Originally Posted by
JonBailey
Some people here have expressed that front hubs have traction issues that can be dangerous. I live in Iowa where we get winter snow and ice. A rear hub has better traction, but the wheel won't match the stock front wheel. How does one deal with the stock disc brake rotor if one goes with a rear-hub motor?
I have not used a front hub drive before, but have ridden lots in the winter. My expectation would be that a lower powered front hub controlled by a torque sensor could potentially be great in the winter, as you would have an AWD bike. On the other hand, if it puts too much power in at the wrong time, it could result in the front wheel sliding out from loss of traction, or suddenly shifting you to be in front of traffic.
Originally Posted by
JonBailey
Do BAFANG kits come with any literature that an American can read at all? Any technical support telephone number? I will need not only to know how to install the kit CORRECTLY but also learn how to operate and maintain the system including any needed lubrication.
My kit did not come with paper instructions, but the retailer
has an instructional video.
Aren't the BAFANG mid-drive units permanently sealed and lubed for life?
With the BBS02, it is not permanently sealed, and cleaning it out and regreasing it can help prolong it's life. Replacement parts are available if you break something inside.
Since I plan on using this rig to regularly exercise my German shepherd since I lack athleticism as an older man, I've not interested in going like crazy but at slow to moderate speeds in a well-controlled fashion. When shifting a derailleur on a mid-drive, does one let off the throttle when shifting gears? What is the correct method for upshifting or downshifting a mid-drive under throttle control?
There are a few options for shifting. If you have brake sensors, they cut off power to the motor when squeezed, so you can give the brake lever a very light squeeze as you shift, so the motor doesn't add power while you shift. You can add a shift sensor that does the same thing, though it does add some resistance to the cable, so I would not use it with a drivetrain that is already picky about cables and housing being in perfect shape. Third option is to swap to a Shimano Linkglide drivetrain, such as CUES, which is designed to be able to shift under load, and happily shifts with a motor putting 500w into it.
Originally Posted by
veganbikes
One shouldn't have a throttle on a bike and that throttle is not going to help you as someone lacking athleticism, use some assist to help pedal and get some strength and endurance back. Also as we have said multiple times dragging a dog along is a bad move for so many reasons.
Throttles on ebikes can be useful. Normally, I rarely touch the throttle. But this year, I've had knee issues that have made it quite difficult to pedal at times. Having a throttle lets my knees take a break when they need to. The throttle lets me ride a bike on days where the pain is so bad I can't pedal at all.