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Wilderness Electric Bike Kit
October 22nd, 2005 by RL Policar 
Overview:
This motor using technology that has been around for over a century and is very simple in design. It has a positive wire going into the motor, and a negative wire coming out of it, and is driven by a single phase electrical pulse, sent from a Controller. Inside the motor, mechanic brushes and a commutator (armature) switch the pulse of electricity back and forth to create a “push-pull” magnetic field in the coils, which are in the center of the motor. As a pulse of electricity is sent to the motor from the controller, the coils create a strong magnetic field, which repulses them from the magnets that surround the coils, and causes the motor to advance (rotate) away from the magnets - making the motor spin…. The only moving parts (hence, parts that can wear out), in this motor are the brushes and the center bearing. The brushes will last somewhere around 7,000 - 8,000 hours, which should give a minimum of five years use before they need to be replaced… This motor is very rugged, durable, and requires simpler electronics than a BrushLESS motor. It can accept varying voltage from 24 volts up to as high as 72 volts, provided that you have a controller that is capable of running it at the higher voltages without burning up.
Disclaimer:
As a product reviewer for Commute By Bike, I am providing my unbiased opinion of any products provided to us by any company. I do not posses any type of relationship with the product’s company or parent companies. I am not compensated in any way by companies that send in their goods to be reviewed.
My background:
I am 5′7″, 174 lbs. I ride a Giant Warp DS 2 for trail riding and a Giant Cypress LE for my daily commute. I also own a 7 speed Gary Fisher Tarpon. I am mainly a XC rider that will occasionally have too much fun on my Warp. I am also a bike commuter traveling 10-20 miles each way.
Testing Grounds:
My current options for testing any products are at the following trails and streets of Southern California: Fullerton Loop, Panorama, Turnbull Canyon, Aliso Woods which consists of: Woods Canyon, Rockit, Cholla, Meadows, Lynx and Top of the World. When testing products for commuting, my route usually will take me through the following streets: Bastanchury, St. College, Chapman Ave, Main St. and Jamboree Rd.
In the past year I’ve participated in riding events such as the LA Bike Tour, 04 and 05, Southridge Spring Fling and the Mt. Sac Fat Tire Classic. I am planning on participating in more events when the opportunity comes.
Product Tested:
Electric Bike Conversion Kit New 2004 Model
First Impressions and Comments:
I was blown away by this kit! I couldn’t believe how well it handled and accelerated. The manual stated that to save energy, I should pedal first to get it going. Even if I didn’t pedal first, this thing had enough torque to pull me and get going pretty fast.
Options:
You have a choice between the BRUSHLESS MOTOR (B-36) and the BRUSHED MOTOR (BFP-36).
There’s two major differences between the brushed and brushless motors. For one thing the brushed motor allows you to accelerate without the aid of pedaling. The brushless requires you to pedal first. However, if you accelerate without pedaling, your battery can quickly be drained.
Strengths:
- Makes commuting easier
- Fun, Fast and Powerful
- Kit includes everything you need
- Easy to install
- Charges in a few hours (6-8)
- Heavy Duty Rack can be used with panniers.
- Can climb hills
Weaknesses:
- Super Heavy, batteries alone weigh over 20lbs
- Once the battery is dead, the bike is harder to pedal with all the added weight
- Throttle gets in the way or your gear shifter.
- Instead of a standard charger, they should have made a smart charger. Smart chargers will automatically turn off once the battery pack has been fully charged. This prevents damage to the pack.
Summary:
The Wilderness Electric Bike Kit was an awesome product to review. It made my commute easier as well as allowing me to run errands much faster without being too sweaty.
The heavy duty rack doubles as a battery holder, but you can attach your panniers so you can carry your clothes or even groceries. The kit basically turns your bike into a pseudo motorcycle. It allows you to go further by alternating from pedaling and electric when riding.
Cost
$349
Related Links:
Wilderness Electric
October 22nd, 2005 at 10:18 pm
[...] Oct 2005 10:18 pm
We’ve posted our review on the Wilderness Energy Bike Kit. Read the REVIEW!
[...]
October 23rd, 2005 at 6:01 pm
[...] er at Commute By Bike, we’ve posted our review on the [...]
June 20th, 2006 at 3:06 pm
Hi,
Last year (2005) I bought the Wildernes Energy BD36 conversion kit (brushed) and it worked great for 1 year.
However, the brushes went out last week. They only lasted 1700 miles, or 85 hours at 20mph.
