Front Wheel Motor Electric Bikes
#1
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Front Wheel Motor Electric Bikes
Is that really a good idea? It seems like a dangerous idea to me. Isn't it hard to steer? Maybe you throttle off while you're steering? What about the weight of the motor? Does that effect steering or control? There must be a good reason there aren't any front wheel drive motorcycles. But it works for cars just fine. So maybe I'm wrong.
Here's why front wheel drive on a motorcycle is a bad idea
Most of the physics are the same as a bicycle aren't they?
Here's why front wheel drive on a motorcycle is a bad idea
Most of the physics are the same as a bicycle aren't they?
Last edited by Heat88; 04-01-24 at 03:12 AM.
#2
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Is that really a good idea? It seems like a dangerous idea to me. Isn't it hard to steer? Maybe you throttle off while you're steering? What about the weight of the motor? Does that effect steering or control? There must be a good reason there aren't any front wheel drive motorcycles. But it works for cars just fine. So maybe I'm wrong.
Here's why front wheel drive on a motorcycle is a bad idea
Most of the physics are the same as a bicycle aren't they?
Here's why front wheel drive on a motorcycle is a bad idea
Most of the physics are the same as a bicycle aren't they?
Last edited by Duragrouch; 04-01-24 at 03:45 AM.
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Is that really a good idea? It seems like a dangerous idea to me. Isn't it hard to steer? Maybe you throttle off while you're steering? What about the weight of the motor? Does that effect steering or control? There must be a good reason there aren't any front wheel drive motorcycles.
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Long before the current electric bike craze my employer bought some electric bicycles and scooters. The bikes were all front wheel drive. They pulled to the left (I think) when you applied power but you got used to that. It just felt weird but wasn't a problem.
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It is old school or found on cheap kits. I wouldn't do it. Now that e-bikes are so ubiquitous and easy to get in quality and low quality options the kit stuff especially front wheel kits is just not really as needed.
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Front hub motors are not a problem unless you use a very high powered motor and have throttle control. Two wheel drive can be a benefit. look at Grin Tech. They sell high quality units by several manufacturer's. They even manufacture some themselves.
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#7
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The VeloSoleX, commonly known as a Solex, is an early powered bicycle or moped, powered by an engine above the front wheel and driving it, so can also easily be used as a conventional bicycle. One is pictured in the opening minute of Three Days of the Condor during opening credits, ridden by Robert Redford. Since in continuous production since 1946, I'm sure millions have been produced and used.
https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/V%C3%A9loSoleX
https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/V%C3%A9loSoleX
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I built a front hub motor bike for my wife 12 or 13 years ago and while I wouldn’t call it nimble it handles ok and she loves it.
I used a 350 watt motor. Don’t think I would want much more power up front.
The one caution I would add is that the axle must be adequately braced against rotation in the dropouts and dropouts should be regularly inspected.
I used a 350 watt motor. Don’t think I would want much more power up front.
The one caution I would add is that the axle must be adequately braced against rotation in the dropouts and dropouts should be regularly inspected.
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I built a front hub motor bike for my wife 12 or 13 years ago and while I wouldn’t call it nimble it handles ok and she loves it.
I used a 350 watt motor. Don’t think I would want much more power up front.
The one caution I would add is that the axle must be adequately braced against rotation in the dropouts and dropouts should be regularly inspected.
I used a 350 watt motor. Don’t think I would want much more power up front.
The one caution I would add is that the axle must be adequately braced against rotation in the dropouts and dropouts should be regularly inspected.
I built one for her husband who is equally happy.
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BTW, the second picture is before the wires were cleaned up on the cruiser. I needed to remove 30" of wire from both the motor to the controller and the throttle to the controller, then "package" them in a sheath.
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I build a fat bike with 1000w front wheel motor. It didn't cause any traction issues, but was heavy and uncomfortable to maneuver at slow speeds.
