important ramifications, like the term "amp hours" (often written as Ah or AH). Amp hours is a measure of the capacity of a battery, expressed as current (amps) times time (hours). A battery with 10 Ah can run twice as long as a battery with 5 Ah. The most common size for e-bike batteries is 10 Ah, because these are compact and light, but give enough range for most uses in and around towns. The amp hour rating of a battery is a good indication of the range you will be able to travel on one charge, but this range is also determined by how much you are using the electric-assist, how much weight you have on your bike, how many hills you have and even conditions like headwinds. Just think about riding without electric-assist. You are going to be needing more energy if you have a hilly ride with a headwind or are carrying 100lbs on your cargo bike than if you are cruising on flat lands. So the range of a battery is always, a range!

Here is a rule of thumb that can be used to determine your battery range. Calculate the overall number of watt-hours (energy) available for use in your battery by multiplying the voltage times the amp hours. For example, in a 36V 10Ah pack, this would be 360 watts. Then divide this by the number of watt-hours used per mile. From personal experience, with a 36V system over rolling terrain, a conservative use of power (such as just using assist on the hills) is about 10 watt-hours per mile, while a liberal use of power (full throttle most the time) is up around 20 watt-hours per mile. Using this rule of thumb, this battery pack would give you between 18 (=360 / 20) and 36 (=360 / 10) miles of range on one charge. For a 48V system, it is easier to use more power per mile because there is more power available, so the number of watt-hours used per mile could go be more, or if your ride is mostly uphill, your use per mile could be more.

In real world use, the amount of total watts available from a battery is slightly less than the calculated total because when the battery is getting low, the battery will shut itself off to prevent damage from low voltage. Different battery chemistries have different discharge characteristics that effect what the actual capacity is. For lithium and nickel batteries, you can get about 90-95% of the rated capacity out of the battery before the voltage drops too low. For lead acid batteries, you only get about 60-70% of the rated capacity. So a 36V 10Ah lithium battery will give you as much range as a 36V 13Ah lead acid battery.

What battery should I add?

Choosing a battery to go with your kit can appear to be a complicated task, but we've chosen some batteries for you that will work well with this kit. The Nine Continent kit is designed for a 36V battery pack. Just about any battery pack rated as "36V" (actually more like 41.5 volts when charged) will work with this kit. Different battery chemistries have varying weights, lifespans, prices, and discharge characteristics. (See below for more information). With a 36V pack, the top speed of the Nine Continent kit will be about 25mph. At 48V, the top speed will be about 30mph.

Lead-acid

For the most economical battery available to get you rolling with your kit, choose sealed lead acid. Lead acid batteries have been providing useful service for our electrical needs for many years. The main drawback of lead acid packs is their weight. The main advantage is their inexpensive price. Battery connections are interchangeable, so upgrading to a different battery is always an option. You can expect about 150-200 cycles out of a lead acid pack. A cycle is using the battery beyond about 20% of its capacity and then charging it up again. Lead-acid packs can last many years if treated well.

Lead acid packs come as 3 "bricks" or small batteries, wired together. You can purchase the batteries themselves at your local battery supply store and use our wiring kit and instructions to mount them to your bike. Or purchase the whole 36V 12 Ah kit together. With or without the bricks, the wiring kit includes a trunk bag to hold your batteries, the wiring to connect them together and to your system, complete with easy to follow instructions, and a charger. Connecting the wiring is very easy and just involves plugging 6 connectors into your battery terminals. No electrical know-how is required and it can be done in just a couple minutes.

• Type: 36Volt, 12 Amp Hour
• Weight 25 lbs.
• Size
• Lifespan: 150-200 cycles
• Range 10-20 miles
• Mounting: Rear trunk bag (rack sold separately)
• Charger: 1.8 amp

Lithium-ion

An excellent, lightweight battery which nicely pairs with the Nine Continent kit. Lithium-ion is the standard in the ebike industry for it's light weight. Weighing it at only 8 lbs, this battery will last 300-500 cycles. The battery comes enclosed in a plastic case with on/off switch and includes a handy mounting bag which mounts on the side of a rear rack (rack not included). Includes a 2-amp charger.