This is not what they claim. They dont tell you that the brushes have to be replaced every year.
From the real world…
Gil
October 3rd, 2006 at 3:56 pm
Please tell me what Brand of Bike is in the Photo above ? I have the BD36 E-Bike Kit, but I cannot find a Bike that will handle the Large BD36 AXLE, or the 4 Inch Motor Width ! I have been searching everywhere for a BIKE that will handle the BD36 Kit’s large diameter AXLE and 4 Inch Motor Width ! I search ten BD36 Kit Sellers today, and none of them give a Clue, as to what Bike will handle their large oversized AXLE and 4 Inch Motor Width ! Help, Help, I’m Desperate !
Steve ONeill, 847-776-1817, steveoneill5@aol.com
November 12th, 2006 at 1:41 pm
I purchased a brushed conversion system with a seemingly fine NIMH pack. However, I noticed that the yellow (discharged) indicator would come on whenever I used full throttle.Eventually, something went wrong; one of the output pairs of 12v off the pack shorted and apparently blew the switch. The company fixed the switch. However, I acquired a wilderness brushless conversion kit but used the NIMH pack instead of the SLA pack sent by Wilderness. It is not fast, but, hey, I feel the power and am, up to now, impressed. The yellow discharge only lights up whenI am climbing, which makes much sense. If I can go on with this system for at least four years, I shall have gotten my money as well as relief from transp. problems (only been using it for two weeks).I would love a feed back. My mail is:
hnarsing@aol.com
December 26th, 2006 at 12:20 pm
E-bikes are really getting more powerful, especially w newer
batteries like i saw on falconev dot com.
I used my hub motor on a cruiser bike from W mart
December 28th, 2006 at 6:29 am
When does the upgraded BD36 come out in 2007? January? December? Thanks.
December 30th, 2006 at 11:01 am
In answer to the above post about the wheel fitting into the fork. You have to file your fork opening bigger to fit the axle. and you can not use any fork with a shock on it.
January 12th, 2007 at 4:12 pm
So what is the ‘real world’ range of this set up? Do you get the 20 mile claimed range?
Thanks! - John
February 14th, 2007 at 2:16 am
I have been using the wilderness electrical Model BD36 battery pac for 3 weeks now. I commute 10 miles to work charge up and then 10 miles back. from Venice to Hollywood in LA. The unit works wonderfully better then I expected. However, I have had some problems with the battery bag falling off and breaking, as well as the throttle lever breaking off to. I have had too come up with creative solutions for both problems. The bike goes at an average speed of 20 MPH and with moderate pedaling 25 MPH, the batteries begins to lose power after about 10 miles. I am a big guy 220 lbs my commute takes me up a very gradual slope but my speed never dopes below 18 MPH. The engine is an amazing little powerhouse.
I guess the biggest problem is the durability of the throttle switch, the battery bag, and the rack, all need to be built sturdier. I have had to replace all of these with sturdier solutions. It is because the bike hauls ass and with the bumpy streets in la things tend to get banged around. But all and all I am very satisfied with this product.
March 5th, 2007 at 1:18 am
I am about to buy an electric bicycle conversion kit and basically the two contenders i had in mind are the wildernessenergy BL-36 brushless with a 8Ah NiCa battery or the RoadRunner RR-36 brushless hub with same battery pack as i have deviated abit from the specs the dealer is asking for 750CAD about 640US to me this seems too much for the BL-36 but may actually match the RR-36 any one has any experience with the RR-36 good or bad and how does it compare to the BL-36 the otherthing it maight be cheaper to peacemeal a bike by buying the parts seperately from diferent vendors has any one tried that instead of going for the conversion kit and if so any problems??
March 21st, 2007 at 1:05 am
I leave nearby and would like something for short jaunts on the steep fire roads and trails around Trabuco Canyon. Have you used the WE unit on that type of terrain? Does the brushed motor have more torque for this application?
Thanks!
July 8th, 2007 at 1:36 pm
Im looking for the wilderness bike kit manual or instructions,willing to pay fair price,I purchased a jamis bike & wilderness kit that has not been installed.
many thanks for any leads ect.
Ed Barkes
July 10th, 2007 at 9:28 pm
I have a manuel and instructions that came with my bl-36 wilderness kit. If you want i can make copies and mail one to you . It isnt much of a manuel, just tells how to mount the wheel and specs.
Roger
July 19th, 2007 at 8:33 am
If anybody wants to upgrade their batteries to Lithium, let me know.
