![]() Your decision depends on what kind of riding you do. Just make sure that you brace your bike frame properly. Hub motors are a decent choice for commuting on paved streets with light to medium hills, when you’ll be using your legs most or all of the way. They’re notably easier to install than mid-drives, and they let you avoid dealing with installing a motor into your bottom bracket-a bike part that can be notoriously varied in kind and size. They start at lower prices than mid-drives. If you’re planning to tackle hilly trails, off-road conditions, or long ranges, a mid-drive setup is definitely best.īut hub motors have their place. And a mid-drive motor’s weight sits evenly in the middle of the frame, rather than at the front or back. They make more efficient use of battery power, especially on hills. They’re generally safer for your bike’s frame, especially with newer bikes made of aluminum, carbon, or alloys instead of older, tougher steel. Most DIY ebike enthusiasts prefer mid-drive motors, which leverage the bike’s gears to alternate torque and speed, unlike the blunt push of motorized hubs. More intensive install with specialty tools (and sometimes frustrating bottom-bracket sizes) Limited in power (500 watts or less recommended, especially with aluminum or carbon forks)īetter weight balance and traction for hills and rainįits bikes with irregular bottom bracketsĭrivetrain and wheel components may be cheaper quality than original bike partsĪllows you to use your bike’s gears to shift between torque and speedīest to avoid shifting while motor is engaged Trickier handling and balance for inexperienced bikers ![]() More battery-placement options (using smaller batteries) Less traction on steep hills and poor road conditionsĮasier to overheat motor on hills or spin-outs ”All-wheel drive” (when also pedaling) on flat roads Torque arms-additional metal bracing to secure the axle in the bike’s frame-advised for more than 250 watts, complicating flats and repairs So we try to start them at ‘more,’ so they don’t regret it later,” he said. “Once someone starts riding ebikes, they’re always going to want more. Ostlund gets customers saying that they haven’t ridden in 20 years, and that they only want to take weekend rides with their spouse-but a year later, they’ve hit 3,000 miles and want upgrades. The hard part is forecasting how much power and range you’ll want once you’re into ebiking, said Adam Ostlund, managing partner at Electrify Bike Co., an ebike seller and shop in Utah. The more you know about your bike, and how hilly and far your typical ride will be, the easier your choice will be.
0 Comments
Leave a Reply. |