Originally Posted by
chillspike
Would you feel comfortable having a 350 rear hub motor on an aluminum frame? From talk on the internets I kind of got it stuck in my electric bicycle noob brain that aluminum frames can crack more easily under the stress from electric motors.
Incidentally, and sorry for my ignorance, but can a belt driven bike have an electric motor? I really like the belt drive I saw on the Mu 360.
If I were contemplating a rear drive 350w motor, I'd want steel dropouts .. but that's me... I'm sure it's been done before with aluminum frames, but I know there are general warnings against using an aluminum fork for front drive installations.. also, Dahon doesn't have a belt drive bike in their lineup, if you saw a Mu 360 with a belt, it was either a custom install (like mine), or more likely the fully enclosed black plastic chain guard (which can look like a belt from a distance).. although anything is possible, if you were going to run a belt drive IGH, you'd want front wheel drive... and with a Dahon, that would mean an 80mm hub motor and a steel fork..