P.S. They WILL cost more than you paid for the kit. So don’t be shocked.
falconev dot com
thanks
October 13th, 2007 at 2:02 am
We carry Wilderness Energy, Crystalyte, and Bionx conversion kit. In addition, we have Lithium battery.
We continue to publish interesting articles about electric bike and had made many videos on the net.
here are a few article
http://66.216.117.91/Select_a_Conversion_Kit_s/33.htm
http://66.216.117.91/electric_bike_Conversion_Pre_Requisites_s/49.htm
and a how to video
http://video.google.ca/videoplay?docid=-8494970111924158218
March 31st, 2008 at 10:11 am
My experience with the Wilderness bike kit was a big disappointment. I was not informed of the problem with using this motor on a bike with shocks, and the motor broke the tines. I sent the motor back for repairs resulting from the wires getting damaged when this happened. I had to buy a regular fork. Instead of filing the forks, however, it makde more sense to file the oversize washer. Then I got good service from the motor for a few months. It always sparked when I had to detach the batteries for charging. It soarked worse when reattaching the battery pack. The manual says this is normal. But then one night the spark turned into a “spot weld” and melted the wire plug. The motor apparently is not as “sealed” as claimed, and so shorted out. No further repairs are available. The dealer said it would cost as much as a new kit.
July 29th, 2008 at 7:20 pm
I purchased a WE BL-36 kit from BernsonEV.com in June of 2008. They seem to have a difficult time keeping them in stock as their prices are the lowest that I can find. $439 + SH for the BL-36.
The wheel with the hub motor installed had loose spokes and was out of true. I trued the wheel myself and discovered that the rim was damaged and was not round. It appeared to have a flat spot in it’s circumference. I chose to have the motor spoked into a spare (better quality) rim that I had laying around by a local bike shop for $80. I also am using a Blackburn heavy duty rack that I already had for the batteries as the rack provided wiggled too much for my liking.
The installation of the kit is easy and straight-forward. So much so that I installed in on a Cruiser bike, configured as a vintage board-track racer, that I had laying around to take turns ripping around the block with my son.
The next day I moved the kit onto my Trek 830 for my commute. I performed a more permanent installation using tiewraps on the battery pack and electrical and duct-tape everywhere else to keep things tidy. I love this kit. It is stealthy and many do not know what I have. The kit is heavy. I would guess about 50 lbs total. I weigh 185 lbs. I have a 10 mile commute and have put about 600 miles on the kit with no problems. I pedal the entire time and receive a beneficial cardiovascular workout using the kit. While not as strenuous as my standard bike, it is better than sitting behind the wheel of a car. The charger seems to be an improved version as it does have a battery maintenance mode. My commute is mostly level on a bike path with very slight grades. I enjoy sneaking up on younger cyclists on their highend bikes and having them accept the all too common non-verbal speed challenge. I trail them for a while and when they start to wheez and cough, I apply more throttle and pass them by. Unless they are wise, they must be wondering how this 40 yr old man on an old bike is leaving them in the dust. Some choose to spend thousands on lightweight equipment. I chose to spend money on power.
The net result is that I have rode to work everyday since purchasing the bike kit. I alternate between my standard bike and my Trek 830/WE-BL36 equipped bike. This kit has allowed me to stop using my car for commuting to work by motivating me to ride my bike(s) on days that I am too tired, running late, or the weather is too hot. For me, it removes excuses not to ride.
I am very satisfied with the WE BL-36 kit.
August 8th, 2008 at 4:26 pm
[...] had a chance to review the Wilderness Electric kit back in ‘05 on another site; and I also had a chance to ride with [...]
August 28th, 2008 at 12:05 am
Where can I buy one of these for $349.00, as quoted here? All of them that I have found are $499.00 and up!
September 20th, 2008 at 6:07 am
My opinion. I like 80cc bicycle more better because this electric speed is slow than 80cc bicycle included gas.
September 30th, 2008 at 6:25 am
Be sure if you purchase a Wilderness kit make sure if it says it comes with extended range batteries that you get them. I received two wheels from them that claimed it came with the extended battery and they didn’t. The extended range batteries are 12v/12a SLA. The regular ones were 12v/7.2a
October 9th, 2008 at 5:01 pm
5 months and my BL-36 is still running strong. I have started riding my non-electric bike Mon, Tue, Wed, and have noticed that I am stronger and faster after having reaped the benefits of pedalling with my WE kit for the past 4 months. The WE equiped bike continues to be a strong motivator for me on days when I am looking for any excuse not to ride.