• Type: 36Volt, 9.6 Amp Hour
• Weight 8 lbs.
• Size
• Lifespan: 300-500 cycles
• Range 15-30 miles
• Mounting: Bag on side of rear rack (rack sold separately)
• Charger: 2 amp

LiFePO4

For the lightest weight, longest lasting battery on the market, add a 36V 10Ah Lithium-Iron-Phosphate polymer battery. Similar to Lithium-ion, but having a longer lifecycle, the battery will last 1500 cycles or more. It weighs in at just under 8 lbs and comes with a charger optimized for maximum performance. Size 4" x 3.3" x 10.4" . For more range, this battery is available in higher capacity options on our battery page.

• Type: 36Volt, 10 Amp Hour
• Weight 8 lbs.
• Size 4" x 3.3" x 10.4"
• Lifespan: 1500 cycles
• Range 15-30 miles
• Mounting: Rear trunk bag or pannier (not included)
• Charger: 2 amp optimized charger

Why buy from Cycle 9 ?

We are a real bike shop, with real people who work in the shop every day, and we answer our phones (toll free, 1-800-249-8098). We pride ourselves on customer service. If you have a problem, we respond to our emails right away. There's no wondering about whether you're buying from someone selling kits out of their garage, who may or may not answer the phone if you have a question. We have many happy customers who have appreciated our customer service. They have things to say like this:

I also want to thank you and your company for fixing my battery and all the extra work you did for such a cheap price. You gals are right on and i do wish you the best with your business. I want you to know how very satisfied i am for selling me a great product

We have a full-time, professional bike mechanic and electronics technician on staff, and we have over 30 years of combined bike repair experience. We want you to be happy with your electric bike conversion experience - that is our number one priority. We work with our customers before, during and after purchases to get the right kit to them, provide any special services they need (such as extra wiring for recumbents), and make sure they get their kits correctly installed and running. We aren't just a faceless internet company. Our customers appreciate this, such as Justin in Colorado:

Thanks again for your great communication in this process. I feel the benefits of buying from a great business rather than from a random online store.

We have sold lots of kits, and had very few returns. Most people just can't get enough of electric biking once they discover it. (But if you do decide that the kit isn't for you, we will work with you to make sure you are happy). We will be there to support you. Our success depends on it.

Can I install it?

Installation of a kit can be done by anyone with some basic bike mechanical skills. To install it, you just take off your existing bike wheel, replace it with the Nine Continent wheel, replace your current hand grip (usually right side) with the throttle, then route wires and mount the controller to your frame with the enclosed zipties. The battery usually mounts on a rear rack (not included, but we have racks available), either directly or in a trunk or pannier bag. Electrical connections are designed to be unique and plug in easily. Then off you go! Complete instructions are included with every kit, and we're only a phone call or email away if you have any questions.

Front wheel or rear wheel?

People often ask about whether to get the front wheel or rear wheel version. That depends on the bike. We slightly prefer the front wheel version, because then you have an all wheel drive bicycle. The weight is nicely balanced between front and back, and the motor pulls, which especially helps in slippery/wet conditions. However, we don't recommend using a motor on suspension forks. Most suspension forks are made from aluminum and can break rapidly and without warning under the stress of a hub motor. Ouch. So if you're going to put it on the front of your bike, we recommend that you put it on a bike that has a steel fork (steel is more resilient, and less likely to fail without warning). With any front motor setup, we recommend using a torque arm for extra security. A torque arm is an extra piece of metal that slides over the motor axle and then bolts to your bike frame, keeping the axle securely in the dropouts and preventing slippage. The Nine Continent kit includes a torque arm; you can choose the frame clamp style (uses hose clamps to secure to one leg of your fork), or fender mount style (bolts to the 5mm fender eyelet, if your fork has one).

Or, if you really like your suspension fork, then that is a good reason to just get a rear motor kit. The rear motor kits are compatible with up to 6 speeds (specify your freewheel). If your bike is set up for more speeds, it is usually very easy to adjust it for compatibility with 6 speeds. And don't worry, you won't need all those extra gears once you have the motor installed!

How fast will it go?