#12
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I built a front hub motor bike for my wife 12 or 13 years ago and while I wouldn’t call it nimble it handles ok and she loves it.
I used a 350 watt motor. Don’t think I would want much more power up front.
The one caution I would add is that the axle must be adequately braced against rotation in the dropouts and dropouts should be regularly inspected.
I used a 350 watt motor. Don’t think I would want much more power up front.
The one caution I would add is that the axle must be adequately braced against rotation in the dropouts and dropouts should be regularly inspected.
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You are absolutely correct. I made anti rotation mounting tabs for both sides of the wheel that fit over the axle flats and mount to the threaded bosses fore and aft of the dropout. I will grab a photo later.
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Front wheel kits make more sense when you consider ease of conversion rather than desirability of FWD - there's no need to stock different hubs for different spacing and number of gears and freewheel/freehub that would be required for a rear wheel, because everything is 9/10 x 100 mm, no need to transfer freewheels or cassettes, no gear setup required. Of course that's changing, with more bikes having 15/20 x 100/110 mm front axles, and all that extra unsprung mass won't do the ride any good. Mid drive is the better option for many bikes, but that can be intimidating for users who don't have experience with the various crank and bbkt arrangements, switching to 1x gears. I've done a few mid drive conversions, currently working on a couple of RWD conversions, I would consider FWD on the tandem if I hadn't already bought a new hub for it, but maybe still. If I did fit one it would be geared and low power, so fairly small and light, because it's an assist, not a main power source.
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Grinn Technologies has an all axle front motor that can be ordered to work on most all of the old and new axle types.
Last edited by Rick; 04-04-24 at 08:17 AM.
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There's no reason to not have front motor drive on a bike.
Some may object to how the added weight affects steering, but it's far less than using front b panniers which are common enough to challenge that objection.
As to motorcycles, the answer is obvious. Non-electric front wheel drive is problematic because there's no easy way to get power from a motor to a front wheel.
The reality is that there are design advantages to rear wheel drive E-bikes if starting from a blank page. OTOH there are significant front wheel drive advantages in terms of cost and simplicity, if adapting a pedal bike to E-bike.
Some may object to how the added weight affects steering, but it's far less than using front b panniers which are common enough to challenge that objection.
As to motorcycles, the answer is obvious. Non-electric front wheel drive is problematic because there's no easy way to get power from a motor to a front wheel.
The reality is that there are design advantages to rear wheel drive E-bikes if starting from a blank page. OTOH there are significant front wheel drive advantages in terms of cost and simplicity, if adapting a pedal bike to E-bike.
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An ounce of diagnosis is worth a pound of cure.
Just because I'm tired of arguing, doesn't mean you're right.
“One accurate measurement is worth a thousand expert opinions” - Adm Grace Murray Hopper - USN
WARNING, I'm from New York. Thin skinned people should maintain safe distance.
#18
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There's no reason to not have front motor drive on a bike.
Some may object to how the added weight affects steering, but it's far less than using front b panniers which are common enough to challenge that objection.
As to motorcycles, the answer is obvious. Non-electric front wheel drive is problematic because there's no easy way to get power from a motor to a front wheel.
The reality is that there are design advantages to rear wheel drive E-bikes if starting from a blank page. OTOH there are significant front wheel drive advantages in terms of cost and simplicity, if adapting a pedal bike to E-bike.
Some may object to how the added weight affects steering, but it's far less than using front b panniers which are common enough to challenge that objection.
As to motorcycles, the answer is obvious. Non-electric front wheel drive is problematic because there's no easy way to get power from a motor to a front wheel.
The reality is that there are design advantages to rear wheel drive E-bikes if starting from a blank page. OTOH there are significant front wheel drive advantages in terms of cost and simplicity, if adapting a pedal bike to E-bike.
A local place has for years offered electric front wheels for Bromptons, popular because it's so easily switched between powered and standard wheels.
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