Hub drive and original wheel
07-18-22, 09:14 AM
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Hub drive and original wheel
I haven't decided on whether I will be going mid drive or rear hub drive when I convert my bike and my wife's bike to electric. If I go the hub drive route I have a question concerning the drive wheel.
My bike is a Trek Marlin 5 with 29" wheels and has 2.2" tires on it. I'd like to keep it like that and I'd also like to stay with a motor made by Bafang. In my research, I have not found anyone supplying a motor with a wheel the size I want. I see 700c but they are never wide enough.
So my question is, do people sometimes just buy the motor and have the LBS lace up the wheel from their bike or is this not a thing?
Thanks,
Eric
My bike is a Trek Marlin 5 with 29" wheels and has 2.2" tires on it. I'd like to keep it like that and I'd also like to stay with a motor made by Bafang. In my research, I have not found anyone supplying a motor with a wheel the size I want. I see 700c but they are never wide enough.
So my question is, do people sometimes just buy the motor and have the LBS lace up the wheel from their bike or is this not a thing?
Thanks,
Eric
07-18-22, 09:58 AM
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I've had my LBS do that on a couple of builds where I didn't have the time to do it myself. However, check in advance. Some bike shops are not "e" fans. Bonus: you can have the shop use 14 ga spokes which create a much better wheel IMO (and that of wheel builders who understand the dynamics of a spoke wheel.
Last edited by 2old; 07-18-22 at 10:04 AM.
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07-22-22, 08:58 AM
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My Bafang rear hub drive kit came with 700x19 rim. I put a 45mm Schwalbe Marathon tire on it and have been very happy for 1100 miles. Maybe 2.2" isn't necessary. The 45mm is pretty beefy. By the way, I've had zero problems since converting a new Motobecane hybrid adventure bike with a 500W Bafang kit; and a whole lot of fun riding it. Did an enjoyable 25 miles in 90 degrees and high humidity yesterday; would have been hellish on non-powered bike.
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07-23-22, 09:38 AM
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Yes, if you find a friendly and competent bike shop, they should be able to lace a rim of your choice to a bare motor, using proper ebike spokes, A single cross pattern with Sapim Strong spokes (13G at elbow and 14G at end) would be my request, except I've done mine myself, The biggest hurdle is figuring out the spoke length needed. There are online calaculators, and I've found they all vary by a few mm.
26*4.0" fat tire
09-14-22, 03:53 PM
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Check Golden Motors Canada ... Their hub motors come with a strong rim ..I have a 2.25 on my 26 inch townie ... These kits have the controller in the hub ..1 less thing to mount ... I really like the "cruise control" button ..holds you at your desired speed .. Also has regen braking ...Maybe this will help you
