A Netherlands-based builder wanted a fast commuter that did not look like an e-bike. The result is a converted road bike with a Tongsheng 1,000W mid-drive motor running on a 52V, 20Ah battery stashed inside standard rear panniers. Comfortable cruising speed with the existing cassette is around 53 km/h. The motor produces a rated 160 Nm of torque, controller is built into the unit, and assist type is torque-sensing, meaning the output responds to how hard you are pedaling rather than simply matching a fixed assist level. The threaded bottom bracket was kept intact throughout so the conversion can be reversed if needed. That reversibility is one thing a factory e-bike cannot offer.
The build was done in the Netherlands, where cycling infrastructure is dense and the history of bicycle use runs deep, partly shaped by the country's response to the 1973 oil crisis. That context matters here: this is not a hobbyist building for track days. It is someone trying to extend practical cycling range without switching to fuel or buying a proprietary e-bike platform. Factory e-bikes typically come locked to a frame and battery system that cannot be separated or upgraded independently. This build uses standard bike components throughout, wired from a color-coordinated kit that the builder describes as largely plug-and-play once the motor and bracket are installed. A shift sensor was added to cut motor power just before each gear change, protecting the cassette from the kind of chain snap that happens when you try to shift under load.
A few details stand out beyond the motor itself. The builder 3D scanned the handlebars and their iPhone to design a custom carbon fiber reinforced phone mount, using a Creality Scan S1 scanner and CAD software to model a precise fit. The rear rack was mounted using a custom-cut metal plate rather than the supplied bracket, rated for heavier loads. Cable routing avoided zip ties on the visible frame sections, using a U-channel profile attached to water bottle mounts instead. The battery's location in the rear bags keeps the center of the frame visually clean. At 53 km/h the bike's geometry stays stable, and both the builder and their partner have been riding it regularly for longer commutes.
Bottom line: The specs here outperform most off-the-shelf speed pedelecs and the total cost is lower, but getting there takes time, research, and a willingness to problem-solve. If you have those, this video is a thorough and honest walkthrough of what the build actually involves.