Is anyone using a rear wheel hub drive conversion (as opposed to mid-drive) ? If so, what's the verdict?
Re: The next step....
Posted: Wed Nov 27, 2019 6:12 pm
by Bojer
I had the Gtech Escent rear hub drive and it went well especially on the road and of course was not concerned if you tried to pull away in too high a gear . But off road I found it hard work keeping up with mid drive bikes - especially up hills . I have got a Giant Strance now but its a heavy beast by comparison .
I've ridden with a couple of rear hub converted bikes and even the 1000W one struggled/failed to get up off road hills the mid drive bikes managed ok .
If you're riding on your own , without steep hills or with "manual" bikes a hub drive seems ok to me and must give the chain an easier time but a mid drive bike is better/more fun - whether is is as much better as the extra cost is another question !
Re: The next step....
Posted: Thu Nov 28, 2019 1:00 pm
by andrew882
I converted an old Marin FRS with a hub drive, I would concur with what Bojer said - it was great for smoothing out gentle climbs, but the power delivery felt a bit like a light switch, so not so great for delicate control (although I think this was as much to do with the kit using a pedal sensor rather than torque sensor). I rode a Cube with the Bosch system very briefly on road and it definitely seemed more 'cycle-like' to me.
With it being designed to have the e-system integrated made a big difference too, it just seemed more polished. The downside is that polish costs (and if you're looking for full suspension, it costs a lot!)
I'm currently going round in a loop in my head on whether to stick with what I have, buy a mid-drive kit with torque sensing, or bit the bullet and pony up for a shiny new proper e-bike
Re: The next step....
Posted: Thu Nov 28, 2019 1:59 pm
by garyboy
Well .. I have found that a oem proper Emtb is a completely different thing to an E converted mtb .. more robust, handles better, better wheels and tyres, better balanced, more suited brakes.
..and there's some good but cheap ones about now.
Re: The next step....
Posted: Thu Nov 28, 2019 3:31 pm
by Bojer
andrew882 wrote: ↑Thu Nov 28, 2019 1:00 pm
With it being designed to have the e-system integrated made a big difference too, it just seemed more polished. The downside is that polish costs (and if you're looking for full suspension, it costs a lot!)
I'm currently going round in a loop in my head on whether to stick with what I have, buy a mid-drive kit with torque sensing, or bit the bullet and pony up for a shiny new proper e-bike
I struggled with the same thing for a while , the G Tech was my "toe in the water" until I forced my wallet open to buy the Giant . Physchologically it was hard paying that much for "a mere pushbike" but I have really enjoyed getting out on it with a few current motorcyclists , "its like trail riding but can start from your door" was one of their comments . As Andrew said going from speed sensing to torque sensing makes getting through narrow gateways etc much less fraught !
Re: The next step....
Posted: Fri Nov 29, 2019 10:21 am
by Scott_rider
I've been contemplating getting a rear drive hub for my Scott mtb ( ) as it's got a good spec with Deore LX components and a Rockshox judy fork...but it is old. I can get that done for about £750. Or, I've been looking at a new Specialised Levo with a mid drive. They are available new, but old stock, for £1400. However they run Acera components which is a step down from Deore...but I'm not sure that's really an issue and maybe just snobbery in my mind . Both are hardtails, which is good enough for what I do.
Re: The next step....
Posted: Tue Dec 17, 2019 5:32 pm
by garyboy
what do people think of the sur ron ebikes .. throttle [ not pedal assist ] ..
With the Bosch motors you can get an app for around £5 that allows you to modify each of the 4 power modes to your own taste.
I’ve not tried it yet. One reason being that I don’t know what the original settings are for the original modes, so I wouldn’t know how to tweak it.
Something like this I think.
For all things on an electric mountain bike subscribe to the EMBN on YouTube it’s a very well presented channel with lots of information.
Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
Re: The next step....
Posted: Sat Jan 11, 2020 5:10 pm
by scoobydidler
Plus one for EMBN. I've got the e bike bug. I'm having a spell without a trail bike but i still need something to get out on and have some "man time"
As previously mentioned it doesn't half open up a lot of countryside that's not accessible (legally) on a trailbike.
Photo isn't playing ball.
Sent from my H8416 using Tapatalk
Re: The next step....
Posted: Sun Jan 12, 2020 12:41 pm
by crofty
garyboy wrote: ↑Tue Dec 17, 2019 5:32 pm
what do people think of the sur ron ebikes .. throttle [ not pedal assist ] ..
If you are considering the Sur Ron in the context of biking trails that E bikes can go on its a non starter, too much like a motorbike.
If you are thinking about it for trails that you can take a motorcycle on then you would have to register it or van it to the trails, more hassle. so not for me.
I am in a house share every winter in Aviemore and ride the trails there alot on my Carrera mtb with a 36v 350w Bafang Hi Torq hub motor set up and it is fine for undulating stuff and a range of 35 miles which covers all the trails lengthwise.
One of the other guys in the house has a Bafang BBS 750w 48v crank drive lashed on to a hardtail mountain bike and that will climb anything, The extra kick a 48v gives over a 36v is considerable so thats the Next Step for me. Probably with a custom built 52v 17Ah battery.
The house in Aviemore is very close to the trails so riding on public roads is kept to a minimum because as you probably know the legal limit is 250w
) as it's got a good spec with Deore LX components and a Rockshox judy fork...but it is old. I can get that done for about £750. Or, I've been looking at a new Specialised Levo with a mid drive. They are available new, but old stock, for £1400. However they run Acera components which is a step down from Deore...but I'm not sure that's really an issue and maybe just snobbery in my mind 
. Both are hardtails, which is good enough for what I do.
