Finding a bike for the BBSHD

First time ebike builder here. I've decided on using the BBSHD, but I've run into problems finding a good bike to use. Since this is a commuter bike, I'm leaning towards a hybrid of sorts, or possibly a MTB, but I'm not really crazy about the fatbike thing, unless someone can really convince me otherwise.

I've looked through the forums for bike recommendations and found threads like this one:
https://endless-sphere.com/forums/viewtopic.php?f=28&t=79889&hilit=motobecane

While helpful, they recommend old bikes that are hard to find.

I came across this very helpful post explaining the type of bottom bracket that must be used with the BBSHD:
https://www.empoweredcycles.com/blogs/news/101474694-bottom-bracket-standards

Problem is, I can't seem to find any information about the spec of the BB on bikes. For example, I was interested in these bikes from BD:
http://www.bikesdirect.com/products/motobecane/elite_adventure_x5-ltd.htm
http://www.bikesdirect.com/products/gravity/650b-27.5-bikes-g275-g2.htm

Even found the BB part info, but can't seem to figure out if its BSA,BB30,PF30, etc.
http://www.srsuntour-cycling.com/fi/FI/bike/details/XCT-BB10-XCT-SQS-113-CBT-3707.html

Does anyone know if these bikes might have the right BB? Or maybe point me in the right direction for finding a compatible bike?

Many thanks,
Brandon

I'll provide what help I can. Most bikes out there are going to have a sub 83mm. As in 68-73mm. Most older bikes had 68mm.
For the bike you are looking at, I would say it is a 73mm. Even if it is a 68mm, the regular BBSHD kit will fit both. Very doubtful it is a 83mm.
I would advise you to call or email the seller to make sure. Buying the 68-73 BBSHD makes the most sense to me. Even if you end up changing bikes later, you will have better chance of compatibility.
Just my $.02

I am not sure what you are asking? The specs on the link you provided for the BB clearly state that it is a 68mm BB. What else do you need to know?

Thanks for the quick replies. I should have been explained a bit better.

The BB width is not the issue. I know the width is 68mm. The issue is the kind of BB. My understanding is that the BBSHD is made specifically for the threaded BB shell, but bikes are now coming in multiple standards that will not be compatible with the BBSHD, even though they are the correct width. Instead of the threaded BSA style, they might be BB30, etc.

Again, here is the article that gave me concern: https://www.empoweredcycles.com/blogs/news/101474694-bottom-bracket-standards

I"m trying to figure out what the BB shell is on the bikes mentioned (or other suggestions of course), and I thought looking at the BB they use would help, but I"m still a bit lost.

Nice complete bikes!

i'm not up on variations of the common 1.37" threaded 68- 83 BB shells besides the uncommon european thread thing, but that particular part evidences it's a standard shell compatible with bbhd (1.37" - 68mm).

I skimmed the article. Yes it's good @ 1.37" 24tpi 68mm.

The suntour BB10-XCT-SQS-113-CBT is 68mm width.

Source: http://www.srsuntour-cycling.com/fi/FI/bike/details/XCT-BB10-XCT-SQS-113-CBT-3707.html

edit: It's just the width you care about...the BBS has it's own BB integrated into the design...I thought the BBSHD was 100mm width though but I haven't looked into it much since the HD launched.

Maybe this link
Bikes that are compatible with a BBSHD
https://endless-sphere.com/forums/viewtopic.php?f=28&t=79889&hilit=bbshd

What does it matter what sort of thread is on the stock BB? It's going in the trash bin anyway as soon as you start to build. And the BBSHD has its own lock ring, retaining ring and other fasteners that attach to the BBSHD sandwiching your BB tube between them. The BB itself is irrelevant.

nutspecial said:

Nice complete bikes!

i'm not up on variations of the common 1.37" threaded 68- 83 BB shells besides the uncommon european thread thing, but that particular part evidences it's a standard shell compatible with bbhd (1.37" - 68mm).

I skimmed the article. Yes it's good @ 1.37" 24tpi 68mm.

Click to expand...

The thread pitch of the OEM BB does not matter since nothing is going to use those threads if you install a BBSHD. All that matters is that the BB removed was 1.37" so the BBSHD will fit into the BB shell correctly.

WoodlandHills said:

What does it matter what sort of thread is on the stock BB? It's going in the trash bin anyway as soon as you start to build. And the BBSHD has its own lock ring, retaining ring and other fasteners that attach to the BBSHD sandwiching your BB tube between them. The BB itself is irrelevant.

Click to expand...

