The NuVinci transmission is a seriously pretty little girl that I would love to play with, but I don't believe she can take the torque that is applied by a 1 hp. motor pulling a bike that is set-up for touring. When I built my bike I had no information to go to bat on. No one on youtube or the bike forums had actually used a Rohloff, let alone the new to market NuVinci. with a center drive motor. I love the design of the NuVinci and believe they can be built to handle additional torque, but don't think they will ever match a Rohloff Speedhub for efficiency and durability.

When I chose the motor for my bike I couldn't find what I thought I wanted. U.S. made, center drive, 1 hp., pedal assist, and throttle for under $1500.00. Hub motors were out because I was looking for hill climbing ability over speed. I saw several vendors buying the BaFang 8Fun, modifying the programming, changing the paint and remarketing them for a huge profit. They all seemed to have the same goal, to get the most power out of the motor possible. I had skipped over the BaFang the 1st run through because surely the least expensive drive wouldn't be the one I wanted. After doing the research I kept coming back to the 750w BaFang. The research also showed me the best vendor to buy from and to have mount the drive. Doug Snyder at California Ebike was always at the top of my list. I had a newly purchased bike shipped to him, he mounted the drive and shipped it to me for final assembly. I immediately recognized how nice having a throttle was going to be. BaFang allows you to program their PAS or pedal assist for either 3 or 9 levels of assist. I wanted to use the minimum power assist possible to try and maximize my distance, so I set it for 9 levels. When set for PAS #1 applying the throttle gives the max level of #1 assist power. Pedaling at level #1 uses slightly less than 100% of level #1 power. I found myself bumping the throttle in between peddling to maintain a constant speed and it feels very natural. What I hadn't expected was that it would work so well with the Rohloff Speedhub, it was almost as if they were made for each other. I had bought brake levers with electric shut-off for the motor and found that they actually worked against me. With standard gears, you don't want the motor applying torque when you are changing gears. Also, when braking if you turn the crank in the slightest the motor kicks in and you jump. Bad thing when not expected. So the brake levers have cut-offs that start a multisecond delay in the motor. I hated it at intersections. I would have to wait for the power to kick back in. Being blessed in having the Rohloff drive I disconnected the shut-off in the brake levers completely. When you change gears with the Speedhub you stop peddling anyway and at intersections, I can hold the brake lever right up to the very second that I start peddling or apply the throttle. I am thinking of routing a brake lever shut-off to a button on the bars that allows me to pedal without motor assist, without having to turn the PAS to #0 or shutting the motor off. I find myself riding more and more on low and no power, carrying/towing more weight, all the time. It's all about range and hill climbing ability in touring. I wouldn't ride a bike without a throttle and yet wouldn't ride one with only a throttle either. The BaFang allows me to ride with no power assist, PAS 1-9, and/or throttle only. There are more refined PAS systems but none with as much versatility.