The Cycle 9 Nine Continent kit is designed to give an assist up to 25 miles per hour when used with a 36 volt battery. That is faster than the average speed that many pro bike racers ride at. So with just 36V, you can go out and ride like a pro racer (even if you aren't on one of those fancy carbon fiber road bikes!) But even better, if you want more speed, you can use a 48 volt battery, and get up to even 30mph.

What is voltage?

Voltage is a measure of the amount of force that electricity can produce. The top speed of any electric motor is determined by the voltage (force), due to a technical thing called back-EMF (we won't bore you with the details here). Anyway, early electric bikes started at 12 or 24volts. But it turns out that most motors won't turn very fast at those low voltages. So, now, most electric bike motors run at 36 volts or higher. The voltage rating of a battery will relate to the overall amount of power a battery can output. So, a 48V battery can output more power than a 36V battery, so your top speed will be higher, you will get greater acceleration, and you will be able to power up hills at a higher speed. However, usually with more power available, people tend to use it, and that means you will not be as efficient with a higher voltage system.

What wattage means

Electric bike conversion kits are often listed by wattage (the same kind of watts used to describe lightbulb power). Some electric bikes and kits may be listed as 150w (watts), and others as much as 600w or more. But the important thing to realize is that there is no ratings agency that makes sure these claims are valid. Manufacturers can say anything they want, so the ratings don't really mean much. We've seen many products on the market that claim to be high-watt motors (600 watts or more), that aren't. If you use them for very long at the rated watts, they will burn out. Other motors are rated too low, because in some areas of the world (like Europe) there is a limit on maximum power. So motors are under-rated to appear to comply. The Nine Continent motor kit is rated at 500 watts, but that doesn't tell the whole story. A rating of 500 watts really means that you could operate the kit constantly at 500 watts, for a long time, and get reliable service out of it. And 500 watts is a lot of power. For comparison, a professional bike racer might produce 400 watts in short bursts, but they can't keep doing that for more than a few minutes. So, having a 500 watt motor on your bike is like having a tireless professional bike racer helping you pedal your bike.

But 500 watts isn't the whole story. These motors can actually produce more than 500 watts, say if you are going up a steep hill, or need to accelerate across an intersection. At 36 volts, the peak poweris around 700 watts. That means you will have almost as much power as two professional athletes, at your fingertips. The power is controlled by a simple throttle, much like a motorcycle or ATV. You replace the standard hand-grip on your bike with the twist (or thumb) throttle, and then can use it when you like. If you need lots of power to get up a hill or across an intersection, you twist it all the way. If you need just a bit of power to maintain a fast cruising speed (while pedaling if you want), then you twist it part way. If you want to just pedal it like a normal bike, then you leave the throttle and just pedal. You choose when or if to have the electric motor helping you, and you choose whether to pedal or not. Any combination works. And unless you're on a steep hill, you can even use the motor without any pedaling at all - though the range of the battery will be reduced.

Why go electric?

We see more and more gas-powered motor kits being advertised around the internet for converting a regular bicycle to a motorized bicycle. There are a couple things to consider before making a gas conversion. The first thing is the pollution. Small, 2-cycle motors are very polluting (think of a lawnmower or chainsaw). The second thing is noise (again, think of a lawnmower or chainsaw). And the third thing is that they regularly require gas, oil, and maintenance to the spark plugs, air filter, etc (lawnmower? chainsaw?). The difference with an electric kit is that it is quiet and clean. There is no gasoline or oil to handle. You just charge it up overnight, and go. It charges in as little as 2-4 hours. And you can charge it up using renewable power like solar (that's what Cycle 9 co-owner Dr. Morgan does).

Would you like to get more exercise, but find it hard to get motivated? Exercise means doing work of some kind. Lots of people find it hard to get motivated, and so they just put it off until tomorrow... and then the next day... and the next day... And the result are epidemics of obesity, diabetes, and heart disease in places like the US. Electric bikes are so fun to ride, that exercise naturally happens. You get on the bike, and most people just naturally pedal, even when the electric motor is doing most of the work. And even that little bit of pedaling adds up. If you ride 45 minutes a day, 5 days a week, that is almost 4 hours of exercise, every week. Four hours of light pedaling is a lot better than no pedaling at all. And that is four hours spent outdoors, doing a non-polluting, fun, and healthy activity.