Technically it doesn't matter what the thread on the BB is...but it does matter what the "thread" is on the BB shell where the new BBSDH will be placed. So I was trying to identify the style of BB shell by looking at the current BB.

7200rpm said:

WoodlandHills said:

What does it matter what sort of thread is on the stock BB? It's going in the trash bin anyway as soon as you start to build. And the BBSHD has its own lock ring, retaining ring and other fasteners that attach to the BBSHD sandwiching your BB tube between them. The BB itself is irrelevant.

Click to expand...

Technically it doesn't matter what the thread on the BB is...but it does matter what the "thread" is on the BB shell where the new BBSDH will be placed. So I was trying to identify the style of BB shell by looking at the current BB.

Click to expand...

Why does the thread of the BB shell matter? I've installed BBSHDs on three different bikes and I never screwed anything into the threads in the BB shell. If you do a bit of research you will see that the BBSHD has male threads on the protruding non-drive side of its BB that uses the supplied retaining ring to clamp the BB shell against the gear case on the drive side. Where do the internal threads of the BB shell come into play?

The installation would be the same if the BB shell was never threaded at all.

If you're correct then the article and I are very wrong (unless the HD is different than the 02 and 03?). I did kinda imagine the middrives most certainly needed to screw into the bike's shell (but have never installed or seen one in person), and it will be nice to kno for sure whether that is the case or not, with the research or maybe just one more post confirming neigh to shell threading.

Well then, I am sure that the article you read is correct and I must be mistaken about what I actually did...... All three times. Carry on and disregard my interruptions.

Just installed this motor and it does NOT thread in any way to the frame or bottom bracket. It only threads into itself.

The BBSHD I installed was quite snug going into the empty BB shell, but there was no threading involved, other than the locking ring that is threaded onto the left side after full insertion. It slides in once the stock "Shimano style" cartridge is removed..

I installed a 120mm unit onto a 100mm BB shell, so I had to add approximately one-inch's worth of spacer rings to the left side.

Here is a series of articles I wrote about installing a mid drive. You would only need to skim the pictures in part-1, and part-3... https://www.electricbike.com/removing-bottom-bracket-cartridge/

That's a great write up SM. Thanks for setting me straight guys!

So although

1.37 in x 24 TPI . . . is what the BBSxx motors were designed to fit into.

Click to expand...

(And that's a good article too) https://www.empoweredcycles.com/blogs/news/101474694-bottom-bracket-standards

It was easily subjectively interpretted by the assumptive reader (me) into the idea that the threads are used, when really it's just 1.37" diameter and of course shell length.

The multiple newer pressed bearing sized bb's can work also, but only maybe 1/2 of them have adapters available to bring the larger dia shell down to 1.37 dia.

So basically, if the bike has square taper cranks or you can confirm the shell is 1.37", the bbsxx kit need only further accomodate shell length.

It does not matter what sort of crank arms the donor bike has. Isis or square taper, they will be tossed into the trash and replaced with the Bafang parts that come with the kit. Ditto the OEM BB.........

Yep the cranks aren't reused- what I was getting at is a guess that (all or nearly all?) square/jis cranks indicate a standard combatible bb shell of 1.37 . . . because all the new fangled ones that need adaptation likely did away with square/jis. . . .

nutspecial said:

Yep the cranks aren't reused- what I was getting at is a guess that (all or nearly all?) square/jis cranks indicate a standard combatible bb shell of 1.37 . . . because all the new fangled ones that need adaptation likely did away with square/jis. . . .

Click to expand...

There seems to be some talking passed each other in this thread. The BBSxx motors are designed to fit into a BB shell that has an inner diameter that is the same as a standard threaded BSA (or JIS) type BB shell. Other BB shells may be used with adapters to take the inner diameter down to the appropriate size. The empowered link that was posted earlier is the best source to this information.

The BBS01 and 02 will fit shell widths of 68 to 73mm. The BBSHD has versions for various widths including 68 - 73mm, 100mm and 120mm. Wider width drives can be fitted to narrower width BB shells with spacers taking up the slack -
I've installed a 120mm on a 100mm BB for instance.

The BB shell threads are never used.

Oh, and if you need to find out the BB shell type you can sometimes find some info about the BB cartridge that you can google and find out the BB shell they fit. For instance, this bikes direct gravity monster I just found says this about its BB; Bottom Bracket VP-B63L CARTRIDGE 102.5MM/145MM
A quick google leads me here; http://www.vpcomponents.com/product/vp-bc63/
Which is as good as saying it fits into a BSA shell 1.37" threaded.