Snowsurfer

Does anyone run disk brakes on their ebike?

nwmtnbkr

One of my winter projects is installation of a disc brake on my front wheel, which will mean changing out the fork, too. Many pre-built e-bikes are now coming with disc brakes. Anyone planning on installing a powerful motor that can propel them to 30 MPH or faster really needs disc brakes. You can retrofit the front brake on most bikes with V brakes if you change out the fork. However, it's almost impossible to retrofit rear V brakes and most bicycle manufacturers discourage attempts to retrofit rear V brakes with disc brakes.

xtrajack

I have disc brakes on mine. Of course, the disc brakes came on the bike before I converted it to an e-bike.

One way that I know of to retrofit V brakes on the rear is to get a Free Radical. Then you have a completely different animal. Lots of fun, but different.

Llamero

I put an BionX equipped FreeRadical on the rear of my bike so now I have a 203mm disc brake on the rear, V brakes on the front, and the electric brakes through the BionX system.

Snowsurfer

I want to put disks up front. I do have to get a new wheel though. The current hub doesn't allow for it.

nwmtnbkr

Yes, you may need to get a new fork too if your current one doesn't support disc brakes. Even having to buy a new fork and new wheel, my install will be under $300 since I'm doing the work myself.

Snowsurfer

Nah, the fork is good. The fork has IS mounts.

I am contemplating rebuilding the wheel into a new disk hub, or getting a new wheel altogether.

But 203mm rotors all the way. I needed so much stopping distance today, was going in excess of 55km/h.

I had to do a longboard style footbreak to stop in time.

misslexi

I run 203mm discs back and front, best thing I ever did. Interloc dual banger mechanical calipers.

Snowsurfer

What motor are you running?

stonez

Disc brake in front is important to me because the extra weight + 1 pillion makes it harder to stop.

misslexi

Ecospeed mid-drive on a Rans Stratus XP.