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Electric Assist for Recumbent Bikes and Trikes

The most common Electric Assist for a recumbent is a MID-DRIVE (motor built into the bottom bracket and crankset).
Hub motors exsist but we are unable to source recumbent-suitable units at this time.

Talk to us to find out which Electric Assist best suits your needs.


Recumbent E-Kit FAQ

Definitely!! Talk to us to find out which kit is best for you!

No. Australian legislation requires all pedal cycles with Electric Assist meet EN15194 standard. A recumbent bike or trike cannot meet this standard, so is therefore illegal to import into Australia. Also, as air transport of lithium batteries is expensive and difficult, an original equipment e-trike is price prohibitive in our region.

Yes. We can supply and fit an E-kit as part of your trike assembly.

No. Common kits are arranged for the standard upright bicycle, and the parts and wiring, in the main, do not just “bolt on” to a recumbent!

No. We are unable to provide Hub Motors at this time

Typically, you will need extension cables, and be prepared to cut and splice longer wiring, make or source special brackets to mount the battery, keypad and display.

Depending on the type, A Standard kit has all the essentials: either a new wheel and motor or crankset and motor, battery, display/keypad, electronic control module, and assorted wiring. Optional extras include brake sensors, gear change sensors, and various extension leads.

Depending on battery and kit style, from $1200 - $1600.

Around $900 to install a kit, including battery and display mounts.

A Hub Motor is a motor built into a wheel.
A Mid-Drive motor is built into the bottom bracket and crankset, and uses the bikes chain and gear systems to drive the wheel.

We presently use the CYC Photon or the Bafang mid drives.

Electric Assist bicycles in Australia are legally limited to 250 watt power, and to 25kmh with power assistance.

Queensland law limits motor only speed to 6kmh or less. Our installations come with a “walk assist” option only.

Electric assist kits weigh around 6kg including battery.

Difficult to say, much depends on riding style, terrain, weight, bike style, and how much assistance is used. Typical installations return 40 – 60 kilometers using moderate assist.

In most cases yes.

The preferred position on a trike is on the main frame, behind and below the seat.

Where possible we try to locate the control pad on one handle bar. On the Bafang mid drives this often means separating the display from the keypad and splicing in a long wire to suit. We have several standard locations for the display: on an accessory post, on the front derailleur housing, or on the main frame forward of the seat.

More Info about Electric Assist

DT Recumbents BLOGs:

Qld legislation: www.legislation.qld.gov.au/view/html/inforce/current/sl-2009-0194#sec.353B, 353BPower-assisted bicycles. Act, schedule 4, definition power-assisted bicycle

A hackers guide to programming the bbs02 by electricbike-blog.com