We aren't just saying all of this as some marketing schtick. We ride our own electric bikes, every day. Dr. Morgan's bike has an eZee electric motor on it. And our customers love it too. They have things like this to say:

I just wanted to let you know that I am now in love with my motor! I rode 19.6 miles today and wasn’t sore and barely tired. Prior to the installing e-assist, I think I had maxed at 12 and was dead when I got home! I now LOOK for reasons to ride instead of dreading the hills. One hill is really steep and I have always had to walk it (and could barely do that pushing the bike!) I actually RODE up that hill the other day. It was a little bit of a struggle and I had to get out of the saddle, but I conquered it! In the future, I’ll probably take slightly longer routes around that hill, but I wanted to see if I could actually do it!

Keep putting it off, until oil prices skyrocket, then you can buy an electric conversion (we're being sarcastic)

When oil prices go back up (and they will), there's going to be a mad scramble for alternatives to operating an expensive car. Some people may start taking the bus - but there's no freedom of movement or exercise in sitting on a crowded bus. And with the poor economy, many communities are cutting back on bus service, at the same time that more people may need it. Do you really want to wait until oil prices skyrocket again, when everyone else is going to be scrambling for solutions? In the summer of 2008, when gas prices shot up to over $4/gallon, we quickly sold out of electric kits, and there were no more to be had for a month. Don't wait until it is too late, when you'll be competing with everyone else for alternatives like this. When products are in high demand, prices go up. It seems unlikely that prices will fall on electric kits in the future, it is likely that they will go up.

If you want to start saving money by using your bike more and your car less, get a Nine Continent motor today. The listed price includes free shipping to your door.

You want peace of mind when you purchase something, and we're here to offer that. That's why we offer the "Ride Your Bike More or your money back" guarantee. Anytime in your first six months of ownership, if you decide that the electric kit just isn't helping you get more out of your bike, just send it back for a full refund (we ask that it be in good working condition). That way, you can try out an electric bike kit, with virtually no risk to your pocketbook.

The Nine Continent kit has a 1 year manufacturer's warranty covering all components including motor, throttle, and controller, when used with up to a 48V battery. If there are any problems (they don't happen often), we'll send replacement parts out to you right away. And another benefit of buying from Cycle 9 is that, even after your kit goes beyond the warranty period, we can repair any problems if they ever arise, usually for much less than the cost of buying a new kit. Because we have a regular shop with full-time professionals, we regularly do repair work on batteries, electric motor kits, controllers, and bikes. While we will repair kits purchased from other sellers (we have done so many times), we give special consideration to people who bought their kits from us. If something fails that we think shouldn't have failed (i.e., it wasn't misused or abused), we often repair it for a reduced cost, or for free. Think about it this way - would you buy a new car from an online seller operating out of their garage? Probably not unless you're good enough at auto repair that you can trust yourself to fix any problem that comes up (and better hope the car isn't a lemon). And yet all the time we see people who've bought electric motor kits or batteries for their bike through sellers on auction sites or who just threw together a website. And unfortunately, we've seen some of those folks be left out in the cold if they have a problem. Then they turn to us for help, since we're one of the few people who can actually service and repair these. Is it really worth the gamble, buying from someone who can't or won't repair what they sell. Or is it worth buying from someone who can service their products, to give you many long years of reliable use? In a tough economy, we think that buying something meant to last for the long haul - and backed up by a company that will help you keep it running for many years - is the most economical investment you can make.

Any questions? Just contact us, it is easy

We're here to promote bikes as transportation. We're in it for the long haul. We realize that it is critical for customers to be happy with their experience, from start to finish. We are here to support people and help people in getting on their bikes more often, getting more exercise, and reducing fossil fuel dependency. We won't leave you out to dry if there is a problem. We will be here to cheerfully help with any questions, concerns, or problems you may have. Just call us at our toll free number, 1-800-249-8098, or email us if you have any questions, before or after purchasing a kit.